Run wire to cabin light and/or GPS aerial?

[zixel]

I'm thinking of a new head unit with a GPS aerial and was thinking of placement. My two thoughts were;

1. On the the front dash, centre of car, close to window.
2. Top of front window, top left/right near top of window pillar.

If/when I get a unit I might run some tests which place gets the better signal before I make a final choice. But ahead of that, I was wondering if anyone had advice on running the wires to both places and which if any panels would be required to me removed? Always conscious of pulling trim off, like window pillar trim, unless I know exactly how and where to pull, in case you break clips and things.

In the same ballpark, I was thinking about footwell light and wondered the best way (and how) to get access to the wiring for the current internal cabin light?

 

[colb]

Best place to splice into cabin light to wire in the footwells is behind the right side windcreen frame trim, pull that off and you will finf the small loom running up it. Solder the new power wire into the power wire of that loom and heatshrink the joint. Pick up a suitable earth point behind the lower side panel for the footwell lights. A string of led's on each side work well, there was someone on here who sold kits he made up, old thread on here somewhere.
Just found Part 2 of an old thread for the wiring here https://zroadster.org/threads/footwell-lighting-part-2-wiring.12475/#post-430337
Another link here with a pdf guide by @littlefeller https://zroadster.org/threads/led-footwell-lighting-the-easy-way.15408/

 

[zixel]

Thank you for that!

The PDF in the thread was exactly what I was looking for. Ideal for footwell light and could do the same for GPS antenna if mounted near top of window pillar.

If I found it was better to mount it on the from dash, central where window meets dash, is that easy to get access to?

 

[colb]

Probably be able to access the centre of the dash through the radio slot in the dash with the radio removed.

 

[petecossie]

Best place to splice into cabin light to wire in the footwells is behind the right side windcreen frame trim, pull that off and you will finf the small loom running up it. Solder the new power wire into the power wire of that loom and heatshrink the joint. Pick up a suitable earth point behind the lower side panel for the footwell lights. A string of led's on each side work well, there was someone on here who sold kits he made up, old thread on here somewhere.
Just found Part 2 of an old thread for the wiring here https://zroadster.org/threads/footwell-lighting-part-2-wiring.12475/#post-430337
Another link here with a pdf guide by @littlefeller https://zroadster.org/threads/led-footwell-lighting-the-easy-way.15408/

I've recently just installed the footwell LED kit I got from Littlefella ages ago (actually got auto electrician to do it when installing hardwire kit for dashcam) using the instructions above. Definitely the way to go, the LED strip lights really make a difference at night.

 

[t-tony]

Footwell lighting in a Z4 (E85) is fairly simple. See my build thread here,

https://zroadster.org/threads/my-z4-my-way.12732/ #153 onwards.

Tony.