A while back I built an experimental circuit for MikeyTheMini, based on the HKenabler. It provided a relay contact switch output that closed/opened to mimic the left center “dead button” on two spoke multi-function steering wheels.
More recently Eric requested that I build a similar circuit – he wanted a switch signal that he could solder to his radar detector so that he could turn it on/off using the steering wheel button. So I did a proper circuit design and built one for him:
iBus Remote circuit
iBus Remote circuit
I agreed with Eric that he will handle the tricky wiring and packaging – this circuit must be supplied with 12V/0V and connected to the MINIs “iBus” which carries digital messages between the steering wheel and head unit (and also to the HK amp and elsewhere).
M&I / GBMINI 
Wow. After reading that, my brain hurts now.
Sorry 😉
hmm… how about having it toggle the DSC or foglights? MikeyTheMini sells the motorized wing mirrors, how about using the dead button as the operating switch? Some interesting ideas…. hmm….
How about it turning the radio off/on?
Boy I would second the radio on/off switch Thingy!
…RB
I have always though it was lame BMW did not use that switch to turn the radio on/off or just at least used it for something.
I have to say I like the idea of using the switch to toggle the DSC quickly as well. How about options on the circuit board. Little toggles for each feature. You have a toggle for DSC, Radio on/off etc. so you could just turn features on/off the button could be used for.
Guys you can simply push in your volume knob to toggle the radio off/on…
Duh! I want control on the wheel!
And double DUH from me, you could get some string and two soup cans to talk with your friends….RB
Actually the thing I’ve been most considering lately is what to do about the switch for the driving lights.
The button on the bolster below the steering wheel is lame at best. There’s no positive feel that it engaged, and the light on the button is so dim that I have to duck down to tell if it’s on or not.
Besides that, I just ordered the parcel shelf, so it’s location will be disappearing soon. I had been trying to find another switch to put where my rear fog switch would have gone, but I really like the idea of using one of the dead MFSW buttons.
Of course there would be no light to tell me that it was on, but…
Hmmmm…
Thoughts on that?
The euro parcel shelf has a designed in position for the driving light switch so you might want to stick with the original.
Otherwise, it should be possible to use this “relay/iBus” circuit to control the existing driving lights, just by connecting across the existing switch.
See an article by Josh Wardell using this circuit to provide “fingertip DSC control” 🙂
Could you do something similar with the two phone buttons on the 3-spoke wheel?
Almost certainly. I have not analyzed the iBus messages from the new buttons but presumably they are similar data to the older buttons so could be used …
Would this circuit be able to listen for two different iBus signals and trigger two outputs? Does it recognize two discrete up/down messages, or just a single press? Have you noticed that the R/T button already seems to affect the track up/down buttons on the MFSW, even without the bluetooth kit installed? Is there a way around that?
As designed, it only has one output.