[ewicky]

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking for advice on integrating power switches for various aftermarket electronics. I'd like for it to be convenient to switch while driving and look reasonably stock-ish.

I recently deleted my TCU, which leaves the SOS button and its spot available. I'm having trouble finding a blank insert that matches the other switches in the roof panel. At this time I don't think I have much use for a momentary push button. I'd rather have a couple of toggle switches or push-on, push-off.

What have other people done? Has anyone modified the stock row of buttons to control other things? That would be ideal.



Looking to power on/off my SureCall cell booster as well as a vacuum solenoid to close down the exhaust (basically electrically actuated golf-tee mod).

Soliciting advice/experience. Thanks!

[ewicky]

Well, nearly 100 people have viewed my question but not one has bothered responding, so I'm shamelessly bumping this.

Where/how have you put your custom-installed switches and controls?

I've seen some people with radar detector remote controls installed in the ash tray. That's a cool idea but that's where my phone rests (landscape), so it doesn't work well for me.

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by ewicky

Well, nearly 100 people have viewed my question but not one has bothered responding, so I'm shamelessly bumping this.

Where/how have you put your custom-installed switches and controls?

I've seen some people with radar detector remote controls installed in the ash tray. That's a cool idea but that's where my phone rests (landscape), so it doesn't work well for me.

If the other 99 views are like me, they all have the same question!!
Lol

Also interested in ideas for controlling some aftermarket ambient LED lighting inside the cabin and around my subwoofer

Good luck (for ALL of our sake!)!!

[gamesfrager]

If the controls/buttons are low profile; then maybe on the underside of the arm rest?
Unless you need constant interaction; then that solution won't work.

[Emilime75]

What you're asking is something that 99.9% of car owners don't do with their cars. Might be a while before someone with experience sees it and chimes in.

Otherwise, I believe that the majority(if not all) of the stock buttons are momentary and logic is used to activate/deactivate whatever feature they're associated with. You could use them if you added something like an Arduino and some relays, and rewired them off of the stock wiring harness. Beyond that, you're likely left to finding the latching buttons you can agree with aesthetically and installing wherever makes sense to you.

[Ali-E90]

I just thought of something that might work for me, but probably not 99% of the others...

My car is not equipped with front or rear fog lights (base 2007 323i, Canadian car). I have done the rear fog mod, and it works. Leading me to wonder if I can do a similar mod to enable the button for the front fog... and then tap into some factory wiring or fuse that would be used for the front fog if I had one (and run that wire to a relay for my accessories).
Is this possible?

Thoughts and helpful info greatly appreciated!!
(Is this possible? What fuse it might be? What other wire to tap?)