BMW E46 3-Series Console Storage Replacement DIYs
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- On my 2002 330xi:
Radio Mount and Ashtray: 51168268892
Upper Storage Compartment: 51168202188
E39Source WEBSITE: www.E39Source.com
BMW M3Source: / e65source
BMW E46Source: / e46source
One of the greatest videos known to man. Everything I needed to know, after several attempts at trying to remove the AC/Heat controller. LOVE THIS VIDEO! Great editing, actually got the feeling I was the one running the camera and sitting in the passenger seat. Ran back out to the car and WALA! Thanks for taking the time to show us how it is done. Liked, subscribed, hit the notification bell.
Thanks so much for your comment! I'm glad it was so helpful :)
About removing the cigarette lighter: You can do that a LOT easier than you just showed. Take a small flathead screwdriver and insert it into the cigarette lighter, from the front, to poke out the two plastic pins holding it in place. Now you can push it out with a tiny bit of force. Takes seconds and you don't ruin anything.
I just changed the cigarette lighter into two USB-ports. They're a lot more useful for non-smokers than a cigarette lighter. I also changed the leather around the gearknob and the handbrake. Did all of that using your guide, so thanks! I'm an IT support technician and not a mechanic, but it was still extremely easy. I had to remove 6 screws all in all.
Thanks for sharing that tip! I want to try it myself. Did you just get a USB socket from Amazon? Anything specific to BMW, or will a generic one do the trick?
As to the strength of the trim strips you removed, I drilled a 19mm hole through mine at one point to add a flush mount usb port, expecting it to be just solid plastic. Not so! In typical German fashion, someone at BMW spent many hours over thinking the development of these trims and came up with a specific layup of materials to put into them. To my complete surprise, when my spade bit had gone through the paint and 2 different layers of plastic type materials it hit METAL (it looked like some grade of aluminium alloy) at the core of the trim. It then proceeded to bore it's way out through the same 2 distinct plastic layers to the back of the trim. The stuff they put in these cars that you never see!
That funky switch is to maintain low speeds for slippery terrain on AWD cars. basically the idea is that you won't need to use your brakes a ton so you don't lose traction on ice. it's called hill decent control.
Ryan you are so OCD, but I love it! Great job. It looks like new!
In restoring my e46, I have to constantly ask myself - is it functional? If yes, I have to live with the small imperfections - after all, the car is 12 years old - I can't remove all the character that it has earned, right?
You know, as a current e39 owner, and having owned three, 3-Series Bimmers ( e21, 325e, 325is), it's truly amazing that the factory stereos in all of the cars I mentioned sound so anemic and limp. Actually, the factory stereo in my 1987 325is was an order of magnitude better than the horrible stereo in my 2003 e39! It's just ironic is all - given that NO ONE builds a better, or more driver-involving sedan than BMW! :)
I just removed that Assembly without removing the stereo and everything on the top. just use a tool hook and pull the inside piece of the storage compartment and expose the two top screws. like a charm
As a fellow e46 (2005 M3) and e39 (2001 M5) owner, it's it amazing how much easier every project is on the e46? The e46 feels like it's designed to be taken apart.
I actually prefer the E39's build to the E46. It feels much higher quality and better put together.
***** Don't forget you're comparing the worst feeling e46 (tan interior, afterthought AWD) to the best e39 (M5). But, I know what you mean. I was referring purely to the ease of doing projects.
That M Shift knob looks so much smarter! Good job :-)
That button at 5:21 is the Hill Descent Control (HDC). Basically cruise control for crawling down hill
a bit late but that button is for driving down hill it holds your speed steady
+edvin spang Haha, the little pic says it all, even without taking the time to look in the manual!
E46 adding aux great video! Thinking about adding an Eonon system. Thank you!
Never seen hill descent control option on an e46 before, must be rare
The button next to your heated seats and dsc is hill descent control I believe.
Yep, my wife's X5 has the same feature.
that button is hill decend it basically keeps the car a higher gears to compensate for hills for a smooth ride 5:30
But the car is a manual - the driver decides what gear to have it in, not the car itself
How are your doors holding up? mine is scratched badly, your original one didn't seem damaged at all
They're fine still, but I am very conscious to not touch them with anything. They scratch so easily, just don't touch them except with your finger to pop them open.
agreed, thanks for your videos
I have an Oct 201 325ci and I got a used 2003 Business CD replacement and the appropriate cable. I have tested it and its working. I think the best place to put the AUX port is in the ash tray. How can I route the AUX wire to through the back of the AC/Heater controller -> behind the glasses holder and through to the underside of the ash tray. I have pulled the ash tray out - that was easy, but the AC controller does not want to come out and the next thing down in my car is a sunglass holder. If I could just snake it down there, it would be great but I don't see light something through and I can not seem to get the AC controller panel out.
Please advise
+Richard Baker The AC control panel will press out from behind, or pry out from the front. Either way you can get at it. I have never routed the cabling that way, so I can't be of more more assistance to you. All of those parts are pressure fit though, once you remove one, the rest will press/pry out. I also have a DIY on the channel regarding the replacement of the ashtray and the sunglasses holder, if that will assist you. Search for those things.
Good luck
+E39Source Thanks, I will look at that. I am testing the AUX connection with my iPhone 6+ and works well but when I pull in the cigarette lighter charger there is a small amount of line noise and it seems to reduce the sound quality to less than that of the CD in the unit. I have read that others have experienced the same thing - and it may actually disconnect from the AUX over a period of time - 20 minutes others have reported.
Don't know why that is, but when I took out my old 2001 Business CD it had one other cable connecting to it that I don't know what it does.
Perhaps a ground or some other piece. The 2003 business CD does not have a place for that small cable. I can take a photo of it but it could be the missing element that is causing the upgrade from prior years Business CD radios to have more line noise and frequency degradation that expected.
One guy did a very professional job installing the AUX in the ash tray and it looks like it was something right from the factory. Seems like it will fit there very nice and clean.
www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1618524-Aux-Input-DIY
But he too is saying that he is "on the hunt to fix a ground loop isolator to my charger. "
+E39Source I got the climate control and the glasses holder out. Tried to snake the AUX cord down to the ash tray area without removing the Ash Tray area, but seems like its snaking somewhere behind the ash tray holder yet at the bottom of the ash tray holder it looks like theres a space where wires could go.
I have an automatic transmission so the shift boot is much smaller and I wonder if its works the same way. I think I just need to get to the screws that are behind the wood trim. (my car's internal colors are the same as yours in this video). I am just trying to get the AUX site to the bottom of the ash tray where I will drill a whole in the side of the ash tray that has the cigarette "stamp out" thing. I don't smoke so have no need for that.
Please advise.
+Richard Baker I have never removed the ash tray holder to that extent. I would imagine that you may need to remove the center console to get it out. There is a video where I did that in order to remove something else in my 330xi.
+E39Source I have succeeded. The automatic transmission has a much smaller boot, and I did not take off the knob, but I was able to expose the same screws on the wood trim and get to the console you show in the video above. I had to slightly remove ( not disconnecting any wires) and I found a large enough opening in the bottom to snake the AUX cable from the bottom up. Now I am ready to tap the removable ash tray for the finishing touches.
About the line noise in AUX mode, I experimented with both my iPhone and IPad and the charger. I have heard that noise before when I am on an airplane and plugged into their recharger while listening to my IPad or IPhone. Apparently when the unit that is charging in the cigarette lighter receptacle is plugged into the AUX there's a small amount of line noise. To hear the noise you have to have the same unit charging and also plugged into the AUX. Seems like the solution is some kind of a cigaret charger unit that has a "filter" or what ever that is that takes the noise out. Since I have also heard the same noise only worse on an airplane, its worth trying to find such a devise if it exists.
The in my original 2001 BMW Business CD radio it has one other line going to it that I don't know what it. The 2003 BMW Business CD does not have it. I also need to have a different adaptor for the antenna since the 2001 version is a different size that the smaller one that is on the 20013 unit.
Nice video, it was very helpful, thanks a lot!
What shift knob is it on 8:37 ? I want the same, but dont know the partnuber.
It's the ZHP knob, part number 25117896031.
The ZHP knob is well worth the money to get a real one! I love mine, highly recommend it.
Hi, how much it cost the set? thx
is the new part pasti dipped ? if so the coating of it will start peeling off and look the same as it did again real soon
The new part has a finish on it, but it's not plasti-dip. Almost two years later it still looks new.
How do I get the gear lever removed from an automatic transmission?
Put it in neutral with the parking brake on, and depress the release on the shifter while pulling straight up.
I have a question. You said it was an e46, but mine doesn't have business cd. Mine has a screen. Why
Your car was optioned from the factory with navigation.
Where did you buy the new parts?
ZHP shift knob and boot? Looks sharp! :)
Fantastic, clear and easy to follow vid, nice job!
Great Video!
I need help to replace these on the 2005 M3 E46, could it be the same procedure?
+Phi Ho yes, it should be the same
Does the climate control/AC panel fit in the storage space?(Not the ashtray, but the one above)
I highly doubt it
Ok, thanks!
it does. you just need a special storage thing. you need this when you want to put a 16:9 display in
Good guide !!
You should install navigation in e46 is the same as the e39.
That would be way too expensive and I'm looking for ways not to spend money on this car!
***** It woud be cool to do that.
+TheFerarri01 Oh it is. I did a 7" screen Android 4.4 unit in mine and would do it again in an instant. The connectivity in a daily driver is so useful not to mention the navigation (I downloaded TomTom via my wireless home Wifi while sitting in my garage) and all the apps/media functions available to you. I commute an hour to work and have listened to countless interesting E books and podcasts on my way to and from work. Well worth dragging the E46 audio experience into the 2000 and teens. The only downside in my opinion is that I've lost that cool "monk's cell" austerity that I liked so much about the E46 when I bought it.
Fantastic video thx
LOL on lighter use a hair dryer or heat gun from back and heat the cigarette lighter metal parts and then push out, how they installed it. heat gun few seconds do's required hand wash cloth or gloves. and then little bit of force and should pop out hair dryer little bit longer and can heat from front, cause not as hot as Heat gun.
Anybody know the dimensions of the storage box?
2.5" deep, 8" horizontal opening, 1.5" vertical opening.
this is good
ur a pro
I see Toes! :)