Center Console Removal

[davipt]

Originally Posted by Tom G.

If you cannot find the cable bundle, you need to remove the bracket to gain access. This only takes about 15 minutes. The cable will be towards the back seats.

Do you have an idea if the cd-changer cable is always there, or if there's a chance that there's no cable at all?

I also don't see the cable on my middle console. I see the cable for bluetooth and the power cable for the cigarret lighter, but nothing else.


When you mean "remove bracket", do you have some detail photos of it? Is the cable under the carpet? I see some cables over a small hole on the back right of the console, but there's hardly space for a finger.


I have standard radio without dsp, navi pro but no tv, and bluetooth.

[davidr]

Check to see if you have a fuse for the CD-changer first - fuse 42. If this is present there's a good chance it's been wired with the CD-changer harness.

I searched for ages to find the harness plugs but only discovered them after removing the rear ash tray, unbolting the two nuts and screws at the back and the four top screws (two at front under gearstick gator / trim, two in middle at top near handbrake). Once you have all 6 screws and 2 nuts removed you should be able to lift the entire centre console enough (1 to 2 inches) to get under the rear metal bracket that supports a CD-changer. There you will find the foam wrap containing plugs, usually folded and pushed down almost under carpet directly below rear ash tray.

[Tom G.]

Originally Posted by davipt

Do you have an idea if the cd-changer cable is always there, or if there's a chance that there's no cable at all?

The CD Changer cable is always there - all X3s are prewired for a CD Changer.

Originally Posted by davipt

When you mean "remove bracket", do you have some detail photos of it? Is the cable under the carpet? I see some cables over a small hole on the back right of the console, but there's hardly space for a finger.

Look to the left of the wiring bundle you have pictured - the cables are usually acessed through the center of the bracket, sometimes that bracket needs to be removed to gain access.

[davipt]

@davidr, tom g.: thanks for your comments. I will dissasemble the console then and look for more cables under the carpet I'll be back with photos of it in a couple of days.

[davipt]

No good luck.
I've dissasembled enough of the console to put my fingers in every available hole and couldn't find any cable.

This is the cable runs through the center console, but it doesn't look like the cd changer. I've tried to pull it, but it was well fixed. The lower grey is the console pushed up and left. Do I need to also take out the stell support that is seen in the photo?


I've taken out those two hexagonal screws on the left, plus the two philips ones. Both the plastic and the big steel support came up enough. Do I also need to take the other steel support, the one with at least one interior-hexagonal-screw?


davidr: I saw no fuse 42. The numbers end around 28 or something And do you have any photos of the hidden cable ? I can't lift the carpet on the "right below the lighter" and there's no hole for fingers at all. Do I need to take the second support out?

I have a feeling that USA cars do come prepared, but not German cars that are configured individually. The cable is a separate part, according to the ETK, which then comes either from the front, from radio, in cases like mine, or from the back, for APM enabled cars.

I'll connect directly to the navi cable. I think I know the colour codes now

[Tom G.]

Originally Posted by theled

I have my center console out and I don't see of feel the bundle of cable for cd changer. Do I have to take out the center support bracket to locate and would the cable be in the direction of parking brake or direction of back seat? Can anyone help...........

It will be in the direction of the back seat - towards the rear ashtray. Some vehicles require the bracket to be removed in order to access the cables.

[davidr]

Originally Posted by davipt

No good luck.
I've dissasembled enough of the console to put my fingers in every available hole and couldn't find any cable.

This is the cable runs through the center console, but it doesn't look like the cd changer. I've tried to pull it, but it was well fixed. The lower grey is the console pushed up and left. Do I need to also take out the stell support that is seen in the photo?


I've taken out those two hexagonal screws on the left, plus the two philips ones. Both the plastic and the big steel support came up enough. Do I also need to take the other steel support, the one with at least one interior-hexagonal-screw?


davidr: I saw no fuse 42. The numbers end around 28 or something And do you have any photos of the hidden cable ? I can't lift the carpet on the "right below the lighter" and there's no hole for fingers at all. Do I need to take the second support out?

I have a feeling that USA cars do come prepared, but not German cars that are configured individually. The cable is a separate part, according to the ETK, which then comes either from the front, from radio, in cases like mine, or from the back, for APM enabled cars.

I'll connect directly to the navi cable. I think I know the colour codes now

Davipt - what model X3 do you have? Is it a 2.0i ?

I don't know about Germany but here in the UK all X3's come with prep for CD changers (even base 2.0i model).

I did this exact same thing last week on a 2005 model X3 2.0d Sport. Try working from the back, lift the entire console upwards to allow fingers underneath the X in the picture, you should feel foam.

Might be worth checking with a dealer if option 692 has been built into car (CD preparation) if you have no luck. Despite what Tom says, many European cars do NOT have all the options that US cars get (sadly)

David

[davidr]

I neglected to take pictures when I re-installed my Icelink using Tom's harness. However, this picture above gives a good idea of what you're looking for.

[Tom G.]

Originally Posted by davidr

Davipt - what model X3 do you have? Is it a 2.0i ?

I don't know about Germany but here in the UK all X3's come with prep for CD changers (even base 2.0i model).

I did this exact same thing last week on a 2005 model X3 2.0d Sport. Try working from the back, lift the entire console upwards to allow fingers underneath the X in the picture, you should feel foam.

Might be worth checking with a dealer if option 692 has been built into car (CD preparation) if you have no luck. Despite what Tom says, many European cars do NOT have all the options that US cars get (sadly)

David

Even if the vehicle not prewired for a CD Changer - we can get the iPod into the vehicle with a little help. We're done this on a few euro vehicles before, but it's not common.

[davipt]

Nope. Definitively not. After almost tearing apart the whole center console, I can assure that it is possible to get a X3 without the CD Changer cables

This is a photo taken from the front to the back, and from the right side. Those cables go on the right side. The big thing on top is one of the manual break cables. The white thing on top is the beginning of the foam of the carpet right behind the cigarret lighter.


Time to search for the cables on ebay

On the good side, I've connected the I-BUS kit to the back of the truck (got the right colour codes) and got a Python command line + library working in my Mac. More info in a new post soon.