iPod connector for E39

[rpmnut]

Thing about the E39 is this : fabulous drive, awesome engine....but the standard BMW Business sound system with its cassette player in the dash and 6CD changer in boot is a bit "sedih" lah. Fed up with constantly having to swap CD's in and out, I first asked AB if they had a connector for the E39. Unfortunately they told me out of stock. And even if they ordered one, they'd gladly relieve me of just over 1k to fit the thing to my car.So instead, I got a pal in UK to buy and ship over to me, an original iPod connector kit that he got from BMW UK. Paid about RM700 for the kit, including shipping, and got my mechanic to install it for me. Now I've got 1,500 tracks stored neatly in my glovebox! So here's a tip for you guys. Before getting AB to fit anything, check and see if you can get one for less elsewhere. Abroad if you have to, cos it's sometimes cheaper than you think! LOL

 

[bmw7833]

Where u connect to another end?

 

[rpmnut]

The other end connects to the plug behind the dash where the original CD changer was connected to the head unit.
Once wired up, you have full iPod control from the original steering wheel buttons

 

[bimmerholic]

The other end connects to the plug behind the dash where the original CD changer was connected to the head unit.
Once wired up, you have full iPod control from the original steering wheel buttons

Will you be able to see track listings on the MID and on the instrument cluster display?

I believe by having to connect such, you'd end up losing the CDC function. I wonder if there's a way to keep the CDC function while being able to connect to IPOD at the same time...

 

[rpmnut]

The kit as it is, won't display the track info (song name, album name etc) on the MID or Instrument Panel display - but it's no loss cos I think the E39's LCD's, IMHO, are simply too cramped to function as practical displays for all the info on the iPod screen.

But the adapter will however, display track numbers within playlists on the MID screen, which then appears on the instrument panel LCD as well if you manually change tracks using the steering controls...

And yes, unfortunately you lose the CDC function - though with 1,500 tunes stored on my iPod, that's not really a big loss lah lol

 

[feisaldzul]

u can also use DICE ipod connector which is abt USD160 i think

www.diceelectronics.com

 

[aidilj]

u can also use DICE ipod connector which is abt USD160 i think

www.diceelectronics.com

Agree with feisaldzul, for track display info you have DICE as a choice. Installed the Silverline PRO in my E46. See here http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36965

bimmerholic, to do that a hack is required on the IBUS interface, see here http://www.bmwgm5.com/IBUS.htm. The author of the page Scott is also on this forum, see here http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24808&page=15

Cheers

 

[bimmerholic]

Agree with feisaldzul, for track display info you have DICE as a choice. Installed the Silverline PRO in my E46. See here http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36965

bimmerholic, to do that a hack is required on the IBUS interface, see here http://www.bmwgm5.com/IBUS.htm. The author of the page Scott is also on this forum, see here http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24808&page=15

Cheers

DAMN.....this brings back my electronic days in UNI...

Thanks for sharing.

 

[E39Vroom]

Your set up connects to a cd changer aux out from behind the dash? What if you have a cassette player and a cd changer in the trunk? I was looking at Grom Audio's Aux in, which connects the adapter device via the trunk cd changer but I could not figure out how it connects to the dash to function. Do you have any idea? Thanks in advance.

 

[aidilj]

rpmnut sorry for answering this one.

Connection to the CD changer in the trunk is more than just AUX connection for audio. It also includes the IBUS interface which the CD changer and the head unit communicates to each other. Through this IBUS interface that you can control to skip track or change disc.

Like wise the GROM's audio is more than just AUX connection, it also has the IBUS connection so the head unit and the GROM unit can exchange information.

Hope this make sense

 

[rpmnut]

No worries, aidilj...
I just wish the original BMW interface could display track names too ! lol!