What is this cable?

chanlon1

chanlon1

Active member
 Belfast
2006 Z4 Coupe.
Happened to look inside the cubby hole between the seats and found a strange cable. No idea if its factory fit or aftermarket.
Don't have anything to plug into it, so can't tell.

Anyone care to guess???

If its audio related, is there a chance I can someone plug my iPhone to it and stream music etc???

Thanks

IMG_8873.jpeg
IMG_8874.jpeg
IMG_8875.jpeg
 
Hi,
Looks aftermarket, old ipod or iphone connector, as said above. There is an Apple adapter from that old ipod connector to a lightning connector — so there is a minimal chance that you could connect that one to your iphone. If you peek under the carpet in the boot you may find the integration box. Some units from that era were quite unreliable. It may be more cost and time efficient to just get a bluetooth dongle - there are several threads on curent options.
 
Thanks. I may look a lifting the carpet next weekend and see if I can trace the cable. Wonder what the quality would be like if I got an adapter to connect my iPhone to it???
 
chanlon1 said:
Thanks. I may look a lifting the carpet next weekend and see if I can trace the cable. Wonder what the quality would be like if I got an adapter to connect my iPhone to it???
Click to expand...

As mentioned it's the old 30-pin apple connector. Practically all ipods used it but iPhones haven't in quite some time. You'd need a 30 pin to lightning adapter. Alternatively, and I'd suggest the better solution is to buy a bluetooth adapter that plugs directly into the 30 pin cable shown. Wouldn't need external power too!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=30+pin+to+bluetooth&crid=2KE1JKTJ5YKOY&sprefix=30+pin+to+bl%2Caps%2C131&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_12

In terms of audio quality, it should be as good as an aux
 
Is it possible that this 30 pin cable is connected to the back of the head unit, or would it be attached to something in the boot?
Secondly, I had a lot on Amazon at many of those cheap adaptors and most say on them that they aren't suitable for working in cars. Is that true?

thanks
 
chanlon1 said:
Is it possible that this 30 pin cable is connected to the back of the head unit, or would it be attached to something in the boot?
Secondly, I had a lot on Amazon at many of those cheap adaptors and most say on them that they aren't suitable for working in cars. Is that true?

thanks
Click to expand...

I've used one of them in my other car without issues, but easily returnable through amazon if it doesn't. From what I understand the car would see it as a normal ipod.

Can't confirm whether it's connected to the head unit, but logic is telling me it must connect to it somehow. Might pass through some kind of integration box first though.
 
Should open a museum of obsolete electronics... Having gone through two or three iPod-era units and two of Nokia's BT kits, have a good collection.

Some photos enclosed. The Dice connector is quite similar to yours, mine had a somewhat thinner cable, I think. My DICE was an early version that used a separate analog-to-digital converter for the coaxial digital connection. The unit was unreliable and I replaced it with a USAspec, which was ok (and has a different looking connector). DICE had other models later on, e.g. Mediabridge which some liked, I’ve read.

186F174C-DC94-4859-8F0E-29AB3D5CC70C.jpegDEA68BFB-FAD1-440F-A507-F2629F1EEA4E.jpeg065AD862-36C5-4A34-A335-3206E19E5D4B.jpeg
 
I had the Intravee in mine with the same cable, I put the boxes in the space under the centre console as it uses the CD player connectivity
 
spazmochad said:
Will most likely run through the centre console to your headunit
Click to expand...

CD player cable most likely which is already at that point.
 
So I took out the centre vents and stereo today to see what was plugged in behind.
Looks all standard don’t you think?

449C2CD4-5AE4-402C-8CEB-E7912DEB9D8A.jpegA0CB8C2C-E647-478D-B7DD-8D38EB6BDAE4.jpeg
 
If it goes into the CD changer cable, that is already standard connected to the radio. You have to take the back of the centre console out, the cable willl not run to the front.
 
Just thinking - you have a coupe, so you can actually get from the boot to that point as well as that is where I fitted one for another Z owner.

Standard, the cables are taped on the floor if there isn't a CD player so whoever fitted the unit there will have taken it from there. You have to crawl into the boot to get to that point. I can't remember what exactly I removed as it is 17 years ago ...
 
chanlon1 said:
Paul, any pointers on how I would even attempt that?
Click to expand...

Look for some "Bluemusic bluetooth" install thread on here that are specific to the Coupe, that will tell you how to access :thumbsup:
 
axelleveau said:
chanlon1 said:
Paul, any pointers on how I would even attempt that?
Click to expand...

Look for some "Bluemusic bluetooth" install thread on here that are specific to the Coupe, that will tell you how to access :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Actually was just reading it. Though it seems the Bluemusic gadget has gone up in price quite a bit. Are there alternatives?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom