R52 Homelink install on Cabrio
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From: Nor. Cal. Bay Are
Homelink install on Cabrio
Sorry, long write-up and lots of pics...
I just finished the install of an after market homelink into the cabrio overhead console and wanted to share this. I've read other postings about this on NAM and just wanted to add to that.
When I originally bought my MCSC, I picked it up from the dealership showroom floor and didn't have to get on a waiting list. This was because someone had cancelled the order at the last minute, so they had this beatiful cool-blue/blue/blue sitting there with all the options I wanted except homelink/auto dim mirror.
I understand that you can upgrade the mirror to include these options but after calling a couple of mini dealerships and discovering a $450 price tag on that, I decided to do the next best thing. I can live w/o auto dim but homelink is a must for me.
I picked up a sunvisor with homelink from ebay for $24 + shipping. I didn't care for the color as long as the buttons were black.
The removal of the console is fairly simple. The main light panel just snaps off. The clips are locate to the back (back of car, see pics). Unplug the light panel and push all other switches (top, windows, airbag light) out of the panel as well and unplug. Remove the sunvisors (both) and the clips that hold the visors in place. The screws are hidden under the small covers on either side of the clips. Use a small screw driver to open the covers.
To remove the mirror, just twist to the left or right and it will come off. Remove the covers on the support and uplug the wires. It is my understanding that the wiring for homelink is already in place on all the minis. I'm not sure about older models.
Now just pull down on the console to unsnap it. The snaps are located on the furthest edges of the console. Becareful not to pull down to much as the pillar covers and the console are held in place by tabs on the front and back. Once you unsnap the console just move it around to pull it off the tabs.
The re-install of the console is the reverse of the removal. I found the drummel tool to be an absolute must for this project.
The back of the console has supporting ribs. I had to trim down 2 of these ribs to make room for the module as there is no space to put it near the light panel. (see pics). A bit of trimming on the module as well as the console gave me a snug fit for the module. I also cut some small groves on the ribs to slide the tabs that came with the module and thus giving me very good support.
I opted not to use the face plate of the module. Instead, I drilled (drummeled) some small holes for the buttons to portrude from. I have to admit, I was a bit careless and nicked a tiny area next to one of the holes.
You need to use the mirror wiring to pull the power from. Wiring it was fairly simple once I identified the correct wires (which took be a bit of time). So I did a bit of trial and error and here it is....drum roll please, locate the brown and green wires on the mirror wiring harness and pull power from these. They both have some other color lines but there's only one of each color. Brown is "grownd" and green is your "power". You might have to open up some tape to expose them. Locate a section that will give you plenty of working area. I soldered them in place and used shrink tubing as well as electrical tape for protection. But you can use other types of connectors. If you can, use an additional connector from the homelink module wires to the new wiring harness connection for ease of console installation and removal. I did this and it made installation that much easier.
Once you have secured the module on the console, the installation is straight forward.
I now have homelink for $24 + three hours of my time...
Sorry for the long write up, But hope this helps.
I just finished the install of an after market homelink into the cabrio overhead console and wanted to share this. I've read other postings about this on NAM and just wanted to add to that.
When I originally bought my MCSC, I picked it up from the dealership showroom floor and didn't have to get on a waiting list. This was because someone had cancelled the order at the last minute, so they had this beatiful cool-blue/blue/blue sitting there with all the options I wanted except homelink/auto dim mirror.
I understand that you can upgrade the mirror to include these options but after calling a couple of mini dealerships and discovering a $450 price tag on that, I decided to do the next best thing. I can live w/o auto dim but homelink is a must for me.
I picked up a sunvisor with homelink from ebay for $24 + shipping. I didn't care for the color as long as the buttons were black.
The removal of the console is fairly simple. The main light panel just snaps off. The clips are locate to the back (back of car, see pics). Unplug the light panel and push all other switches (top, windows, airbag light) out of the panel as well and unplug. Remove the sunvisors (both) and the clips that hold the visors in place. The screws are hidden under the small covers on either side of the clips. Use a small screw driver to open the covers.
To remove the mirror, just twist to the left or right and it will come off. Remove the covers on the support and uplug the wires. It is my understanding that the wiring for homelink is already in place on all the minis. I'm not sure about older models.
Now just pull down on the console to unsnap it. The snaps are located on the furthest edges of the console. Becareful not to pull down to much as the pillar covers and the console are held in place by tabs on the front and back. Once you unsnap the console just move it around to pull it off the tabs.
The re-install of the console is the reverse of the removal. I found the drummel tool to be an absolute must for this project.
The back of the console has supporting ribs. I had to trim down 2 of these ribs to make room for the module as there is no space to put it near the light panel. (see pics). A bit of trimming on the module as well as the console gave me a snug fit for the module. I also cut some small groves on the ribs to slide the tabs that came with the module and thus giving me very good support.
I opted not to use the face plate of the module. Instead, I drilled (drummeled) some small holes for the buttons to portrude from. I have to admit, I was a bit careless and nicked a tiny area next to one of the holes.
You need to use the mirror wiring to pull the power from. Wiring it was fairly simple once I identified the correct wires (which took be a bit of time). So I did a bit of trial and error and here it is....drum roll please, locate the brown and green wires on the mirror wiring harness and pull power from these. They both have some other color lines but there's only one of each color. Brown is "grownd" and green is your "power". You might have to open up some tape to expose them. Locate a section that will give you plenty of working area. I soldered them in place and used shrink tubing as well as electrical tape for protection. But you can use other types of connectors. If you can, use an additional connector from the homelink module wires to the new wiring harness connection for ease of console installation and removal. I did this and it made installation that much easier.
Once you have secured the module on the console, the installation is straight forward.
I now have homelink for $24 + three hours of my time...
Sorry for the long write up, But hope this helps.
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