Build and install your own AUX Cable!

[a340driver]

Not at all mate I was looking at the tread today having taken the facia off on in search of rattles this weekend (unsuccessfully). I managed to scratch the trim on the way out too. I think the first time is always the worst.
I found an unconnected red and black cable and was trying to figure out what it was.

If you find out I'd love to know....

Shame all the original pics aren't hosted now.

 

[bcworkz]

casualbob, no problem, we get thread resurrections all the time. Proves you've done some searching instead of firing off a question that's been answered 100 times already.

Anyway, adding the resistor should cause the cable to register, but several have not had any luck doing so. There's probably many more where it has worked fine, but those types tend not to report their successes as often as failures. YMMV.

 

[sk93]

Shame all the original pics aren't hosted now.

I shall be looking to sort them out in the coming weeks - I believe I still have them someplace!

 

[X-S-Z]

I've no affiliation whatsoever to this but I ordered one of these at the weekend with a female socket on the end to mount under the dash as per the OEM cable. Very good communication from the Seller and a perfectly working cable first time, worth thinking about for £14.99:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300941240982

 

[alhattab]

well ... i tried and it worked )))) thanks so much for this awesome post.

 

[LukeMace]

Jut to add my part and thanks...
I bought an aux from eBay and fitted it but nothing read the thread and popped to maplins for the resistor and capacitors (they were chuffed to have the part numbers ready too! Thanks!) wired them in as to the instructions and it works a treat!
Aux didn't show up on the source options but with the new bits in place...


Thanks sk93!

 

[Beatman]

I'm very late to the party, as not have my Z for long now. But I followed the initial procedure and all works great.
Thanks all for your posts

 

[ramskiej]

I bought the much cheaper AUX cable that is available on ebay (AUX Audio BMW E39 Z4 E85 X3 E83 E60 E61 Adaptor Cable) which you can find for about $10. This is actually the Z4 cable for radios without the CD player. It has the plug that fits back of radio and the female 3.5mm jack on the other end for the phone to plug in to. You can find this with a male end if you want with a little searching on ebay. It is missing the resistor and capacitors though so the radio does not recognize it being attached. I went to Radio Shack and bought a 2 pack of .22uf capacitors ($1.99) and a 5 pack of 100K Ohm resistors ($1.49) (They did not have the 300K Ohm in stock). I cut the cable about midpoint and soldered in the components, covered everything with tape and TADAAAAA!! My radio now has 3 modes (Radio, CD, Aux) I did not experience the lower volume other people have mentioned. I didn't like mounting the jack in the ashtray so I popped the plastic panel right above the ashtray under the radio and drilled a small hole, mounted the jack there and it is only visible if you bend down a little and look for it. And everyone is right, that vent is a real pain in the A** !!! I had to use a dental pick with a curved end to reach into the hole and pull the catch down a little so I could get a small screwdriver on it.

 

[Roundozo]

Im no good at soldering, will this fit?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CD-PLAYER-RADIO-MP3-Female-AUX-AUXILIARY-INPUT-ADAPTER-IPOD-FIT-BMW-E86-E85-Z4-/151418012532?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item2341378374

 

[r.a]

Does anyone or the OP have the original images from the guide still as the seem not to be hosted anymore. Alternately is there a PDF complete with pics available anywhere?

 

[sk93]

i'm afriad I dont have em bud :/

 

[Terryvision]

A few helpful links

https://www.bavauto.com/Assets/inst_pages/ins314.pdf

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79747

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180804&highlight=Z4+Aux+in

 

[r.a]

Hi, I'm constructing the cable now, however since images are not available its a bit longer to carefully read.
Can you tell me how the coloured pins map to the cables i.e. what colour pins (blue, red, green) should be connected to which wire (1, 2, 3) as i can't seem to figure this out without the images.
i.e how to the red, blue green plugs correspond to the silver, brass and loop terminals on the stereo socket.

 

[IamMurdock]

ive noticed that everyone is making these cables for pre 2006, any reason why this wont work for post 2006?, brought a cable from ebay, doesnt look like its got any resistors or caps which might explain why its not working

 

[Sani]

After reading this thread I decided to build My cable Yesterday , Worked 100% first time . Thank You for all the advice .

 

[rooha]

As a new Z4 owner job one was an aux cable ... and the vents proved problematic. little screwdrivers, big screwdrivers, credit cards et al proved not up to the job of getting the vents out. much frustration and stressing about making a hash of the plastics

Problem solved .. bent keyrings and the vent just slid out like butter .. no force at all required. I'm sure i've seen somewhere where someone did this but most people seem to recommend using drivers ... all i can say is dont bother.

method .. take 2 keyrings ( I used just one but two would be even easier), unfurl it a bit. Leave a bit of a loop in the end. insert the unfurled end upwards into the gaps with the retaining hooks. Twist 90 degrees to get the clip. Pull downwards to release the clips ( no force required). Presto - you can pull the vent out either by grasping the sides or just pulling on the loops ...

 

[Phil-E30]

Edit, wrong thread!!

 

[ChazLuke]

For anyone interested, the capacitors block DC from getting to the Aux connector. This is so the radio can "read" the resistor between the stereo outputs and switch over to the Aux function. This keeps whatever is connected to the Aux connector from loading down the radio's resistor reading. I just put the Mini version of the cable in my Z4 2003 E85 2.5L DSP no Nav and it seems to be lacking in Bass response. IMHO the CD is best, FM a little less clarity, and Aux low on bass and clarity. Some of this might be IPhone MP3 lack of fidelity and some of it might be the capacitors they use in the cable. The resistor capacitor combination is a high pass filter but the DIY values given here are 300K and 0.22uF which should be in the <10Hz range. I'm not exactly sure what they used in the Mini cable. I plan on trying some music uncompressed (not mp3) through the Aux and see if that is any better. If not, I plan on disassembling the Mini cable and see what they used. FYI also, I used a Hook and Pick Set to remove the vent. Never could get it with a screwdriver. Super easy with the pick set W942 (v3).

 

[ChazLuke]

I used a CD and played it thru the speaker out on my laptop into the Z4 Aux and then used the same CD in the Z4's CD player. There is definitely a difference in bass. The Aux lacks the low end punch. Both are EQ'd the same on the DSP radio. Unless my laptop hardware rolls off some of the bottom end on the speaker out, the Aux is not as good as the in dash CD player.

 

[Mase]

Hi all..

Feels like I have tried everything, have been endeavouring to install an aux cable in my 03 z4 without success...

I have the Capacitors in line with the 2 no. inputs and the resistor bridging as the wiring diagram.

I have tested continuity with the multimeter.

However the aux function doesnt appear on the stereo when installed in the residual port shown.

Hoping someone can point me to the error of my ways..




When installed goes in the empty port here.