[fw_fw]

Installed a wireless charging pad into my X3 today. Ordered it 3 weeks ago on Aliexpress, if you use a couple of coupons you can get the price down to around $60 or so. ebay US or amazon have these as well, but at a much higher price:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DNHF...461045d0rvPQIr

It arrived well packed and as pictured in the ad. Little pamphlet inside was in Chinese, so you have to rely on the ad install pics (see below) and any info you can get from newtis.info.

Installation is a fairly straightforward, the pics in the ad show you about 90% of what you need to know. The trim panel surround is held in place with clips and pops right up with a trim tool. Once loose there are three cables that must be unplugged before the panel can be totally removed: iDrive, Parking Brake, and Mode/Camera. There is just enough room to lift the panel 2-3 inches and unplug these. Everything else pretty much follows the pics shown, the only other thing that took a bit to figure out was how to unplug the wiring harness from the cupholder and hooking in the splice harness. By looking at the splice harness included with the charger you can see where the plugs clip & slide into place and go from there. Everything done on the install is 100% reversible without damage, so it's good to know in case it needs to be reinstalled later.

Once installed and everything put back together it works as promised. Obviously since I just installed it i can't really speak to how long it takes to charge a phone or it's reliability/longevity, but so far so good. As you can see in the pic, looks factory and has a rubber pad on the top to help stop the phone from sliding. With the phone resting on the pad the sliding door closes in the console with no issues. It does shows CE certification, but being from a Chinese source like Aliexpress sometimes quality can be a crapshoot, so only time will tell. Build quality of the charger and the harness looks to be very high and well done, so it looks promising.

[bmtespar]

Nice. I saw this on EBay a few months ago and shared the info. Glad someone finally bit the bullet and did the retrofit. I know it’s lazy of me, but I love my wireless charging.

[MechX3M40i]

Impressive! Nice write up! Always appreciate when someone post a how-to like this!

[fw_fw]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

Nice. I saw this on EBay a few months ago and shared the info. Glad someone finally bit the bullet and did the retrofit. I know it’s lazy of me, but I love my wireless charging.

Originally Posted by MechX3M40i

Impressive! Nice write up! Always appreciate when someone post a how-to like this!

Thanks! Always glad to help. Only the top pic is from my car after the install, the other pics are from the seller's ad.

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by fw_fw

Thanks! Always glad to help. Only the top pic is from my car after the install, the other pics are from the seller's ad.

LOL - I was wondering if you also changed the trim at the same time

[r33_RGSport]

Nice...
Be careful not to get your warranty voided with the mod.

[fw_fw]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Nice...
Be careful not to get your warranty voided with the mod.

It is easily removable in about 20 minutes, and it only ties into the wiring to the rear cigarette lighter. That, and my local dealer is mod-friendly......

[IXVXI]

Found this on real oem.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=03_5038

Any ideas on how it works?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by fw_fw

It is easily removable in about 20 minutes, and it only ties into the wiring to the rear cigarette lighter. That, and my local dealer is mod-friendly......

Just saying.

Since it is a lot of warranty phobia across the forums.

[SROC3]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Just saying.

Since it is a lot of warranty phobia across the forums.

well.....not sure they'd notice....dealers are idiots for one. LOL. Then the wiring isn't intrusive enough to mess with the main electronics or ECU. Should be ok.

[iManu]

Nice install! I have the one one and my phone always move... any luck securing the phone with the aftermarket one?

[JSY]

Originally Posted by IXVXI

Found this on real oem.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=03_5038

Any ideas on how it works?

That totally looks like it fits in one of the cup holders and that back plate inserts into the top of it, and your phone would lie on it upright, held down with the spring loaded clip on top of the backplate and also the BMW sign on the cup holder part.

Of course, that's me guessing. lol That connector is a micro-USB so not sure where that would go.

[IXVXI]

Originally Posted by JSY

That totally looks like it fits in one of the cup holders and that back plate inserts into the top of it, and your phone would lie on it upright, held down with the spring loaded clip on top of the backplate and also the BMW sign on the cup holder part.

Of course, that's me guessing. lol That connector is a micro-USB so not sure where that would go.

Hahah I'm with you on that, but as you the micro-USB connector got me confused. Secondly the wireless charging powerbank threw another spanner in my chain of thought

Do you use the cup holder thing to charge the powerbank? Then hand that thing to the passenger?

We already have factory wireless charging, however wondering if this could possibly a solution for the passenger's phone.

Apologies for the Installation looks great and also great write up.

[IXVXI]

All good, figured it out - If in doubt google... Images are self explanatory.

[nogren]

I guess this after-marked solution gives you a white instead of blue LED, and no warning in KOMBI if leaving your phone (or display key) charging while turning off the ignition... ?

OP, since it was not your car in most of the pics, I assume you don't know what seat cover is in those pictures? Looks like the drivers seat got same mocka, but with other stitching ..

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by nogren

I guess this after-marked solution gives you a white instead of blue LED, and no warning in KOMBI if leaving your phone (or display key) charging while turning off the ignition... ?

OP, since it was not your car in most of the pics, I assume you don't know what seat cover is in those pictures? Looks like the drivers seat got same mocka, but with other stitching ..

The install pics were probably from the manufacturer of the charger, and location was probably China. The guy also had after market floor liner + another floor mat on top! Not surprised that he also had a seat cover too - this is all typically done in Asia to protect the resale values of cars. Google this and you should be able to find lots of options if you are interested. But be careful of the fit which can be a hit or miss sometimes...

[fw_fw]

Originally Posted by nogren

I guess this after-marked solution gives you a white instead of blue LED, and no warning in KOMBI if leaving your phone (or display key) charging while turning off the ignition... ?

The LED is white when not charging, solid blue when charging, flashing blue when done, and it does turn off totally once the car is parked for a few minutes.

Originally Posted by nogren

OP, since it was not your car in most of the pics, I assume you don't know what seat cover is in those pictures? Looks like the drivers seat got same mocka, but with other stitching ..

No idea, I can say that Aliexpress is fully of stuff for our cars for ALL kinds of tastes......

[hotelj]

I asked the seller whether it would fit right hand drive vehicles (steering on the right) and they said no. I didn't think there would be a difference..?

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by IXVXI

Hahah I'm with you on that, but as you the micro-USB connector got me confused. Secondly the wireless charging powerbank threw another spanner in my chain of thought

Do you use the cup holder thing to charge the powerbank? Then hand that thing to the passenger?

We already have factory wireless charging, however wondering if this could possibly a solution for the passenger's phone.

Apologies for the Installation looks great and also great write up.

Did you ever try out the cup holder charger?

[IXVXI]

Originally Posted by MechX3M40i

Did you ever try out the cup holder charger?

I gave it a pass. I wasn't too fond of the design/concept.

[Jusdande]

I just installed the one from China in my 2019 X4. Install and fit went perfect. White light is on. When I put my phone on it with less than a full charge the light is flashing blue. Isn't it supposed to be solid when charging and flashing when fully charged? Should the battery charging indicator show the charging symbol? Not sure it is working.

[SROC3]

Originally Posted by Jusdande

I just installed the one from China in my 2019 X4. Install and fit went perfect. White light is on. When I put my phone on it with less than a full charge the light is flashing blue. Isn't it supposed to be solid when charging and flashing when fully charged? Should the battery charging indicator show the charging symbol? Not sure it is working.

Yes it should be showing the charging symbol. Yes it should be solid blue when charging.