Mini Cooper

This is one of the most daunting projects I have ever done. It was the first time that I had made a major modification to my vehicle and I had no idea if I would have a working car at the end. I'm very proud of this project because it had a practical application rather than being purely for fun or for school.

Problem 1: My garage door opener wouldn't stay on my visor and would fall on the floor of the passenger seat while driving.

Solution 1: Solder the PCB from a garage door to the switchboard of the center console

Problem 2: My Mini Cooper was missing an auxiliary cable and I was tired of only listening to CDs and the radio. I also did not want to have to use an unsightly aftermarket radio.

Solution 2: I connected a GROM Bluetooth adapter to my radio. The default radio wiring went directly into the GROM and the other side of the GROM was wired into the port on the back of the radio unit. This was the perfect solution as it allowed me to listen to CDs as well as the radio, and when I connected to the GROM with my phone, it would trick the radio unit into thinking that it was the radio playing.

Step 1 This was the most terrifying part. I had no idea if I'd be able to put my car back together.	Step 2 This is the PCB that was behind the switch panel. I connected the garage door to the car with this.	Step 3 This is where the wires were soldered to the back of the switch panel.
Step 4 I attached the PCB to the back of the switch panel case using scrap plastic and Velcro.	Step 5 The original switch panel only had 3 switches on it, so I had to order a new front to the switch panel so that I would have enough switches for the garage door buttons. This is the new switch panel with the new holes in it.	Step 6 This GROM was the key to success. The white plug on the bottom of the picture is what originally went into the radio unit. The top cables led to the back of the radio unit.
Step 7 After wiring the GROM into the back of the radio unit, the project was about complete.	Step 8 Success!! The console looks brand new but now has Bluetooth, USB play, an aux cable, and the ability to open two garage doors!

Collin MD Peterson

B.S. Computer Engineering

Minors: Robotics & Mathematics

Mini Cooper

Step 1 This was the most terrifying part. I had no idea if I'd be able to put my car back together.

Step 2 This is the PCB that was behind the switch panel. I connected the garage door to the car with this.

Step 3 This is where the wires were soldered to the back of the switch panel.

Step 4 I attached the PCB to the back of the switch panel case using scrap plastic and Velcro.

Step 5 The original switch panel only had 3 switches on it, so I had to order a new front to the switch panel so that I would have enough switches for the garage door buttons. This is the new switch panel with the new holes in it.

Step 6 This GROM was the key to success. The white plug on the bottom of the picture is what originally went into the radio unit. The top cables led to the back of the radio unit.

Step 7 After wiring the GROM into the back of the radio unit, the project was about complete.

Step 8 Success!! The console looks brand new but now has Bluetooth, USB play, an aux cable, and the ability to open two garage doors!