Rear Electric Sunscreen Mystery...

[Cutler]

Hello guys,

the rear electric sunscreen is driving me nuts lately. To begin with, I have absolutely no clue how to get it up and down, however, thankfully it's standing up now though. Second thing is that I obviously cannot clean the rear windshield with the sunscreen in the way. So today, I finally had enough and decided to take all the C-pillars off and get the whole damn rear panel off to see what is going on with this sunscreen.

To make it even worse, I found that it is indeed an electric sunscreen since it had a little motor attached to it and there were electricity cables attached to it as well.

The funny thing though, there is no button for the sunscreen in the front control panel. I have looked all over the car in order to find some mysterious button or anything that would activate it but I am completely lost. This is one of the weirdest things I have come up to in my car and was probably done by one of the previous owners, leaving me to solve the damn puzzle.

This is what the sunscreen looks like, I also found a part number on it- 51468223046
DSCF0172.JPG

If anybody has had any experience with this, please help me solve this mysterious sunscreen!!! any answers appreciated!

[All2kool]

If it's a power screen, the control would be on the drivers door, where the rear window lock is.

[Cutler]

Thanks, but unfortunately there is not a single button except the mirror regulators of course.

[All2kool]

Thanks, but unfortunately there is not a single button except the mirror regulators of course.

Are you certain it is a powered screen? No button on the panel under the Climate Controls? Do you have side curtains? If not, someone may have installed that screen. The rear screen was package deal with side shades as I have read.

[legoman67]

Odds are someone previous to you replaced the button bar in the centre console with one that did not have the sunscreen button. It should be in that bar. The plug is the same for all different combinations and each bar only uses the pins it needs.

[All2kool]

If it's a power screen, the control would be on the drivers door, where the rear window lock is.

This was bad advice. I could swear the original post indicated the car was an E90.

[Cutler]

Are you certain it is a powered screen? No button on the panel under the Climate Controls? Do you have side curtains? If not, someone may have installed that screen. The rear screen was package deal with side shades as I have read.

Yes, I am certain since I pretty much took the whole rear end interior apart, noticing a motor attached to it as well as wiring. I was hoping someone else has this sunscreen with the same part number but does not seem like it...

[Cutler]

Odds are someone previous to you replaced the button bar in the centre console with one that did not have the sunscreen button. It should be in that bar. The plug is the same for all different combinations and each bar only uses the pins it needs.

Yeah,that was my guess as well so I will probably dig into the center console and try to find some loose wires hopefully!

[legoman67]

you wont find any loose wires. the wires will still be in the button bar plug.

[Cutler]

So I should take apart the button bar and check that I suppose, your guess is that it's just the button itself that is replaced before me? Thanks again!

[Cutler]

Here is what I have behind the button bar:
bunch of free slots for new buttons
1.jpg
the wiring and cables that go to the DSC button
2.jpg
then I have two mysterious cables that were not connected to anything, they were just tied together to avoid any shortings I guess
3.jpg
the DSC button
4.jpg
better look at the two cables, one is light blue and the other is half green/half black
5.jpg

Any ideas on what those two cables are for??

[All2kool]

I'm surprised nobody asked what happens when you touch them together.

[Cutler]

I am happy to finally say that I have figured out this whole mess. My patience was gone and I had to do it the hard way by tearing up half of the car just to trace the wires to their end destination.

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Pictures of all the cables as well as the button to operate the sunscreen. The weirdest part though, this little tiny button was located nearby the OBD II scanner which is the weirdest fu**ing spot for it.
Nonetheless though, I am happy that I have finally found it and want to thank you guys for all the help

[legoman67]

Thats definitely not a factory install. Nice detective work though

[Cutler]

Thanks haha, yeah I realized that right at the beginning when something fishy was going on with the whole interior being black leather and the rear headrest being dark blue.

[Eaglesail]

Astonishing!......Was, or was not, this a factory BMW optional install? Why should anyone opt for an electric sun screen.....I thought is a a dog screen in my wagon to isolate me from my beloved dog....Electric? Is there a Sun Screen protection number also? lololol....for give me, you now know where the dc circuit is for it!

[Cutler]

Astonishing!......Was, or was not, this a factory BMW optional install? Why should anyone opt for an electric sun screen.....I thought is a a dog screen in my wagon to isolate me from my beloved dog....Electric? Is there a Sun Screen protection number also? lololol....for give me, you now know where the dc circuit is for it!

No, it is not an optional BMW install, the sunscreen was installed there by one of the previous owners, hence the button not being in the center console. Yes, if you have a wagon then the sunscreen would not work, have to opt for tinted windows in your case.

[legoman67]

Astonishing!......Was, or was not, this a factory BMW optional install? Why should anyone opt for an electric sun screen.....I thought is a a dog screen in my wagon to isolate me from my beloved dog....Electric? Is there a Sun Screen protection number also? lololol....for give me, you now know where the dc circuit is for it!

Electric sunscreens were a factory option, my car has one and its controlled by a button in the button bar in the center console. The install in the OP's car is not how the factory does it.

Personally i find the most use mine gets is showing friends for the shits and giggles factor. Ive never actually used it as a sunscreen....