[skalberti]

I had a particular need to mount my R3 radar detector and BlackVue dash cam on a Blendmount mirror mount. Unfortunately Blendmount doesn't make one that holds both. So I made it myself. I ordered the BBV 2030 dash cam mount and the BNR UC2 R3 clip and bolted them together. I was going to do a full write up, but I did this last night and didn't have a chance to take pics. For the rear camera I pulled off the top middle panel around the back glass first, then I removed the small window trim on the passenger side of the rear window. Next I pulled out the passenger side rear speaker cover. Just a few clips hold it in. Then I pulled down the headliner using a panel popper tool to release the two clips. I fished the camera cable through the rear hatch and boot into the car and then fished the cable through a rubber grommet and brought the rear camera cable out by the rear speaker. I ran the rear camera cable along the headliner on the passenger side since it was easy to access by pulling down the door Weatherstripping. I pulled up the threshold plate on the pass. Side front door and then the corner molding to get to the fuse box. I used fuse # 53 for switched power and fuse #20 for constant. There's a ground bolt right there to ground to. Here's a few pics.

[windycitycy]

Nice work!

[r33_RGSport]

Nice!!!

[incubatewhisky]

Any tips on how you fished the wire through the hole in the rear speakers column?

[bichoo]

Thank you very much for posting this! I'm going to be doing this same installation soon so this is very helpful

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by incubatewhisky

Any tips on how your fished the wire through the hole in the rear speakers column?

You need this wire grabber like this

General Tools 70399 Lighted Steel Claw Mechanical Pick-Up Tool, 36-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RHP7TS..._CdVCCbM4CEC40

First pull your headliner down in the back. If you pull the weather stripping down you'll be able to see between the headline and roof for the two snaps that need to be released with a flat blade screw driver to drop the headliner. Next look above the rear speaker and to the right. You see a grommet that already has a notch taken out of it. Take the cable end that plugs into the camera and put it through that notch. Then take the wire grabber and grab and pull it out the hole in the body where the boot snaps in. Next run the wire grabber through the boot, you have to remove both ends where the rubber boot plugs into the lift gate and where it plugs into the body of the vehicle. It's a real pain in the a$$ to get back in so take your time and make sure both ends are properly seated or you'll have leaks. You'll need to use the wire grabber to go through the large hole in the center of the lift gate an fish it to the hole where the rubber boot plugs in. Make sure to leave some slack in the cable in the lift gate so you have room to move and position the camera.

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by incubatewhisky

Any tips on how your fished the wire through the hole in the rear speakers column?

Take the weather stripping down over the top of your rear passenger door and use your cable grabber to push the wire from the red circle I made in your pic to the gap between your headliner and metal body over the passenger door.

[Hchhuor]

Originally Posted by skalberti

Take the weather stripping down over the top of your rear passenger door and use your cable grabber to push the wire from the red circle I made in your pic to the gap between your headliner and metal body over the passenger door.

Originally Posted by skalberti

Take the weather stripping down over the top of your rear passenger door and use your cable grabber to push the wire from the red circle I made in your pic to the gap between your headliner and metal body over the passenger door.

Follow the small set of wire right below the big set. I used plastic tool to push the wire through then use my 2 fingers to get wire from the other side. It's a lot easier if you pull down the headliner a little and fold down the second row seat.

[2019x5User]

Nice and neat work. So jealous OP as such a handyman

[incubatewhisky]

Originally Posted by skalberti

Take the weather stripping down over the top of your rear passenger door and use your cable grabber to push the wire from the red circle I made in your pic to the gap between your headliner and metal body over the passenger door.

Thank you! This did the trick. I had a fiber glass rod I used to push a string through the opening you circled in red. I got everything setup on about 15min after that (I was only connecting the rear cam to the front cam). Thanks again!

[Wild Blue]

Thanks for the writeup! Would love to have that gear in my own rig.

[ATTN]

This is awesome, I just picked up my x5 on the weekend.

And looking to buy the DR900s. Did you also get the Power Magic Pro?

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by ATTN

This is awesome, I just picked up my x5 on the weekend.

And looking to buy the DR900s. Did you also get the Power Magic Pro?

Yep!

[Hchhuor]

Need help. I'm trying to decide which fuse to tap into. Thanks

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by Hchhuor

Need help. I'm trying to decide which fuse to tap into. Thanks

First you need to remove the corner kick panel and threshold plate to have full access to the fuse box. In my OP I posted a pic of the fuse box with the numbers I used for 12v switched and 12v constant. Use a test light and double check these fuses to make sure they're accordingly. #20 is 12v constant and I can't remember if it 53 or 63 that's 12v switched.

[Hchhuor]

Thanks

[Hchhuor]

Still don't know which one to use.

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by Hchhuor

Still don't know which one to use.

If this doesn't help, you need to take your car to your dealership and have them connect the power for you. There's too many electronics and air bags that can get messed up if you don't know what you're doing.

[Hchhuor]

I use fuse 20 for yellow wire (batt)+ and fuse 53 red wire (acc). But still not working.

[ATTN]

Originally Posted by skalberti

Yep!

So I've got my X5 now and waiting for my DR900S.

Did you bother installing the external battery? Or do you think the power magic Pro is enough?

Also and error codes due to the power magic?

My use case, I wouldn't generally leave the car for more than 4 hours max.

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by ATTN

So I've got my X5 now and waiting for my DR900S.

Did you bother installing the external battery? Or do you think the power magic Pro is enough?

Also and error codes due to the power magic?

My use case, I wouldn't generally leave the car for more than 4 hours max.

No, just used the power magic pro and set it to a max run time of 12hrs use. No issues or alerts. On my M3 I got an extended battery drain alert for running for 24hrs, but that's to be expected. Still didn't cause any issues or low battery.

[ATTN]

Originally Posted by skalberti

No, just used the power magic pro and set it to a max run time of 12hrs use. No issues or alerts. On my M3 I got an extended battery drain alert for running for 24hrs, but that's to be expected. Still didn't cause any issues or low battery.

Legend, thanks for the clarification.

I will attempt to install the unit with the magic pro using #20 for 12v constant and #53 or #63 for 12v switched.