Dice Install - How To

[sapphire_nick]

It seems that the Intravene is the best kit around, but I can't seem to find a place to buy one in the UK! Ideas anyone?

 

[pvr]

I got mine from the US, no problems, no import duty. Was about 5 days delivery from date of order.

 

[sapphire_nick]

Hi PVR

Is this Intravee suitable for the non M version of the z4? I see the Z4 M may have an Alpine H/U and the non-M ones don't?

 

[pvr]

Identical for M or non-M. It just uses the iBus system of BMW. You will have no problems at all. Have you got a satnav screen? That does make it a lot nicer ...

Here is my installation:

 

[sapphire_nick]

okay great! Does it not matter if the standard version is not an Alpine then? Any idea what make the standard z4 head unit is?

 

[pvr]

Also Alpine

 

[sapphire_nick]

result! I didn't know that

 

[carl]

Sounds familiar. I've got a 2006 Z4, no DSP, and the DICE Silverline. Pretty much the only thing that does work is the text display (well the steering wheel controls also work). Not able to change the album, artist nor playlist, have to press the power button 2 - 4 times to turn off the head unit, the head unit display also reads "TEL" (as in TELEPHONE maybe) although I have no phone kit installed.

Similar problems with my ice>link+. Can't change the track other than from the steering wheel controls, and head unit says TEL all the time. No such problems in my wife's E46 with the same unit.

 

[sapphire_nick]

I am definitely going with the Intravee II. It may be more expensive, but seems to be more functional and trouble-free.

 

[CousinLarry]

Well from a new members perspective I must first say how informative you guys are on this forum and must thank you for all I've learnt by reading it here first! I have a 2003 2.5i SMG (yes I know the opinions of the SMG but, I love it ) anyway, I've owned it for about 6 weeks now and I've recently installed the DICE Silverline to connect my IPOD to the CD changer and it works incredibly well.
I bought it off a guy on EBAY UK who I can HIGHLY recommend, received it next day and it took about 15mins to install. The instructions that come with it are rubbish really, but after following the instructions here I sorted it. Basically, the first step was to disconnect the battery (very important), pull back the carpet on the floor which is only attached by velcro, then I found that it I could access the wires in the CD changer bay by only removing the screws on the left hand side which fixes the carpet on to the bulkhead. The reason I tried with only the left hand side undone is that I read that the screws are pretty tough to get back on, but a dab of suitable glue should hold the threaded washers in place when you screw everything back up again or decide to remove the DICE in the future. The wires to accept the DICE are very easily found, I then threaded the IPOD cable from the front through the little push through hole in the center storage console through to the CD changer bay, this is impossible to do the other way round ie. pushing cable through from the boot. Connect all wires to DICE, reconnect battery, connect ipod and test connection, by this I mean you only need to confirm that the DICE logo comes up on the IPOD screen, don't worry about playing any music yet. Stash DICE in CD changer bay,put all carpets back etc. Now go into car, switch on head unit, select the CD changer from the mode button and select disc 6 (button 6) , I let all the software/firmware etc scroll through then select disc 5 (button 5) and the foward or back selector button to select IPOD and that should be it. Select button 1 then the forward/back/select button to scroll through song titles, button 2 for albums, 3 for artists and 4 for playlists.
The only feature I didn't like about the DICE was that everytime you unplug the IPOD then plug it back in again on another journey it doesn't remember what you where last listening to and starts from the beginning of your music selection again. I solved this by using my old 4gb NANO filled it up with suitalbe car tunes and leave this permantly plugged into the DICE and keep it stashed in the center storage consol. The ipod only comes on when you turn the stereo on so there isn't a drain on the battery when the steroe is not on as with some other devices on the market.
Good luck!

 

[azroadie]

Sorry I know this doesn't apply technically but how is the display on a non sat nav car? Will I still only get half the song titles and not be able to browse through them?

On a side note, I thought everyone worked best with their hands in tight places where they couldn't see anything 8)

I don't have the satnav an LOVE my DICE unit. Honestly from what people are say, not sure I'd it with the satnav. Without it though, I love it! I see the song title and artist (from the MP3 ID tags) so it's perfect for me.

I never have understood what the big deal is about the dice install!!!!! I installed mine in about 15 seconds

This varies greatly by how you did your install. I wanted a very pro looining install. Mine was EXTREMELY difficult as it required removal of the center console...i think the seats too, cant remember. But I didn't do it, the dealer did. They estimate 2 hours work, but took 3-4...And I watched him do it, It looked painful. The whole car looked like it was apart!!! Fortunately they, only charged me for two hours But I have mine mounted in that center console, not the glove box. So while I'm driving I can flip down down the center console and see my Ipod mount there and easily control things while driving.



Additionally, I have my unit mounted in the speaker well for easy acess should I have to replace the unti...which I have...going on 2 times now!!

 

[DHK]

i have an ipod interface in my Z from BMW but i hate it cuz i can't search for the song i want :x

You'll be disappointed with the dice then too.

The display its pretty worthless - either full screen with partial song display in the top left hand corner, or split screen with track number on the left, and Nav text data on the right.

Also, you can't easily scroll through your playlists, and at the end of a playlist it just repeats the last track as opposed to starting it again.

And finally, it takes over your screen - you get about 5 seconds on the other screens only before it reverts back to the ipod data.

Very poor unit in my opinion.

+1

 

[AlanL]

Do yourself a favor and go check out Intravee as an alternative. I have DICE and don't even bother with using the car controls to manipulate the device because it's so useless as an interface.

I still might just dump the DICE and install Intravee myself to get back to an interface that more closely resembles the Alpine one I had in my previous car.

 

[DHK]

= DICE HD vs. Intravee II =

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[AlanL]

Seems simple as a contrast - would you rather have useful control of your iPod from your car controls or get distracted trying to fiddle with your iPod while driving. The one given is that neither interface is a perfect replica of your original iPod controls, but trying to read an iPod screen while you are driving on a busy interstate is not an especially bright plan.

Sort of like a choice of doing surgery with a 2 x 4 or a scalpel in my mind. Wanna buy my DICE?

 

[DHK]

Sort of like a choice of doing surgery with a 2 x 4 or a scalpel in my mind. Wanna buy my DICE?

+1


Yea, I'm definitely going to buy Intravee II and sell my Dice. The Dice is absolutely horrible with the navigation unit. It was OK with the regular radio setup but with nav. :thumbsdown:

 

[ZetaTre]

When I read the title of the tread I said to myself: "don't you just hang them on the rear view mirror?"

 

[systemr]

how the hell do you get the ipod cable through to the trunk? there doesn't appear to be enough clearance between the bottom of the center console and the bottom of the pass through area. i even tired using a screw driver to get a little extra clearance, no go.

i tried it today with a s-video cable, which i'm told is the same size.

btw my trunk looks like this"