Pogo Alert+ want it fitted
Discussion
Posted this in the SatNav General Gassing area but so far, no helpers:
I just bought a Pogo Alert+ and think it's great but I'm looking to get it fitted to my BMW E39 i.e. I want the power cable to be built in behind the dashboard. I'm concerned that I don't want panels taken out and things creaking and groaning afterwards. Can anyone recommend someone in London? Would be prepared to drive into Sussex/Hampshire etc if it could be done in a day.
Thanks
I just bought a Pogo Alert+ and think it's great but I'm looking to get it fitted to my BMW E39 i.e. I want the power cable to be built in behind the dashboard. I'm concerned that I don't want panels taken out and things creaking and groaning afterwards. Can anyone recommend someone in London? Would be prepared to drive into Sussex/Hampshire etc if it could be done in a day.
Thanks
Hi,
I have just done exactly the same thing (albeit to my E61). I "hardwired" it into the rear view mirror and mounted the unit (via the suction cup) adjacent to the mirror.
It was a fairly simple process.
Cut the end off the (pogo supplied) cigarette charger
Identify positive and GND
Put an inline fuse on the positive side
Wire into the mirror.
For the wiring I am fairly sure the E39 and E61 have similar setups. If you remove the plastic casing around the windscreen interface you will find a number of wires with various functions (self dimming, clown nose etc etc). I believe it was pin 3 for switched 12 V and pin 10 for constant GND.
Wired up and done in under an hour.
Hope this helps. It is a fairly simple job to do yourself and might save a good few pounds.
I have just done exactly the same thing (albeit to my E61). I "hardwired" it into the rear view mirror and mounted the unit (via the suction cup) adjacent to the mirror.
It was a fairly simple process.
Cut the end off the (pogo supplied) cigarette charger
Identify positive and GND
Put an inline fuse on the positive side
Wire into the mirror.
For the wiring I am fairly sure the E39 and E61 have similar setups. If you remove the plastic casing around the windscreen interface you will find a number of wires with various functions (self dimming, clown nose etc etc). I believe it was pin 3 for switched 12 V and pin 10 for constant GND.
Wired up and done in under an hour.
Hope this helps. It is a fairly simple job to do yourself and might save a good few pounds.
Kind of wish I had tried a bit harder in physics at school now...it was physics with 'electricity' in it, wasn't it?! Um, I'm not really that hands on I'm afraid but thanks for the advice. Actually, I was thinking of having it mounted as low as possible in my field of vision beside the A pillar. Do you not find it distracts you especially at night having it mounted up around eye level?
Thanks
I wouldn’t' worry too much about the complexity. It is fairly simple (this coming from someone who wouldn't class themselves as an expert with the stuff by any means!)
If you want to mount the unit as low as possible, it is very easy to extend the cigarette charger cable (which you will need to cut anyway to hard wire). I found there to be an ideal gap around the interior trim surrounding the windscreen (don’t forget this was my E61).
In terms of distraction, I have mounted it very close to the rear view mirror (out of direct line of sight). There is almost a purpose designed gap on an E61 between the headlining and the rear view mirror!. At night the brightness on the unit can be dimmed (it has an internal clock so it is all automatic). Check the settings on the device.
I didn’t want it on the dashboard / centre console as I am a bit OCD about clutter and this location works very well in my opinion.
If you Google "E39 rear view mirror hard wire" or similar I think you will find the posts i referred to which helped me establish which wires were switched 12v and constant GND (then a simple check with a meter will confirm this).
If you can find a good 12v and GND source / location it is simple. (I believe another option is the back of the cigar lighter itself, or maybe the headlight switch.)
I hope this helps you, however as to your original question - I am unable to recommend anyone in those areas - sorry!
If you want to mount the unit as low as possible, it is very easy to extend the cigarette charger cable (which you will need to cut anyway to hard wire). I found there to be an ideal gap around the interior trim surrounding the windscreen (don’t forget this was my E61).
In terms of distraction, I have mounted it very close to the rear view mirror (out of direct line of sight). There is almost a purpose designed gap on an E61 between the headlining and the rear view mirror!. At night the brightness on the unit can be dimmed (it has an internal clock so it is all automatic). Check the settings on the device.
I didn’t want it on the dashboard / centre console as I am a bit OCD about clutter and this location works very well in my opinion.
If you Google "E39 rear view mirror hard wire" or similar I think you will find the posts i referred to which helped me establish which wires were switched 12v and constant GND (then a simple check with a meter will confirm this).
If you can find a good 12v and GND source / location it is simple. (I believe another option is the back of the cigar lighter itself, or maybe the headlight switch.)
I hope this helps you, however as to your original question - I am unable to recommend anyone in those areas - sorry!
Hiya
from the pictures on the website, the Pogo Alert+ looks like it needs line of sight in order to be able to pickup the GPS signals. If you mount it into the dashboard area or up by the mirror, will that not affect the reception of the signals to the unit?
en6jwrs - any pictures of your install?!
the stiglet - the 'trim' peices are easily popped off on the E39s, and they simply pop back on again, if the unit can still pick up signals, you 'could' cut out a square in one of the trim pieces, and a little of the dashboard behind to give clearance and it could sit on the piece just behind the indicator stalk, which is 'just' in view from the side of the steerign wheel. As it's a small display and dimmable, it'd be a very nice location. You won't have to worry about anything creaking afterwards, the dash material is strong and has some flex to it so if cut correctly, it'd 'grip' the unit tightly.
I'm just thinking about the GPS aspect and that it needs to 'see the sky'!
Cheers, Dennis!
from the pictures on the website, the Pogo Alert+ looks like it needs line of sight in order to be able to pickup the GPS signals. If you mount it into the dashboard area or up by the mirror, will that not affect the reception of the signals to the unit?
en6jwrs - any pictures of your install?!
the stiglet - the 'trim' peices are easily popped off on the E39s, and they simply pop back on again, if the unit can still pick up signals, you 'could' cut out a square in one of the trim pieces, and a little of the dashboard behind to give clearance and it could sit on the piece just behind the indicator stalk, which is 'just' in view from the side of the steerign wheel. As it's a small display and dimmable, it'd be a very nice location. You won't have to worry about anything creaking afterwards, the dash material is strong and has some flex to it so if cut correctly, it'd 'grip' the unit tightly.
I'm just thinking about the GPS aspect and that it needs to 'see the sky'!
Cheers, Dennis!
Dennis - I haven't got any pictures to hand (although I could take some if required).
The top of my Pogo Alert+ is in contact with the head lining of the car (just by the ambient down lights). I have had no problems with GPS signal (although sometimes it will take a few moments to establish contact after a period of inactivity).
I do know that there is (or will be) an external antenna available from Origin at some point - but at this stage I don’t think it will be necessary.
Stiglet - don't be overly concerned about a self-install. If you are careful and sensible there is little to do wrong. All the parts required (in line fuse and holder are available from Maplin). In fact if you disassemble the cigar lighter interface from the Pogo cable you will find a fuse you can re-use.
What better way to spend the weekend that messing around with an E39!
The top of my Pogo Alert+ is in contact with the head lining of the car (just by the ambient down lights). I have had no problems with GPS signal (although sometimes it will take a few moments to establish contact after a period of inactivity).
I do know that there is (or will be) an external antenna available from Origin at some point - but at this stage I don’t think it will be necessary.
Stiglet - don't be overly concerned about a self-install. If you are careful and sensible there is little to do wrong. All the parts required (in line fuse and holder are available from Maplin). In fact if you disassemble the cigar lighter interface from the Pogo cable you will find a fuse you can re-use.
What better way to spend the weekend that messing around with an E39!
Thanks for all your help guys. Ideally I wanted to pay someone £100 and just fit the thing perfectly in the place where I wanted it but reading about how the cable needs to plug into the back of the lighter or lights etc, I think I'm better off just using it with the battery and occasionally getting annoyed with the cable on the dashboard charging it up. Don't think I can be bothered with all the extra hassle for a thing I use once a week!
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