Retrofit/Wiring a custom USB port into glove box of pre-2020 Model 3

[bd96]

I am interested if anyone has attempted to add their own USB port to the glove box of a pre-2020 Model 3 (splicing into the harness and wiring your own)

I am aware of the retrofit cable that exists, but I am unsure if it will work with a pre-2020 car

(This is the part number for the wiring harness retrofit that I am aware of 1565714-00-a)




I have a 2019 Model 3 and want the USB in the glove box (power only, don't care about data)

I am under the impression that the retrofit will NOT work, so that brings up my next question.

Has anyone attempted to wire their own USB A port by splicing into the harness?

I do not really care about data transfer, as I want to use it to wire some lighting, and I do not want the wire for the lights entering the center console.

I do not see a thread on anyone who has attempted to splice in their own 12v USB A and add it to the glove box.

 

[PauliePucks]

I am interested if anyone has attempted to add their own USB port to the glove box of a pre-2020 Model 3 (splicing into the harness and wiring your own)

I am aware of the retrofit cable that exists, but I am unsure if it will work with a pre-2020 car

(This is the part number for the wiring harness retrofit that I am aware of 1565714-00-a)




I have a 2019 Model 3 and want the USB in the glove box (power only, don't care about data)

I am under the impression that the retrofit will NOT work, so that brings up my next question.

Has anyone attempted to wire their own USB A port by splicing into the harness?

I do not really care about data transfer, as I want to use it to wire some lighting, and I do not want the wire for the lights entering the center console.

I do not see a thread on anyone who has attempted to splice in their own 12v USB A and add it to the glove box.

Been trying to do this as well…haven’t gotten very far. I swapped my 2019 m3 center console for the 2.0 version about a year ago. Not really a fan of having my sentry drive right in the console, plus it needs a right angle adapter so it doesn’t get smashed when I put something in there..

That being said - the retrofit seems much harder than I anticipated. It requires a direct connection to the MCU (computer under the glove box) as that is how the 2021 & up are wired. I am not even sure the intel computer has this extra USB 3.0 port. It’s also not a matter of just connecting the cable to the computer and mounting the usb, you’ll most likely need to enable that port in toolbox too (good luck w that)

I had also contemplated running a usb-c cable from one port in my console into my glove box by making a small hole in the bottom of the console bin and running it up to the glove box and putting an after market hub in there with the sentry drive attached to that. Still only leaves me with one available usb port in my console, but that might be one solution that could work for you too.

 

[bd96]

Been trying to do this as well…haven’t gotten very far. I swapped my 2019 m3 center console for the 2.0 version about a year ago. Not really a fan of having my sentry drive right in the console, plus it needs a right angle adapter so it doesn’t get smashed when I put something in there..

That being said - the retrofit seems much harder than I anticipated. It requires a direct connection to the MCU (computer under the glove box) as that is how the 2021 & up are wired. I am not even sure the intel computer has this extra USB 3.0 port. It’s also not a matter of just connecting the cable to the computer and mounting the usb, you’ll most likely need to enable that port in toolbox too (good luck w that)

I had also contemplated running a usb-c cable from one port in my console into my glove box by making a small hole in the bottom of the console bin and running it up to the glove box and putting an after market hub in there with the sentry drive attached to that. Still only leaves me with one available usb port in my console, but that might be one solution that could work for you too.

Yes so I am going to attempt 2 possible solutions

One could allow data, and one will not allow data

Here are the approaches I am going to experiment with

1. I ordered a spare gen 1 OEM USB hub to disassemble it and determine if I can solder an additional data port off of the board and send it off of the back of the hub (1093295-00-A)

- if I am able to to tap another port in, my USB retrofit will have data and will not require drilling into my console (or take up an existing port)

2. I purchased the USB c rear vent from the 2020+ model 3 and I also purchased the conversion cable that converts the USB A to USB c, and the clip appears to be just a PWM 4 pin, so I am going to run a PWN fan splitter and run the wires to the glove box to USB A

- this strategy has a high probability of working well, but will only be power.

Will update my progress.