I know, do a search, but...need help with fuses

I have me valentine 1 hard wired into the front fuse box on my 2012 35d. I read all the hardwire posts and even though the question was asked it was never answered. Is there a fuse in the front box that shuts off when the power is off? It seems every one tapped into a wire in the overhead unit, but I'm sort of sheepish doing that. It looks like you needed to drill or dremel out the overhead and tap a wire which seems fishy from an electronics perspective. Since I'm leasing I'm not sure I want anything that permanent. So, did anyone find a switchable fuse up front? Or do I have to figure out how to snake the cord all the way to the rear?

I don't have an X5, but I wired my 535i through a outlet in the passenger footwell.

Check out pictures on this thread.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=24

The cigarette lighter outlet is switched with the ignition.

Chuck

Any idea what fuse the cig lighter is connected to?

There is no drilling or dremel involved with the overhead install. The overhead light assembly pops right out. It is just a matter of tapping the proper wire and running the power cord through the headliner. It is probably 30 min worth of work the first time you do it.

Originally Posted by ccieurzo

There is no drilling or dremel involved with the overhead install. The overhead light assembly pops right out. It is just a matter of tapping the proper wire and running the power cord through the headliner. It is probably 30 min worth of work the first time you do it.

Do you need a special pry or trim removal tool or will a common screw driver work?
Is there any concern electrically of tapping directly into a line and not covering the extra amperage with a second fuse? And risk of short?

Wow.. did you guys ignore my post??

go here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=24

Originally Posted by Kzang

Wow.. did you guys ignore my post??

go here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=24

I had read your post but it doesnt apply to the E70. There isnt a plug in the footwell.\

Ok Well the part about fitting the wire into the trim is/was pretty simple and easy.
Good luck.

The cigarette lighter fuse in the e70 is unfortunately in the rear. I ended up tapping into the wire leading to the cigarette lighter on the passenger side footwell. It involves removing some trim, but isn't too difficult. The major advantage of this over the overhead install is that it makes it easier to put the remote display unit somewhere low.

The overhead console connection is super simple to do. Valentine sells a wire tap (Direct Wire Power Adapter Item #20305 $13) that works beautifully with the existing wire you need to tap into - no drilling, no cutting, no splicing, nada. It took me 30 minutes to do mine just because I took all the time in the world to do it. There is a mention of cutting a little piece of the console's plastic cover to allow the wire to move in and out freely but I found that this was not necessary to do. If you run the wire inside the same rubber groomet used to run the mirror wire into the console it moves in and out easily and no cutting is necessary.

Originally Posted by matzaman

Do you need a special pry or trim removal tool or will a common screw driver work?
Is there any concern electrically of tapping directly into a line and not covering the extra amperage with a second fuse? And risk of short?

I use a flat bladed screwdriver with a cloth over it to pry open the console. The lead to the sunroof motor is pretty robust and the power supply is fused as well. I have done this in 3 BMWs now, and have not had any electrical issues to date (knocking in wood).

Sounds good. If I ever get some free time, I'll try one of the approaches!