[poldim]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

Thanks for the photo. This will help me a lot when I go to install my Passport. Just to clarify, the green-white wire you tapped into is part of the bundle that's hanging down in your photo, right?

No!

You can actually see about half an inch of the green/white wire in the other bundle that is cut off in the picture. You can see where the red wire for valentine power enters the bundle at the top. I just shoved it in between the other wires, removed some isolation from the green/white wire, and connected.

[poldim]

Heres another angle to clarify it a bit. I dont have any good shots of the splice itself...

[shutterbug]

Great. Thanks!

[poldim]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

Great. Thanks!

np

If my memory serves me right, its from the plug second farthest from the drivers side of the light panel. Its got maybe 8 or 10 wires in it. The green/white should be about the third from one side of the plug.
I would still highly suggest you get a DMM and test it to make sure its +12 when the ignition is turned on.


Measure twice, cut three times!

[mfisher702]

I did the install as many other above did. Worked until opening the sunroof which would cut the power. I followed someone's advice in the thread and relocated the ground to a fresh screw (I drilled the hole and used a small sheetmetal screw) which solved the problem. 100% operation now.

Mark

[poldim]

Originally Posted by mfisher702

I did the install as many other above did. Worked until opening the sunroof which would cut the power. I followed someone's advice in the thread and relocated the ground to a fresh screw (I drilled the hole and used a small sheetmetal screw) which solved the problem. 100% operation now.

Mark

Im still confused, what did you use to ground it the first time?

[poldim]

Originally Posted by westwest888

Afraid of the thought police or something? Grow a set, brotha.

What's the worst that could happen? These aren't criminal offences.

Im in VA for 8 months of the year. I swear by my Valentine, and the fact that I'm in VA is probably my biggest drive for having it.

In Maryland cops have real things to worry about, so unless you get pulled over by a State Pooper, then you are very likely to get off in court. In Virginia, you are just screwed, no matter who stops you.

[mfisher702]

Originally Posted by poldim

Im still confused, what did you use to ground it the first time?

I had used an existing torx bolt that sits left of the sunroof motor and a little deep. Even after sanding off the black lacquer on the bolt as advised by someone here, I still got an interruption when opening the sunroof.

I drilled a fresh hole and used a generic sheetmetal screw and this fixed the problem.

Mark

[poldim]

Very strange...

I didnt sand anything, just unscrewed the sunroof motor mount bolt, inserted my o-ring wire connector and screwed it back down...

No interuptions.

[ItalyBMW325]

I used to install stereos.. if you are having ground problems use a star washer. they dig in to the metal.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by ItalyBMW325

I used to install stereos.. if you are having ground problems use a star washer. they dig in to the metal.

Mine is attached to the bolt to the right of the motor. Its a greenish / blueish hue.

[lux.sh]

anyone has clear close-up pic of the splice? I still don't get it..

poldim, you grounded(black wire) to the big bolt showing in that pic(right by the aluminum housing) right?

[shutterbug]

Thanks to people's help in this thread I was able to successfully install my Passport 8500. The greenish bolt was a little hard to get to, so I grounded to the bolt on the left side. No problems with power interruption when opening the roof.

As for the splice, lux, it's very simple as long as you have a wire tap. You can buy these at Radio Shack (if you have this chain where you live, that is). Just identify the green/white wire in the large bundle, and the wire tap will allow you to splice your power wire into it. Once you have the wire tap in hand I'm sure you'll get it...

[lux.sh]

thanks for the tip shutterbug.

I just got done installing it. It took 3 hours. here is a break down.

2hrs - trying to get the F$#&ing light fixture off. didn't work.
30min - read this whole thread again, finally took the damn thing off.
20min - wiring, organizing all the damn wires
10min - cleaning, mounting V1 again, come back to E90post.com

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. If it was my honda, the car would've been "bruised" up pretty bad since I would be punching everywhere. but I couldn't possibly "punch around" a 42k car, I just smoked, smoked, and smoked. I think I smoked a whole pack during those 2 hours. :mad: :mad:

but finally done, and loving it. my god........ I would never do it again though.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

thanks for the tip shutterbug.

I just got done installing it. It took 3 hours. here is a break down.

2hrs - trying to get the F$#&ing light fixture off. didn't work.
30min - read this whole thread again, finally took the damn thing off.
20min - wiring, organizing all the damn wires
10min - cleaning, mounting V1 again, come back to E90post.com

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. If it was my honda, the car would've been "bruised" up pretty bad since I would be punching everywhere. but I couldn't possibly "punch around" a 42k car, I just smoked, smoked, and smoked. I think I smoked a whole pack during those 2 hours. :mad: :mad:

but finally done, and loving it. my god........ I would never do it again though.

hahahhaahahah


that was halarious


I'm glad you finally got it installed. It feels good to accomplish something like this on your own. It took me prob 15 min to figure out how to get that thing down without destroying my interior, so I know where you're coming from.

[Explorer3253]

2 months later and I STILL!! can't get that thing down...

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by poldim

hahahhaahahah


that was halarious


I'm glad you finally got it installed. It feels good to accomplish something like this on your own. It took me prob 15 min to figure out how to get that thing down without destroying my interior, so I know where you're coming from.

lol. I was frustrated so badly. I did mess up the headliner a little though.

Your pic really helped. Forgot to thank you for the pics.

[poldim]

No problem, its what the forum is here for.

Explorer, do you have a george forman spatula? I think it works best because its so thin yet pretty strong.

[Explorer3253]

I'll go shopping for one if I have to..lol...petesampers may help me out this weekend..so I'm banking on that...I'm on the verge of selling it...

[Explorer3253]

Thanks to the help of petesampers, I finally have a hardwired V1. Thanks man!!

[petesamprs]

No prob bro, it was great meeting you.

btw, anyone else that needs in-person help with this mod in the NY/NJ area, I'm around to help.

[poldim]

Nice to know we have good forum members!

Now show us some pics explorer.