MFSW buttons do nada!!!! - Solved!!!

1

123BillyB

Member
Hi Guys... Bit stumped here and need some help.

Got round to fitting a MFSW to my 55 plate 3.0i se which in itself was a piece of cake but unfortunately when I turned the car on, the buttons did nothing.

All the connections are fine as it is only one plug afterall to connect so the only thing I can think the problem can be is as I have the navigation system, does this now need programming in any way to make it work?

Thanks,

Billy
 
Check this how to. Your car might not have pre installed a specific wire that is needed for the buttons to work. :thumbsup:

I installed mine yesterday and the wiring was there. 04/2004 model!
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=16422
 
Are all the wires connected to the buttons on the steering wheel itself ? Sounds a silly question, but you never know...
 
VENDAR said:
Check this how to. Your car might not have pre installed a specific wire that is needed for the buttons to work. :thumbsup:

I installed mine yesterday and the wiring was there. 04/2004 model!
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=16422
Click to expand...

Followed that to a tee and as mine is a 55 plate, I skipped to step 11 as the wiring and plug is already pre-installed, plugged in the connector, checked all plugs and wires then popped the airbag back in.... Job done - Or so I thought!

Just wondering if anyone out there with navigation has done a retrofit and if it worked without any kind of programming?

Thanks,
 
Still need help here guys.

After speaking with a forum member and reading another post, it seems even if your Zed is registered after 2004, it's pot luck if what's known as "The Retofit Cable" is there or not.

Also explained to me that basically the cable gives power to the circuit to activate the buttons.

After fitting the cable (very fiddly and cut my had a few times on the aluminium dash), the buttons still do nothing :headbang:

Couple of questions for you guys who have done the retrofit...

1. Do the buttons light up when the lights are on as that may suggest the cables got dislodged or the snap lock connectors didn't make a good connection (I have the standard MFSW by the way and not the M version).

2. Has anyone with factory Sat Nav fitted a MFSW plus the Retofit cable and if so, did it need programming due to having Sat Nav?

Thanks Guys,

Billy
 
The buttons light up on mine when my lights are on. Can't answer your other question I'm afraid...
 
Bing said:
The buttons light up on mine when my lights are on. Can't answer your other question I'm afraid...
Click to expand...
So hopefully a bad connection...

Thanks for letting me know.

With regards to programming, any guys with sat nav done the retrofit?

Billy
 
I have factory nav and fitted a MFSW and a retrofit cable. No programming required buttons just worked. If they aren't even lighting up my guess is you ain't got power to them.

If you used the little scotch lock type connectors supplied with the retrofit cable did you give it a bloody good squeeze using pliers? If you have only shut the block by hand chances are you haven't spliced into the live feed.
 
+1 on the retrofit of MFSW to a OEM sat nav car.
No programming needed.

Double check the block you spliced into as from memory (years ago) there is more than 1 wire in the block with the same colour coding.

Also check your loom from left to right side of the wheel is connected and didn't get trapped when yuo refitted the wheel.
 
Thanks guys...

I personally now think the Scotch lock connectors didn't makea good cconnection as I pressed them closed by hand.

Gonna take it apart again this weekend and splice/solder the wires to ensure a good connection.

Thanks for clearing up the sat nav programming query.

Regards,

Billy
 
Just get some long nosed pliers and squeeze the scotch lock well to ensure connectivity. You may create a whole load of misery for yourself trying to solder in there considering I could barely get my hand in and there wasn't much give in the loom.

:thumbsup:
 
GreyZed said:
Just get some long nosed pliers and squeeze the scotch lock well to ensure connectivity. You may create a whole load of misery for yourself trying to solder in there considering I could barely get my hand in and there wasn't much give in the loom.

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Point taken GreyZed... The catch 22 around doing the fit again is you don't know if you have made a good connection until you put it all together and then if you haven't, you gotta take it all apart again. Good job it don't take long.

Well when I guess its time for part two of the fight against the aluminium dash edges and my knuckles/fingers... No prizes for guessing who's gonna win. About time that BMW First Aid Kit saw some action!!! :rofl:
 
Yep I reckon there are a few bits of my skin left behind the Zed's dash but as you say doesn't take too long to get the wheel off. Just make sure you you wait 20mins after disconnecting battery neg terminal before popping the airbag off. :thumbsup:

Just installed an Alpine and Intravee in the boot this afternoon and I can tell you that BMW must have put a lot of effort into designing the sharpest of edges into their manufacturing processes. I reckon scalpel and stanley knife makers could learn a thing or two from BMW. :lol:
 
After fitting my Gaptech RCH+ I was confident it was the scotch locks as others said because I only hand crimped them before so I have just got round to redoing them.

Worked a treat :thumbsup:

If anything I now know I can whip off the wheel and dash quicker than a F1 team can change a wheel lol.

Thanks for the help guys.

Billy
 
I fitted mine last week with the retrofit wires, the buttons on the wheel light up but don't work! :headbang:
Any ideas?
 
Cracker said:
I fitted mine last week with the retrofit wires, the buttons on the wheel light up but don't work! :headbang:
Any ideas?
Click to expand...

No easy answer other than go back over all your work and ensure everything was correctly connected up. Proper electrical connections made and into the right wires in the loom.


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