Retrofit of Compass / Auto-Dim Mirror
Install done on March 5th, 2005 in my 2001 325i sedan w/o Rain Sensor (USA)


4/25/2010 UPDATE:  I have located the OEM install instructions.  You can download them here:
http://www.bigpatsfans.com/E46dimmingmirror.pdf



 

What You Need

  • BMW OEM Compass Mirror

    • With "clown nose" (red thing for alarm)  51-16-0-028-301

    • Without "clown nose" 51-16-0-028-300

  • Mirror Wiring Harness 51-16-0-001-231

  • 18 - 22 gauge Tap splices ($5 at Home Depot)

  • Electrical Tape

  • Flat head screw driver

  • Pliers (for the tap splices)

  • A paper clip IMPORTANT
Other Helpful Installation Instructions I used:
Total Installation Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

 

This install is very easy to do.  BMW will tell you that it is impossible to do without the rain sensor option (the rain sensor powers the compass mirror), but in fact, its quite easy--you just tap into the Universal Garage Door Opener (UGDO) power supply.  This is an ideal power source, because the power is cut when the car's power is turned off.  I actually had used this power source for my radar detector as well... Both are now running off of it flawlessly.  Also this mirror has AUTO-DIM.  If you did not previously have an auto-dim mirror, you will now (as well as a compass)!

Here's a Link to the parts.  I ordered the compass mirror and wiring harness  from Pacific BMW for $245 total:


NOTE: The wiring harness is cut and used for only 2 wires with pins in my installation.  Here is everything you need laid out:

 

  1. Start by removing the old rearview mirror.  You can follow instructions 51-16-060 but you really don't need to... Its pretty straight forward.  There are two plastic clips on either side of the mirror that are for aesthetics only...   Just press the plastic piece forward with your thumb and they snap off.  Do this on both sides.

     

  2. Spin the mirror foot approximately 45 degrees clockwise.  The mirror should pop off the window.

     

  3. Press the tab in on the wiring harness which is keeping the mirror connected to the car and pull free.





     

  4. We are going to need to add pins to this harness.  On the right hand side of the above picture, slide the tab holding the protective cover up.  Then pull the protective cover to the left to remove it:

     

  5. At this time you should now remove the cover where the sunroof controls are and the map light.  In order to gain access to a good switched source of 12V, you need to get behind the ceiling console.  First you need to remove the dome light fixture.  Do this by carefully prying the fixture out.  Then disconnect the connector in order to get the light fixture out of the way. 
         
      
     

  6. The UGDO power supply is tucked in to the right, on the passenger's side of the vehicle.  Pull this down.  Notice mine had a connector already for when I'd previously wired my radar detector.


    In the above picture, the green/blue wire is 12V+ switched (turns on and off with the car) and the brown wire is the Ground (-).

    Now, back to the mirror's wiring harness dangling from the ceiling...

     

  7. The pins here are labeled 1 - 10.  Take the wiring harness you purchased (NOT THIS ONE IN THE CAR) and cut it about 10 inches from the end on the side with the 3 wires (brown/black, blue/yellow, green/white).

  8. Unwrap the cloth tape surrounding the wire and take the brown/black wire and blue/yellow wire.  We are going to use these wires to tap into the car's existing wiring harness for the mirror and jump it to the UGDO harness for power.

  9. Take the BROWN/BLACK wire that you just cut, and insert the pin into Slot #10.  We will use this for the GROUND.

  10. Take the BLUE/YELLOW wire that you just cut, and insert the pin into Slot #3.  We will use that for the 12V+ switched power.

  11. Feed the wires through the rubber tube, and then through the hole into the ceiling.  Take the covers for the mirror's built-in wiring harness and snap them back on.




    Now that the our jump wires are connected to the mirror's wiring harness, you need to tap into the UGDO's power.
     

  12. Using a Tap Splice, connect the Brown/Black wire to the UGDO harness' Brown wire for the ground.

  13. Using a Tap Splice, connect the Blue/Yellow wire to the UGDO harness's Green/Blue wire.
    If you are unfamiliar with using a tap splice, connect it like this (dummy test wire here).  One wire The tap splice fits around the entire length of the existing wire in the harness, and the end coming from the wire you just fed through the mirror hole goes into the terminated end.   Squeeze the tap splice shut, and wrap with electrical tape.



     

  14. Once you have made all the connections, wrap everything with electrical tape and tuck the wires back into the roof.   NOTE: The black wire here is my ground for my radar detector.  You could also have used this location for the ground as well.

     

  15. Take the new mirror and connect it to the harness.   Then reattach the mirror to the winshield.

  16. Turn on the car and verify that the compass mirror has power.  You should see a "C" illuminated.  This indicates that the compass needs to be calibrated.

     

If everything is working OK, reassemble the rest of the mirror pieces and snap the roof pieces back on.

IMPORTANT!!!  THERE ARE 2 STEPS LEFT:  (Use BMW 01-29-028-299 Instructions)

  1. Calibrating the compass

  2. Setting the proper geographic zone for your compass


Calibrating the Compass

But Wait!  You still need to set your geographic zone. 

That's it!  All done....


Any questions / comments:  steveaschettino@yahoo.com