[iBeech]

How to: Routing a USB cable to your dashboard

What?
You may have seen the previous article I wrote on mounting a dock holder on your dashboard http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=699398 Well, i promised to write a follow up guide at some point explaining how to route a USB cable from the arm rest to the dashboard.

Why?
Because that dock isnt being particually useful up there on your dash if its not plugged into your car

What do I need?

• To have completed my iPhone dock guide here http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=699398
• iPhone Y Cable - BMW Part 61120440812
• Dock Extender Extension Cable (This is the one i purchased, and thus know works) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160749396940
• Philips Screwdriver
• File (not for your car, dont worry )
• Picture frame wire, or simmilar - you can get this from any good DIY store- the key is that it is fairly strong and long

How?

• File the iPhone dock
  
  The first problem i encountered was the USB extender cable end was too big to fit in the iPhone dock. I had to file it down to make it fit- Make sure the dock fits flush with the mount. PM me for details on this step
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Locate and prep the arm rest
  
  You must first pull out the rubber tray inside the arm rest. This is crucial to routing the USB cable
  
  
  
  Slip your finger nail in the grove, and push your finger in
  
  
  Grip with your finger and pull it out
  
  
  
  
  
• Feed the USB cable into the arm rest
  
  You must feed the female end of the USB cable up through and into the arm rest. Do this by forcing the connector between the upolstory and dashboard- it will fit through. Then push the cable through, and you will see it through the rectangle in the centre of the arm rest. Put your fingers in there and pull it through.
  
  
  
  You will end up with this
  
  
  Install the Y adapter and connect to the female end of the USB extender
  
  
  Push the slack cable down and re-insert the rubber tray
  
  
  You will now end up with the some slack USB cable, and a male end
  
  
  
• Lay the USB down the centre console
  
  Locate the working area
  
  
  Slide your fingers between the upolstory and the dashboard, lifting it gently away
  [IMG].https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Awx-RyCYGNs/T9EU4_aNkaI/AAAAAAABK34/l7-nznX3gtQ/s1024/13.JPG[/IMG]
  You will notice when you release, the dashboard fits back without any problems
  
  Insert the slack cable into the gab pade by your fingers and push it up
  
  
  The cable will then be swallowed up behind the console
  
  
  Push the remaining cable under and the cable will be hidden
  
  
  Here is what the result is- make sure that the cable is taught as possible at this moment, ensuring that you have as much cable as possible
  
  
  
• Route the cable up the dashboard
  
  In this step, which is not as easy as a certain youtube video would suggest, we remove the center console vents. I did this by gripping the top right of the vent and getting my fingers under and unsnapping it, then i ran my fingers along to unsnap the left hand side. As seen below:
  
  
  
  I then ran my fingers down from the leftside to finally unclip the vents:
  
  
  
  At this point you can safely rest the vents on the centre console, it wont damage or scratch anything
  
  
  
  Take you're picture frame wire and feed it into the the hole in the dash, and down towards the passenger footwell
  
  
  
  Then push your fingers up into the dashboard in the passener footwell. it's fiddley, but you will get it eventually
  
  
  
  Wrap the wire around the end of your extension cable, then tuck it inside of the dashboard and pull the cable up from the other end, slowly, until the cable appears (sorry for the lack of pictures here- i will update with propper pics tonight- i only just did this on the car park at work)
  
  Re-attach the vents- make sure you keep the cable in the corner of the vents, and you will end up with this:
  
  
  
  Note that the small gap is not noticeable, even with this thick USB cable, the vents snap back in and are sealed- as on a max air con, there is no leaked air detected, and the small gap cannot be seen due to the docks position
  
  
• Attach the dock to the dashboard
  
  The final peice. Reattach the dock and tidy up
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Again, i apologise for the lack of quality in some of the pics, and some of the ordering- i will sort it out this evening.
  
  My thanks to Mc05Rat for providing the idea of routing the USB cable through the centre console the way he did

[Patrick BMW]

Good write up. I especially like the fact that you've taken so much trouble to describe and photograph every step. This is so much better than we get with many installation guides.
Nothing taken for granted!
Well done and again. many thanks for sharing this.

[Mjlbakker]

Thanks for sharing!

Which Brodit dashb mount is it? I use a passive Brodit that is not for the 1-series specifically, but a proclip type that s applicable to more vehicles because if the extendable arm. Dont like it that much. The thing is that i dont like the F20 brodits now (left mount and centre mount) because of the location where the need to be fastend. Which type do you have?

http://www.brodit.com/productList.ht...r=2011&pn=prod

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by Mjlbakker

Thanks for sharing!

Which Brodit dashb mount is it? I use a passive Brodit that is not for the 1-series specifically, but a proclip type that s applicable to more vehicles because if the extendable arm. Dont like it that much. The thing is that i dont like the F20 brodits now (left mount and centre mount) because of the location where the need to be fastend. Which type do you have?

http://www.brodit.com/productList.ht...r=2011&pn=prod

You don't need a proclip- the dock screws straight into the dash mount

This is exactly what I have: http://www.brodit.com/product.html?id=514164

[Mc05Rat]

I've got this one off ebay & it dose not work.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230807103973

Have I done something wrong? It should just be a straight forward extention from the Y Cable.

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by Mc05Rat

I've got this one off ebay & it dose not work.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230807103973

Have I done something wrong? It should just be a straight forward extention from the Y Cable.

I would send it back- they say returns accepted- buy the one from my ebay link above.

some of these cables so not wire up all the pins in the dock connectors.

[Mc05Rat]

So, I bought the one you recommended.

Since I had already wired the previous cable inder the dash I thought I would chance it and see what if I connected the cable you recommended between the Y cable and the Dud cable I bought and presto it works. saves having to run the cable again.

Cheers iBeech

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by Mc05Rat

So, I bought the one you recommended.

Since I had already wired the previous cable inder the dash I thought I would chance it and see what if I connected the cable you recommended between the Y cable and the Dud cable I bought and presto it works. saves having to run the cable again.

Cheers iBeech

No problem! Did you wire it any differently than me? Looking to find better ways of doing it.

[Mc05Rat]

I have orded the Brodit holder you have so in the meantime im using my old suction cup. I will change it when the Brodit arrives, I unclipped the vents dropped another cable down to the left stuck my hand under the trim to feel for the cable and tied the 1 to the other and pulled it through then cliped the vents back.

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by Mc05Rat

I have orded the Brodit holder you have so in the meantime im using my old suction cup. I will change it when the Brodit arrives, I unclipped the vents dropped another cable down to the left stuck my hand under the trim to feel for the cable and tied the 1 to the other and pulled it through then cliped the vents back.

Genius! Will try it and then write it up with pics into my how to- all credit to you!

[Mc05Rat]

Happy to Help.

[iBeech]

Updated! Now extended to show how to completely conceal the USB cable thanks Mc05Rat

[Mc05Rat]

Thats a really tidy job iBeech, I can't wait for my brodit holder to arrive..

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by Mc05Rat

Thats a really tidy job iBeech, I can't wait for my brodit holder to arrive..

Thanks man! Thanks to you again

[artlik]

Thanks for all DIY guides. I'm also waiting USB RETROFİT cause I only have Aux input.

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by artlik

Thanks for all DIY guides. I'm also waiting USB RETROFİT cause I only have Aux input.

good luck!

[Mc05Rat]

Finally got all the tools.






Cheers iBeech for the links.

[iBeech]

Originally Posted by Mc05Rat

Finally got all the tools.






Cheers iBeech for the links.

Woohoo- it looks great! Glad to have helped

[GSH]

Didi you have to file out a hole in the bottom of the Brodit?

I think the one you link to in your other guide is different from the one in your pics.

I think this is the one that you have

http://www.brodit.com/product.html?id=514181

[Bengaz]

Great write up. Do you think you could route the USB cable to the glove box USB socket instead?