E53 front overhead Sunglasses Holder?
 

Friends

I bought from eBay a complete overhead centre console sunglasses holder. All good and very happy. Now my 40 year old Wayfarers no longer need to fly around the cabin.

When I removed the existing console, it has 4 small leds and a circuit board where the sunglasses tray should fit.

For now I have removed /unplugged the entire module to allow everything to fit as a sunglasses holder.

Is there a way I can utilise the existing ambient lighting without losing the holder?

Will I cause an issue leaving it unplugged?

Best regards

Bruce


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Does your car have the panoramic sunroof?


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No. It has no sunroof at all.


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Got a picture of the part you have removed? It sounds like the reading lamp module (which incorporates the two small reddish ambient lighting lamps) but I thought that was well forward of the sunglasses tray.

Also, there seems to be some variation in the overhead console, beyond just the variation required for models with a sun roof or panoramic roof.

So you replaced the whole console moulding?

*edit* Is the item - the large black part at the top?

https://www.picclickimg.com/00/s/MTA...d-Over-_57.jpg

So I went out to my car and had a good look at this overhead panel. I can see four devices through the four small grills in the panel. They didn't look like LEDs to me - more like ultrasonic transducers. :confused:

A bit of searching seems to confirm this - the module in that location seems to be an ultrasonic module - part of the alarm system.

See this thread...

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-sensor-2.html

On some vehicles the UIS module (Ultrasonic Interior Sensor) is in the centre (rear) overhead light unit but in cars with the panorama roof it was moved forward to the front overhead light console and it seems that many vehicles without the pano roof have this too (mine included).

I'm guessing you might want to put that unit back, if you want interior alarm coverage.

Thank you for your help here. The black box in your pic looks like the part I refer to. On the cabin facing side you have 4 small grills behind which is this module with 4 “sensors”.

I swapped everything, minus this module which won’t fit due to the glasses holder using that space?

Removing it seems not to have changed anything (I’m sure it will have) the alarm still functions from the key fob.


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E53 front overhead Sunglasses Holder?
 

Alarm would still work but you've lost the ultrasonic sensor for the interior which senses motion inside. And I don't think it's a big deal actually.

Like in what scenario does that come in handy anyways? Like a thief hides inside your car until you go home? Lol

Unless I'm understanding this feature wrong.




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This is my thinking exactly. I have never caught a thief inside the car as a result of interior sensors tripping? And I’m not being flippant.

I had another look to see if I could relocate it but there is just not enough room up there.

I see no errors on the dashboard and have no unexpected beeps. So I will store it in my parts bin for now.

Thank you all for helping here. Any other suggestions? I’m happy to listen/try.

On a side note. The seller is a BMW Breaker and says he has never seen the set up I have (including on the 4.8is). That about sums up my luck. But it is a great little feature to have in the car. I hate damaging sunglasses.


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If it has the antitheft option it has this feature, pretty common and standard I believe.

If the car came with panoramic roof it's in the front where the sunglass holder would be which is where mine is, pano+alarm and will be swapping out to a sunglass holder as well.

If it has alarm but regular sunroof it's in they middle where the center overhead lights are located.

I'm really just curious to know the purpose of this feature. In a convertible yes definitely but otherwise?


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My guess would be if you parked the car with the windows down and alarm on, it would prevent anyone from reaching inside and grabbing valuables off the seat?

I remember my 4.6is had the sunglass holder, I need to retrofit that into my 4.8is!

E53 front overhead Sunglasses Holder?
 

When you say you plan on swapping this out? Did you mean leaving it out (as I have)?

I’m wondering, as I have the centre overhead light module fitted, if it could be refitted in there? I have not looked at that yet for space or any pre-wiring.

My car has no sunroof.


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No, I replaced the entire overhead with the sunglass holder in it.

I did it today, pop the vanity lights, pop the UIS out and 4 T20 screws holding it to the headliner and drops down.

Transferred the sunroof button, homelink button and microphone over. I removed the SOS button and put a blank plate that came with my sunglass holder overhead since BMW stopped offering the BMW ASSIST program and I never would use it anyways =)

Just because I was doing some other stuff, I just turned off the UIS with PA Soft 1.4 as well. (Don't think it's necessary though, as system seems to work regardless)

The Ultrasonic sensor assembly that fits in the centre (rear) overhead lighting panel is a different module that the one installed in the front position.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ViYAA...TFN/s-l640.jpg

The wiring may be there, however. Along with the grills for the emitters/transducers.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QV4AA...ZGI/s-l225.jpg

Sorry I have panoramic roof so no rear UIS for me.


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Yep - info. was directed at brucemillar's question... (sorry - shoulda used quotes).

[QUOTE=mr_robot;1147126]Alarm would still work but you've lost the ultrasonic sensor for the interior which senses motion inside. And I don't think it's a big deal actually.

Like in what scenario does that come in handy anyways? Like a thief hides inside your car until you go home? Lol

Unless I'm understanding this feature wrong.

It's a big deal if someone smashes your window. They can then reach in and grab anything they can reach. In fact, they can break all of your windows to reach whatever they can. That's the point of the motion sensor. If a window gets broken and someone reaches inside, the alarm goes off. Not to mention, that if you want to leave your windows part way down, far enough that someone could reach inside or poke something inside, the alarm won't go off when they do. The system was designed to have the motion sensors for a reason.

If someone smashed my window already, the damage had been done already.




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I'd like to do this retrofit to my 4.8is as well, does the UIS needed to be coded out?

except if the alarm doesn't go off a thief then has plenty of time to rifle through your car stealing whatever he or she can find. Unless you never leave anything of value in your car not having the interior sensor working matters. If you never leave anything of value, then it doesn't.

E53 front overhead Sunglasses Holder?
 

Yeah I don't but that's just me I'm a minimalist so my interior has my insurance card, registration, cheap sunglasses and my ez pass.

I don't have anything in my door pockets and any other storage areas, hate things sliding around or rattling.

I just wanted to know what the functionality of the UIS was for but now that you explained the scenario of someone breaking the glass it makes sense. Just thought thiefs try to unlock your car rather than break the glass.

Plus don't we also have tilt sensor? So even if they broke the glass and reach in you would have to lean against the car tilting it and or if they reached the inner door handle to open my door that would trigger it as well.

Anyways this thread is getting derailed now lol sorry.

But as they say if they want your car they will take it one way or another.




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