The Modifying has Started

S

Shipkiller

Veteran
I have already started to mod the car.

Since I wanted IPOD connectivity w/charging capability, I went with the same setup I have in the Roadster.

I ordered an Ipod Audio/Video/Charging cable from Ebay. http://stores.ebay.com/Autoware302_Ipod-Zune-Harness-Intergration_W0QQ_fsubZ1165728QQ_sidZ226341785QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

Cut off the cigarette light power plug and along with my Garmin and Radar Detector, wired all of them up to switched power in the fuse box.
With the exception of the Garmin cable, all cables are hidden in the dashboard. The Garmin cable runs internal to the dashboard and exits dash at the bottom right corner of the instrument cluster. I did wire in a SPST (on/off) switch for the Radar Detector as you can see in the third picture. The red button.

With this done, I also added a ground loop isolator in-between the Ipod and the Aux input. This is a must..

I also ordered my Proclip Ipod mounting. Of course, one of the items from Proclip is on backorder....

Then I decided to try something different on how I mount my Garmin. I ordered a 'Kuda Mount'. http://www.kudausa.com/kuda_mount_and_holder_for_bmw_z4_since_2003-3-36.html

This mount attached to the center vent. I went with this mount really for only one reason. This is a test mounting.
My endgame is to build a CarPuter for the MC. The real drawback was trying to figure out just how/where to mount the 7" touchscreen.

I think this issue has been solved.

Currently, I have mounted the Garmin unit to the Kuda mount and I will evaluate just how this mount works keeping an eye on eventually having a touchscreen display on that mount.

Some of you will not like this approach. But this is a test. If I don't like it, I can take it off.

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Some are going to say that you can't use the CD player with the GPS mounted. I never use the CD. That's what the Ipod is for.
In the last picture, you can see where I have the Ipod currently. Just waiting for the Proclip parts...
 
Where is the fun if you don't cut a hole in the dash for a screen :D

Did you check out the aftermarket touch screens that rotate in the dash top similar to the OEM version? I have seen a car with that before.
 
Looks very nice.

Which switched power did you use from the fuse box - and did you use one of the blade fuse adapters?

Could you not pass the wire to satnav between the top vent so it doesnt show as much?
 
The car is booked into a professional shop to have a 'ClearBra' installed next Tuesday.

Areas to be applied:

Front Bumper
Forward Hood (Bonnet)
Side Rocker Sills
Mirrors
 
Not sure. I have to go back to Groton sometime in the next two weeks to finish SSN-777. That's about two weeks of work.

You were right. The ///M is a whole other league than the regular Z4...
 
the vents will keep the back of the screen warm anyway !.

on a more serious note, im seriously digging the Z4MC in white...amazing.
 
I had my 'ClearBra' installed today.

Took it to an authorized 3M installer.

Items covered:
Front Bumper
18" of the Hood
Matching parts of the front fenders. Aligns with the hood.
Complete rocker 'side skirts' panels
Mirrors.

I sat in the garage and conversed with the two people while they did the car. Seeing the amount of work that went into having it installed, there was just no way I could have done it myself and made it look as good.
The areas affected were:
Washed
Degreased
Dewaxed
Clayed
Washed again

A lot of prep work.

Even though all pieces except the side skirts were part of a pre-cut kit, a lot of tailoring when along to get it properly installed and fitted.
The side skirts sections were laid out as one large sheet and then cut/fitted to the car.

It comes with a five (5) year warranty valid anywhere in the country.

On a white car, the edges are almost hidden and blend in....
 
Shipkiller, could you go over what you had to do to hard wire your gps? I was hesitant to start splicing wires, because I didn't know the proper (insert random electrical term here).
 
NO splicing needed. I ran the Garmin cable from the fuse box, through the dash and out the bottom of the A-Piller. My GPS is now off the center vents....

On my MC, I have three open fuse sections. IE. ones that have sockets but no fuses. Two of these are powered 100% of the time. One is powered via your key switch, position two (2) I believe.

Using a voltmeter, find the sockets that have power all the time (key switch off). Then find the one's with power only at key switch two (2).
Make a little drawing of this, so you can remember this....

There are two ways to go here. The example I will use is the Garmin GPS unit.

One, you can cut off your male cigarette lighter power plug on the Garmin cable and attach a MALE blade to the positive wire in the Garmin cable and insert the positive side in the switch socket. Connect the other to ground.

Or, if you value that really expensive Garmin cable that has a FM real time traffic receiver in it do the next step.

Two, you can buy a female (socket) cigarette lighter receptacle to whatever cable. I used a female socket to alligator clip cable. Cut off the alligator clips and add a male blade to the positive end. Put the positive end in the power socket on the fuse block and connect the ground. Then plug in your Garmin cigarette lighter power plug to the power receptacle.
Now you have saved your expensive Garmin cable and now have switched power.

If you have more accessories you need to power (I have three), buy a 'Add A Fuse". I wont go into that here....

To run the cable do this.

Remove the glove box door.

Remove the two screws hold the bottom trim plate to the underneath side of the fuse block. This is the plate you must remove to change out your particle air filter.
It does not need to come completely out, just swing it down about eight (8) inches.

Now remove the center panel below the HVAC controls, above the center console switches.

Now look at the fuse box. There is a small space between the back trim (on the left side of the fuse box) and the fuse box.

Now, feed the small end of the cable between the trim and the fuse block with one hand and reach up from underneath with the other and grab the end.
Pull all the excess down.
Now feed the end of the cable from that point behind the center console and forward to where the plate you removed under the HVAC controls. It will take a few tries.

Now pull the excess out.

If you are going to run the cable to the left side A-Piller, then do this.
Since these cables are not that long, the shortest route is the best.

Now unlock the steering wheel adjustment lever and move the wheel as far down as it will go.
With a small torx bit, look at your instrument cluster. In between the two gauge faces, on top is a small torx screw. Unscrew it.
Now pull out your instrument cluster. DO NOT disconnect the instrument cluster from the cable UNLESS you have disconnected your battery.
There is enough slack in the cable to pull it out and lay the cluster on the dash with out disconnecting the cable.

Now feed the GPS cable end through into the hole where the instrument cluster was.

Now remove your left side vent. One screw is hidden behind a small pad. Pop the trim pad off and unscrew. Don't lose that trim pad....
Open your cup holder and remove the second screw. Pull the vent out.

Now you have to remove the A-Piller trim.

On the Coupe', it is just press fit. Pop it off...

On the Roadster, you have to unscrew and remove the sun visor, then there is enough wiggle room on the top trip to remove the A-Piller trim.

Now feed the cable from the area of the instrument cluster to the vent area and up to the A-Piller.

Now replace everything. The trim pad on the vent screw just pops back into place you the screw head is hidden....

Thats it..
 
I've tried various "Vent mounts" and threw them all in the drawer after they either shook loose or blocked access to controls I wanted to use. I ended up using the original garmin suction cup in the left, bottom corner of the windshield. I like it there anyway. Good Luck, hope yours works better than mine did. :thumbsup:
 
The vent mount I show up in the thread works great. It screws to the vent so it is solid. The only issue is you must trim a small amount from the dash, where the mounts tabs screw into the center vent. Other wise the vent will not sit flush with the dash and lock in place. The trimming is internal to the dash opening and cannot be seen.

I move my GPS back to using the suction mount next to the A-Piller because, like you, I like it there.
 
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