Valentine One hardwire install on 2011 X5 - Did I just ruin the sunroof wire?

[aupton]

I'm attempting to install a V1 in an X5 using the examples shown here:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tor-e70-5.html

I was having intermittent power issues with the V1 depending on the position of the vampire clip. I took off the clip and put it back on to try to catch a better connection and now no matter what position i wiggle the clip I'm not getting any power to the V1. I've tried multiple clips and even the V1 from my wife's car and still no power.

I can take a voltmeter and tap it right to the bare part of the wire and i'm seeing 15v if I get a good connection against the bare wire but when I reattach the clip and test the bare metal part of the clip I'm not seeing the same voltage, it drops to about 7-8V and fluctuates...

The sunroof still works thankfully and I don't notice any lights out on the interior, but i'm at a loss as to why I can't power up the V1 from that wire any more... Should I wrap the open part in electrical wire and attempt to tap in another spot?

I've attached a pic of the fray in the cable, Any ideas?

[bren3085]

are you grounding the negative cable correctly? it may not have anything to do with that power cable you are tapping into..

I found in general that bmw paint is quite thick so in the spot that you have to ground a negative cable in some instances I have had to sand down a very inconspicuous spot around a screw (where I am grounding the cable)

[aupton]

Very interesting! I'm grounding against the left screw that holds the sunroof motor in place. There's a much larger bolt that's a bit harder to get to on the far right of the motor and it doesn't appear to have the same shiny coating. I'll try that tonight, thanks for the advice!

[r6vr6]

I'd put the tap back on and check the voltage on the "output" side of the tap. Then wiggle the tap around and see if it is making good contact. I grounded my install using a ground wire in the harness (brwn\ wh if I recall correctly)

I used the red 3m t-taps as the blue are for larger gauge wires.

Wire looks undamaged just cover it up with some electrical tape if you end up using a different location.

[muddycharles]

Invisicord Products Home Page

and it has worked like a charm. Connected it to the rear view mirror power supply.

[aupton]

@bren3085 and @r6vr6 I got it working! It was the ground after all. I moved the ground wire to one of the bolt heads on the far right, not the hex bolts on the sunroof motor that i was using and that did the trick! Thank you both for your help and suggestions, I greatly appreciate it!

[bren3085]

Originally Posted by aupton

@bren3085 and @r6vr6 I got it working! It was the ground after all. I moved the ground wire to one of the bolt heads on the far right, not the hex bolts on the sunroof motor that i was using and that did the trick! Thank you both for your help and suggestions, I greatly appreciate it!

No worries, glad I was of help

[GetOffTheX]

Originally Posted by muddycharles

Invisicord Products Home Page

and it has worked like a charm. Connected it to the rear view mirror power supply.

Any chance you have photos and instructions?

Thx

[muddycharles]

I popped off the plastic connector on the rear view mirror (the one that covers the windshield between the mirror and the headliner - found the wires and with a electric tool got the right ones.

Inserting the invisicord into the wire connector is a piece of cake