[samvora]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

dedicated thread here

Crystal Series Volume Button https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1805028

Thank you sir!

[stockli81]

So has anyone attempted to see if they can get the arrows to light up with the OEM crystal controller? Is it just lack of cutouts behind the arrows? missing leds?

[samvora]

Where on earth is the negative terminal for the battery under the hood? Also, how do I access the battery in the trunk? I am so lost with probably something that is so simple and easy lol

[samvora]

How do you disconnect the negative terminal of the battery under the hood? I removed the cover and the nut just doesn't budge and the bloody wiper cover on top makes it harder. Any tips?

Also, just the negative terminal needs to be unplugged on both batteries, correct or both terminals on both batteries?

[samvora]

Originally Posted by samvora

How do you disconnect the negative terminal of the battery under the hood? I removed the cover and the nut just doesn't budge and the bloody wiper cover on top makes it harder. Any tips?

Also, just the negative terminal needs to be unplugged on both batteries, correct or both terminals on both batteries?

Wow, no one?

[ted920]

Originally Posted by samvora

Wow, no one?

I'm literally looking for the same info.

Hopefully we get a response with pictures.

[nZtiZia]

car-analysis.com has some installation videos for the crafted crystal components.

[samvora]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

car-analysis.com has some installation videos for the crafted crystal components.

Yeah and they want $30 for that! WTH lol. Way to make money on this lol. I mean I will do it but if someone has already done it here then wouldn't it be great for them to help out the forum? That is what the forum is for, right? 😊

[Harry2007]

That looks great

[samvora]

Installed all 3 - volume button, start/stop button and the shifter in a total of 15 minutes from disconnecting both batteries to reconnecting them and every step in between. I have to say that I love the feel of the crystal shifter in the palm...stockier and way more textured than the plain shifter. Definitely a must install item. The irony is that when we were building our X5 back in 2019 and I had shown my wife a car on the lot with the crystal parts, she hated it and thought that it looks really gaudy but now she loves it. I wish I had ordered it back then but oh well...around the same price for all 4 parts so it's worth the time and effort.

Yes, the P lights up on the shifter and I tested it by reducing the dash lights brightness and then increasing it and it went from off to lighting up as you see in the pics. The X remains on all the time the car is on and it looks cool!

[ted920]

Very nice
I'm looking to do this myself soon.
Battery disconnect is a bit concerning

[motherkin]

Anyone has experience with this on a 45e?
The instruction from car-analysis says: "Remove center gear console before installation! All batteries can stay connected."

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by motherkin

Anyone has experience with this on a 45e?
The instruction from car-analysis says: "Remove center gear console before installation! All batteries can stay connected."

The product may be getting more refined over time. I do a full console removal at this point, seems to work well without any battery fuss. Module codes may need to be cleaned (sudden loss of iDrive controller etc).

[JimVR4]

So I thought I would add my experience. I bought all 4 items from car-analysis.

Start-Stop button

The sticky rubber stuff did not work for me. I elected to drill a hole and apply a screw to pull out the button. It took a pretty strong pull too!

Volume Button

I could not wiggle the silver trim ring off. Instead the whole assembly started to disconnect and I was fortunate not to break it. Then I drilled a hole and pulled it out with a screw.

I Drive Controller

After disconnecting both batteries I pulled the controller apart, disconnected the ribbon cable and did the tedious work at my desk.

Gear Selector

This was pretty easy, I just followed the instructions

Results

Very happy with the product and how it looks both day and night

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by JimVR4

So I thought I would add my experience. I bought all 4 items from car-analysis.

Start-Stop button

The sticky rubber stuff did not work for me. I elected to drill a hole and apply a screw to pull out the button. It took a pretty strong pull too!

Volume Button

I could not wiggle the silver trim ring off. Instead the whole assembly started to disconnect and I was fortunate not to break it. Then I drilled a hole and pulled it out with a screw.

I Drive Controller

After disconnecting both batteries I pulled the controller apart, disconnected the ribbon cable and did the tedious work at my desk.

Gear Selector

This was pretty easy, I just followed the instructions

Results

Very happy with the product and how it looks both day and night

Awesome job! The rubber sticky stuff seems like it works best if you cover the start button entirely and let it sit for a few minutes. I kept sticking and pulling and nothing, but after letting it sit, it came out with one tug.

[toronto_m50i]

Originally Posted by ted920

Very nice
I'm looking to do this myself soon.
Battery disconnect is a bit concerning

The battery disconnect under the hood is on the passenger side by the windshield. There lies a auxiliary battery under a plastic cover. You can't miss it.

When I installed mine i disconnected the negative on that battery, as well as the negative terminal on the battery in the trunk.

Hopefully that helps

[JimVR4]

Originally Posted by toronto_m50i

The battery disconnect under the hood is on the passenger side by the windshield. There lies a auxiliary battery under a plastic cover. You can't miss it.

When I installed mine i disconnected the negative on that battery, as well as the negative terminal on the battery in the trunk.

Hopefully that helps

13mm short socket on the front battery and 10mm on the rear one

[scmaverick]

Originally Posted by timmahh

The product may be getting more refined over time. I do a full console removal at this point, seems to work well without any battery fuss. Module codes may need to be cleaned (sudden loss of iDrive controller etc).

Do you have any tips on removing the center console? I took the carpet off and removed the bolts but I've only managed to get 1 of the clamps loose and I've been trying for a couple of hours. I have the small pry tool that came with the multimedia controller from car-analysis.

EDIT...I had removed bolts and not the small hex screws. So things should move much faster now.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by scmaverick

Do you have any tips on removing the center console? I took the carpet off and removed the bolts but I've only managed to get 1 of the clamps loose and I've been trying for a couple of hours. I have the small pry tool that came with the multimedia controller from car-analysis.

EDIT...I had removed bolts and not the small hex screws. So things should move much faster now.

Glad you got it worked out. To me the full removal method is better; take it all inside the house with proper lighting and workspace.

[CheesyPeas]

Originally Posted by motherkin

Anyone has experience with this on a 45e?
The instruction from car-analysis says: "Remove center gear console before installation! All batteries can stay connected."

I only changed the volume control on my 45e as I already have the gear selector and idrive crystal fittings. The silver ring came off really easy as did the button itself so quite lucky in that regard.

For anyone interested with the 45e…..UK RHD.

I had to remove the airbag as I wanted to change out the silver trim around the steering wheel to a carbon fibre one and to do this I had to disconnect both 12v batteries. One (the small one) is to right hand side of the boot behind a pull off cover, the other main 12v battery is under the tray in the centre of the boot. You’ll have to pull out the small trim clips (about 8 of them) with a small flat head screwdriver, it’s very easy when you look at them, lift out the plastic tray and there’s your battery. Disconnect this too. Then wait for 10-15 minutes maybe longer and the whole car will shut down, nothing works which is what you want. It threw me at first as the dash and horn was still working after I’d disconnected them but they do shut off eventually.

[scmaverick]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Glad you got it worked out. To me the full removal method is better; take it all inside the house with proper lighting and workspace.

I'm glad we removed it too! However, while removing the center console, detaching all of the clips/harnesses wasn't the easiest...glad I had a second set of hands to help with it. Then when we were replacing the multimedia controller, the small tan clip popped off, but it actually broke. Fortunately, we found the EXTREMELY small piece that broke and we super glued it back on and got it all put back together properly.

Just wanted to add in some details for people who tackle this...pieces can break if you aren't careful.

Also, we haven't VO coded the OEM crystal shifter yet to turn the X on. Is it something that can be done remotely by someone? Unfortunately, Bimmercode doesn't support VO coding.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by scmaverick

I'm glad we removed it too! However, while removing the center console, detaching all of the clips/harnesses wasn't the easiest...glad I had a second set of hands to help with it. Then when we were replacing the multimedia controller, the small tan clip popped off, but it actually broke. Fortunately, we found the EXTREMELY small piece that broke and we super glued it back on and got it all put back together properly.

Just wanted to add in some details for people who tackle this...pieces can break if you aren't careful.

Also, we haven't VO coded the OEM crystal shifter yet to turn the X on. Is it something that can be done remotely by someone? Unfortunately, Bimmercode doesn't support VO coding.

No coding needed as far as I know. Mine lights up white (and only white, I don't believe it supports the Change to amber at night).