[ezatnova]

Now where does everyone get the fuse tap for the E90? I tried to find one at a radio shack and apparently they don't carry the one for the mini-fuses...

I think it's been discussed on this thread, but NAPA, Autozone, and Pepboys all carry them. $9 - $14 The one at NAPA didn't have any fuses with it, so I had to buy a stupid friggin box of 3 amp fuses when all I needed was one. The ones at P-boyscome with one fuse of a lot of different types (I think a 3,5,7,10 amp). But alas, my P-boys was out of stock, they just had the one for regular big fuses.

[777ER]

Originally Posted by ezatnova

I think it's been discussed on this thread, but NAPA, Autozone, and Pepboys all carry them. $9 - $14 The one at NAPA didn't have any fuses with it, so I had to buy a stupid friggin box of 3 amp fuses when all I needed was one. The ones at P-boyscome with one fuse of a lot of different types (I think a 3,5,7,10 amp). But alas, my P-boys was out of stock, they just had the one for regular big fuses.

You know what's funny? the local NAPA shut down recently...AutoZone, Advance Auto, Pep-boys are all about 40 mins drive from where I live and that's in a raduis. The closest one is AutoZone in Nanuet, NY and I'd have to pay a $4.00 toll to go over the TZ bridge and it's not worth it just for a fuse tap alone.
When I have to bring my BMW in for service, I'm already over the bridge and I'll go to AutoZone with a loaner car and visit my uncle whos nearby there.

[ezatnova]

Originally Posted by 777ER

You know what's funny? the local NAPA shut down recently...AutoZone, Advance Auto, Pep-boys are all about 40 mins drive from where I live and that's in a raduis. The closest one is AutoZone in Nanuet, NY and I'd have to pay a $4.00 toll to go over the TZ bridge and it's not worth it just for a fuse tap alone.
When I have to bring my BMW in for service, I'm already over the bridge and I'll go to AutoZone with a loaner car and visit my uncle whos nearby there.

I was shocked I couldn't find some on ebay. They usually have everything!

[HyperM3]

When I went looking for the fusetaps Radio Shack had never heard of them. Pep Boys and Autozones were all out of them. The only one that had them was an Advance Auto about 20 miles away. Ended up picking up all their stock (1 large and 1 small) cus you never know when you might need it.

[jkcali2ooo]

Okay... I hooked mine up a little shady like... but it worked. I just wanted to see if it would work. I will eventually get a fuse tap...

Basically received the radar detector and then used the hardwire kit that was included. I went to Radio Shack and Kragen and both sales people were oblivious to what a fuse tap was. After searching for like 15 minutes in each store I settled on a fuse holder as a temporary means.

Taking the fuse holder I took the fuse that was included in the V1 Packaging and put it in the fuse holder. Then I connected the wires from one end of the fuse holder into the power cable from the V1 hardwire kit (into the blue plastic end of the red power cable and then used electric tape to seal the connection). With the remaining wired end, I essentially split it in two strings
of wire and stuck it in the the homelink slot (straight wires into the fuse connection after pulling out the 5amp fuse). Then I powered on the car and on goes the radar detector... I know this setup is far from professional, but like I said, it is a temporary fix until I get the fuse tap from either autozone, pepboys, or any other place that sells it.

FYI, If you do get in a serious accident and in fact ran the wire down the A pillar, the wire will be the least of your problems. The radar detector itself could hit you or the passenger in the head and cause more serious injuries then the wire in addition to anything else you may have hung off your windshield (gps ... etc).

Just a side note: Anyone know if running the wires directly into the fuse box could cause a fire ... or anything like that. I don't think it would but I wanted to make sure. And Thanks for the awesome DIY!

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by jkcali2ooo

Just a side note: Anyone know if running the wires directly into the fuse box could cause a fire ... or anything like that. I don't think it would but I wanted to make sure. And Thanks for the awesome DIY!

Nope, youll be fine. Before I discovered what a fuse tap was, I used to twist the wire around the fuse and stick it in. Never had any problems.

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Nope, youll be fine. Before I discovered what a fuse tap was, I used to twist the wire around the fuse and stick it in. Never had any problems.

Yeah, I used some other sketchy stuff in the day as well. I was really happy when I discovered this fuse tap, as it was very clean and professional..

[ren]

Originally Posted by Josh49

Yeah, I used some other sketchy stuff in the day as well. I was really happy when I discovered this fuse tap, as it was very clean and professional..

That's why I like it, too. It's professional, and in case something else goes wrong with the car BMW service has nothing to complain about. And also, this is why I chose to wire it through fuse box, not the sunroof cables.

[jkcali2ooo]

Side Note: Anyone know how to disable the X band and K band?

[SuperSperm]

Originally Posted by jkcali2ooo

Side Note: Anyone know how to disable the X band and K band?

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

[jkcali2ooo]

thanks

[UCANDO1T]

Trying to install this weekend. What size is that Torx bolt for the ground?

[rgupta8]

i tried this last weekend and after i set everything up, my v1 wasnt getting power...which is weird because my homelink and pdc where still workin....anyone seen this issue before????

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by rgupta8

i tried this last weekend and after i set everything up, my v1 wasnt getting power...which is weird because my homelink and pdc where still workin....anyone seen this issue before????

Can you take a pic of where you tapped it so we can see what you did?

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by rgupta8

i tried this last weekend and after i set everything up, my v1 wasnt getting power...which is weird because my homelink and pdc where still workin....anyone seen this issue before????

Try another fuse for the v1? Maybe that fuse is blown.. And the other one isn't. That would create the situation you have. Also, how do you have your ground setup. If your ground is not stepup for the v1 circuit, that would also create the situation you have..

Check your wire to fuse tap, and wire to ground connection..

Another thing to try is switching around the fuse tap 180 degrees. This was the difference between working and not working for me..

[rgupta8]

ill try flipping the fuse tap 180 and see if i have any luck....i tried using a 2 amp fuse (same one i used to fuse tap my prior car) and after that didnt work i switched to a 3 amp fuse that I had lying around. if i still have no luck ill take picutres and show you what i have set-up.....as for the ground, i used the torx screw that was already there, im pretty sure its set up correctly, but i guess that could be the issue as well.....anyways ill try this weekend and let you know how things go....thanks for the help!

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by rgupta8

ill try flipping the fuse tap 180 and see if i have any luck....i tried using a 2 amp fuse (same one i used to fuse tap my prior car) and after that didnt work i switched to a 3 amp fuse that I had lying around. if i still have no luck ill take picutres and show you what i have set-up.....as for the ground, i used the torx screw that was already there, im pretty sure its set up correctly, but i guess that could be the issue as well.....anyways ill try this weekend and let you know how things go....thanks for the help!

Yeah, no problem, make sure you have solid metal to metal connection everywhere..

Also, just to make sure it's not something else, plug the detector in with the cigarette lighter cord as a sanity check..

[rgupta8]

thanks, i am currently running the v1 using the cig lighter...no need to be foolish now

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by rgupta8

thanks, i am currently running the v1 using the cig lighter...no need to be foolish now

Haha!! I have definitely debugged things for a long time only to realize the bulb was out or something..

I'm still laughing at your post right now though, that was good. I deserved that..

[rgupta8]

THANKS FOR THE ADIVICE!!!! i flipped the fuse tap and power!


however now i think there is a problem with the hardwire kit, anytime the wires move the power goes in and out looks liek a bit more troubleshooting left..... :mad:

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by rgupta8

however now i think there is a problem with the hardwire kit, anytime the wires move the power goes in and out looks liek a bit more troubleshooting left..... :mad:

Where are the wires moving? Did you push the fuse tap in far enough?

[rgupta8]

no like when i set it it works, then i move the thing that connects teh v1 cord to the fuse tap and the power goes out... im going to investigate further tomorrow