I asked awhile back with no response so trying again. Is there any wiring in an early 04 R53 door that could be tapped for puddle lights? I've tried shoving a pair of wires through the door to body conduit but no success so far.

 

Have you tried to unlip the rubber boot/conduit from the door to the A Pillar as the wire numbers would tell you if there is any chance. Item # 15 of the below thread will take wire schematics drawings. If I get a chance I will take a look at them later.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...questions.html

 

I sorted through the links to get to the JCW schematic and then the interior light page, and didn't find anything in the door that would help, but did learn that you can turn off the automatic function of the interior lights by pressing the overhead switch button for 5 seconds. I figured it is a long shot that there would be a source in the door connected to the footwell/interior lights, but was hoping.

The door wiring conduit looks to be riveted to the A pillar but maybe it can be unlipped at the door. Or maybe I can try to push a wire through from inside if the kick panel comes off without an act of congress.

 

How could you run any wiring without removing the panel? Removing it isn't difficult, but you need to remove the front seat: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/r...-panel/B1YwrVB. Make sure that you don't turn on the car while the seat is disconnected or it will trigger an airbag warning. People have run new wires to the doors for upgrading their stereo. Try searching in the audio subforums.

 

The side plate in that link looks a little different than my 04 Cooper S. The fellow who made some keys for me had to remove the driver side trim when he lost a socket down behind it putting the immobilizer back in. It was done without removing the seat but we did have to remove the seat belt anchor. That's when I discovered my sill plates had been lighted at one time because there were wires wires going under/into them behind the side trim.(they must have burned out over time).

I hadn't thought about looking up speaker wiring - that's a good suggestion. This isn't a big issue - I just thought it would be fun to have projector puddle lights with the JCW logo on the ground at night, even though I don't do a lot of night driving, and those nice big round holes in the door bottom seem like a natural spot for them..

EDIT: I found this info on the mini2 web site about running speaker wires to the door:"To get access to the connector open the door and remove the screw by the rubber shell of the door electrics lead. Next half close the door (mind you fingers ). Tip the shell upwards and remove. There should be enough slack in the cable to pull the connector out a few inches. Now you can open the door again. Now the smart bit, thanks BMW. Pull the blue catch out and this will separate the connector. Now you have access to all the wires. To thread stuff through you will have to remove the tape at the end of the boot."

There was also a discussion about two sets of speaker wires on some models with one set not used in non-HK systems. I'll just try adding a pair of wires that can be wired to the footwell lights rather than mess with the OEM wiring.

EDIT2: I got the connector part way out of the A pillar, but can't see how it disconnects. There is an aft facing end (black not blue) that pulls back a 1/4 inch or so that I assume is a release, but the connector doesn't want to be pried apart. Also there's not much space to work between the door and the body. Anyone know how this connector comes apart? I sure don't want to break it.

EDIT3: OK, I didn't see any easy way to run wires through the OEM conduit since it is a pretty tight fit between the rectangular connector and the rectangular hole in the A pillar so even if wires were run through the conduit there is no good way to get them into the cabin without drilling a new hole. I might consider that later, but for now I just buttoned it back up. Maybe I'll just mount then under the dash like these http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-interior-ice/11876-new-speaker-wire-into-door-how.html that looks pretty cool too.

 

Here is another way and door handle mod.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighting-3.html


Otherwise tap into the inside footwell lights and cut the bottom door card like oem and retrofit the oem or aftermarket piece.