Mirror Tap Power for 2016 F82

[cbone]

Had anyone successfully mirror tapped a v1 and v1 connect Bluetooth dongle ?

[Tommy L Garage]

Bumpy

Just did this. Tapped to the rain sensor. Works like a charm on a 2017! Thanks OP.

By the way I want to confirm that valentine and passport cables are both the same. I bought one of each and they're identical.

[M3_Beast]

Originally Posted by gopggo

Hi guys - for what it's worth...anybody considering a Mirror Tap for a 2016 will need to use the power going to the rain-sensing unit. I could not pick up more than 9v going into the rear-view mirror, which was not enough to operate my Valentine 1. You'll see from the pics I tapped into the purple harness.

The only downside is that the Valentine will turn off, but delayed after accessory power shuts off. So I can lock the car and a few small LED's will stay on around the console...it took several minutes before the power on the Valentine finally turned off automatically but it will do it.

I hope this is helpful!

Gopggo how did you remove the connectors? I'm trying to remove mine to install the mirror tap and it's kicking my butt.

[papajohn]

Originally Posted by M3_Beast

Gopggo how did you remove the connectors? I'm trying to remove mine to install the mirror tap and it's kicking my butt.

Yeah on my '18 I couldn't even get the mirror connector (black) out. The rain sensor (purple) plug was fairly easy though.

[papajohn]

Bad news... This method (using the purple rain sensor connector) no longer works - at least not in MY'18 X3 with a Uniden R1 detector. Although my multimeter read 12V on the connector, it is an always on circuit. So my radar detector never shuts off. I also noticed a slight glitch on two occasions where the wipers when set to auto stopped mid-wipe and returned to the home position. I don't think the rain sensor circuit likes having the Uniden on it.

I'm going to pull the power taps back out and try the original method into the mirror connector. I would have checked those with my multimeter to begin with but it's damn near impossible to remove the black connector on my car. I'm going to have to try tapping it with the connector still plugged in. Hopefully I can get my multimeter probe in there first.

[gopggo]

Originally Posted by M3_Beast

Gopggo how did you remove the connectors? I'm trying to remove mine to install the mirror tap and it's kicking my butt.

It’s been so long I’m having trouble remembering. But my goto tool is usually a pair of needle nose pliers. Sorry I’m no help and Good luck!

[gopggo]

Originally Posted by papajohn

Bad news... This method (using the purple rain sensor connector) no longer works - at least not in MY'18 X3 with a Uniden R1 detector. Although my multimeter read 12V on the connector, it is an always on circuit. So my radar detector never shuts off. I also noticed a slight glitch on two occasions where the wipers when set to auto stopped mid-wipe and returned to the home position. I don't think the rain sensor circuit likes having the Uniden on it.

I'm going to pull the power taps back out and try the original method into the mirror connector. I would have checked those with my multimeter to begin with but it's damn near impossible to remove the black connector on my car. I'm going to have to try tapping it with the connector still plugged in. Hopefully I can get my multimeter probe in there first.

Doesn’t surprise me that it might not work on an X3...different car. Keep probing around with a multimeter and good luck.

[papajohn]

Originally Posted by gopggo

Doesn’t surprise me that it might not work on an X3...different car. Keep probing around with a multimeter and good luck.

Thanks. Yep, I'm searching all the BMW boards trying to get any info. I figured there would be SOME level of similarity between the rain sensor circuit across the models, but I guess not. To make matters worse the '18 G01 is the new gen of X3 so I appear to be in uncharted waters.

[mardibob]

I did this on my 2018 F82 using rain sense method, and I didnot work and made my wipers turn on... Does anyone have a solution for 2018 model F82 that works?

[gopggo]

Originally Posted by mardibob

I did this on my 2018 F82 using rain sense method, and I didnot work and made my wipers turn on... Does anyone have a solution for 2018 model F82 that works?

Originally Posted by mardibob

I did this on my 2018 F82 using rain sense method, and I didnot work and made my wipers turn on... Does anyone have a solution for 2018 model F82 that works?

Yes...take a multimeter and probe around!

[mardibob]

Last update: Mirror tap successful. Rain sensor method did not work on 2018 F82, but mirror compass harness(black harness) did work(green stripe wire and brown stripe ground). Rain sensor mishap was just due to high humidity, but I did trip the overhead interior light fuse. Replaced fuse number 28 and it's back to normal.

[broox]

FWIW - my June 2016 F82 was one of the lucky ones that measured 13V with the green/brown and brown/black wires on the black harness.

I used the MirrorTap brand connector that comes with several taps and it worked out great. In my case, the longer, skinnier tap worked better for my 12V and the slightly shorter, fatter tap worked better for the ground.

Be careful with the taps though! The wires are super, super fragile. I broke one off of its probe in the process.

[Deteria]

I bought some MirrorTap directly from BlendMount. 2015 F82 with lane departure driving assistance package. Tapped into the Purple connector for Ground (brown black wire) and tapped into Rear View Mirror's Power (Green Brown). Had some difficulties at 1st since the mirror taps were a little bit loose on the Rear View Mirror plug, so had to swap a few until I found one that reached deep and stayed snug. Tapping into the Purple connector seems to be pretty good for the Ground since the plug is smaller and the taps tend to stay put better.

If you tap both wires into the rain sensing connector, I don't think it turns off with the car, so I ended up grabbing power from the Rear View Mirror since you can see that go off with the car for a visual confirmation.

[cek]

FWIW, I'm another one with a 2016 M4 where the voltage from grn/brn is not enough.

However, I am not seeing the purple voltage from the rain sensor ever go off.

Does it really eventually turn off for you folks who have gone this route?

[mowmentous]

Originally Posted by broox

FWIW - my June 2016 F82 was one of the lucky ones that measured 13V with the green/brown and brown/black wires on the black harness.

I used the MirrorTap brand connector that comes with several taps and it worked out great. In my case, the longer, skinnier tap worked better for my 12V and the slightly shorter, fatter tap worked better for the ground.

Be careful with the taps though! The wires are super, super fragile. I broke one off of its probe in the process.

This is exactly what I did and it worked like a charm on my 2017 F82.

[pmooiweer]

Originally Posted by mardibob

I did this on my 2018 F82 using rain sense method, and I didnot work and made my wipers turn on... Does anyone have a solution for 2018 model F82 that works?

If you have a sunroof, simply use the green/brown wire leading to the sunroof motor.

[MNhv]

Originally Posted by mardibob

Last update: Mirror tap successful. Rain sensor method did not work on 2018 F82, but mirror compass harness(black harness) did work(green stripe wire and brown stripe ground). Rain sensor mishap was just due to high humidity, but I did trip the overhead interior light fuse. Replaced fuse number 28 and it's back to normal.

I think I tripped the interior light fuse too today while trying to install the mirror tap. Only my footwell interior lights work. Were all of your interior lights out or just the main overhead ones in the front and rear?

[mardibob]

Originally Posted by MNhv

I think I tripped the interior light fuse too today while trying to install the mirror tap. Only my footwell interior lights work. Were all of your interior lights out or just the main overhead ones in the front and rear?

I believe just the overhead ones, there were like 3 fuses I had to check dealing with lighting before I found the broken one.

[MNhv]

Originally Posted by mardibob

I believe just the overhead ones, there were like 3 fuses I had to check dealing with lighting before I found the broken one.

Appreciate the reply. I ended having to replace the same exact fuse as you (#28). The lights work now but never managed to draw power with the mirror tap..gave up and returned it. I'm telling myself the mirror tap was a dud but it's most likely just user-error on my part..

[rvacha]

I have a 2018 and I took a hybrid approach - used a 16/18 gage Scotchlock on green/brown but I did not use brown/black. Instead I used chassis ground. I drilled a starter hole and a self-tapping screw to make the ground connection. Works great with both my V1 and R3

[TheONE24]

Does anyone with the blendmount or the amazon one from radar mount (Radar Mount Magnetic Mirror Mount Radar Detector Bracket for Escort (3001007) have excessive mirror shake? I've got the Max 360c with the magnetic connector from Amazon and everything is shaking pretty bad. Is the blendmount one any better? Is the Magnetic mount part of the problem versus the old escort mount style? I like the idea of the mirror mount but if they all shake this bad I'm going to have to go back to the old suction cup.

[Catalor]

Considering the R3 for my 2018 M3. The dealer service assoc. asked me for install instructions. Can anyone help on this? Thanks