I'm hard wiring my V1. Tried several different unused fuse lines in the fuse box and all are constant 12v supply. Anyone know which wire leaving the box is switched to the ignition? I know that the cig lighter is switched, but don't know which wire leaving the fuse box goes there.

 

I'm pretty sure I've seen this answered before in the Navigation and Audio section. Someone else was looking for this for hardwiring their iPod or cel phone. I'm looking for the thread and I'll post if I can find it quickly.

 

I think this will point you in the right direction.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=volt+switched

or possibly this one

http://www.jwardell.com/mini/fusetap.html but I don't know if applies to the R56 as well.

 

O.K., here is the deal: There is no switched power (as we know it) for the "acc" position, BUT many of the fuses will switch off after 30 minutes of inactivity (car off and/or locked). BMW blanks the nav display, and mutes the radio when you shut down, but all is still active behind the scenes, until the car "goes to sleep".

I have done a lot of reseach on this, and this is what I have found.

This is why almost all the fuses have +12v on them when you have the door open, and you are checking fuses for power.

I ended up connecting my Sirius to F21. Sirius powers up when I open the door, works in the "acc" position, and stays on when I get out & lock the car. It powers down after 30 minutes.

 

Thanks all. Now I know why I was confused.

 

OK, with motivation from the above posts, I dug deeper. In the fuse panel on the passenger side, the blue connector adjacent to fuse F6 has a thicker red wire with a black stripe and yellow bands. This is switched on/off with the engine. I believe it goes to the cig lighter.

I had an inline tap and used it for the V1. Note, this line is at 13.5v so make sure your equipment will tolerate that. The V1 runs 11-16v as ok.

I kept forgetting to shut the V1 off when tapped into an unused fuse. This will do the trick.

 

You know, there were some discussions about mp3 disc and restarting songs. Folks were wondering why it picked up where it left off or restarted the song after shutting off the engine. I think they came to the conclusion that after about 15 minutes the system would go back to the beginning of the last track played.
I wonder if the coolant system may be the controling function. Maybe it keeps power on until the water pump has ran it's cycle?

 

This also why the heated seats "remember" if they are on if you stop the car, and re-start within the timout period.

As stated above, there are two fuses that power on/off with the engine, but this is of no help if you want power in the "acc" or radio ready mode.

 

What is the other on/off fuse besides F21? The "add-a-circuit" that I have will not fit in the F21 slot. The bayonets are just a bit too wide. Hopefully it is one of the wider slots in front!

 

Use power from the cigarette lighter.

 

Don't know, you will have to do a test with the door closed, so you allow the car to go to sleep. The cigarette lighter fuse will work, however it only is powered when the MINI is running, it does not have power in "radio ready" or "acc" mode.

They make add a circuit fuse adapters for mini fuses, this is what you need to get....you have the standard bayonet fuse adapter.

 

If you look at the Sticky posted by oPossom on R56 fuses "hot or not" on 2nd Gen R56 , electrical, you will find all the info you need.