DIY Garage//Gate Opener

[BimmerZealot]

Finished it up a few minutes ago, since I needed two buttons I decided to make my own plexiglass plate to mount the buttons. Usually for a single button DIY, people use a larger momentary switch and mount it on the ashtray in place of the cigarette holder.



I took the plate that held the cigarette holder entirely out and made my own plate to accomodate the two smaller buttons. I got the buttons for 2.29$ at radioshack for both, the larger black button is also 2.29$



I frosted the plexiglass so it's not transparent, mounted the controller under the center button console and ran the wires to the ash tray where I had my two buttons.

Everything went back together very cleanly, I cant wait to take it out and test the range, I'm hoping it will have good range with the transmitter under the dash. Now when I get my V1 hardwired I will be able to close the ashtray lid and have the buttons neatly hidden away.

[wasupdu]

What kind of range are you getting with this? I did something similar on my old s2000 and the range was so bad I had to be right in front of the garage door and still it would only work sometimes. When I pulled the transmitter out from underneath the console it worked perfectly from roughly 100 feet away.

I also did this mod on my old Yamaha R6 (motorcycle) and it worked a little bit better in terms of range.

[Dammmittt]

How did you wire all this together, did you piggy back it off of the cigarette lighter, and where is the remote itself?

[BimmerZealot]

wasupdu: The range isn't bad at all I can hit my garage door from approximately two houses down as I'm coming down the street. I think it depends greatly on the transmitter you use for the job.

Dammmittt: On the back of the circuit board I soldered on four lead wires(two buttons, if you only need one then just two wires) onto the contact points where the original buttons are. Here is a shot of the front and back of the circuit board of a Genie transmitter. Not the one I used but it gives you a basic idea, it'll be much easier to figure out when you pull apart the transmitter. You may have to use anything metallic (solder, screw driver, nail, etc.) to test which two contacts you need to use for it to work. When you touch the correct two your garage door should close/open.





It is not piggy backed off the cigarette lighter I found it easier just to use the "watch battery) lithium that is already on the transmitter. The ashtray console is easy to remove with 1 screw so wont be hard to change out if it dies. Lastly, the lead wires depending on how long you make them will allow you to lead them anywhere you want, mine is sitting probably straight down from the head unit tucked back behind the ashtray console. If you take it out you'll see what I mean there is a little nook behind it that I think goes all the way back to the firewall, I put it here so it would clear all of the electrical stuff attached to the ashtray console (dsc, tps, heated seats, auto top, etc.)

[maxz4]

Looks very Jamesbondish

[BimmerZealot]

Right it is, no matter garage door openers clamped on the visors and no 400$ UGDO mirror upgrade. Plus it's totally hidden when the ashtray cover is closed.

[inTgr8r]

BimmerZealot - Nice work

I did something like this on a previous car..... just haven't gotten around to it yet on this one.

I did essentially the same thing, except for the push button(s)
- I added a capacitor & relay to the High beams circuit.
Then when I flashed the H.beams the door would open.

[155MPH]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

BimmerZealot - Nice work

I did something like this on a previous car..... just haven't gotten around to it yet on this one.

I did essentially the same thing, except for the push button(s)
- I added a capacitor & relay to the High beams circuit.
Then when I flashed the H.beams the door would open.

I love this mod idea. That has commercial potential. Have you ever thought of designing and marketing this?

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by 155MPH

I love this mod idea. That has commercial potential. Have you ever thought of designing and marketing this?

Yeah... thought about that;
When I looked around I found that it's been done already.

A slightly different approach but similar result.
Flash 2 Pass

[Dammmittt]

I think it's a great Idea, and a much cheaper option than the universal tranceiver that BMW offers. The only thing I'd change is paint the plexi black so it maches the rest of the ash tray

[BimmerZealot]

Ya I only had plexiglasss to work with if I had scrap gloss black plastic I would've cut a section from that.

Very cool idea inTgr8r with the high beam flash idea, I've seen it done a few times. I think the Flash2Pass idea is stupid because it requires a module in your car as well as a module piggybacked onto your garage door opener.

Much simpler to just get rid of it and use a universal transmitter.

[papitosabe]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

BimmerZealot - Nice work

I did something like this on a previous car..... just haven't gotten around to it yet on this one.

I did essentially the same thing, except for the push button(s)
- I added a capacitor & relay to the High beams circuit.
Then when I flashed the H.beams the door would open.

any way you can diy w/pics so that a 10 yr old could do it?

[BimmerZealot]

Old old thread, but I scrapped this idea and went with a Homelink module I bought off eBay. A few other members on here have done it as well. No need to worry about battery life, and much easier to program. Did the whole thing for about 25$ installed it on the panel above the ash tray.

[papitosabe]

damn....it is old huh...my bad...but I was wanting to do it with the high beams circuit...

[BimmerZealot]

Oh, cant help you out with that inTgr8r should chime in soon

[schwab]

I bought a mini or keychain garage door remote and double-stick-taped it to the ashtray wall.

Fits easly.

Works great.

No wiring.

http://www.aclickawayremotes.com/cat...es/index2.html

[jmillet]

Originally Posted by schwab

I bought a mini or keychain garage door remote and double-stick-taped it to the ashtray wall.

Fits easly.

Works great.

No wiring.

http://www.aclickawayremotes.com/cat...es/index2.html

Did a similar installation. Velcroed a SkyLink Model 69 remote in the sunglass holder on my coupe.
http://www.skylinkhomesecurity.com/skskunketr.html

[elerner61]

Here's my version of this. About 30 minutes all in. Pushbutton momentary switch is from Radio Shack. Range isn't good, but it's easy to do, easy to reach and the button is unobtrusive. Total cost: $3.99

[bosstones]

^ What's the switch on the right side for?

[elerner61]

That's not a switch, it's the Aux. input with a 90 degree bend cable connected to it (6 footer). I ran the cable tight on the right side of the console then tucked it under the console and ran it to the rear. I keep my ipod connected to it via a dock connector and it sits behind the passenger seat on the floor. When I want to use it I just grab it from behind the seat, choose my music and then slide it under the handbrake.

[bucko521]

Well, I did this little DIY today...

No more garage opener hanging on the sunvisor

I bought the momentary push-button switch (SPST contact * rated 3A * normally open)

Here are a few pics of the final result.

Single push, garage door opens, another push and garage door closes. Since the actual remote is located behind the light bezel itself I see not loss in overall performance or distance.

The switch from The Source (Radio Shack in Canada) was $5.99, other than a bit of time and soldering...this was a very easy DIY and easily hides the remote .