...to the fuse box on the driver's side kick-panel, I have a couple questions for you. (and yes, I've done a search and didn't get the clear answers to these two questions... )

A. When you ran the power cord from the detector (let's say it is mounted up high close to the rear view mirror) to the fuse box, did you run it behind the A pillar trim? If so, did you remove the A pillar trim, or just stuff it behind it? If not, did you run across the top of the A pillar and then behind the door weatherstrip?

B. I thought I read that someone used fuse location '38', but the only open fuse I have is '20'. If I tap to an existing circuit, will that not increase the amperage on that circuit at the fuse?

C. Where did you find a suitable ground connection?

Thanks!

 

Most people including myself hardwired the RD to the clock so no fuse or ground is necessary...as for good ground, it's under the tires...

 

A) Yes i ran my behind the a pillar trim... the first time I did it I removed the trim entirely only to be looking a very scary armed airbag right in the face... for some reason i didn't think about it before i tugged on it (quite hard i might add)

Not too long ago i broke the little retainer plastic thing on the phone cable for the v1 and had to peal apart my wiring and re-do it... that time i just shoved it under the a-pillar... it was hard as all heck and i used a squeegee i had sitting around from a diy tinting kit... (no it wasnt bought for the mini :P )

B) I don't remember but i used an add a circuit from autozone to plug into one of them... I have pictures @ home I can email you if you would like.

C) it wasn't easy finding one but i grounded it under a screw that was under the knee bolster... Same as above I have pix i can email you.

if you can pm me your email addy i can send the stuff over when i get home from work.

 

I have instructions here:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/fusetap.html
The fuse is #36.

I open the knee bolster panel, run a wire down to the add-a-circuit. Then from in that knee panel, I attach all of my powered electronic gizmos to that wire. That way I can easily access all that wiring, but it's safely hidden from view (and a few zipties keep them in place). And For the radar detector, the wire goes out the side (in pre-05's you can pull the panel off the side of the dash when the door is open, up and around to the A-piller.
Wiring is then pushed inside the a-piller between the plastic and windshield glass. You can pull the a-pillar plastic away a bit to help get the wire in, but do not pull it off!
From there, up under the front of the headliner.
In my case I have wires both for the detector and for my GPS receiver, which is mounted in my rear sunroof.

 

Thanks, and PM sent!

(I also purchased some wire taps if I decide to tap in up there....)

 

I used a clip that is kind of like an add-a-circuit but it just brings out the hot side so you need to use an in line fuse. I used it on the fuse that is used for the heated windshield sine I don't have one. I ran the cord under the A pillar on the door side, not on the windshield side. It easily to slide the cable under the rubber that meets up against the A-pillar without removing the A-pillar plastic. For a ground, I just found an existing nut, undid it and slipped the ground wire under it and tightened it back up.

 

I have a 2004 MCS with Nav that has a clock mounted in the roof. How about just tapping into the clock power? It turns on and off with the ignition and don't even have to worry about routing down the pillar?

-S

 

I used an add-a-circuit and ran the power lead inside the rubber door seal. I have used this method in many cars and find it more than suitable. You cannot see the wire. I then tucked it into the A-pillar air bag cover at the top. Simply tuck the remaining wire under the head liner along the top of the windshield. The ground I chose was a bit odd. If you look above the fuse box, to the right, on the firewall, you will see two 13mm bolt heads that appear to mount something. I lossened the one on the left with a 3/8 drive socket wrench and 13mm socket and slipped the V1 ground wire under it and simply tightened up the bolt again. Works great!

There are many great options in Minis to wire stuff.

 

Thanks all for the help. I got the S done last night, and when I do the cooper, I expect it to be about a 20 minute job.

I tapped the bottom fuse on the middle row, and mounted the power unit to the metal just behind the kick panel clip by the firewall. For ground, I stripped the ground wire down a bit, loosed a bolt going through the firewall, and put the ground wire behind it.

Then ran the power cord under the weather seal, up the A pillar (door side of the A pillar) then across the top of the A pillar (tucked it in under it) and then across under the headliner.

Managed to have two issues. One, slice my thumb open pretty good. Had some bleeding...Two, (oops) managed to drop the fuse puller down behind the kickpanel. It is really deep down there. Had to take the kickpanel off, and use a combination of a flashlight, mirror on a stick, and a flexible grabby to fish it out. Lost about an hour or more doing that.

So, I figure so long as I don't drop the fuse puller, about 20 minutes.

 

glad to hear it went well!! ^^

 

Good job, YellowMiniS!
I really like having the V1 hardwired.
I dropped a torx bit in the black hole that is the driver's side kick panel. I figure I'll go fishing for it one day... Fortunately, I have an extra T-20.