Can Bus PDC Adapter

[hotlips69]

I had an aftermarket Pioneer head unit installed in my Z4 as the standard one was very low powered when I got my car about a year ago at a local car audio shop.

The front & rear PDC hasn't worked for as long as I can remember, but I wasn't that bothered, but thought I'd get it fixed under the warranty before it runs out, and recently took it to my local main dealer.
They told me it was because of the different head unit which wasn't wired correctly somewhere as the PDC sends it's audio through the head unit & internal speakers.

I took it back to the same car audio place and they told me I needed a "Can Bus PDC Adapter" for the PDCs to start correctly working, which I agreed to at a cost of £95 fitted.

First question: have they told me correctly that I need this part to solve this problem and is this price realistic?
Second Question: the head unit constantly "forgets" it's settings if unused for maybe an hour, and the car audio shop told me that this Can Bus would also fix this problem? :?

 

[Anonymous]

I dont know, but I would specifically clarify with them that this part will solve the two issues...then, get it fitted and test it...the pdc will be easy to test their and then. If it doesnt work, then dont pay?

 

[Stuart Truman]

Second Question: the head unit constantly "forgets" it's settings if unused for maybe an hour, and the car audio shop told me that this Can Bus would also fix this problem? :?

I'd say this is a faulty unit. Most devices have a battery on board that retains settings. If this goes flat you'll see the symptoms you're talking about. Still, you're getting the PDC unit fitted so it will answer the question. If it keeps doing it you can go down the warranty route on the head unit

 

[sam1832]

It forgetting its settings is usually down to be wired up the wrong way

It will have a switched live and a permanent live

Usually these two wires are around the wrong way. In the adapter loom you can normally swap them around as they have connectors on them

Normal colours are red and yellow on moat after market hu
But check with a multi meter

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[hotlips69]

Second Question: the head unit constantly "forgets" it's settings if unused for maybe an hour, and the car audio shop told me that this Can Bus would also fix this problem? :?

I'd say this is a faulty unit. Most devices have a battery on board that retains settings. If this goes flat you'll see the symptoms you're talking about. Still, you're getting the PDC unit fitted so it will answer the question. If it keeps doing it you can go down the warranty route on the head unit

The head unit is not new...I used it on my previous Z3 for about 4 years and it was perfect and remembered it's settings...this only started happening when it was moved to my Z4.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Then Sam1832's point probably holds water best. Check that it's wired correctly. As I said, a lot of devices use a small battery to hold the settings (most pc's do) and like any other battery they do eventually expire

 

[cjp2k]

Modern cars with canbus don't have a permanent and switched live the can bus adaptors normally provide a switched and permanent live by converting the signals to 12v outputs


not sure about pdc though

 

[sam1832]

Modern cars with canbus don't have a permanent and switched live the can bus adaptors normally provide a switched and permanent live by converting the signals to 12v outputs


not sure about pdc though

The switched and permanent live's can still be swapped round

Even though they are provided by the can bus adapter they still have the same effect on the hu


The wires in the adapter loom are going to be similar what ever it's connected too

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[cjp2k]

I could be wrong but on vw etc there is no 2 wires on the standard oem wiring the can bus systems send signals and power for the shut down and start up of the radio..

if you swap the cables round you will probs have the same problems or it wont power at all....

 

[sam1832]

I could be wrong but on vw etc there is no 2 wires on the standard oem wiring the can bus systems send signals and power for the shut down and start up of the radio..

if you swap the cables round you will probs have the same problems or it wont power at all....

Yes, but this is an aftermarket .hu that has a standard iso adapter on the rear, and in there it will have a permanent live and a switched live

Permanent live keeps all the settings etc.
Switched live turns on and off

So from the iso adapter it goes into the canbus adapter to connect into the bmw loom

The can bus adapter takes the can bus signals and provides the permanent and switched live out puts for the supermarket radio

Which is one of the reasons why canbus adapters are so expensive

I would pull the head unit out and check that the switched and permanent are the correct way around in the iso plug with what is on the drawing on the hu


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