Ok, before I go insane, I have looked all over the column for this, where is it coming out at or more likely, where are you guys connecting it. I finally ditched my 9831 to go with a 9857, and cannot for the life of me find this cable!

 

After some digging I found this information on MINI2, use at your own risk, yada yada.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/interior-...tructions.html
SWI-X/SWI-ALP Install Pictures and Instructions

Ok, so I finally got around to installing this thing. For those who don't know, the PAC SWI-X is an interface gadget that allows you to retain use of your steering wheel controls with aftermarket headunit.
It's really pretty easy. I’ve taken the manufacturer’s instructions and slimmed them down to be Cooper specific.
Step One: Cut off all wires on SWI-X harnes except the YELLOW, BLACK and RED. That's right, it's just 3 wires to connect. Tape off the cut wires.
Step Two: Connect RED to switched 12v. The red wire in the stock harness will work.
Step Three: Connect BLACK to ground. All solid brown wires in the Cooper are ground.
Step Four: Connect YELLOW to white with red stripe and yellow dots. The white/red w/yellow dots wire can be found in the main wire leads coming from behind the steering wheel, on the left side). This is perhaps the hardest part. You can remove the steering wheel shroud, but it requires the removal of two 35 torx screws on top (behind tach) and two on the bottom. I didn't have that size in my torx set so I just cut the protective black cloth tape from around the wire lead and fished out the white/red w/yellow dots wire. Attach the SWI-X YELLOW wire to the steering wheel side of the wire you just cut.

Word of caution: Don’t connect YELLOW SWI-X wire to the white/red w/yellow dots wire at the harness, behind stereo. Between the steering column and the headunit is a module for the controls. If you access the wire after the module the SWI-X will not work. The wire must be tapped from behind the steering wheel.

This part is for the SWI-X:
Step Five: Time to program! The MINI Cooper uses program #5. Hold down the "mode" button on SWI-X and turn ignition to accessory 2. Both LEDs should light up. Release the “mode” button, both LEDs turn off. Then the LEDs will light up again for 3 seconds, just wait for them to go out again. Once they are out press the “mode” button 5 times. The LEDs will light up each time you press the button to confirm the input (do not hesitate more than 3 seconds between pressing or it will think you are done). After pressing the button 5 times, wait 3 seconds and it will flash the right LED 5 times to confirm your entry. It is now ready for your steering wheel button programming.
Step 6: Setting up your buttons. If ignition is still on from step 5, turn off and then back to accessory 2. The SWI-X right LED will flash 5 times confirming your setting of program #5. Now press and hold the “mode” button until the left LED lights up. Release “mode” button. Now select a button to program on the steering wheel. Press and hold the SWB (steering wheel button) until left LED goes out. The right LED will then light. Press and hold the corresponding button on your headunit remote (while aiming at the SWI-X) until the right LED goes out. At this point the left LED goes back on. Select your next SWB to program. Press and hold the SWB until left LED goes out and right LED comes on. Again, press the corresponding button on headunit remote until right LED goes out. Continue until all buttons are programmed. Do not hesitate between programming more than 7 seconds or it will think you are done. Do not turn off ignition during programming or it will lose your input. When done programming, wait 7 seconds and both LEDs blink 3 times, confirming that the SWB programming is done and retained.

Step 7: Test it out. Place the IR lead (black wire with blue LED at end, coming from right side of SWI-X) near your headunit and test the SWB. Find the best spot and install. I chose to drill a small hole and mount it south east of the ignition keyhole, in the steering column. Works pretty good. Occasionally I’ve noticed it can be kinda slow to respond (mainly while under fluorescent lighting), but it always does.


This is how to do it with the SWI-ALP:
Taken from: http://www.pac-audio.com/swixprogram...ehicles&ID=192
Programming the INTERFACE

The INTERFACE has to be programmed for version # 5.

1. Press and hold the 'Mode' button on the INTERFACE while turning on the vehicle to the accessory position. Both LED's will turn on.
2. Release the 'Mode' button and both LED's will turn off.
3. Press the 'Mode' button 5 times. Each time you press and release the 'Mode' button, the LED will turn on and off. Once you press the "Mode" button 5 times, wait for 3 seconds. The LED will flash 5 times indicating it is programmed for version 5. If it flashes the wrong version number, you will have to start all over at step 1 above in this section. Turn the key off.
4. Once you have programmed the correct version number, you will not have to do these steps again. If you need to reprogram the SWC, you can go directly to the next section.

7. Programming the INTERFACE to learn SWC functions.



1. Turn the key to the accessory position (you do not need to hold the 'Mode' button at this time). The LED will flash 5 times. This indicates it is programmed for version 5.
2. Press the 'Mode' button until the LED turns on, then release the button (This will erase all previous learned SWC functions). The INTERFACE is now ready to learn a command from the steering wheel.


3. The INTERFACE must be programmed in the specific order shown in the chart below. If a function is not needed, it may be skipped. Adjust the Radio Select switch on the side of the SWI-ALP according to the chart. Alpine = 1, JVC = 2, Kenwood = 3 and Blaupunkt = 4.
Alpine
Switch setting for SWI-ALP only. 1
1 Volume Up
2 Volume Down
3 Mute / Power
4 Preset Up
5 Preset Down
6 Source
7 Track Up
8 Track Down
9 Band
10 Ent/Play
11 Band/Program

4. With the LED on, press your steering wheel button until the light goes out and hold for one second more.
5. Release and the LED should come back on. If it does not please double check all connections and verify for correct version programming.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 to program additional steering wheel buttons in the order corresponding to the chart above for your SWI interface.
7. If you come across a command in the chart that your steering wheel does not have, or you do not want to program, press the program/mode button on the side of the SWI interface.
8. The LED will flash once rapidly and then stay on confirming that you have successfully skipped that command and are ready for the next button.
9. When you are done programming all the buttons, wait for about 7 seconds. The LED will flash 3 times indicating it is done programming. The LED will then flash 5 times indicating the version number.


8. Testing the INTERFACE.



1. Connect the plug to back of radio's steering wheel input jack or harness.
2. With the vehicle on, press a steering wheel button to control the stereo. The INTERFACE should control the aftermarket stereo with the function you taught it. Test all other buttons.
3. If the interface does not control the radio as the steering wheel indicates, the buttons were either pressed in the wrong order or a step was not skipped properly. Return to category 7 and reprogram.
4. Make sure all unused wires are isolated separately.
5. After all commands are verified to work properly, secure the SWI interface so that tension will not pull either of the connectors loose or apart.
6. That's it! Enjoy

I am pointing to the wire you need in the pic below, sorry for the chromatic abberation it makes the wire look purplish:

 

Pull off the steering column bottom cover. Get down low so that you can see the bottom side of the column. There's 2 blocks plugged in, the MFSW connector block is the one closer to the center of the car - the other one is the 4-pin airbag connector. Tme MFSW connector block has 8 or 9 wires connected to it. I think thats what you're looking for.

Larry

 

Yep, hopefully tonight I can get under there and get it done. I miss those controls!

 

It is exactly where you said, pop the bottom off and locate the wire in the center most connector. Cut and splice, program the unit and you are good to go...

Now to get used to using them again!

BTW, the instructions at the top are for the non MFSW capable alpines, the radios that do, will use the SWI-ALP that does not come with the infared remote.

 

this thread looks like it is going to save me a lot of time...

 

Or is there a new steering wheel (MFSW) wire on newer stereos ?

The last time I did one of these was on my 2001 Honda S2000 and it required that I buy an aftermarket stereo with an IR Reader and remote of course.

Is this still the case ?

 

The MFSW commands go over the iBus which is available all over the car including the radio socket. You need a BMW steering wheel remote adaptor. If the adaptor is programmable such as the PAC in post #2, it is necessary to disconnect the iBus during the learning progress as describe din the instruction manual, else you will learn the volume commands to some random iBus message such as the gear position or engine RPM.