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      04-17-2019, 07:40 PM   #1
bmtespar
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My X3 has wireless charging tray from the factory and I love being able to just toss my phone down to charge. It's especially useful while using Apple Car Play. I hated the wireless charger offered in the 2 series being under the armrest since you have wrench your body around to open the armrest and then set the phone into a charging tray and inadvertently leaving the phone behind upon exit. So I did some research and found this aftermarket wireless charger made to go in front of the cup holders. It features a nice grippy mat to hold the phone and lights blue while charging the phone and will change color in case of some issue. It offered a plug and play adapter so no hacking into the factory harness and also provided an in-line fuse. It looked very oem and said it would fit the 2 series, 3 series and 4 series so I went for it. The vendor asked me to measure my tray which I did and said it would fit.

I received the item today and was disappointed that it did not fit and after tearing the console apart, I discovered the wiring harness was the wrong type of plugs. After going through all of the trouble of dismantling the console, I was determined to make it work. I altered the charging base and made my own harness using male and female spades to make it all work.

So here is the removal, alteration and install process via pictures. I'm thrilled with the finished product. It looks great, no factory wires were cut and the beverage tray still opens and closes with ease. I hope this helps others install this much requested mod.

This is the product I purchased: https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/...Id=32948147108

I coded to turn on the phone left on charger warning and I get the option on the screen to enable the feature but nothing else happens when I turn off the car and open the door. I'm thinking it must be specific to the charger under the armrest. Oh well, was worth a shot.

Here is that code:
NBT Evo, 3000 HMI, WCA

Comment = Verfügbarkeit Wireless Charging Ablage -> Handy Vergessen Warner CCM (über HMI) + Deaktivierbarkeit des Handy Vergessen Warner über HMI (Translation: Availability Wireless charging storage-> mobile forget Warner CCM (with HMI) + disable capability of the phone forget Warner on HMI)

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      04-18-2019, 10:11 AM   #2
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Thanks for this. I have one on order (should be here any day) so this is really helpful!
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      04-18-2019, 12:03 PM   #3
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Great tutorial, but more importantly, great annotations! Seriously, everyone who does tutorials should annotate like you do Are you doing these on a Surface, an iPad, or something else?
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      04-18-2019, 01:01 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knyghtryda View Post
Great tutorial, but more importantly, great annotations! Seriously, everyone who does tutorials should annotate like you do Are you doing these on a Surface, an iPad, or something else?
Thanks. I'm a visual learner myself so I like pictures. I use my iPad Pro and pencil to make annotations. I think this is my 4th or 5th how to using this style.
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      04-18-2019, 09:06 PM   #5
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I took the car to the mountains today. I'm happy to report that the phone stayed put on the charger really nicely for my 3 hour drive and because the charger is multi-coil (3 I believe) the phone doesn't have to be exactly in one spot to charge. On hard launches the phone did slide off the charger and into the cup holders but I don't think that is too unreasonable.
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      04-18-2019, 09:33 PM   #6
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Great write up!
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      04-28-2019, 07:23 PM   #7
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I just did this as well ... a couple of differences. The first is that you do not need to separate the drive mode switch assembly from the centre console frame. The whole piece comes out together and you can unplug the switch quite easily. I would not recommend you do it the other way because the top piece of the drive mode switch assembly is quite fragile where it connects to the bottom. Also, I didn't quite do the wiring the way the bmtespar did. I used the passthrough harness that came with the charger and simply cut off the ends and replaced them with spades and flags.

Otherwise, his instructions were extremely helpful. I have the pre-LCI car without the cover over the cupholders so the mat fits without disassembling it ... but I did anyway and it looks so much better that way.

The only thing is I lost one of the T20 screws for my iDrive controller. Fortunately, it's pretty tight with two and sits right on top of another piece so it doesn't move at all.
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      04-28-2019, 08:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck View Post
I just did this as well ... a couple of differences. The first is that you do not need to separate the drive mode switch assembly from the centre console frame. The whole piece comes out together and you can unplug the switch quite easily. I would not recommend you do it the other way because the top piece of the drive mode switch assembly is quite fragile where it connects to the bottom. Also, I didn't quite do the wiring the way the bmtespar did. I used the passthrough harness that came with the charger and simply cut off the ends and replaced them with spades and flags.

Otherwise, his instructions were extremely helpful. I have the pre-LCI car without the cover over the cupholders so the mat fits without disassembling it ... but I did anyway and it looks so much better that way.

The only thing is I lost one of the T20 screws for my iDrive controller. Fortunately, it's pretty tight with two and sits right on top of another piece so it doesn't move at all.
But how did you get the console trim out without removing the screw under the drive mode switch? That is the reason you have to remove the switch. Is it different in pre-LCI cars?
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      04-28-2019, 09:33 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmtespar View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck View Post
I just did this as well ... a couple of differences. The first is that you do not need to separate the drive mode switch assembly from the centre console frame. The whole piece comes out together and you can unplug the switch quite easily. I would not recommend you do it the other way because the top piece of the drive mode switch assembly is quite fragile where it connects to the bottom. Also, I didn't quite do the wiring the way the bmtespar did. I used the passthrough harness that came with the charger and simply cut off the ends and replaced them with spades and flags.

Otherwise, his instructions were extremely helpful. I have the pre-LCI car without the cover over the cupholders so the mat fits without disassembling it ... but I did anyway and it looks so much better that way.

The only thing is I lost one of the T20 screws for my iDrive controller. Fortunately, it's pretty tight with two and sits right on top of another piece so it doesn't move at all.
But how did you get the console trim out without removing the screw under the drive mode switch? That is the reason you have to remove the switch. Is it different in pre-LCI cars?
On mine, the screws only held down the cup holder assembly, not the console frame. Surprised it's different on yours.
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      04-29-2019, 10:28 AM   #10
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Further to this, it must have changed. From RealOEM you can see that the only screws hold down the cupholder itself and there are no screws under the drive mode switch.

Seems like an odd change to have been made.
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      04-29-2019, 10:53 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck View Post
Further to this, it must have changed. From RealOEM you can see that the only screws hold down the cupholder itself and there are no screws under the drive mode switch.

Seems like an odd change to have been made.

Yep. It is different. Mine definitely has two screws holding the console frame down.

Where is your completed install pic?
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      04-29-2019, 04:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmtespar View Post
Yep. It is different. Mine definitely has two screws holding the console frame down.

Where is your completed install pic?
It's definitely easier not having to take out the drive mode selector assembly ... people interested in doing this mod should note the difference between the pre-LCI and LCI consoles and that they only have to remove it for the LCI.

I'll get a pic up in the next day or so.
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      04-29-2019, 07:23 PM   #13
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Here you go:



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      05-04-2019, 09:07 AM   #14
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If anybody wants a easier solution buy one of these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ladestati...r/253302129724

I think the phone sits better in this one.
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      05-04-2019, 09:21 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Digzz View Post
If anybody wants a easier solution buy one of these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ladestati...r/253302129724

I think the phone sits better in this one.
It's only $280.
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      05-04-2019, 09:02 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Digzz View Post
If anybody wants a easier solution buy one of these.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ladestati...r/253302129724

I think the phone sits better in this one.
I can't think of many phones that would actually fit into that charging tray. Wouldn't fit my Pixel 3, no way it fit my wife's XS Max.
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      06-03-2019, 09:14 AM   #17
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Awesome Tutorial. Thanks!
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      08-18-2019, 09:32 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmtespar View Post

Nice writeup! The link you provided is invalid...
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      08-18-2019, 09:53 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fmzip View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmtespar View Post

Nice writeup! The link you provided is invalid...
It was probably removed because of the poor customer service and fitment. You can find the same ones on eBay for the f30 3 series and f32 4 series.
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      08-19-2019, 07:01 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmtespar View Post
It was probably removed because of the poor customer service and fitment. You can find the same ones on eBay for the f30 3 series and f32 4 series.

Thanks, not sure if posting external links is ok on this forum but I found it on Amazon Prime listed as "[Ultima] for BMW F30 F32 3 4 Series Integrated Qi Wireless Charging Charger Pad Retrofit Kit" and Ebay listed as "10W Qi Wireless Car Center Console Charger Pad For BMW 320i 330i F30 iPhone 8 XS"
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      08-19-2019, 07:16 AM   #21
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I have a few questions for you.

In this photo, is the OEM PLUG the cigarette lighter plug? Or is there another plug hidden under the console that I am looking for?




And in these photos, is the PHONE CHARGER plug the cigarette lighter plug as well?




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      08-20-2019, 08:01 PM   #22
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Just got the charger tonight and realized my car console different than yours.
Looks like the one I have in my car is through the 6/17 model year:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...320&series=F22

1' F20   (07/2010 — 02/2015)
1' F20 LCI   (05/2014 — 03/2019)
1' F21   (07/2010 — 02/2015)
1' F21 LCI   (05/2014 — 03/2019)
2' F22   (10/2012 — 06/2017)
2' F87 M2   (11/2014 — 06/2017)
2' F23   (03/2014 — 06/2017)

Will post some pics when I tackle the install this weekend, maybe mine will drop right in






Last edited by fmzip; 08-20-2019 at 08:22 PM..
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