740iOrientBlue
01-08-2007, 11:06 AM
OK,
I still can't post pictures, so I'll have to describe this in words. I WILL SAY RIGHT UP FRONT, THIS IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE IN WORDS THAN IT IS TO ACCOMPLISH. IT'S VERY EASY. These are the pieces required...
SEE ALSO
Car Audio & Electronics -> Wonders of digital photography -> 740iOrientBlue, about the console insert I made that goes along with this article
THE VEHICLE
I did this on my 2000 740i. It has the center armrest that has no telephone in it. It has the open center tray and two compartments that are opened with buttons.
THE GOAL
The goal is to place a low-power FM transmitter and flash MP3 player (or iPod if you desire) CLEANLY into the open tray of the center armrest.
REQUIRED PARTS
1) Monster low-power FM transmitter. You can get these for iPod (Apple) or mini-stereo plug (for just about everything else). Go to monstercable and search for low-power fm. They're on the second page. You can get them at
Radio Shack. That's where I got mine, but they're all over eBay for less than I paid. Search for monster FM transmitter.
2) BMW Auxiliary power adapter. Search for exactly that on eBay and you'll see tens of them.
3) Some form of player, either iPod Nano or small, flash MP3 player. I use the Creative ZEN Nano Plus 1GB. Creative also makes a 2GB I believe.
PROCEDURES
Things to remove
1) Removing the center tray
a) Slide it all the way forward
b) Carefully remove the plate that is visible because you slid the tray forward.
c) Remove the two phillips head screws that hold the tray bracket in place.
d) Wiggle it forward and up and it will come right out.
2) Remove passenger side, side panels
a) Remove the passenger side panel that runs from just under the glove box and back about midway through the length of the console. This is held in place by one phillips screw directly under the glove box. After removing this screw, pull down and forward and it will come right out
b) Remove the passenger side panel that runs from midway through the length of the console to the rear of the console. Just push it back and pull out. The rear of this piece can remain in place.
DRILLING
One hole. In the center tray, drill a hole centered at the rear about 1/4" down from the top. This should be slightly bigger than the mini stereo plug you're using. If you trying for an iPod cable, you'll have to make an oval
hole just slightly larger than the iPod connector. I would drill three or four holes horizontally, then use a dremel moto tool grind out the material between them and smooth the oval hole.
CUTTING AND STRIPPING
Cut the power cigarette lighter style connector off the Monster low-power FM transmitter and the cigarette lighter style power plug off the auxiliary power adapter.
The auxiliary power adapter will have a black and white wire. The FM transmitter will have a red and white wire. Carefully strip these wires in a staggered fashion
FM Transmitter auxiliary power adapter
--- (outer case) (outer case) ---
--- (red wire )------ ------------------------(white wire) ---
--- (white wire)------------------------ ------(black wire) ---
--- (outer case) (outer case) ---
!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT CONNECT THEM AT THIS TIME (read below) !!!!!!!!!!!
FISHING
It's very easy to fish a wire (I used a bicycle brake cable) from the top, rear of the front center armrest down behind the rear, square hole where the rear panel attached with a clip. Don't go through the clip hole, go behind it
and let it drop out the bottom. Attach the cutoff end of the low-power FM transmitter cable to the opposite end of the fishing cable. Fish it right on down through. You may have to tug on the console panel toward the seat for it to come through smoothly.
REWIRING
1) Be very, very careful in stripping the cut ends of the wires of the FM transmitter and the auxiliary power adapter in the manner described above. The wires are very small. This is how to wire the two together
Power adapter black to FM transmitter white
Power adapter white to FM transmitter red
... and make sure you insulate the two from each other. I always try to stagger my wire lengths to accommodate this. Soldering is recommended. Use electrical tape or heat shrink tubing. If you use heat shrink, make sure you put it on before soldering.
IMPORTANT. Before going any farther, you should test your setup. When you've finished rewiring, plug the auxiliary power adapter into the flashlight plug in the glove box. The FM transmitter SHOULD NOT COME ON. Now insert your key and turn it to position 2. The FM transmitter should come on (red lighting).
REASSEMBLING THE ARMREST PORTION OF THE FRONT CONSOLE
1) There's a nice little trough where you can lay the FM transmitter. You may want to tape it with electrical tape so it won't move about. I didn't... I may pay for it.
2) Make sure the existing phone wiring/coax and the transmitter mini-stereo/iPod plug in are clear and replace the sliding tray. Position it far forward, then push down, wiggle and try to move to the rear. It will slide right into place with the holes for the two phillips screws perfectly aligned.
3) Screw the two phillips screws in nice and snug.
4) Run the mini-stereo/iPod plug through the hole you drilled in the open tray of the center armrest.
5) Replace the panel exposed when the tray is slid forward.
6) Gently slide the tray all the way back.
RUNNING THE CABLE
1) Remove the auxiliary power adapter.
2) It's a piece of cake to tuck the cable under the passenger side plastic portion of the front center console. Just pull it toward you with your fingers and tuck the cable in right along from the rear to the front, right up to the
flashlight receptacle.
3) Plug the auxiliary power adapter back in.
4) I would recommend testing your unit again at this point.
REPLACING THE SIDE PANELS
Just do this in the reverse order of removal.
WARNING! The FM transmitter will turn off with the key in position 1 or removed. Your battery powered iPod or flash MP3 player will not be turned off. You'll have to remember to turn these off manually. I hope this provides at least a temporary MP3 solution to some of you.
When I get picture privileges, I'll repost this article with pictures. It's really, very, very easy.
<!-- / message --><!-- controls -->http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/misc/progress.gif
I still can't post pictures, so I'll have to describe this in words. I WILL SAY RIGHT UP FRONT, THIS IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE IN WORDS THAN IT IS TO ACCOMPLISH. IT'S VERY EASY. These are the pieces required...
SEE ALSO
Car Audio & Electronics -> Wonders of digital photography -> 740iOrientBlue, about the console insert I made that goes along with this article
THE VEHICLE
I did this on my 2000 740i. It has the center armrest that has no telephone in it. It has the open center tray and two compartments that are opened with buttons.
THE GOAL
The goal is to place a low-power FM transmitter and flash MP3 player (or iPod if you desire) CLEANLY into the open tray of the center armrest.
REQUIRED PARTS
1) Monster low-power FM transmitter. You can get these for iPod (Apple) or mini-stereo plug (for just about everything else). Go to monstercable and search for low-power fm. They're on the second page. You can get them at
Radio Shack. That's where I got mine, but they're all over eBay for less than I paid. Search for monster FM transmitter.
2) BMW Auxiliary power adapter. Search for exactly that on eBay and you'll see tens of them.
3) Some form of player, either iPod Nano or small, flash MP3 player. I use the Creative ZEN Nano Plus 1GB. Creative also makes a 2GB I believe.
PROCEDURES
Things to remove
1) Removing the center tray
a) Slide it all the way forward
b) Carefully remove the plate that is visible because you slid the tray forward.
c) Remove the two phillips head screws that hold the tray bracket in place.
d) Wiggle it forward and up and it will come right out.
2) Remove passenger side, side panels
a) Remove the passenger side panel that runs from just under the glove box and back about midway through the length of the console. This is held in place by one phillips screw directly under the glove box. After removing this screw, pull down and forward and it will come right out
b) Remove the passenger side panel that runs from midway through the length of the console to the rear of the console. Just push it back and pull out. The rear of this piece can remain in place.
DRILLING
One hole. In the center tray, drill a hole centered at the rear about 1/4" down from the top. This should be slightly bigger than the mini stereo plug you're using. If you trying for an iPod cable, you'll have to make an oval
hole just slightly larger than the iPod connector. I would drill three or four holes horizontally, then use a dremel moto tool grind out the material between them and smooth the oval hole.
CUTTING AND STRIPPING
Cut the power cigarette lighter style connector off the Monster low-power FM transmitter and the cigarette lighter style power plug off the auxiliary power adapter.
The auxiliary power adapter will have a black and white wire. The FM transmitter will have a red and white wire. Carefully strip these wires in a staggered fashion
FM Transmitter auxiliary power adapter
--- (outer case) (outer case) ---
--- (red wire )------ ------------------------(white wire) ---
--- (white wire)------------------------ ------(black wire) ---
--- (outer case) (outer case) ---
!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT CONNECT THEM AT THIS TIME (read below) !!!!!!!!!!!
FISHING
It's very easy to fish a wire (I used a bicycle brake cable) from the top, rear of the front center armrest down behind the rear, square hole where the rear panel attached with a clip. Don't go through the clip hole, go behind it
and let it drop out the bottom. Attach the cutoff end of the low-power FM transmitter cable to the opposite end of the fishing cable. Fish it right on down through. You may have to tug on the console panel toward the seat for it to come through smoothly.
REWIRING
1) Be very, very careful in stripping the cut ends of the wires of the FM transmitter and the auxiliary power adapter in the manner described above. The wires are very small. This is how to wire the two together
Power adapter black to FM transmitter white
Power adapter white to FM transmitter red
... and make sure you insulate the two from each other. I always try to stagger my wire lengths to accommodate this. Soldering is recommended. Use electrical tape or heat shrink tubing. If you use heat shrink, make sure you put it on before soldering.
IMPORTANT. Before going any farther, you should test your setup. When you've finished rewiring, plug the auxiliary power adapter into the flashlight plug in the glove box. The FM transmitter SHOULD NOT COME ON. Now insert your key and turn it to position 2. The FM transmitter should come on (red lighting).
REASSEMBLING THE ARMREST PORTION OF THE FRONT CONSOLE
1) There's a nice little trough where you can lay the FM transmitter. You may want to tape it with electrical tape so it won't move about. I didn't... I may pay for it.
2) Make sure the existing phone wiring/coax and the transmitter mini-stereo/iPod plug in are clear and replace the sliding tray. Position it far forward, then push down, wiggle and try to move to the rear. It will slide right into place with the holes for the two phillips screws perfectly aligned.
3) Screw the two phillips screws in nice and snug.
4) Run the mini-stereo/iPod plug through the hole you drilled in the open tray of the center armrest.
5) Replace the panel exposed when the tray is slid forward.
6) Gently slide the tray all the way back.
RUNNING THE CABLE
1) Remove the auxiliary power adapter.
2) It's a piece of cake to tuck the cable under the passenger side plastic portion of the front center console. Just pull it toward you with your fingers and tuck the cable in right along from the rear to the front, right up to the
flashlight receptacle.
3) Plug the auxiliary power adapter back in.
4) I would recommend testing your unit again at this point.
REPLACING THE SIDE PANELS
Just do this in the reverse order of removal.
WARNING! The FM transmitter will turn off with the key in position 1 or removed. Your battery powered iPod or flash MP3 player will not be turned off. You'll have to remember to turn these off manually. I hope this provides at least a temporary MP3 solution to some of you.
When I get picture privileges, I'll repost this article with pictures. It's really, very, very easy.
<!-- / message --><!-- controls -->http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/misc/progress.gif