Earthing point for Dashcam near glovebox

[Houdi]

Hi,

I'm just installing a Dashcam but can't find a convenient screw head to use as the earth lead point.

There are plenty in the glovebox but they screw into plastic. The nearest I've found is a bolt on the passenger seat rails but it's too far away from the fuse box.

If I remove the panel below the console, on the right of the passenger footwell, are there any screw heads beneath which would make a suitable earth?

Also, is it simply a case of removing the single visible screw from within the carpet to remove the side panel to gain access? (I've checked that screw but it doesn't seem to connect to earth so I'm guessing it binds into plastic behind).

Or is there a better screw to attach to but which I've failed to spot?

Thanks

Ian

[yes_its_neil]

There is an earth (brown wire) at the torch socket next to the glove box (right hand side). I didn't have the torch fitted, but popping the dummy plate out revealed a 12volt +ve and earth plug. I fitted a dual usb socket in the cutout. I don't have photos with me to guide you.

[Houdi]

Hi,

I have the torch and had to take it to lower the fuse panel cover - I didn't notice anything which I could connect to though.
Are you suggesting connecting onto the terminals which the torch pushes onto? Or are you saying that the torch socket can be extracted and then connection can be made behind it?

Thanks

[lezmtaylor]

On the X5 the Brown wires are Earth , so you can connect up to any Brown wire and get an Earth.
Why not go into the area adjacent to the interior mirror where the interior lights are.
I did a How to some years ago, have alook.

Lez

[Houdi]

I've ot the next base hard wiring kit which plugs nicely into the fuse box and includes a small box to reduce the voltage to 5v so the glovebox is handy.

I'm just struggling to find a convenient earth - it's bolted to the passenger seat rails currently and is not concealed.

[yes_its_neil]

The torch socket, (which I don't have) has 12 volts connected. I was able to simply pop out the blanking plate, which had the +ve and earth wires connected to it, just parked there. You could tap into the brown there I'm sure, if the socket pops out easily.

[Houdi]

For the sake of future readers with same issue.

Solution:

Remove the glovebox by removing the 4 screws at the top and pulling a plastic bolt out of the shock absorber like return device on the right. Keeping the box closed made it easier to slide out.

To the right of the fuses there is a screw - loosen and attach the earth to that.

Replace glovebox and enjoy.

[Upex]

[quote="Houdi"]
For the sake of future readers with same issue.

Solution:

Remove the glovebox by removing the 4 screws at the top and pulling a plastic bolt out of the shock absorber like return device on the right. Keeping the box closed made it easier to slide out.

To the right of the fuses there is a screw - loosen and attach the earth to that.

Replace glovebox and enjoy.
[/quote]
Thanks for following up on this houdi, needed this today as was really struggling to find and earth for a piggy back circuit.

For future readers, in addition to the 4 screws as mentioned by houdi, my car also had one on lower left that needs the glove box droping past the bump stop to get to and 2 more screws on the lower right, one easy to. See, the other about 2 inch in front of it near the shock (viewed as sat in car).

Once removed there a couple of screws viable as houdi says. I chose not use these, rather drilled a hole in the metal sub frame thing (up in to right corner where it's not doing much) and mounted a bolt with double nuts, so it's permanent locked down and can add further earth's easily by moving second bolt off and on. 

There also easy access to the back of the dash etc with the glovebox out. I managed to get a cable up behind the screen and up into centre air vent (then back out of vent) for a phone charger very easily. And not a bad job either, only a very small bit of cable showing between the screen frame and entering the first bit of vent (didn't fancy cutting into the ducting etc).

[jason1872]

[quote="Houdi"]
For the sake of future readers with same issue.

Solution:

Remove the glovebox by removing the 4 screws at the top and pulling a plastic bolt out of the shock absorber like return device on the right. Keeping the box closed made it easier to slide out.

To the right of the fuses there is a screw - loosen and attach the earth to that.

Replace glovebox and enjoy.
[/quote]Im about to do the same install with next base hard wire kit,what fuse did you piggy back onto?

[Upex]

I used the abs fuse, tut tut. It was literally the only one I found that was live and off as i needed. I did intend to instal a dedicated power supply to a small fuse box for all accessories up front, but never got round to it as other stuff came up with my two other cars which I'm still working through.

My only warning would be that if you knock the piggy back fuse thing out when refitting glove box or whatever, youll get a mariad of warning lights. I shit it when it happended, thought id stuffed it right up, but reinstalled and powered back up and all was well, phew!

[jason1872]

ive just tested a few fuses with ignition on and off and i have a fuse for garage door opener number 33 which goes off when ignition is turned off and goes live when ignition on so i'll go for that just need to find the earth.

[Upex]

Does it stay live with engine on? I found a few that were off=off, acc=on, run=off which were no good, but didn't find this one, and thought I'd checked them all (although I do not have a garage door remote so perhaps it's not wired up in mine).

Earth points were few and far between, as per my prior post, there is a nice chunk of conductive alloy frame that makes a very good earth point, and there is a decent sized flat area that isn't doing anything other than forming the shape of the frame. I drilled this and put in a bolt with 2 nuts. Means I can add earth rings inbetween the nuts to my hearts content. Solid, very good earth that won't budge and has room to accomodate more items added later (dash cam, phone charger, usb socket, sat nav, parrot etc). There is plenty of clearance to, it doesn't foul the glove box or anything.

Given it's quick, easy and a solid solution, I'd be my recommendation.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[jason1872]

I dont have the remote either but fuse is there,i put my test lamp on the fuse and going by that it was off when ignition was off,im planning doing it tomorrow weather permitting

[Upex]

[quote="jason1872"]
I dont have the remote either but fuse is there,i put my test lamp on the fuse and going by that it was off when ignition was off,im planning doing it tomorrow weather permitting
[/quote]

Cool if it's on in acc and on when running, I'll look to relocate, so let me know lol

[jason1872]

All done with great success used the garage door opener fuse to piggyback and one the fuse box mounting screws for earth.