MP3 stereo setup options not intravee etc?
- Thread starter Yamiuchi
- Start date
I've got a full Intravee set up in my car with iPod, DAB radio and CD changer running through it and it's a brilliant system if you've got a nav screen to operate it through. It is, however, expensive to get it all together and for the OP it may be that there are better solutions.
I fitted the Parrott mki9200 to my wife's A3 and am very impressed with it. It can be used with iPods and USB sticks and has a very impressive bluetooth audio connection which allows decent quality music playback as well as the phone function. It does mean that you have to add the small screen and controller to the cabin but they're well designed and discrete.
Personally I wouldn't bother changing the head unit or the CD changer for an MP3 compatible version. As has already been said, swapping over the CD changer is a lot of hassle and probably not worth the effort. The Parrot is the route I would go down in the OP's case.
I fitted the Parrott mki9200 to my wife's A3 and am very impressed with it. It can be used with iPods and USB sticks and has a very impressive bluetooth audio connection which allows decent quality music playback as well as the phone function. It does mean that you have to add the small screen and controller to the cabin but they're well designed and discrete.
Personally I wouldn't bother changing the head unit or the CD changer for an MP3 compatible version. As has already been said, swapping over the CD changer is a lot of hassle and probably not worth the effort. The Parrot is the route I would go down in the OP's case.
I decided the dension gateway 300 would be the way forward, as the USB stick option is a pro way to go, and I found a cd changer cable so you can also use that still if wanted I think. I went with Mangozac recommendation for kit and using ipod car kit direct website to get it as he had no problems, so I have purchased:
1 x Dension ice>Link Gateway 300 ipod Car Kit
- iPod Application Type: Active Cradle - all ipods
http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Kit/For_Factory_Fitted_Radios/BMW_iPod_Car_Kit
1 x Dension CD Retention Kit
- Gateway CD Retention Kit: CDR2BM4
http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/Dension_CD_Retention_Kit
looking at the compatibility list I may not be able to see the text option it does as I have a bluetooth oem setup, going on their notes at the bottom: http://www.dension.com/sites/default/files/car-compatibility/bmw-12-04-11.pdf
Oh yeh I did come across a voucher for free delivery for that site which was FREE_DELIVERY which knocked off the £5.50 del cost.
Wait and see if it arrives and will let you know how I get on installing it, might try and do a guide.
Thanks for all your help in getting a good solution hopefully.
1 x Dension ice>Link Gateway 300 ipod Car Kit
- iPod Application Type: Active Cradle - all ipods
http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Kit/For_Factory_Fitted_Radios/BMW_iPod_Car_Kit
1 x Dension CD Retention Kit
- Gateway CD Retention Kit: CDR2BM4
http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/Dension_CD_Retention_Kit
looking at the compatibility list I may not be able to see the text option it does as I have a bluetooth oem setup, going on their notes at the bottom: http://www.dension.com/sites/default/files/car-compatibility/bmw-12-04-11.pdf
Oh yeh I did come across a voucher for free delivery for that site which was FREE_DELIVERY which knocked off the £5.50 del cost.
Wait and see if it arrives and will let you know how I get on installing it, might try and do a guide.
Thanks for all your help in getting a good solution hopefully.
looking at the compatibility sheet I wont be able to have the text display due to having sat nav with bluetooth oem on headunit?
Thats not a biggy really though as I will be getting the mp3 usb stick option is what i want it for overall. Ipod connection is a nice addon but will probably never use it, but nice feature to have.
will definately keep you posted on progress, searching the forums I need to get my head around navigating the dension then.
cheers
Thats not a biggy really though as I will be getting the mp3 usb stick option is what i want it for overall. Ipod connection is a nice addon but will probably never use it, but nice feature to have.
will definately keep you posted on progress, searching the forums I need to get my head around navigating the dension then.
cheers
Where does it say that on the compatibility sheet? The only thing I see is notes (b) and (c) which talk about phone prep stuff. But that can't be right, since as I said it's working fine with my OEM bluetooth? Somebody on here must have actually tried it with their nav system?
Yeah although I didn't I do recommend getting the iPod connection for those times when you have a friend in the car and they have a track they want to show you.
Navigating the Dension is a little weird at first (and to be honest much harder if you don't have the text display happening). Mine's generally on random or playing in order of the main playlist so I don't do much navigating through it.
Yeah although I didn't I do recommend getting the iPod connection for those times when you have a friend in the car and they have a track they want to show you.
Navigating the Dension is a little weird at first (and to be honest much harder if you don't have the text display happening). Mine's generally on random or playing in order of the main playlist so I don't do much navigating through it.
Right, I am sure you have all heard this before but I am lost.
Having read all the posts on this thread (and other threads about the subject), read all the things I can find on the different site for the equipment I am still lost to what is best and what you actually have to buy.
The car is a pre-facelift with grey business with Sat Nav and BMW Bluetooth and no CD changer (although the data printout of the car says it has bus preparation for the CD changer what ever that means).
We want to use the controls on the wheel and see the info on the screen. The iPod will stay plugged in the car all the time apart from loading of new music.
I have found out:
BMW CD Changer is £600
Easy to use with car controls and plays CDs load.
BMW iPod kit is £197 + 45 mins install + 1 hr programming
(so £400 then + £100 for the iPod)
I was told that this does not even show the track names for that price, just play-lists. As we listen to albums and do not use play-lists this is a bit useless.
Intravee
Seems to do what we want but what do you actually have to buy and install?
Parrot (Other Bluetooth units.) Can you use the wheel controls and screen?
Having read all the posts on this thread (and other threads about the subject), read all the things I can find on the different site for the equipment I am still lost to what is best and what you actually have to buy.
The car is a pre-facelift with grey business with Sat Nav and BMW Bluetooth and no CD changer (although the data printout of the car says it has bus preparation for the CD changer what ever that means).
We want to use the controls on the wheel and see the info on the screen. The iPod will stay plugged in the car all the time apart from loading of new music.
I have found out:
BMW CD Changer is £600
Easy to use with car controls and plays CDs load.
BMW iPod kit is £197 + 45 mins install + 1 hr programming
(so £400 then + £100 for the iPod) I was told that this does not even show the track names for that price, just play-lists. As we listen to albums and do not use play-lists this is a bit useless.
Intravee
Seems to do what we want but what do you actually have to buy and install?
Parrot (Other Bluetooth units.) Can you use the wheel controls and screen?
Intravee and Alpine KCA-420i. For iPods that only support 5V (USB) Charging (iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4G and 4GS; iPod Touch 2nd, 3rd and 4th Gen; Nano 4th, 5th and 6th Gen) you'll also need a charge converter for the iPod to charge.Coyote said:
Plug and play using the CD Changer connections.
Yeah I don't think that has anything to do with Z4s. Like I said my car was wired for phone and once I installed the bluetooth modules everything worked together just fine.Yamiuchi said:
I would wait and see how Yamuichi goes with his Gateway 300 (primarily if it will work properly with Nav).Coyote said:
The BMW iPod interface is a rip off for what it does (especially if you include installation). Aftermarket products like the Gateway 300 are simple to install so you can save a lot of money by going DIY.
Hi,
Would just like to let you know that the Dension Gateway 300 is installed and works a treat, I have got the CD retention cable working aswell
Theres a good vid on youtube on how to replace Z4 headunit, pro for seeing how to remove vents etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfemGE-kY4
I put the dension underneath the headunit as there was a big space to seat it nicely with some velcro pads so it doesnt move around. I put the CD retention cable behind the headunit, tucked away nicely. I then ran the USB, a 3.5" jack and the ipod docking station into the glovebox, so its all hidden away.
This job took a bit longer as had to run a thin cable from CD retention cable to the CD changer, but was easy to do by running cable underneath the trim along the drivers side where the gearbox is, (used a small screwdriver to poke wire up out of view under trim).
I then took off the speaker cover behind the drivers seat, went in from the boot (had to make a small slice in carpet where emergency release cable for roof is to slide button through & remove tv tuner) to see how to get through to the cockpit. ( I dont have DSP)
Poke a metal coat hanger through from the boot to where the speaker cover was off, then pulled through the cable and connected to the cd changer, then put everything back.
Make sure you test everything before putting everything back. I even went to the extent of taking the car for a drive before replacing the vents etc to make sure I hadn't created any rattles
I have tested it with the Sat Nav and you CAN have text but I havent tested the full capability, I currently have the album name showing, but if MP3 is what you are after, you cant go wrong with this bit of kit, it sounds superb.
One thing I have noticed with the text enabled is if you try and close the sat nav screen when it is displaying the mp3 text it wont, you have to select a different display e.g. computer menu and then close it, but thats not really an issue.
I am still trying to get to grips with how to navigate through albums and tracks etc, but so far really pleased as USB stick is the way to go, and its a bonus not having the music jump when you hit a bump.
The USB stick I use is an integral 8Gb standard cheap one. I copied albums into folders on the stick.
One thing that I did find was that you can download a Gateway indexer for your PC that will do the indexing of your MP3 on the stick before you connect it to your car, so your dension doesnt need to do this when you first connect it, this is good practice for large USB devices with a monster amount of mp3's.
http://www.dension.com/de/windows-utility/gateway-indexer-software-for-large-usb-storage
If you are thinking about how to get MP3 connectivity, I cant recommend this enough, as I now have all audio inputs available, I havent changed anything with the BMW stock unit, so when it comes to sale time it will have all the factory fitted extras with MP3 playback as a bonus!
Ipodcarkitdirect - I ordered from this site, and when I logged in to see the progress of the order it didnt update at all. So I contacted them and asked the situation with my order, where they told me it had been shipped, although on the website it still said processing. They told me that the status on the website was for their use rather than mine........... at least I received the goods, and the contact via e-mail was very good a person called Dave, but I have heard bad things aswell, so I did have my concerns. When the package turned up it was from a company called Daltec Ai Ltd, there was no paperwork with order.
But thought I would let you know as im sure I saw a post with a fellow member having problems.
Thanks to everyone thats contributed to this topic, especially Mangozac!
Would just like to let you know that the Dension Gateway 300 is installed and works a treat, I have got the CD retention cable working aswell
Theres a good vid on youtube on how to replace Z4 headunit, pro for seeing how to remove vents etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfemGE-kY4
I put the dension underneath the headunit as there was a big space to seat it nicely with some velcro pads so it doesnt move around. I put the CD retention cable behind the headunit, tucked away nicely. I then ran the USB, a 3.5" jack and the ipod docking station into the glovebox, so its all hidden away.
This job took a bit longer as had to run a thin cable from CD retention cable to the CD changer, but was easy to do by running cable underneath the trim along the drivers side where the gearbox is, (used a small screwdriver to poke wire up out of view under trim).
I then took off the speaker cover behind the drivers seat, went in from the boot (had to make a small slice in carpet where emergency release cable for roof is to slide button through & remove tv tuner) to see how to get through to the cockpit. ( I dont have DSP)
Poke a metal coat hanger through from the boot to where the speaker cover was off, then pulled through the cable and connected to the cd changer, then put everything back.
Make sure you test everything before putting everything back. I even went to the extent of taking the car for a drive before replacing the vents etc to make sure I hadn't created any rattles
I have tested it with the Sat Nav and you CAN have text but I havent tested the full capability, I currently have the album name showing, but if MP3 is what you are after, you cant go wrong with this bit of kit, it sounds superb.
One thing I have noticed with the text enabled is if you try and close the sat nav screen when it is displaying the mp3 text it wont, you have to select a different display e.g. computer menu and then close it, but thats not really an issue.
I am still trying to get to grips with how to navigate through albums and tracks etc, but so far really pleased as USB stick is the way to go, and its a bonus not having the music jump when you hit a bump.
The USB stick I use is an integral 8Gb standard cheap one. I copied albums into folders on the stick.
One thing that I did find was that you can download a Gateway indexer for your PC that will do the indexing of your MP3 on the stick before you connect it to your car, so your dension doesnt need to do this when you first connect it, this is good practice for large USB devices with a monster amount of mp3's.
http://www.dension.com/de/windows-utility/gateway-indexer-software-for-large-usb-storage
If you are thinking about how to get MP3 connectivity, I cant recommend this enough, as I now have all audio inputs available, I havent changed anything with the BMW stock unit, so when it comes to sale time it will have all the factory fitted extras with MP3 playback as a bonus!
Ipodcarkitdirect - I ordered from this site, and when I logged in to see the progress of the order it didnt update at all. So I contacted them and asked the situation with my order, where they told me it had been shipped, although on the website it still said processing. They told me that the status on the website was for their use rather than mine........... at least I received the goods, and the contact via e-mail was very good a person called Dave, but I have heard bad things aswell, so I did have my concerns. When the package turned up it was from a company called Daltec Ai Ltd, there was no paperwork with order.
But thought I would let you know as im sure I saw a post with a fellow member having problems.
Thanks to everyone thats contributed to this topic, especially Mangozac!
