Business CD iPod Connection

[PawnSacrifice]

After my CD changer became a little temperamental I had it removed (by the chaps at Didcot Auto Centre – always excellent! ) to fit an iPod adapter.

DICE Silverline
Ordered online and received in short order. Connected to the CD changer harness in changer slot. After hours of disconnecting the battery to reset the system and trying different dip settings it worked for a little while. It stopped working. Support was poor (dealer) but they did swap out. Second unit failed. Support was appalling! Gave up – dealer support aside as far as I could tell, when it did work, it was slow and very fussy about the iPod setup. :thumbsdown:

Dension GW300
Fed up with just 1 CD I thought I’d try again. Ordered online and delivered in a couple days. Install meant removing the air vents above the stereo – a real faff! Disconnected the battery. Disconnected the stereo. Dension cable connected and fed into the glove box. Reconnected the stereo then battery. All back in place. Works brilliantly. A bit of trial and error getting the text working but now very happy. The Dension unit is Velcro’d to the top of the glove box, very neat. All that is needed now is to secure the iPod bracket to the back of the glove box. Only downside was having to buy the connection cable separately.

Not sure if I was unlucky with the DICE but the dealer service really was terrible. I was put off the Dension initially by the need to remove the stereo, but it really is an excellent unit. They actually function in a similar way – select different CDs for playlists, albums, artists, etc. Dension is definitely a lot less fussy. Using an old iPod which I just leave connected.

 

[TH3R4POR]

I need to do exactly the same thing, I'm planning on using the Intravee unit, based on feedback on this forum.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

The Intravee looks impressive... it was looking for help on vent removal that lead me to this forum, if I'd found it sooner I may have gone with that one instead of the DICE / Dension.

Just wish I'd been more patient with the vent removal, now have a couples marks to tidy up. If you've not done it before this is actually quite helpful...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfemGE-kY4
Wish I'd found that sooner as well!

 

[TH3R4POR]

ahhh, very good video, it always helps to have pics, but a video is even better, cheers

edit: uuugh, "zee four" is going to get annoying if I have to watch all of that! :rofl:

 

[adey]

how do you get on with the dension unit, i have just fitted a gateway 100 and i am getting alot of engine noise through the stereo a whirring noise that increases as you accelerate, i contacted dension but not had a lot of joy from them

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Hi Adey,

No engine noise at all. Few things... sorry not sure how much you know so no offence meant...
1. Where have you run the cables? I've managed to pack the cables behind the main plug, the then adapter cable down to the left into the glove box. If the cables are spread out they could act as an antenna (pure speculation of course)... or it could be touching the suppressor.
2. Where did you locate the Dension box? If you located it in the dash it may be picking something up.
3. You didn't loosen / unplug the suppressor did you? Think it had one... can't remember.

Bit of a faff but have you tried taking the box out, hanging it in front of the CD player, turning it all on and revving the engine. If nothing else it would rule out the wire routing.

Actually you haven't got a DSP amp have you? I know that can require an additional plugin for a lot of these kits. Not sure what the symptoms would be without it though. If you don't know pushing the music note button to cycle through the balance, tone, etc will lead you to DSP if it's there - I believe, don't have it myself.

Other than that, just make sure you have the iPod set to the default settings... any noise effects turned off. Almost forgot, all this is assuming you are using the iPod cable rather than the aux line.

I found Dension pretty good, I did register and log a call online at http://support.dension.com/support-center/index.php - made up a couple of the serial numbers etc.

Hope some of that is of use... and not too simple. Now it's running I love it!

 

[adey]

hi thanks for the reply, i just have the std 6 speaker set up i am using the ipod dock cable, the dension unit is just above the glove box with the ipod cable in the glove box, i have tried it with all the cabling hanging outside of the dash but it still makes the noise when revving up,i opened a ticket with dension i had a reply to check which version and firmware i was using and haven't had a reply that was 2 days ago.i am not to sure if they have a suppressor or not. also i have tried doing a firmware update but i just won't do it, i start it playing the update and plug it in and it just starts playing the playlists, its a shame because the unit itself is quite good and easy to use once you get used to it

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Ah... had a quick look at the FAQ on the site, you need the Dension in GW mode (it won't be by default - I assumed otherwise, if it is the iPod will be locked and have a Dension logo).
If not...
Set GW mode - select CD6 scroll to iPodGW and hold FF (next track button) for a few seconds to select
Set text display - with nothing connected to the Dension - turn on wait for CD5 Track 99 to appear. Hold FF again, 10 seconds. Will go to Disc1, select track 2 which should say AUX. I think you then scroll forward 3 tracks to get the right position for the business CD... hold FF to confirm.

Otherwise if that file is still not playing you could move it to the top... in iTunes create a new playlist called 'AAADension' or something to make it first on the list. Then add just the file you need.

Hate it when I can't make things work... had a quick look on the web, chap with a Mini had your issue (with the interference) in case you can get the upgrade to run and it doesn't help:
"Please use attached volume setting files and choose some higher output volume." There is an attached file that has 5 seperate mp3's named 'volume 1', 'volume 2' and so on. The tech guy also says "turn your dension to GW mode where the ipod's keys are locked. Then download the mp3s onto your ipod. Play the files and attach it whilst they are playing to your dension lead".

Good luck! This is a great bit of kit... when it works!

 

[TH3R4POR]

OK, another question.

I (the missus for my birthday) will be buying the Intravee unit today but having read up I now think I need to buy an additional Alpine unit (KCA-420i) as well?

I have the OEM Business Headunit without Sat-Nav screen and no CD-Changer.

Cheers in advance, and sorry for the thread hijacking

 

[PawnSacrifice]

hi thanks for the reply, i just have the std 6 speaker set up i am using the ipod dock cable, the dension unit is just above the glove box with the ipod cable in the glove box, i have tried it with all the cabling hanging outside of the dash but it still makes the noise when revving up,i opened a ticket with dension i had a reply to check which version and firmware i was using and haven't had a reply that was 2 days ago.i am not to sure if they have a suppressor or not. also i have tried doing a firmware update but i just won't do it, i start it playing the update and plug it in and it just starts playing the playlists, its a shame because the unit itself is quite good and easy to use once you get used to it

Hi, you manage to get this working?

Just a thought, it may be worth logging the problem with the dealer as well - they may just swap it out for you... happened with the DICE unit I bought.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

OK, another question.

I (the missus for my birthday) will be buying the Intravee unit today but having read up I now think I need to buy an additional Alpine unit (KCA-420i) as well?

I have the OEM Business Headunit without Sat-Nav screen and no CD-Changer.

Cheers in advance, and sorry for the thread hijacking

A few of these chaps seem to have a good idea on the Intravee front...
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14033

 

[TH3R4POR]

Edit: Sorted

 

[adey]

hi PawnSacrifice thanks for your detailed reply i have just tried the update using your advice to label it aaadension and have managed to update to the latest firmware it is better but on tracks with low volume like the intro to money for nothing from dire straits you can still hear the alternator noise on tickover but not so much when revving it up, will see what its like driving to work tomorrow morning i might try mounting the gateway unit inside the glovebox i think its worth persevering with the sound is excellent

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Excellent work! Hope it's sorted it. Reference the mounting... it's quite easy to feed the cable through. I've used Velcro to stick mine behind the door catch, BlackBerry picture's a bit rubbish, but this is a view up...


The cable to the cradle runs across the top and is hidden down the left side, then back out to the cradle. Managed to screw the cradle to the back of the glove box... just needs to be far enough left to allow the door to close.

Good thing though, the unit is out of sight when you look in normally... again sorry for the picture quality...


You're right about the sounds quality... is good!

 

[adey]

hi pawnsacrifice thanks for all your advice i now have this all installed as per your photos, one thing i did do was to check all the connections before i put the center vent back in and some of the blade connections in the block connectors needed pushing in with a small screwdriver and i think that had something to do with the interference i was getting all is working fine now and the sound is awesome i would recommend the dension to anyone who wanted to connect a ipod to a std headunit