Help a stoopid newb and tell me what this button does...

[Strelok]

Now that this is brought here, I wonder, what was/is the porpouse of that little "vent-grill" next to the temperature knob? I always wondered if there was a sensor behind it (when I was a kid) but never figured out for what was it.

I've heard so many conflicting opinions on what that's for. Some say it was for a thermometer for the optional temp-actuated climate control, others say it's a speaker for the car to talk to you like some other 80's cars did. I personally have no idea.

[Zreberlcoe]

I have a button that has no print on it. It's not plugged into a damn thing. Should I be worried?

[Zreberlcoe]

Now that this is brought here, I wonder, what was/is the porpouse of that little "vent-grill" next to the temperature knob? I always wondered if there was a sensor behind it (when I was a kid) but never figured out for what was it.

The little guy on the bottom left that sits next to the temperature thingy?? Thats a speaker I think for when the radio alarm goes off. My dads IX has the "optimum" Radio or whatever the best is that BMW put in and while the car is off if you hit 'band' or take the radio out and a couple other things an annoying alarm goes off and I believe that is the speaker for it. I might be lying.

[jP4]

This thread made my night. In an "I'm very familiar with these questions" sort of way. Funny stuff.

[dnguyen1963]

The little guy on the bottom left that sits next to the temperature thingy?? Thats a speaker I think for when the radio alarm goes off. My dads IX has the "optimum" Radio or whatever the best is that BMW put in and while the car is off if you hit 'band' or take the radio out and a couple other things an annoying alarm goes off and I believe that is the speaker for it. I might be lying.

No, the speaker button is for balancing the volume...left and right.

[McGyver]

How did you do this?

i think it was one of the white wires that sends power to the antenna. i basically just used a wireing diagram when installing an after market radio to identify the correct wire.

-cut the wire that was supposed to power the antenna
-aquire one of the switches that turns the power off to the rear windows from a 4 door along with the plug that goes into the bottom with a few inches of wire
-splice the two ends of the antenna power wire into the two ends of the plug wires
-cut a small hole into your center console in the same place as the 4 door cars for that switch
-profit from the radio with no whistling!

[future rs]

Crank windows ftl :(

I would gladly trade you power for crank.

[rcsoundn1]

No, the speaker button is for balancing the volume...left and right.

they are talking about the round slotted raised black "knob" thing, not the speaker balance. I to haw wondered what it is for. Next time my dash is apart I will see what goes to it.

[Thizzelle]

Now that this is brought here, I wonder, what was/is the porpouse of that little "vent-grill" next to the temperature knob? I always wondered if there was a sensor behind it (when I was a kid) but never figured out for what was it.

it's for microphone

[Simon S]

How important is the circuit breaker? What is the main use for it in an E30?

Fuck the window breaker button. Just tuck it under (mine is). Why that [useless] button is on the passenger side was always an additional mystery to me..

If I had to put three buttons in a virgin console, I'd put the window buttons in the most rearward "holes" - and put the breaker button in the forward-most drivers-side "hole".

So yeah, again, fuck the breaker button. The labeling on it has probably long faded out anyway..

[lambo]

Fuck the window breaker button. Just tuck it under (mine is). Why that [useless] button is on the passenger side was always an additional mystery to me..

If I had to put three buttons in a virgin console, I'd put the window buttons in the most rearward "holes" - and put the breaker button in the forward-most drivers-side "hole".

So yeah, again, fuck the breaker button. The labeling on it has probably long faded out anyway..

Sooo...if I just spliced the wires together, what kinda of harm would I be creating?

[Simon S]

Not sure what you mean by splicing the wires - but my frame of mind is to "leave it reversible for a possible future owner".

Given that this involves what console you're using, my vote is to just "tuck the shit under".

[lambo]

Not sure what you mean by splicing the wires - but my frame of mind is to "leave it reversible for a possible future owner".

Given that this involves what console you're using, my vote is to just "tuck the shit under".

Well a circuit breaker just works by breaking the connection of a circuit and this switch only has two wires going in and subsequently out of it. Therefore, I would assume it is just breaking the connection between those two wires, hence...if you never use the button, why not just connect the two wires and have it permanently on? That's why I was wondering if there was a reason as to why there is one since the general consensus is that no one uses the damn thing... Maybe it goes off if a window motor is under too heavy of a load? Or what?

[HawaiianE30]

This is the same button that's on my center console in my 325is right? Next to the passenger window switch? I wondered what that was...

[McGyver]

Well a circuit breaker just works by breaking the connection of a circuit and this switch only has two wires going in and subsequently out of it. Therefore, I would assume it is just breaking the connection between those two wires, hence...if you never use the button, why not just connect the two wires and have it permanently on? That's why I was wondering if there was a reason as to why there is one since the general consensus is that no one uses the damn thing... Maybe it goes off if a window motor is under too heavy of a load? Or what?

i've hear that its for when the motors are drawing too much load (like icy windows or closing on an arm). Since its aready there, why bother even messing with it?

This is the same button that's on my center console in my 325is right? Next to the passenger window switch? I wondered what that was...

yup, same button. It should be sorta hard to press and red is visible when its in the out position.