Engine Start Button Installation Instruction BMW E46 3 Series Z8
Two push pin rivets – push in the centre pins, they will fall loose, then pull downwards on the cover, it needs a bit of force to come free as there are plastic tabs holding the column surround together just behind the wheel. This will expose most of the area behind the lower driver’s dash, the ignition wiring loom and its witch terminals. Make the lengths of the two new 2.5mm cables as short as possible, so the relay is situated close to this position. I fixed the relay and (optional) relay base to a strut just above and behind the driver’s glove-box with a couple of cable ties, see picture below.
Crimp the other side of the fuse holder tail into a 6.3mm female lug, tape over if necessary and push on to terminal 86 of the relay/base. Fit a 2A or smaller fuse into the holder. The picture above shows the relay position, blade fuse holder etc, tie/tape up all the loose cables neatly and thread the smaller black and brown cables with the existing loom in the direction of the arrow. “Fortune favours the brave” as they say – crunch time! It’s a matter of personal choice where you wish to position the button.
