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Car Forum / BMW Cars / October 20062000 BMW Professional Radio and MP3
Hi, I've just bought a 2000 330 SE Touring. It came with a BMW proferssional radio and a 6 CD changer in the back. It's a great car in every way - but, I would like to upgrade the CD changer to one capable of playing MP3 cds. Six ordinary CDs just isn't enough I would also like to retain the original head at the front if possible, as it is tied into the steering wheel controls etc. What are my options? Is there something as simple as a firmware upgrade? Would a later MP3 capable BMW CD player be compatible with the existing head? Are they even for sale as separate units. Sorry , I don't know much about BMWs at all.... :-) Thanks >Hi, >Would a later MP3 capable BMW CD player be compatible with the >existing head? Are they even for sale as separate units. The 2005 head unit plays MP3s and should swap with your existing model just fine. epbrown -- "Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car; most people will settle for the car." Chris Titus 2003 BMW 325i Black/Black, 2003 BMW Z4 Black/Black >>Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >model just fine. > epbrown Thanks for the response. It's an MP3 capable cd changer I really want - as opposed to wanting the head itself to be MP3 capable. (but that changer has to be compatible with either the current head, or a new head that fits seamlessly in a 2000 dashboard, and that can preferably also be controlled by the steering wheel buttons). I presume, since you say the 2005 head should swap with my existing unit just fine, that the 2005/6 CD changer should likewise be OK? MTIA. >>>Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > seamlessly in a 2000 dashboard, and that can preferably also be > controlled by the steering wheel buttons). The Alpine unit with a suitable adapter should meet your needs, but that's a cludgy solution. I'd recommend a Dension Icelink or DICE unit and your choice of ipod. You'll actually have as much or more control over the ipod as you'll have with 6 MP3 CD's and their roughly 100 songs / disk. Overall cost is roughly the same and your ipod is portable (take your tunes to the gym, the beach, anywhere) and playlists etc are more easily manipulated via itunes than burning additional MP3 disks. Why not get somewhere near the leading edge of the technology? A CD changer, even MP3 capable, isn't it. R / John > The Alpine unit with a suitable adapter should meet your needs, but that's a > cludgy solution. I'd recommend a Dension Icelink or DICE unit and your [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Why not get somewhere near the leading edge of the technology? A CD > changer, even MP3 capable, isn't it. I have one of these on my 2001 330ci and it does everything you could ever wish for. All tracks have their ID tags and the menus of the iPod are easily navigated from the steering wheel meaning that you can find your artists/albums/songs quickly. No longer to you have to struggle through a CD of 100 MP3s to find your favourite track, iPod will drill down quickly and efficiently and also remember what you were playing last you you can pick up where you left off. Another bonus is that there is no change to the appearance of the car since you can put your iPod in the glove compartment, away from the eyes of theives. Note that iPod is not just an MP3 player, it is a way of life. No longer will you play CDs, you will rip them then put them in a corner, your iPod will become (one of) your best friend(s). It was this website that sold it to me - http://www.ispoons.com/ Come on... join the iPod generation... > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Thanks Here's what you need (no connection with the supplier, except as a satisfied customer): http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/407.html http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/409.html http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/1280.html I've used this setup on an E39 and two E46s and it works really well. The Alpine is a perfect fit in the original CD changer brackets - at least on the saloon, although I would guess that the Touring fitment would be the same. Only disadvantages are that you get no info on the display other than track number (i.e. no different from the standard unit) and you have to step through dozens (or hundreds) of MP3 tracks to get to the one you want. Chris. >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > >Thanks Thanks for replies. The iPod solution looks like a winner. > Thanks for replies. > > The iPod solution looks like a winner. Rather than locking yourself to an iPod, have you considered BMW's official Aux Audio Input connector: http://www.my330i.com/mod26.php The piece is only $40, and it will take audio from any source. I have an iPod now, but I don't know (and honestly doubt) I will in the next couple years (but I'll most likely have my 330 still). Like the guide above, I mounted it above the shifter and it works great. >> Thanks for replies. >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >couple years (but I'll most likely have my 330 still). Like the guide >above, I mounted it above the shifter and it works great. Sure, if you want low-quality audio, no ID3 tags, and no ability to control it from the steering wheel controls. It's perfect then. >>> Thanks for replies. >>> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Sure, if you want low-quality audio, First off, if you're using a stock deck, chances are audio quality isn't a top priority. Furthermore, the post I'm replying to is suggesting a solution that will lock the user into an iPod -- a device where unless the user is only using Apple's Lossless codec will already have lossy songs. With the auxillary in option, you can use a device which supports line out and a multitude of lossless codecs (FLAC, MonkeyAudio, etc.) -- in this case audio quality would actually be better. If the user already has all their songs in Apple's Lossless format, they might as well go with the iPod solution as they're pretty much vertically locked to Apple devices. Personally, I keep most of my songs in both FLAC and MP3, so in the future when I find a device I like which supports FLAC, migration will be trivial. no ID3 tags, The ID3 tags are on the device; personally at the moment I just leave my iPod in the cup holder, and I'm fairly confident I'll do the same with any future device. If you do a lot of night driving, than perhaps this is an issue; I usually try to pay attention to the road and not scroll through my music collection when I'm driving at night... and no ability to control it from the steering wheel controls. It's perfect then. While you can't change tracks, you can still control the volume. I guess the importance of being able to scroll through your music depends on how you go about listening to it. About 85% of the time I use either a "My Top Rated" or "Songs Not Played Recently", and the remaining 15% of the time I just listen to a single artist/album. In both cases, scrolling through isn't a major issue since I can just press the next track on the device. Basically what it comes down to is if you foresee yourself staying with an iPod for as long as you have your car or you buy all your music through iTunes and are locked in, than you should probably go with an iPod solution. If you believe that before you sell your car you'll be switching audio players (at the moment I expect to, my iPod is a 3rd generation, and I definitely don't see enough value added in Apple's current offerings), then going with a generic audio in is probably the better choice. > Rather than locking yourself to an iPod, have you considered BMW's > official Aux Audio Input connector: http://www.my330i.com/mod26.php [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > couple years (but I'll most likely have my 330 still). Like the guide > above, I mounted it above the shifter and it works great. This will not fit a 2000 radio, basically you need thye facility for a second input on the rear of the player. A DIY version, which I made, is shown here, works out a lot cheaper - the original message to BMW Digest is below: I have always wanted to connect my iPod to my stereo in my E46 330ci, however have been put off by the complexity and limitations of the BMW iPod lead http://www.ipodyourbmw.com/) and other solutions involving leads to and from the CD changer, adding another interface box and having to change the CD changer itself (http://isachin.com/BMW/ipod/). I was browsing through EBay and I spotted a BMW Business CD player that professed to play MP3, albeit on CD. It appears that all post 9/04 cars have this capability. I urged myself to do some research, so I googled some key words and was surprised to find the existence of an AUX-in lead (http://www.eurobuyers.com/instinstr/auxkitdir.pdf and http://www.mattmcnulty.com/325xi/DIY/aux_input.html), I called my BMW dealer and he wanted 60 pounds for it, but it wasnt in stock. I wanted one at that very minute!!!! Also, I noticed that the AUX-in jack plug was recommended to be fitted into the glove compartment, which as we all know is meant for gloves and not iPods! Seriously though, it means that you have to drive with your glove box open (OK, not really, but you see my point!). I did some more searching and I found that a Spanish chap had done what I was intending to do http://www.bmwcoches.com/foro/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=11838, http://www.bmwcoches.com/foro/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=11841 and http://www.bmwcoches.com/foro/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=11848) and luckily, being fluent in Spanish I was able to see what he had done (the pictures are enough!). Unfortunately I was so hellbent on installing it, I forget to take pictures of the construction, however http://www.eurobuyers.com/instinstr/auxkitdir.pdf and http://www.bmwcoches.com/foro/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=11838 show the way the components should be connected. If there is any interest in this, I can disassemble the car and take some pictures to show you. Now, a couple of things to note. I have a 2001 car with a 2003 CD player, this has two 10 pin sockets below the big socket on the back of the stereo. I understand that pre-2002 cars do not have this type of stereo fitted. In addition, the pre-2002 vehicle wiring harness makes putting a plug in this socket (Assuming you have a later head unit like me) difficult, but not impossible. DONT BE PUT OFF!!!! The two 1x5 plugs I used had orientation keys which needed to be removed with a Stanley knife. The offset of the pins, keeping the minimum offset towards the mating surface between the plugs, allowed a perfect installation. Our Spanish friend above used a hacked IDC connector. I prefer my method since three wires (platted like the hair of Heidi from that TOP TV programme) are tidier than a 10 way IDC lead. For my installation, I removed the heater controls and sunglasses compartment and threaded the cable through to enable the jack socket to be attached to the switch panel next to the DSP switch (between the sunglasses compartment and ash tray). On the rear of this panel, there were a number of strengthening ribs, so out came the Stanley knife again to cut a portion of one away to achieve a flt surface for the socket to mate against. I drilled a hole small enough to enable the socket to be screwed into the panel, doing away with the nut that would look unsightly. I now have a flush 3.5mm socket! To me, this is a tidier solution than BMWs offering. Of course, this solution doesnt charge the iPod (or other external player), however I will use my PowerPod (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powerpod/) to do the business. The list of bits I used in below: Two plugs for the back of the radio (you have to cut off the orientation keys to make one 10 pin plug that fits into the back of the stereo); PCB Latch Hsng 5-Way (BH66W) @ #0.20 http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=BH66&doy=11m9&source=15 Some connectors for above; 0.1in Skt Terminals (YW25C) @ #0.63 http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=yw25&doy=11m9&source=15 Some strip board to build it on (you only need about 1 x 1 to build it); Strip Board (JP47B) @ #2.49 http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=jp47&doy=11m9&source=15 Two ceramic 22uF capacitors; Disc 0.22uF 16V (JL01B) @ #0.07 http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=jl01&doy=11m9&source=15 A 300kOhm 0.6w resistor; MF Resistor 300k (G300K) @ #0.01 http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=300k&source=15&menu=442&doy=11m9 Some cable from the radio to the PCB; red, white and black: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=bl09&doy=11m9&source=15 Some cable from the PCB to the line-in socket: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=xs23&doy=11m9&source=15 A 3.5mm socket http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=jk02&doy=11m9&source=15 If anyone else is interested in doing the same and wants more info, please email me, I am happy to help! Rock on! And I later posted this (I can't find any links to this sort of archive): I am an avid iPod fan and E46 driver. Firstly, I bought a Griffin iTrip, which transmitted FM to the radio, this was OK if there was sufficient bandwidth on the FM channel, i.e. space for you to select a frequency without interference from other channels. Cost - About 30 USD - try Best Buy. I then went down the route of wiring up the AUX connector on the back of my BMW Business CD player and I wrote a story about it for this forum about 6 months ago. It was a good solution and involved making a copy of the BMW lead and putting a 3.5mm jack on the strip near the ash tray, but you had to access the songs using the iPod click wheel. The problem I had was that some of the sound was not as precise as a CD, especially the guitar on KT Tunstalls Other Side of the World. Cost 100 USD for the BMW lead or about 20 USD for a home made one (like mine!) I went one step further last weekend and I bought a Dension ICE-Link see www.dension.com. This is fantastic and words cannot convey the joy this can give the driver. It involves replacing your CD changer with your iPod. All the iPod functionality can be accessed from your steering wheel, the iPod can be kept in the glove compartment and it charges as you use it. I bought one with a cradle, but I would recommend buying one without, instead using the Dock Lead solution (you will see what I mean on the website). All the track names, menu names etc. are displayed on the BMW Business head unit, it has given my car a new lease of life (even though it didnt need one!). Cost 200 USD - but money well spent. Feel free to ask more questions or indeed if you want me to dig out the instructions for my AUX lead solution. >>>> Thanks for replies. >>>> [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] >current offerings), then going with a generic audio in is probably the >better choice. Strike a nerve, did I? >> Thanks for replies. >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >couple years (but I'll most likely have my 330 still). Like the guide >above, I mounted it above the shifter and it works great. Forgot to add - no charging of the iPod, either. |
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