[Mystic330]

dejav0o - There are 2 seperate power circuits in that harness.
The connector has 3 wires:
-One is ground which is shared
-One is 12V to the power socket in the ashtray (which was replaced and now runs back to the rear plugs)
-And one is the power feed to the LEDs.

[dejav0o]

Thanks for the explanation guys... it makes sense now, since you're basically just routing whatever power went to the cigerette lighter to the back now. I just wasn't thinking it through correctly.

[dejav0o]

In case anyone was still confused about prying off the lid ( I thought I understood completely until I was looking at it and accidentally pryed the aluminum instead), you want to reach under the plastic part and start prying from one side to the other. What worked for me was to try to insert the screw driver in as far as possible and giving it a twist to pop out the latch holding it from the side. REPEAT, DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE ALUMINUM/WOOD PART FROM THE PLASTIC. I wish I took a picture at the time I removed it....

[Chesmu]

Just did this install today. I found it much easier to mount the LED to the front of the tray instead of the back. That way you don't have to take the sunglass tray apart (not easy) and put it back together again (not easier).

Thanks Frank!

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by Chesmu

Just did this install today. I found it much easier to mount the LED to the front of the tray instead of the back. That way you don't have to take the sunglass tray apart (not easy) and put it back together again (not easier).

Thanks Frank!

No problemo.

Could you post pics of yours?
I'm curious to see how it looks like with the lights at front.

[ilshim]

thanks for the idea and pictures. did mine today!

[MUNIK-FL]

Any idea where I can get a bunch of these:


I'd like to put some under the dash so they softly shine on the footwell.

[Spool]

Frank, how do you find time to do these things? Looks great, can i buy that off of you? And you buy another one and make the same DIY?


But i'm rice, i want the LEDs to be neon blue

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by Gixxer335iCoupe

Any idea where I can get a bunch of these:


I'd like to put some under the dash so they softly shine on the footwell.

Nice idea.
Not sure you can get them like that, but you can probably be able to buy the leds and other pieces from Radio Shack.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by Spool

Frank, how do you find time to do these things? Looks great, can i buy that off of you? And you buy another one and make the same DIY?


But i'm rice, i want the LEDs to be neon blue

Easy. I give the wife 2 options:
1)Stay home playing with my car
2) go out with my friends.
Why does she always picks #1?

Buy the sunglasses tray and give it to me...I'll do the rest.

[MUNIK-FL]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Nice idea.
Not sure you can get them like that, but you can probably be able to buy the leds and other pieces from Radio Shack.

I want the amber color to match th rest of the car's lighting. I'll check out radio shack tonight to see if they have anything close.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by Gixxer335iCoupe

I want the amber color to match th rest of the car's lighting. I'll check out radio shack tonight to see if they have anything close.

If no luck at Radio Shack, I suggest you PM MDS82.
He has been doing a lot of work with leds and might be able to point you to a site that has more variety of bulbs and colors.

[MUNIK-FL]

Radioshack has amber colored LEDs but they arent red enough.

[va_lemon]

Got the sunglass tray installed with the LEDs mounted on the front rather than back. One thing I noticed after the install was that the gear selector light on the auto shifter base plate remains on even after the car has been turned off and all the lights go off. Anyone else have this happen? Mine's a 2008 335 Coupe.

I even disconnected the sunglass tray LEDs from the socket to see if I messed up on connecting the brown wires together. If I disconnect the blue plug on the left side of the auto shifter, the light turns off but without that plug connected you cannot switch to DS mode.

Any ideas? I haven't seen or experienced any other problems. How long might it take for that light staying on to drain the battery?

EDIT: I've read about other BMW models that go into sleep mode after 16 mins and that's when the light goes out. I checked after 16 mins and the light's still on. Does anyone know if the time to sleep for the 07-08 s-series is also 16 mins? Could something be keeping it from going to sleep?

EDIT #2: Nevermind. solefald was kind enough to reply to my post in another forum that all BMW autos (at least the 3-series) do that. I guess I just noticed it after I walked back to the car in the dark for the first time since I picked it up Friday. A couple of the other threads confirmed this too.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by va_lemon

Got the sunglass tray installed with the LEDs mounted on the front rather than back. One thing I noticed after the install was that the gear selector light on the auto shifter base plate remains on even after the car has been turned off and all the lights go off. Anyone else have this happen? Mine's a 2008 335 Coupe.

I even disconnected the sunglass tray LEDs from the socket to see if I messed up on connecting the brown wires together. If I disconnect the blue plug on the left side of the auto shifter, the light turns off but without that plug connected you cannot switch to DS mode.

Any ideas? I haven't seen or experienced any other problems. How long might it take for that light staying on to drain the battery?

EDIT: I've read about other BMW models that go into sleep mode after 16 mins and that's when the light goes out. I checked after 16 mins and the light's still on. Does anyone know if the time to sleep for the 07-08 s-series is also 16 mins? Could something be keeping it from going to sleep?

EDIT #2: Nevermind. solefald was kind enough to reply to my post in another forum that all BMW autos (at least the 3-series) do that. I guess I just noticed it after I walked back to the car in the dark for the first time since I picked it up Friday. A couple of the other threads confirmed this too.

Could you post pics of your install?

As for the permanent light, yes it stays on always.

[jaypeeaf]

Originally Posted by dejav0o

In case anyone was still confused about prying off the lid ( I thought I understood completely until I was looking at it and accidentally pryed the aluminum instead), you want to reach under the plastic part and start prying from one side to the other. What worked for me was to try to insert the screw driver in as far as possible and giving it a twist to pop out the latch holding it from the side. REPEAT, DO NOT TRY TO REMOVE THE ALUMINUM/WOOD PART FROM THE PLASTIC. I wish I took a picture at the time I removed it....

DAMN! I wish I had read this before. I definitely chipped and scratched the hell out of my trim today trying to remove it. DAMN! Is there a way to buy a replacement part?!?!

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by jaypeeaf

DAMN! I wish I had read this before. I definitely chipped and scratched the hell out of my trim today trying to remove it. DAMN! Is there a way to buy a replacement part?!?!

Yes but it's not cheap.
you can also try a junk yard.

[xEcUtEr]

nice bit eheheh i'll do this!

[McMuffin]

Damn! I want this... Good DIY write up...

[d33v00n3h]

Yeah so I have tried and tried some more to take apart the sunglasses holder so I'll be able to drill holes for the lights, but I have come up unsuccessful. Anyone have any advice?

[Kolyan2k]

here u go. i drilled holes straight through those useless "tubes" on both side of ashtray and sunglasses holder. i then used epoxy to glue the lights straight to them. this way the light comes in, but you dont even see the bulbs. dont make mistake that i did. if you get epoxy, make sure you mix it good !

[rummy]

Did this tonight. Pretty straight forward. I wish I had aligned the holes a little better, but overall, it's a great mod, and it looks awesome.