[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by JimVR4

There are clips at the lower left and right that accept tabs from the console. You have to push the edges of the back panel toward the middle to get the clips to release.

These clips are difficult. Like Jim says, they push in to unclip. But the problem is you cant really get a hold of them, if you stick a finger up the edge you can just feel themm but you cant pry them inwards. You need to use a tool like the one I used in the picture below. I first tried a credit card but that didnt work. You need a wedge shaped instrument to insert between the clip and the plastic it is clipping into.

[starbai]

I would like to do this without an open cubby hole, I like the idea of the door option given by the ashtray piece.

Can I get away with just ordering the console w/power outlets... and just the ashtray piece?

Or is there something that the ash tray fits into that I need to get as well?

Also, I dont want to use it as an ashtray, just as a tray to store things in but hidden away... so I would like to do without the 'ashtray insert' into the housing... can someone post a pic of the inside of the ash tray without the actual ashtray insert? just curious to see what kinda size we're talking here and if it looks weird/unfinished without the actual insert...

Thanks folks!

[freshnezzz]

i want to thank everyone for their help i just completed upgrage. everyones comments were great. removal was not hard for me i just yanked it off, crimping wires was easy, and install was smooth. only wish i had bought cubby hole too cause by ash tray is so scrached.

[jaco_ma]

Good work!

Let's see if I dare do it, although the price of the console seems a little high ...

[DAKn2]

I have a 2011 E90 - What fuse does this power wire come from?

Just curious of the amperage rating for this circuit.


EDIT: Took a closer look - Fuse 8; Same power feed as the power outlet inside the center console - 10 Amp fuse in my fuse block.

[Raider78]

Any one want my old back panel to make your own? Just add sockets. Dakota Black interior. $10 to cover shipping and its yours. Just installed the mod, what a breeze.

[christopherboyce]

I just wanted to thank the OP and all of the contributors to this thread. I had always wanted to add power in my back console (my original rear console was just like above - beige - with just the A/C), but just had been putting it off. I had found the rear console and ordered it, along with the tray insert, before I found this thread. This just made it so much easier!

I was planning on changing out the armrest to a split armrest, too, and thought I'd put it off and just do everything at once.

Well, finally got around to doing it today after sitting on the parts for a few weeks. I installed everything - armrest and rear mod - and had it all buttoned back up within 20 minutes. What a difference it makes. I really enjoy the look of it.

I also wanted to add that I just used two of the 3M Quick Connects (not four that was mentioned in the OP). The two reds can go into one connect and the two browns in the other.

I also wanted to make sure USB ports were always handy and to be different, so I also added in official, BMW dual-USB adapters. I know there are much (okay, extremely) cheaper alternatives, which I do have, and I also have the single BMW adapters, but I wanted to really make it different and wanted it to match and be 'authentic' looking, so I added those in since they have the 'BMW' name on them - they also emit a soft green light inside of the ports, regardless if anything is plugged in, which is nice. Most of the cheaper adapters are about 1cm shorter, so they sit in a little more flush, but they don't look as good color/quality or matching-wise, so that is my only complaint - if I had one - wish they would sit in just a .5cm-1cm more, but they still look terrific. It looks impressive to me with four ports ready to go.

Thanks again, and I added pics to show the final product:

[squic]

Great DIY. Since this thread started a while ago, is there a current place to order the parts that offers a better price than a local dealer?

[.fLip.]

pretty cool DIY, adding this to my list of things to do

[ShaverZBT]

Originally Posted by squic

Great DIY. Since this thread started a while ago, is there a current place to order the parts that offers a better price than a local dealer?

I just ordered everything I needed from ECS Tuning.

[ShaverZBT]

The robot lives!

[gilly22]

Well, guess I can add this to my growing list of to-do's this summer. :-)
I'm curious...does tapping 2 more plugs onto the existing wires create any issues with overload? Wouldn't using the BMW double USB port plugs create some excessive heat if all 4 ports were being used? Sorry, I've done many car and home stereos, but I'm not an electrical specialist by any stretch.

[Ali-E90]

Will this work for cars that don't have climate controls or vents in the rear?
I have a base Canadian 323i, and it just has an ashtray and separate storage cubby with no vents. No existing controls that require power there so I wonder if it's just as easy, or if it the required wires aren't there.

If I do this, I also wonder if it makes sense to add rear vents while I'm at it (if easy enough)

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by gilly22

Well, guess I can add this to my growing list of to-do's this summer. :-)
I'm curious...does tapping 2 more plugs onto the existing wires create any issues with overload? Wouldn't using the BMW double USB port plugs create some excessive heat if all 4 ports were being used? Sorry, I've done many car and home stereos, but I'm not an electrical specialist by any stretch.

I've had mine in for a few years. There have been trips where all 4 people in the car (maybe a fifth riding the hump) were at some point plugged into a port, no burning smells and they all still work.

[ajaye]

Originally Posted by gilly22

Well, guess I can add this to my growing list of to-do's this summer. :-)
I'm curious...does tapping 2 more plugs onto the existing wires create any issues with overload? Wouldn't using the BMW double USB port plugs create some excessive heat if all 4 ports were being used? Sorry, I've done many car and home stereos, but I'm not an electrical specialist by any stretch.

If you're using the wiring that came from the factory/with the console part, as long as you don't change the fuse for that circuit to a higher current-rated fuse, the fuse is supposed to open before the load would reach the point of damaging the wire.

[Jeffman]

Thanks to everyone. I just installed mine. The biggest PITA was disconnecting the blue wire connector. Luckily I just went through the experience of dealing with many similar connectors as I swapped out the L7 OEM speakers for the Bavsound upgraded speakers (awesome, FYI). I've found the trick to disconnecting these is "support the holder and wiggle and pull the plug". Tight fit for the blue connector...with my hiker's LED headlamp for light, jeweler's screw driver supporting the plug holder, and pulling and wiggling on the blue wire plug with thin needle nose pliers, the plug come out pretty quickly. Careful not to squeeze those pliers too hard or you'll crush the connector.

[90c4]

I didn't do this mod but used the guide to pry open the vent cover so I could stuff a bluetooth audio receiver in there (instead of taking up room in my armrest), and I came across a part I wasn't sure of. It's a flat black metal device connected with a 2 wire cable. Not sure if it's an interior bluetooth antenna or has something to do with the ipod integration that my car has. There's a number on it but I already put it back together. Anyone know what it might be?

[Heylel]

So, this seems like a nifty little mod to make life on longer trips a lot less stressles as the kids could now be pacified for a longer time with their own power outlet for iPads

I already have (from factory) a covering rear with vents at top, a blank faceplate in the middle and a cubby hole at the bottom.

So in essence, I actually only need the middle faceplate with cutouts for 2x cigarette lighter plugins as well as the 2x cigarette lighter plugins.

I've looked at realoem.com and bmwparts.info, and it doesn't seem like the middle faceplate with cutouts is something that can be ordered individually.

Can someone confirm that if I order the "Covering Rear - part no. 51-16-7-150-155", it WILL come with correct faceplate AND 2x cigarette lighter plugins?

Update: My local BMW parts pusher has confirmed that the 51-16-7-150-155 does come with the two plugins, so all is good :-)

Update 2: Did this DIY tonight and it was very easy. Also installed a new A/C outlet as the fan grille on one side was stuck on the old. Only problem was the quick connects I had were of a flimsy, cheapo asian manufacturer so the metal bent and wouldn't bite. After some scrounging, I managed to dig up some proper 3M ones in the bottom of a drawer and that did the trick. So don't skimp on those! I can imagine going back at a later stage to clean up the wiring, but for now it's fully functional and works perfect. Thanks to the OP for this DIY!

Cheers,

H.

[VitSports6]

I know this is an old thread, but I was stoked to see people were able to switch out the rear covering and have a couple outlets, let alone the prices! Doing a little research, I can't seem to find any covers for less than $140+ I mean It was a hell of a deal at the first price, even at $65 shown on realoem, but I don't think I need to do this that badly...
Anyone have a clean one owner with the outlets in Schwartz?

[ebmiller88]

Good evening. For those of you looking for a more factory looking install, I'm working on it and will post results when my one small part comes in. I bought two of these (two in case I mess one up):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221800436332...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This female connector should mate up to the male on the new panel. I plan on wiring it in to the pair of wires going to the DC plug in the armrest but I'm still working on just how to do it. I'll update later when the plugs arrive.

Ed

[opjose]

After reading this thread and seeing how easy this is, I purchased the standard cover (no outlets) and the following item off of Amazon...

USB Socket w/Meter

And ended up with the outlet in the attached picture.

I cut the holes with a Fostner bit. Very quick and simple to do. Everything took less than an hour and a half, mainly because I worked slowly.

In retrospect I could have not bothered with purchasing the "robot" rear console cover and just use the one already in the car. The triple socket I gave the link for comes with the required connectors and all I had to add was some wire and two crimp-on connectors.

I also could have avoided utilizing the faceplate provided with the triple outlet for a cleaner look. The provided faceplate was good as a template for cutting the holes.

The USB outlets in mine light up with a soft red glow matching the instruments.

Great thread btw.

Sorry for the wrong orientation but the web site seems to have changed it.

[kpolakoff]

Originally Posted by ebmiller88

Good evening. For those of you looking for a more factory looking install, I'm working on it and will post results when my one small part comes in. I bought two of these (two in case I mess one up):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221800436332...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This female connector should mate up to the male on the new panel. I plan on wiring it in to the pair of wires going to the DC plug in the armrest but I'm still working on just how to do it. I'll update later when the plugs arrive.

Ed

Did you ever complete the mod, any write up to it? looking to add the rear power outlets and maintain power in the armrest.
Thanks