DICE Mediabridge MB1500

mrlozzer

Veteran
 Geordie exiled in Wales...
Apologies for another Mediabridge topic but didn't want to hijack someone else's thread..... my question's a little different anyway!

Have just ordered an MB1500 as I really miss not having bluetooth phone control in the zed. I know it comes with its own microphone etc. I have just finished retrofitting cruise control and in the process decided to buy a spare used lower steering wheel cowl just in case of any problems with the dremel! Anyway, both parts arrived, so I also have the top part of the cowl too...

My cowl doesn't have a microphone, as my 2003 car wasn't specced for phone prep, but the replacement cowl does. So, does anyone know whether I can simply swap cowls over, that is if the wiring is all in place (as it was for the cruise)?

Next and probably more important question is can I just use that microphone instead of the one supplied with the Mediabridge? I would prefer to keep the look as OEM as possible.....

Any advice gratefully received!
 
JamieMcDermott is the man to speak to :)

As the BMW microphone uses a different connector to the MediaBridge one, you will need to do some wire cutting, stripping and soldering. The MediaBridge microphone won't fit inside the newer (facelift) cowl.

Otherwise the easiest way would be to either fit the MediaBridge in the overhead stock microphone position (by the light cluster) or wedge the microphone in the steering cowl trim area.
 
The stock mic position was moved to the cowel with an upgraded mic to boot to improve reception. I have a modded top cowel piece for sale inc mic if interested.


Tapatalking on my iPad.......
 
VvrooomM said:
The stock mic position was moved to the cowel with an upgraded mic to boot to improve reception. I have a modded top cowel piece for sale inc mic if interested.

Thanks for the offer, but the top cowl with microphone came with the used lower cowl I bought as a spare, so I have one already.... I was more hoping that I could easily use the OEM microphone with the Mediabridge.
 
mrlozzer said:
VvrooomM said:
The stock mic position was moved to the cowel with an upgraded mic to boot to improve reception. I have a modded top cowel piece for sale inc mic if interested.

Thanks for the offer, but the top cowl with microphone came with the used lower cowl I bought as a spare, so I have one already.... I was more hoping that I could easily use the OEM microphone with the Mediabridge.
am sure you can, will no doubt be mono so just one wire and shield to cut and rejoin


Tapatalking on my iPad.......
 
An old post, I realize, but ran across this while looking up some info on the Mediabridge. I used a Parrot Evolution for adding bluetooth to my car (which had the factory mic on the steering column as part of the 'phone preparation' done at the factory).

I read some online reports that the factory mic was a different impedance than the Parrot unit, and not suitable for splicing to a connector for the Parrot. As I wanted to keep the stock look, I dismantled the Parrot mic to remove the casing, and removed the electronics from the OEM mic housing. I then fit the Parrot mic into the BMW OEM mic shell, and bedded it into the shell with Milliput epoxy (great stuff, that).

With the correct mic installed in the factory location, and the Parrot controller (only used once for the initial pairing) tucked away in the glovebox, it looks perfectly OEM. But this solution gives me full access to my iphone 4s address book, SIRI voice control, etc. using the factory steering wheel controls- the iphone is a much smarter device than the OEM bluetooth ever was. With the release of iOS 6 in the fall it will add a lot more features, including voice control and response navigation.

I'm going to add the Mediabridge 1500 as well, so I can play the iphone music (also voice controlled via the Parrot BT) over the dock connector, and get the album art, etc. as well as the caller ID information on the iphone display. I won't be using the bluetooth built in to the Mediabridge, as the head unit has to be on the MB input for it to work for incoming or outgoing calls. The Parrot works with all inputs.

Hope you got your original issue sorted with the mic - thought I'd offer an alternative that keeps the stock look. :D
 
WestCDA said:
An old post, I realize, but ran across this while looking up some info on the Mediabridge. I used a Parrot Evolution for adding bluetooth to my car (which had the factory mic on the steering column as part of the 'phone preparation' done at the factory).

I read some online reports that the factory mic was a different impedance than the Parrot unit, and not suitable for splicing to a connector for the Parrot. As I wanted to keep the stock look, I dismantled the Parrot mic to remove the casing, and removed the electronics from the OEM mic housing. I then fit the Parrot mic into the BMW OEM mic shell, and bedded it into the shell with Milliput epoxy (great stuff, that).

With the correct mic installed in the factory location, and the Parrot controller (only used once for the initial pairing) tucked away in the glovebox, it looks perfectly OEM. But this solution gives me full access to my iphone 4s address book, SIRI voice control, etc. using the factory steering wheel controls- the iphone is a much smarter device than the OEM bluetooth ever was. With the release of iOS 6 in the fall it will add a lot more features, including voice control and response navigation.

I'm going to add the Mediabridge 1500 as well, so I can play the iphone music (also voice controlled via the Parrot BT) over the dock connector, and get the album art, etc. as well as the caller ID information on the iphone display. I won't be using the bluetooth built in to the Mediabridge, as the head unit has to be on the MB input for it to work for incoming or outgoing calls. The Parrot works with all inputs.

Hope you got your original issue sorted with the mic - thought I'd offer an alternative that keeps the stock look. :D

Thanks for that idea... I've got the Mediabridge working but temporarily using the supplied mic clipped on to the dash. Not pretty. I'll take a look at the OEM cowl today to see about transplanting the DICE mic :thumbsup:
 
I put mine in the middle of the cluster. See my post about it here: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33275&start=30#p468757

Can comfortably use Siri on my iPhone with the roof down too, the only downside seems to be that the blinker noise is quiet noticeable for callers on the other end :rofl:
 
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