Calling electrical guru's

[CR55]

Hi guys,
Looking to fit headrest DVD units in the e70,
Now install is all pretty standard in terms of removal and refitting, but as i am hoping to connect power to the rear seat cigarette lighter socket, rather than using the 12v adapter, I'm now baffled with the wiring  >:D
I have no electrical know how and no meter for testing so was hoping you may be able help ?
I have popped the cigarette lighter panel out to expose the wiring which consists of one brown wi and the other a yellow with green/yellow wire,
Million dollar question is which of these 2 wires is the live and which is earth,
Pure guess would be brown is live and green/yellow is earth - but not prepared to risk it,,
The DVD unit has yet to be delivered but it has a red and black wire for power, same question applies which wire would be live / earth ?
Again as a guess I would say red is live and black is earth ?
Any help would appreciated,
Cheers,

[Sanj]

Jesus - pls don't do this if you're not sure. Yellow and green are LIVE, brown is EARTH.

Red is LIVE and black will be EARTH, use a meter of some sort pls - you'll end up blowing something (or wrecking the car electronics), or stick a fuse inline just before making any connections.

This info is based on a 1-Series btw, same gen as your E70, don't hold me responsible for any mishaps!

Yellow and green wire will switch off when the car dies - used ideally as an ignition positive.

[Steamyrotter]

Brown is definitely Earth on BMW cars



(Trouble is now we have "harmonised" colour scheme the EU has conveniently made mains wiring brown live!!
muppets!)

[CR55]

Magic guys, thanks,

[Rusty]

[quote="Steamyrotter"]
Brown is definitely Earth on BMW cars



(Trouble is now we have "harmonised" colour scheme the EU has conveniently made mains wiring brown live!!
muppets!)
[/quote]

Bless the EU, much better for the colour deficient though apparently.


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[Steamyrotter]

[quote="Rusty"]
[quote="Steamyrotter"]
Brown is definitely Earth on BMW cars



(Trouble is now we have "harmonised" colour scheme the EU has conveniently made mains wiring brown live!!
muppets!)
[/quote]

Bless the EU, much better for the colour deficient though apparently.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
[/quote]

Yep lets go from Red Yellow Blue, and Green/yellow to

Grey, grey and another grey......

I know a book about that........


Makes life interesting when you end up with the old and new schemes because a cable burnt out and you cannot replace all of it.
Feel sorry for the new guys who wouldn't have a clue when they come across the old scheme and the proper conventions

[Rusty]

Let alone when they find the really old braid style covered rubber cable into the original Bakelite terminal block. All those cables look brown and burnt now.

[Rusty]

Let alone when they find the really old braid style covered rubber cable into the original Bakelite terminal block. All those cables look brown and burnt now.

[Rusty]

Let alone when they find the really old braid style covered rubber cable into the original Bakelite terminal block. All those cables look brown and burnt now.

[CR55]

So the install is done, very easy in the end, however now that the oem headrests are out I have a warning on the dash linked to airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners etc, this is due to the fact he oem headrest is wired (not sure what the power does), anyhow does anyone know of a fix for this, can't be doing with a constant warning light.....

[Rusty]

More than likely you disturbed the connector under the seat. 
They are not known for their tolerance to being disturbed and any slight increase in resistance in the airbag circuit will disable the whole lot and put a warning up until the fault is rectified.

Hope it is as simple as that mate, and you will need the right scanner or local Indi to reset the fault light.

Hope that helps



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