[RoarinRow]

I finally got around to this. The removal was not as graceful for me but end result is that the cradle is removed while I am waiting for the tray to arrive.

[sspade]

Originally Posted by RoarinRow

I finally got around to this. The removal was not as graceful for me but end result is that the cradle is removed while I am waiting for the tray to arrive.

How much did you pay for tray?

On the hunt for one.

[RoarinRow]

Originally Posted by sspade

How much did you pay for tray?

On the hunt for one.

Got it from here - https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/51169227902/ for $24.45

[danjjacob]

I did the same thing but just made a flat plastic panel (a plastic picture frame that I got at Dollar Tree) that I covered with sticky back felt.

[RoarinRow]

Finally got my cradle replacement today. Looks great. Should have done this sooner. Fits as expected.

[daMANiack]

Hi,

I finally got around to removing my 2016 F26 X4 phone cradle yesterday, fairly simple using a guide I'd found, I'm just amending the guide at the moment.

Cheerz

Originally Posted by codeyf

+1 for instructions needed!

[M1LLSY83]

I also used this guide to remove the phone cradle, weirdly my 2012 F31 only had two cables attached to the cradle. quick phone call to BMW to get the tray, £18 lighter, and I now have a functional arm rest! cheers for the guide, really useful!

[BigJoeyVtC23]

Thanks! I’m going to attempt this weekend!

[radman76]

I am too cheap to buy the rubber tray. It cost about $30 USD on eBay.
So I made my own.

Attached is a Microsoft Word template document. Just print this out, and stick it on a piece of thick cardboard.

Cut the cardboard to the same shape outlined in this template.

I then use some spare black felt material to wrap around it, to make it look good.

Will attach some photos when I have time to take them.

[raphaelpais]

Just followed the instructions on post https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...5&postcount=31

It was HARD getting the cradle unclipped...

Anyone used the connectors to install a 4g GPS tracker? seems like a good spot

[hybrid90]

Used this guide to remove my cradle. Had to be a bit forceful with the cradle itself, but it came loose. Got the rear vent out easily and the first two cables unclipped. Once I figured out the lifting mechanism on the big plug, that came easily as well. The problem I had was the cables seemed to be hung up on something and I had to get forceful to start pulling them out. It also doesn't help that the cradle only came up 3-4" because the cables were hung up so it was difficult to pull on them.

But I did get it out and got my tray in. So nice to have that extra space in the center console. Now just gotta find the cable to establish the USB in the glove box. That's my next project.

[jdwrght55]

For anyone who doesn't want to spend $60 on a new cable and $35 for the USB, here is the pinout of the blue-connector cable wires:



Since as we know the blue cable is essentially a USB cable, you can splice together any phone cable or female USB cable, such as this:


I can do a better write-up if anyone is interested.

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by jdwrght55

For anyone who doesn't want to spend $60 on a new cable and $35 for the USB, here is the pinout of the blue-connector cable wires:
Attachment 2373050


Since as we know the blue cable is essentially a USB cable, you can splice together any phone cable or female USB cable, such as this:
Attachment 2373052

I can do a better write-up if anyone is interested.

Hi - just found thread, very interesting.

I have set up a wireless charger on the old phone cradle - a simple 3D printed mount that plugs into to existing data USB. I’m finding - like many here - that whilst the wireless charger works well in a normal home USB outlet, the BMW 0.5a usb is not enough to charge a phone.

I was thinking of just tapping into the 12v lighter circuit under the armrest (the one for the rear seats) and using this to power a USB adaptor and hence provide 1-2a to the wireless charger. But then I found this thread.....

Your pictures have me wondering whether I could use the +5/gnd lines from the fakra female connector (i.e. when cradle unplugged/removed) to power the usb inputs on the charger? Can I just ignore the data lines or are these needed to ensure a higher power is sent on the +5v gnd lines? I’ve read that without the data handshake the usb 5v can be limited to 0.5a anyway - is there something more consider here?

Are the pin outs on the BMW farka connector known/obvious from the colours of the wires above? I have found plenty on the micro usb on the charger.

Cheers!

[KTE]

Good guide, not sure if you left it out because it’s obvious, but my wiring was lined between tabs to the side of the rear air vent, and even behind the air vent (not the highlighted sections in images in the armrest).

Other thing is that pain in the black chunky connector. Removing this connector from the white plastic by sliding it all the way down with clearance was the hardest part! It cannot be pulled up.

[Fly320s]

Hello from the M2 (F87) side of Bimmerpost.

I just removed my wireless phone charger from my 2020 M2 Competition. There are a couple of small differences between my charger and the one shown back on page 2 by SchweiZ4. His post is excellent and got me 95% of the way to success.

Removing the tray, the rear air vent, and pulling the cables through the tray was just as SchweiZ4 said. The hard part for me was removing the tray. That took a surprising amount of force, but I did find that inserting a trim tool and twisting it, instead of prying with it, seemed to work better.

My phone charger is two pieces that can be seperated, but don't need to be. There is no benefit to seperating the charger into two pieces. Just pull the whole assembly out and pull the wires out through the top of the tray when you can. I had read on another post about seperating the charge into two pieces, but that didn't help me. One of the wires is soldered into the circuit board, so I still had to pull both wires up through the console.

The difference for my car is that it has only two cables and connectors to deal with: the large black rectangle and the small black square.

I do want to point out how to disconnect the small black square, since that wasn't obvious in the previous instructions. Push down on that tiny black piece of plastic that my metal pointer is touching in photo 2.

Getting the larger connector past the air duct is only possible if the air duct is pulled slightly out of the way (towards the back seats). The are two little hooks that prevent that from happening, but it is easy to wiggle the duct around the hooks and slide it back enough for the connector to clear. The third photo shows the left-side hook, but the photo is upside down for some reason. The duct is easily bent and moved around the hooks.

The whole process took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes, but I was being very cautious to prevent damaging anything. I only cause a couple of minor scuffs, so I am happy with my work.

All that is left is to install the new mat, which should be here next week.

[Markusbdj]

Can I contact Administration?
It is important.
Regards.

[danbart]

I did this mod about a month ago. Today I noticed that the front 12V plug in front of the cup holders is no longer working.

Has anyone else had this happen? I'm wondering if it's related to the mod or something else?

[HenkeEdge]

Originally Posted by SchweiZ4

Okay, I did it - I removed the phone cradle and got more space for less than $20 in less than 45 min.



// Shortened the post //

Thanks man.

Now, my 2018 F32 440i Can hold a pair of Ray Ban´s in the armrest compartment (..and some more things).
My phone-thingy just had the two black connections, same as Fly320s posted.

[Bosozoku]

I've got a '17 M2, and I just wanted to add a little info:

Originally Posted by Fly320s

Hello from the M2 (F87) side of Bimmerpost.
...
The difference for my car is that it has only two cables and connectors to deal with: the large black rectangle and the small black square.
...

Just from reading the owners' manual (in the BMW Connected app), I'm guessing that the large connector is for the
signal that goes to the external antenna. And it's not just a simple straight wire. The manual says that the cradle
connects the phone to a signal booster:

"Your car is equipped with a wireless charging tray (WCA) to charge
your mobile phone and connect it to the mobile network. To ensure the best
possible connection a signal booster (LTE-Compensator) is used in conjunction
with the WCA. ..."

So I'm leaving the cradle in place. I'll just modify it so the slider moves enough to fit my upcoming iPhone 12 Pro Max.
I will post a procedure if I figure out a good way to do that. (And no - I won't 3D print an extended
slider as has been posted elsewhere. The plastic is too brittle.)

[dianebrat]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

(And no - I won't 3D print an extended
slider as has been posted elsewhere. The plastic is too brittle.)

I disagree, mine has not broken, but just have someone duplicate the 3D printed part via CNC using aluminum

[Bosozoku]

Originally Posted by dianebrat

I disagree, mine has not broken, but just have someone duplicate the 3D printed part via CNC using aluminum

I read a post showing the broken part, so that made me wary.
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...6&postcount=71

But yes - black anodized aluminum would be perfect, with a little padding.

[grocerylist]

About how much extra room do you get by removing the phone docking base and installing the plastic/rubber tray?