hey all,

i've recently gotten a shifter with a light up shift pattern on the ****. (sounds cheesy, but it'll look good, i promise). anyways the led's match the buttons pretty well and i'd like it hook it up so the display only lights up when i have running or headlights on. i've noticed that the sport and DSC buttons light up when the running/headlights and was wondering if it were possible to tap into those to supply power to the shifter. i looked under the shifter boot and noticed far to many wires for me to start splicing. anyone know what wires i should be looking for to accomplish my goal?


thanks!

 

Check out the Fuse block and find one that only has power when the lights are on. Use that one to tap from.

 

schatzy, thanks for getting back to me. a few more questions, if you don't mind.

is the fuse block different from the fuses in the footwell/under the hood? can i unhook the harness to those buttons and check amperage on those pins?

also, once i find the wire i want, do i have to disconnect the battery? i know for the bigger jobs it's a good idea to have that unhooked, but i wasn't sure since i was going to tap into a wire that shouldn't even be on all the time. i've heard stories / rumors that disconnecting batteries on newer cars is like wiping the memory.

 

go to Alta's website and pull up the install PDF for boost gauge install
it shows which wire to tap for dashlights. If memory serves me it is a
gray wire with a red stripe.

 

thanks for the help. it looks like grey with red stripe will get the shifter to light up only when other lighting is on.


now if someone can confirm that to disconnect the battery will not be the end of the world i should be able to get this done after work...

 

For safety sake it would be best to disconnect the battery, But for what you are doing it should not be required.

 

and the results are in! truths:

• red/gray wire is the illumination to the sport and DCS buttons.
• brown is ground for the same buttons -you don't need to disconnect the battery
• disconnecting the battery resets the time, alarm, and trip functions (trip odometer, average mpg, average speed)
• this would have been a much easier task if i could have unplugged the wiring harness or taken the ebrake handle off.

• 

 

OK - I will admit it... it is cheesy but it is COOL...

 

might be slightly cheesy; and i'm sure it cost a little more than a non-performance part should, but i wanted a more unique **** and the install is really stealth. i think since the LED matches the factory it doesn't scream AFTERMARKET to me. i like it, and it was fun to tear apart my car a little bit...

 

it looks pretty cool to me. i like the way it matches the rest of the dash lights.

 

Okay, I like it enough to ask the question. Where did you get it?

 

hahaha, www.bimmian.com.


they have great shipping and customer service by the way. quick delivery and answered all my questions within an hour or so of me sending them emails.

 

btw - don't worry, the white plug in the cigarette lighter is for my ipod, not the shifter...

 

Dude, very cool!

Hey remember when people were mad because the JCW MINI had red writing on the ****, but it didn't light up? Here you go, solved that problem...I would think this is uber cheesy, however, you matched the stock setup and that looks totally OEM, even better than the JCW Red would of been...

Well done!

 

thanks! that's exactly what i was going for. i'm glad i pleased the masses in the process...

 

Thats really pretty cool looking im not gonna lie. good job

 

thanks!

 

+1