best way to mount wire

[tranquility]

I have a carcam that I wish to mount underneath the rear mirror base and need the wire to run from that to where the cig outlet is underneath the glovebox. As such, I thought the least intrusive way is running the wire across the bottom of the glovebox then up the A-pillar and then across the top of windshield and then down the rear mirror base (unless you can suggest a better route?). I'm thinking of using black electrical tape as the 'best' way to secure the wire but am wondering if there is a better solution that is both the less conspicuous and ensures that the wire stays put. Thx.

[Hoa]

zip ties?

[BMWE934me]

Originally Posted by Hoa

zip ties?

Yeah, zip ties are the way I would go too. Use existing harnesses as ways to loom your wires through as much as possible and not have to use anything to secure you wires along the way also. Good luck. A DIY would be nice of your project too.

[az34]

What kind of carcam you'd buy, i'm looking at Blackvue for my X5.

[tranquility]

How would zip ties work? Won't it be even more of an 'eyesore' than using electrical tape? Especially running the wire up the A-pillar, I don't know how it could be done.

[BMWE934me]

Originally Posted by tranquility

How would zip ties work? Won't it be even more of an 'eyesore' than using electrical tape? Especially running the wire up the A-pillar, I don't know how it could be done.

You run the wires inside of the A-pillar. It isn't an eyesore if it is not visible to the eye! Just follow the routing of other stock harnesses going up to the rear view mirror, vanity mirror and map lights. Common practice.
I did this on my 370Z for my GPS so I didn't have the power cord hanging down running to a lighter plug. Nice clean install.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by az34

What kind of carcam you'd buy, i'm looking at Blackvue for my X5.

808 #16 Lens D, highly recommended due to small size, good price, good video quality for the price. Had it for a few months now, just trying to put it in the best location. Right now, it's on my dash off-centre (due to the centre speaker), so not the best place.

Originally Posted by BMWZ44me

You run the wires inside of the A-pillar. It isn't an eyesore if it is not visible to the eye! Just follow the routing of other stock harnesses going up to the rear view mirror, vanity mirror and map lights. Common practice.
I did this on my 370Z for my GPS so I didn't have the power cord hanging down running to a lighter plug. Nice clean install.

Really, there is a gap that I can squish the wire into the A-pillar? How about the rest of the path, i.e. from A-pillar down to glovebox, from A-pillar across to rear mirror base?

[BMWE934me]

In most A-pillars I have ran wires up, there is a lot of room. For those that have air bags in them, run your wires behind the airbag and away from the passenger compartment. DO NOT TIE WRAP THE AIR BAG! Just tuck the wires behind it and re-attach the A-pillar cover trim. I hope this helps

[wdlfbio]

I had no problem running my V1 power cable up from that cig lighter. I removed the sun visor and the rubber door seal. You can go from the right side visor mount (and I mean start running your wire through this little opening) to the outside of the pilar pretty easily. From there it's a breeze down to the cig lighter.

[tranquility]

Ok, I think that I found the gap where I can squeeze the wire into the A-pillar, and the area underneath the glovebox is no biggie. However, what about the area from the A-pillar to the rear mirror...can the wire be 'squeezed' into some gap there if I don't want to remove anything? I don't see anything and seems like the wire must be exposed in those areas.

[drwillb]

Look up V1 installations. There's is power to be had right there by the mirror.

Ever notice all those lights in the overhead console?

[tranquility]

^I understand, however, I just want the simplest installation as the cam just needs a cig outlet and I don't want to open up the car to complete hide the wire throughout the whole routing. I don't mind that the wire shows in some places, just that it's secure and out of the way. I guess that the wire will have to be exposed from the A-pillar to the rearview mirror.

[BMWE934me]

Originally Posted by tranquility

^I understand, however, I just want the simplest installation as the cam just needs a cig outlet and I don't want to open up the car to complete hide the wire throughout the whole routing. I don't mind that the wire shows in some places, just that it's secure and out of the way. I guess that the wire will have to be exposed from the A-pillar to the rearview mirror.

If you dont mind something showing. They do make zip tie pads that have 3M tape on one side to mount to a surface and openings to run the zip tie through. They come in black and small enough to be hidden. You should be able to find what you need at Radio Shack or similar store. Use dark color wire to help hide it too.

[tranquility]

Actually, I'm still confused how/why would someone use zipties...it would show up and not look as good.

Anyway, I was able to run the wire from the glovebox cig lighter to the door sill, slipping inside the rubber seals up along the A-pillar, then the only area where the wire is exposed is crossing the A-pillar to the top-right corner of the windshield. The rest of the way, the wire can be tucked along the frame of the windshield and behind the rear mirror plastic base.

[BMWE934me]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Actually, I'm still
confused how/why would someone use zipties...it would show up and not look as good.

Anyway, I was able to run the wire from the glovebox cig lighter to the door sill, slipping inside the rubber seals up along the A-pillar, then the only area where the wire is exposed is crossing the A-pillar to the top-right corner of the windshield. The rest of the way, the wire can be tucked along the frame of the windshield and behind the rear mirror plastic base.

Since you have the weather seal to help route your wires securely and hidden, that's great. But if you didn't have that you could use these zip tie mounts that have 3M adhesive on the mount pad and stick them to the back side of the A-piller where they are not easily seen and run a cable tie through it to hold your wire secure and then trim off the cable tie and they are almost invisible. The base is only 7mm x 7mm very small in size. I have used them on many custom installs.

These may help in that area you have exposed wire from the A-pillar to the top right corner of the windshield.

[tranquility]

Thx for the photo, ok now I know what you guys are talking about. Still, w/ the wire only being 2-3mm in thickness, wouldn't it be better to just have velcro strips cut to the width size so you can only see the wire? There seems to be only 2 options, either the wire is exposed or not. If it must be exposed, then the velcro way seems preferable because it stays hidden behind the wire, whereas the zipties show because the wire has to loop through it.

[BMWE934me]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Thx for the photo, ok now I know what you guys are talking about. Still, w/ the wire only being 2-3mm in thickness, wouldn't it be better to just have velcro strips cut to the width size so you can only see the wire? There seems to be only 2 options, either the wire is exposed or not. If it must be exposed, then the velcro way seems preferable because it stays hidden behind the wire, whereas the zipties show because the wire has to loop through it.

I have never seen velcro used like you are saying, but it may work out well. Usually when you use the zip tie and mounting pad. You adhere the mounting pad furthest away from the eyes and as obscure as you can get. You just have to look at each job and see what works best for each situation. The zip ties and pads may not have worked best in your situation this time, but it is an option that may work for you or someone else in the future. Just trying to be helpful on the forum where 2 cents worth is always offered for free.

[tranquility]

Yup, thx for the advice. The zipties are probably good when the wire must be held securely and for sure it won't get out of place.