[LA1Z24]

Originally Posted by grocerylist

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

I would say it becomes about 1 inch deeper, maybe an inch and a half

[coreyaugustus]

Originally Posted by LA1Z24

I would say it becomes about 1 inch deeper, maybe an inch and a half

Marginally, that's not insignificant.

[jdwrght55]

Originally Posted by F31-340i

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!

Sorry for the delay in response! I could not find the BMW farka wire pinout anywhere, so I had to play around with a voltmeter and I eventually figured everything out. I don't remember what I was getting for amperage, but it actually charges a phone as opposed to the regular armrest USB.

I suppose you could just ignore the data lines if you only wanted to use it for charging, but I would recommend just wiring in the entire female USB cable in case you ever wanted to use it for something else. I also don't know enough about the data handshake to give an answer on that, but I wouldn't doubt it.

I mostly use it for powering my RPi Bootmod3 wifi transmitter and have never had any issues.

[LCornice]

Great instructions and pictures. Did mine this morning and it only took about 15 minutes. Since the blue wire is a USB plug, where is the best place to get connector? I wouldn't mind plumbing in an a charger for the back seat. TIA.

[chet82]

You sir are a gem ! , I did mine yesterday as i needed to route AUX for andream MMI box. Wish i could buy you a beer!!

[NxTH]

Originally Posted by grocerylist

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

I'm still surprised how much depth this gives you. You can't fit anything in there conveniently before you take the uneven cradle out, after that, it becomes a well. 100% worth it.

[chill-out]

Thank you for the guide, it was brilliant! Collected the part from my local BMW this morning and installation took about 30min. You really need to pull stronger than you think is reasonable.

[pauli18c]

Anyone know if you still use the 51169227902 mat in a 2017 340i? My charger looks a bit different than the ones I'm seeing here.

[NyC fireman]

worked out great for me ..... thanks guys for all pics and details

[bbygjules]

Originally Posted by SchweiZ4

This is the part of the cable that comes with the cradle.
You can see on other pictures the other side of the blue connector.
At the end, for the blue cable the female connector stays and the male connector is taken out (with the cradle).

I need your help please! If you know how, I recently bought my BMW 328 and they set CarPlay up thru a usb that is connected under this black hole thing… I think the usb is loose and needs to be replugged because sound is only playing from the left side of my car but on regular radio all speakers work. I need to get under this black thing to replug it… would you know how?

[hpopmds]

Anyone knows what's the black/pink connector for?
(it has 2 pins, seems like some kind of antenna connection)

[Jakeinaka]

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.

Great thread guys, the connection for the useless phone cradle is as attached, from the E89 information in TIS. jdwright55 is correct.
The correct Fakra connectors are available.... somewhere, but reusing the original from the phone cradle seems doable. The cradle will be going in the bin anyway.

[ssotello]

Hi... I was able to remove my in console wireless charger and reclaim some much needed console space. It was fairly easy with this post. The only thing I noticed is that my cigarette lighter socket on the back of the console near the rear temp controls does not work. I reattached the temp control wire and the wire to the lighter socket. Has anyone else experienced this. The other connnectors (2 of them) went away with the wireless charger. Thanks for any advice.

[chrismuk]

Originally Posted by Iyrix

Finally got this done tonight. Still need some black foam, but used underlay for now! ?. Really happy with the mod as it frees up my other USB.

£25 all in. £10 adaptor from China and second hand try for £15??

Have you got a link (i know its along time ago now) as to something i can do the same with? ive got an old ipod hanging around with loads of films and music on id like to install like yours.

[Tatanka1961]

I also removed my useless cradle.
But since I was not gonna pay 30+ € for a piece of rubber, I did some measuring and made a 3D-printed insert.
I put some 'faux-leather' trim on the bottom and voila!