What are these?

rstoughy · 18-01-2016, 06:37 PM

What are these boxes for and can I remove them without any issues?

I'm all too aware of the CAN system on these cars that interlinks lots of things so a little concerned about removing stuff.

I'm pretty sure this is all for the ICE that originally come with the car but hopefully someone can confirm.

And this load of wires which was originally for the amps, sat nav, DVD etc??
If I trace these back and remove will I get issues??

mattCSLnut · 18-01-2016, 07:02 PM

Hi Paul... please don't quote me but IIRC pic 2 & 3 show the Radio Aerial amplifiers.
As for pic one ... if it was me I'd unscrew it off the interior panel and look for manufacturer label or BMW part number, cross reference it with RealOEM and that should tell you what it it... infact same process for pic 2 & 3 just to make 100% sure

I hope that's of some help.

**shimmy** · 18-01-2016, 08:20 PM

chop em out and see if she still runs

cslsuperfan · 18-01-2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimmy

chop em out and see if she still runs

Paul

No more wham on your ring trips!!!

phoenixcsl · 19-01-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstoughy

And this load of wires which was originally for the amps, sat nav, DVD etc??
If I trace these back and remove will I get issues??

That box is your 'Diversity Antenna' it splits the aerial signal, if you take it out, you'll probably have little or no radio signal.

rstoughy · 19-01-2016, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixcsl

That box is your 'Diversity Antenna' it splits the aerial signal, if you take it out, you'll probably have little or no radio signal.

That's not going to be a problem

rstoughy · 19-01-2016, 08:57 PM

So I removed each box 1 at a time, started the car and tried all lights etc. All seemed ok so lets hope it's fine when it goes back together.

The box on the 1/4 panel is a tracker. I also found another tracker behind the steel panel inside the other 1/4 panel.

I unplugged the ICE loom and it also had no ill effects to speak of so front speakers wires to come out and this will be removed.

I have to say though that the heater box removal was possibly one of the worst jobs I have ever tackled on an M3!!!

Graham · 24-01-2016, 01:04 AM

1st is a tracker

2nd is the aerial that uses the rear window for antenna

3rd has something to do with antenna too but I read somewhere you'll have no central locking either if you remove it

4th is all loom for sound system, looks like you had BM54, DVD drive, TV tuner Harmon Kardon? I just sold my sound system fully loaded loom for £100, food for thought!

Interesting on the dash removal, I want to get all that sound deadening out that goes along the bulkhead too, wonder if it will rattle once it's out lol. Are you going to lighten the wiring? It doesn't actually look too bad a job, I've been cutting plugs off that are no longer in use, airbags, door speakers etc

You must have cut that heater matrix up to remove it with the dash bar still in place?

rstoughy · 24-01-2016, 10:19 AM

Hi Graham,

I done a little digging through google with the numbers and found out it was a tracker. Found another tracker buried in behind the other rear 1/4 panel.

Have since removed the complete harness for the ICE system with the only wires needing chopped are the 3 speaker ones at the multi-plug for the doors. The rest simply unplug behind the dash.

Central locking wont be an issue as no electrics running to the doors anymore so it wont work anyway.

Now that bloody heater box, I disconnected the dash bar and pulled it back as far as possible without having to remove the steering, fuse box etc and it was still an absolute female front bum to come out. I attacked various bits with a hacksaw, scuffed a few knuckles but it come eventually.

Good luck...lol

Graham · 26-01-2016, 12:16 AM

You shouldn't have had to cut out any plugs for the loom? I got mine out complete! You can unplug the door connector with an 8mm socket then pull the plug into the car then the speakers are on a seperate plug within it that slides out, never mind it's done now

Sod that I'm keeping my heaters lol I'm not going that hardcore on mine. Lost all the sound system but will still have a dash and heaters and even aircon mainly because I'm thinking of Nurburgring in 35 degree heat!

18-01-2016, 06:37 PM	#1
rstoughy S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 1,946 Casino cash: $25356	What are these? What are these boxes for and can I remove them without any issues? I'm all too aware of the CAN system on these cars that interlinks lots of things so a little concerned about removing stuff. I'm pretty sure this is all for the ICE that originally come with the car but hopefully someone can confirm. And this load of wires which was originally for the amps, sat nav, DVD etc?? If I trace these back and remove will I get issues?? __________________ Paul. Ooooft!!! 15yrs in the CSL and still loving it "shine on you crazy diamond"

18-01-2016, 07:02 PM	#2
mattCSLnut CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,460 Casino cash: $27763	Hi Paul... please don't quote me but IIRC pic 2 & 3 show the Radio Aerial amplifiers. As for pic one ... if it was me I'd unscrew it off the interior panel and look for manufacturer label or BMW part number, cross reference it with RealOEM and that should tell you what it it... infact same process for pic 2 & 3 just to make 100% sure I hope that's of some help. __________________ UK CSL No.020 ... after 7 years of ownership I've now SOLD it !!!

18-01-2016, 08:20 PM	#3
shimmy CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 14,646 Casino cash: $43909	chop em out and see if she still runs __________________ .

19-01-2016, 08:57 PM	#7
rstoughy S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 1,946 Casino cash: $25356	So I removed each box 1 at a time, started the car and tried all lights etc. All seemed ok so lets hope it's fine when it goes back together. The box on the 1/4 panel is a tracker. I also found another tracker behind the steel panel inside the other 1/4 panel. I unplugged the ICE loom and it also had no ill effects to speak of so front speakers wires to come out and this will be removed. I have to say though that the heater box removal was possibly one of the worst jobs I have ever tackled on an M3!!! __________________ Paul. Ooooft!!! 15yrs in the CSL and still loving it "shine on you crazy diamond"

24-01-2016, 10:19 AM	#9
rstoughy S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 1,946 Casino cash: $25356	Hi Graham, I done a little digging through google with the numbers and found out it was a tracker. Found another tracker buried in behind the other rear 1/4 panel. Have since removed the complete harness for the ICE system with the only wires needing chopped are the 3 speaker ones at the multi-plug for the doors. The rest simply unplug behind the dash. Central locking wont be an issue as no electrics running to the doors anymore so it wont work anyway. Now that bloody heater box, I disconnected the dash bar and pulled it back as far as possible without having to remove the steering, fuse box etc and it was still an absolute female front bum to come out. I attacked various bits with a hacksaw, scuffed a few knuckles but it come eventually. Good luck...lol __________________ Paul. Ooooft!!! 15yrs in the CSL and still loving it "shine on you crazy diamond"

24-01-2016, 01:04 AM	#8
Graham S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 405 Casino cash: $7152	1st is a tracker 2nd is the aerial that uses the rear window for antenna 3rd has something to do with antenna too but I read somewhere you'll have no central locking either if you remove it 4th is all loom for sound system, looks like you had BM54, DVD drive, TV tuner Harmon Kardon? I just sold my sound system fully loaded loom for £100, food for thought! Interesting on the dash removal, I want to get all that sound deadening out that goes along the bulkhead too, wonder if it will rattle once it's out lol. Are you going to lighten the wiring? It doesn't actually look too bad a job, I've been cutting plugs off that are no longer in use, airbags, door speakers etc You must have cut that heater matrix up to remove it with the dash bar still in place?

26-01-2016, 12:16 AM	#10
Graham S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 405 Casino cash: $7152	You shouldn't have had to cut out any plugs for the loom? I got mine out complete! You can unplug the door connector with an 8mm socket then pull the plug into the car then the speakers are on a seperate plug within it that slides out, never mind it's done now Sod that I'm keeping my heaters lol I'm not going that hardcore on mine. Lost all the sound system but will still have a dash and heaters and even aircon mainly because I'm thinking of Nurburgring in 35 degree heat!