85 318i maplight install question

[thejimlab]

I've done all sorts of searching. I can figure out how to wire this thing. My car has only 2 wires going into that panel. One green w/white stripe, one brown w/purple. No matter how I hook it up, the lights work then shut off when the seatbelt light goes off. Shouldn't one of these be hot? Any 318i owners done this mod yet? Thanks.

[KenC]

Re: 85 318i maplight install question

Shouldn't one of these be hot?

No. There is no need for a constant hot line up there in the early 318s, thus bmw didn't put one up there. You're going to have to tap into one and run it up the a-pillar.

[thejimlab]

is there a way for me to break the seatbelt switch so it's always on? I never notice the stupid light anyway.

[DanGillan]

or you could not be a hack and do it the right way...

[thejimlab]

but the right way is such a pain in the ass. Plus, being a hack is what makes the crapstar 500 the car that she is.