Parrot MKi9200 install problems

[Z4 TEX]

Did my second retrofit today, and things generally went ok, but I have a couple of issues.

I followed carefully Hotride's instructions using the following thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21810

and everything generally works as it should but I'm getting a little hissing and crackling coming from the speakers. Also I'm pretty sure that the music is being played through the parrot amp rather than the car amp as I seem unable to select the AUX on the Head unit.
I bought all three recommended leads from complex_solutions, MC0441, XC0451 and MC9905.
From reading many posts on Parrot installations and DIY AUX installs, I think part of the problem may be with the XC0451 Aux cable. The back of my head looks like this:

I removed the white plug from the black square connector and connected this to the XC0451 Aux cable which then connects into the same shaped adaptor plug. Ultimately the white plug connects back into the head as shown.
Is this white plug the cd changer lead? (I don’t have a changer, but understand it still is prewired)
The plug only fits into the left hand side of the black plug, but from reading other threads the Aux input is on the right hand side.

Anyone vaguely understand what I'm trying to say? :?

 

[ASW28]

Forgive me if I am wrong, but,I was always under the impression that the output will always come via the Parrot Amp, but via the speakers.I looked at the Parrott, and the Bury units, which operate in a similar manner, and consequently fitted a Bury unit into my Rav4, it operates via its own amp, through the car speakers, the inbuilt radio being bypassed by the Bury. The volume etc is controlled by the Bury head unit- and not the in-built radio. This was one reason I installed the Dice Mediabridge into my Z, everything - phone, and iPod , BT, etc runs through the inbuilt radio amp, so no external head control unit.

 

[Z4 TEX]

I spoke to the seller at Complex Solutions and it was him that said that the extra leads will route the music through the car amp rather than using the parrot amp. I'm assuming he knows more than me so was talking his word for it.

 

[Z4 TEX]

Another possible solution is that I need to get a dealer to enable the aux option on my head unit for the aux cable to work using the cd changer plug.

Does this sound like a possible option, and is it likely to cost me much to get a dealer to enable Aux? :?

 

[Z4 TEX]

Bump ! anyone? :tumbleweed:

 

[jaxZ4]

Not sure if I can really help here - though I have the same Parrot kit fitted though I did woose out and get a specialist audio fitter to install as I also have the Carver DSP amp and can confirm all works well and is integrated with MFSW.

I previously built and fitted the Aux lead from instructions on the forum - soldering in the various resistors etc. and it did work well ( I was quite chuffed) though that didn't give me bluetooth. So when an ipod was attached to the cable Aux did appear on the unit when scroling through the mode button.

However, with the parrot kit the aux option is not used as such - instead when the unit is used and a device connected and the remote control set to play it kinda overides the e.g. radio and if I pause the parrot radio returns - which is manageable.

So I agree you have an issue but not sure if you need to get Aux appearing as such.

Hope this makes some sense and might help a little. Good luck.

 

[bcworkz]

I can't really answer your question, but I can tell you the Aux in is separate from the CD changer input. They are both 12 pin, but the Aux in is grey.

I don't see how the adapter can bypass the head unit, in that it works by appearing as a CD changer to the head unit. It's entirely likely I'm not understanding how the adapter works. But with DSP, the adapter appears as a CD changer to the amp, and the head unit IS bypassed, though it still controls the amp's output volume.

I hope this helps, apologies if it just confuses things.

 

[Z4 TEX]

Hi ! Thanks for the responses. I coming around to the opinion that the adaptor is using the cd changer plug as the aux in. I think what everyone else refers to as the aux in is set of 12 pins to the right hand side of the white plug, but the adaptor I was supplied wont fit this plug.

I think the aux adaptor is meant to replicate the cd changer but for some reason the head unit wont auto-recognise the input as it seems to do when other people have done their own DIY Aux and plugged it into the 12 pin connector on the right.

I think that to use the head as the amp I also need to select the option on the Parrot to mute streaming, which currently doesnt work, but I'm assuming that this is due to not being able to select the aux input.

I think I'll try to talk the local stealer into quickly plugging my car in and activating the cd changer aux if that's what is required. :?

 

[FAARN]

Z4 TEX

I am having the same problem as you. When I select "mute on streaming" the parrot works but the volume is only controlled by the parrot controller. If I deselect "mute on streaming" nothing happens (althought the bluetooth phone will still work). I am guessing the parrot is using its own amp but through all 10 speakers. With the "mute on streaming" selected, the headunit volume doesn't change the volume and "Phone" is shown on the display. I have the carver and multi cd changer but no Aux in from BMW. Did you manage to get yours enabled and did it solve this problem?

 

[Z4 TEX]

Z4 TEX

I am having the same problem as you. When I select "mute on streaming" the parrot works but the volume is only controlled by the parrot controller. If I deselect "mute on streaming" nothing happens (althought the bluetooth phone will still work). I am guessing the parrot is using its own amp but through all 10 speakers. With the "mute on streaming" selected, the headunit volume doesn't change the volume and "Phone" is shown on the display. I have the carver and multi cd changer but no Aux in from BMW. Did you manage to get yours enabled and did it solve this problem?

Not sorted yet. I was waiting for a reason to bring the car into the dealers so I can ask them to plug the car into their computer and turn on the Aux option, while they're doing something else.

Are you experiencing any sort of background crackle from your tweeters during phone calls or playing ipod music? Also does your parrot always instantly react to pressing the buttons on your remote? I tend to find that I need to press the remote buttons several times before the parrot kicks in. Once it does, it seems to operate normally. Not sure if this may be a symptom of a low battery.

 

[FAARN]

Are you experiencing any sort of background crackle from your tweeters during phone calls or playing ipod music? Also does your parrot always instantly react to pressing the buttons on your remote?

I haven't plugged in my iPod yet, only used the line in and bluetooth with my Android phone without crackle at all. I will try the iPod as it seems that that is the only way you can browse your music.

As far as response times, haven't noticed any lag at all. So other than the volume issue from the headunit pretty happy really. As mentioned in another thread, it may be draining my battery but still looking into it.