Installed my remote garage door opener

[desmofan]

So, I took some time off from trying to figure out the cause of my IS's running issues and made a modification I've wanted to do since I bought the car a couple of months ago, permanently installing a remote garage door opener. I've been using a standard opener that you would clip onto your visor Velcroed to the sunroof motor cover. Not only did it look tacky, but it moved around too much and was a pain to use. Here's what I did (excuse the lousy pics, apparently my old digital camera does not like to focus this closely):

Here's what I was using:


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What I decided to do was to simply mount two switches in the sunroof motor cover, and wire them to activate the remote opener switches on the remote's circuit board. Here are the switches I used (Radio Shack PN 275-644, $2.69 each):


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I took the cover off, measured how far in from the right and left side the sunroof items interfered to make sure I could fit two switches in between, found the center of the cover and marked the spots for the centers of the switch holes 1/2" to each side, which would leave 1/2" between the switches. you can just see the pencil marks shining in the camera's flash, and this is after I center punched the hole centers:


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After drilling the two 1/2" holes (even with center punching the plastic, the drill wandered a bit, so for the next hole I started with a 1/4" drill and worked my way up to 1/2"), I mounted the two switches (really lousy pic, but I think you can get the idea):


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I popped open the case of the remote, and removed the circuit board. The controller board switches had one common terminal so I made that the black wired terminal, ran one black wire between the two switches and another to that common terminal. I then ran one red wire from the other terminal of each switch to the other switch contacts on the circuit board:


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The final step in assembly was to cover the exposed circuit board with electrical tape, insert the circuit board up into the cavity where the sunroof motor is and pop the cover back in place. Here's the final result:


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It works like a charm and I think it looks a lot more "factory". All in all, it took less than an hour and cost just over 5 bucks.

[w6w6s6d]

helluva job man, looks clean and nice!

[desmofan]

Thanks!

[chukrad]

great idea. i think i have extra window switch in garage i am going to try it soon.

[Coldswede]

I'd need "UP and "Down" arrows however!

[Brad D.]

I'd need "UP and "Down" arrows however!

That's what I used on my Homelink setup. OP, nice install.

[genzox]

next upgrade: onstar

[desmofan]

great idea. i think i have extra window switch in garage i am going to try it soon.

That's one of the best parts, if you screw it up, the covers are less than $10!

[desmofan]

I'd need "UP and "Down" arrows however!

lol

The two switches are actually for the two different garages. I'm just hoping I can remember which is for which!

[Golf Pro]

Great job
Looks really clean just like BMW had it as a E28 option

[cvillebimmer]

Awesome! Will have to do something similar to the e32.

[browntown]

I took a homelink out of a cadillac at the wrecker and was going to try to fab it in. Your idea looks much easier though.

[desmofan]

I took a homelink out of a cadillac at the wrecker and was going to try to fab it in. Your idea looks much easier though.

I saw a post here recently about modifying a Homelink system into an E28. I don't have a need for any Homelink features other than the garage door opener,so I thought this would make more sense for me. It was quite simple to do, and works fantastically.

[tig]

Bringing this thread back to life instead of creating a new one...

I have this keyfob opener and plan on doing something similar to what the OP has done.



This pic shows how I'll wire it up to momentary switches:



My issue is that I think the Radio Shack buttons the OP used look like they came from Radio Shack and not BMW. In addition I have 3 doors I want to control.

I have spare window switches, but they (a) have arrows and (b) come with two buttons each, and I need 3 buttons.

The child-lock button from the power windows has a good look, but is not a momentary switch.



So the question is: Does anyone know of a era correct BMW momentary button that is about the same size as the power window child-lock button? Any other suggestions for a period correct looking 3 button setup?

[jc72]

So the question is: Does anyone know of a era correct BMW momentary button that is about the same size as the power window child-lock button? Any other suggestions for a period correct looking 3 button setup?

Just use 2 window switches and you can wire up the extra button to the ejector seat.

[Brad D.]

Here is my Homelink install. I used a modified window switch and put it where the fader knob used to be. You might be able to disassemble the child lock switch and use the guts of a momentary button from a window switch.

Homelink Install

[tn535i]

If you pop open any of the switches from the AC, defrost, hazard, etc you will find it incredibly easy to loose a little platic peice that makes them become momentary. The window lock out is probably the same but I can't recall if it is open or closed in the up position? It may be the opposite of what you want which is a NO momentary. If it's the right way then break off that little tab or just leave a little plastic part out and it will become a momentary switch.

Another option would be to take two platic caps from the lockout switches and see if they fit on the window switch. Now you have two separate Homelink buttons on one switch. This is what I've though about doing on my 6er since I have about three unused spots above my radio I could insert switches.

[RDAvena]

I used a Range rover rear view mirror with the built in homelink off of ebay for like 80 bucks. Three wires to connect and way cheaper than the exact same BMW model mirrors.

[tig]

I used a Range rover rear view mirror with the built in homelink off of ebay for like 80 bucks. Three wires to connect and way cheaper than the exact same BMW model mirrors.

Great tip. What are the 3 wires? And did you pick a particular year: there seems to be quite some variation in the Range Rover mirrors.

[tomcinric]

integrate it with the momentary check control button!

[Greg E34]

integrate it with the momentary check control button!

If you have a late model E32 or E34, use the phone mute on the wiper stalk.