[VSmotorsports]

We went ahead and took out the Map light out of our Project F30 335i. Our plan was to take this out and hardwire our radar, but we want with a different route to power our unit. But for the people who are looking to take this out, we thought we would go ahead and document this process and posting it here.

Many of you recall the steps to remove the map light on the e9x, DO NOT FOLLOW THOSE STEPS, WILL NOT WORK!

Tools Needed:
2x Flat Head screwdrivers

First, you will have to remove the trim piece off


Next locate the following spots and insert your flat head

Insert your screw driver and push the screwdriver towards the inside of the map light (repeat on both sides)
Use your second screwdriver and slowly start to separate the headliner to the map light and start to pull down

At this point you can pull it down and should come out.
This is what the clips look like on the side and the rear

[FotiosF90M5]

Where do you tap into for power. I need to get my v1 hardwired. Thanks for the info.

[328i4me]

Originally Posted by fotios335i

Where do you tap into for power. I need to get my v1 hardwired. Thanks for the info.

+1. Im curious as well and would like to hardwire my V1 too. Is there a particular reason to why you guys didn't use the map lights as the power source?

[remydlc]

Bump! curious too as to what cables to intercept. I need to hardwire my V1 as well.

[ddcha]

Bump. me too.

[VSmotorsports]

we will update this next week with that information when the car is back, sorry for the delay

[Fugly M3]

yea I want to know the radar detector wire tap- ie which cable

[mkPOTO]

Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci

yea I want to know the radar detector wire tap- ie which cable

We will have a write up this week, be on the look out

[Fugly M3]

awesome, thanks!

[remydlc]

thanks a lot. I am so looking forward this DIY. My cable is broken and i have been a ticket magnet lately.

[DNN_F30]

Took my V1 to get installed today. Master electrician said he couldn't tab the Map light wires for power. He had to tap in directly to fuse box. Does this make sense? :

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by DNN_F30

Took my V1 to get installed today. Master electrician said he couldn't tab the Map light wires for power. He had to tap in directly to fuse box. Does this make sense? :

if the car is like the e9x, no. but that's yet to be determined.

[auptown]

I'm waiting too -- and given that I got a ticket test driving a 335xi I need it!

Andrew

[Boondoggler]

No update, looks like this thread is dying. Bummer, I really would like to know what wire from this area to tap for power.

[mkPOTO]

Originally Posted by Boondoggler

No update, looks like this thread is dying. Bummer, I really would like to know what wire from this area to tap for power.

I know they were trying to figure out the best solution to tap the wire. I recall when I got into the f30 they had it tapped to a power source which would power on when the door would open, but I am sure they will update this thread

[Messer-schmitt]

Just BUMPin to keep this thread on top! Need to hardware my V1 too!

[Jadar]

Originally Posted by DNN_F30

Took my V1 to get installed today. Master electrician said he couldn't tab the Map light wires for power. He had to tap in directly to fuse box. Does this make sense? :

I took apart the dome light today and looked around. All the wiring was indeed different, and I saw no green wire with a white stripe like in my e90 so I stopped.

Took the center console aprt to get access to the 12v power plug and the wires would work but they are really fat I dont want to splice into them. Im assuming that the 12v under the passanger side dash board will be the same.

So it looks like the fuse box may be the best option. Lets see What VSmotorsports comes up with.

All the f30 wiring is new and they are also thinner then previous E cars. I even checked under the carpet but I dont wanna go this route.

Do you know wich fuse youre technician piggy backed off of? What really sucks about this is the fuse box is in the trunk now and thats just so much routing to go through...Dammit.

[cesaroctavio_80]

Excelent info!!!!
One question VSmotorsports, do you know how to remove this part? i want to fix a rattle that is gettin me crazy

[nurio]

Thanks to these instructions I got my radar detector hardwired to the dome light and so far it works great. It’s pretty simple to do once you know how to open the dome light and which wires to tap to in the F30.

The wire I tapped to for power was the white with the red stripe, which is on the long single row connector and I believe that it was the third wire from the left. For anyone who is going try and use this wire I take no responsibility so do it at your own risk and I highly advice to test that wire in their car with a voltmeter. In my car (2013 F30 w. Nav) this wire provides a 12v (~13.5v to be more accurate) delayed switched power similar to the cigarette lighter socket. It can be a bit confusing coming from an E90, when I first got the car I thought the power from the cigarette lighter socket never goes off, but in this car the power turns on when unlocking the car with the remote and turns off I believe about 2 minutes after locking the car so it seemed that the power is always on.

As for the rest I followed the same instructions as in the E90 DIY: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97545.

I didn’t take pictures when I did my car, but I’m going to do my friend’s car next, so I’ll try to take pictures and post them when I get the chance.

[kobebrain]

Originally Posted by cesaroctavio_80

Excelent info!!!!
One question VSmotorsports, do you know how to remove this part? i want to fix a rattle that is gettin me crazy

had you remove it?

[etinifni]

Is there any way to replace the ambient light led or do you have to replace the entire module?

[Amit]

Hi,

Does anyone have the wiring diagram for the LED dome light fitting with map lights?

I have the standard rear center (1bulb) light / without any switches which just turns on when the doors are opened.

Also, my front dome does not have map lights just the one main light with ambiant light leds and 1 button to turn it off an on.

I have sourced 2x LED versions with Map lights that I wanted to switch over both front & rear domes.

Could anyone please help me out with information on either which wires do what or the Pin outs on these new units.

Thanks guys,

Amit