How to hardwire USB charger in 2007 X3?

[x3inthechi]

Ok here is the scenario: I just bought a new 2007 X3 with 20k miles to replace my 2004, I freaking love it by the way. New options for me are park distance sensor and premium sound, I have all the other options minus sport package and Navigation.

The navigation is where I find myself in a little bind as I could not find a model with Nav that was exactly what I wanted. So what I would like to do is buy a new high end GPS and mount it to the window to the left of the steering wheel with the suction cup that has a USB receiver in it. It will look very clean and be out of the way. My issue is I want to hard wire a USB charger or USB cable that charges into my vehicle so I don't have cables going back across the seat and into the cig lighter. Does anyone know how I could do this or do you know of an article that explains how to hard wire a USB cable? I am thinking I can wire it into the fuse panel but what do you guys think?



Thanks!

[jimsteph12]

Originally Posted by x3inthechi

Ok here is the scenario: I just bought a new 2007 X3 with 20k miles to replace my 2004, I freaking love it by the way. New options for me are park distance sensor and premium sound, I have all the other options minus sport package and Navigation.

The navigation is where I find myself in a little bind as I could not find a model with Nav that was exactly what I wanted. So what I would like to do is buy a new high end GPS and mount it to the window to the left of the steering wheel with the suction cup that has a USB receiver in it. It will look very clean and be out of the way. My issue is I want to hard wire a USB charger or USB cable that charges into my vehicle so I don't have cables going back across the seat and into the cig lighter. Does anyone know how I could do this or do you know of an article that explains how to hard wire a USB cable? I am thinking I can wire it into the fuse panel but what do you guys think?




Thanks!

Check out a thread by Sna77 (may be in bimmerfest). He did a great mod where he installed a Garmin into the dash. Simply put, there is an OEM part that replaces the in-dash compartment that can mount a Garmin GPS and then hard-wire it into a fuse by using a tap. It's tiled something like BMW Navigation Portable Pro Anyone See it? I'm eventually getting around to doing the mod myself.

Hope you don't mind the shout out Sna77?

[X5 Meister]

Why not just install the BMW system as a retrofit?

[x3inthechi]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

Why not just install the BMW system as a retrofit?

I personally like to have the storage in the dash. Its great for glasses and change. I also like the Garmin better.

[X5 Meister]

You could always get the retrofit kit and try to apply it to the Garmin.

[X5 Meister]

BMW sells the Garmin nuvi 255 in Europe for several models, apparently including the X3. You could try to get the installation instructions from that kit and see what they say.