So there's a weird Aux setup in my car...

[lukekarts]

Z4 Coupe 3.0 SI Sport... the one I've had two flat batteries with but fingers crossed OK for now...

Anyway, I went to plug in the Aux cable for the first time yesterday, but there's no sound.

Then I see there's a USB and old Apple connector wired through the glovebox...

I thought the Aux under the dash was standard, does this mean those extra cables are an extra... and are they a retrofit or dealer fitted? I'm assuming they're plugged in to the Aux port on the back of the stereo, which is why the original Aux isn't working?

All I want is a working Aux port - am I going to have to learn to take apart the dash to work out what is going on?

 

[samZ4M]

Without taking the car to pieces (a little), we can't tell you whats connected. Unless you test the apple cable and it works.

Really though, it doesn't take long to do, I took my cable from my 330 and put it in my Z in 20 minutes.

Where are you in Oxford, I'm local to you.

 

[samZ4M]

There are 2 metal prongs in the centre vents, pull the prong down and pull the vent out (I find wobbling the vent in situ helps a little), once out, it's 2 screws holding the stereo in.

 

[lukekarts]

Thanks - I'll do two things later:

1. Try to borrow an old ipod/iphone to see if it is working
2. Remove the stereo (if it appears this connection is the issue...) and figure out the connections.

Thank you for the pointers on how to remove the stereo.

 

[sk93]

does the stereo have an "AUX" mode on it when you press mode? if not, nothings connected to the aux plugs.
If it does, one of those two cables will be "live" and should work.
Which one however, is impossible to tell without either plugging stuff in, or by chasing cables.

neither of the two are "standard" however.
the one under the dash / above the cigarette tray could possibly have been fitted as an optional extra / bmw retrofit.
the one in the glovebox would not have been, and would have been added by the owner (or someone on his behalf).

With that in mind, I'd imagine whatever is in the glovebox will be the "live" cable if any.


switching back to the aux cable should be pretty straightforward however, and there's plenty of guides on here to help on that

 

[srhutch]

Don't forget aux was standard from 2007 model year. (One under an controls)

The one in the glovebox sounds like a layer dension model.

 

[samZ4M]

Mine doesn't have AUX on the menu, it works on the cd changer mode.

 

[seanaldinho]

The white old school ipod cable in the glove box was an optional extra or was on my 56 plate coupe (i have the BMW ipod manual with all my docs) - I bought the apple converter block (£25 no less) to attach to it so i could run my iphone with Spotify through the car stereo. Worth noting that this will not charge your iphone.

You can change tracks on your iphone etc using the steering wheel controls too. Wouldve preferred an AUX cable though as then you could charge your phone at the same time as playing the tunes.

 

[nfbr]

Don't forget aux was standard from 2007 model year

I hate to say this but the above rumour is not true.
My May 2007 car does not have Aux In, Neither does one of my customers 2008 2.0 Roadster.
It was never standard. It was always an option.

 

[bluestreak56]

http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aux-in-anschluss-t1474921.html

States AUX ports were not installed until 05/07 in the factory.

Sounds to me like a previous owner has done some of their own wiring..

My car was built Oct 2006 and has the aux port but have seen some others around mid 06 builds that were missing it..

 

[srhutch]

Don't forget aux was standard from 2007 model year

I hate to say this but the above rumour is not true.
My May 2007 car does not have Aux In, Neither does one of my customers 2008 2.0 Roadster.
It was never standard. It was always an option.

Model year, not registered year. When was yours built?

 

[nfbr]

Mine was built August 2006 so that would make some kind of sense, however my customers 2008 roadster was built March 2008.