E39 iphone/ipod

[ChrisDT]

Apologies if this has been asked but I did a quick search and nothing cropped up.

I am looking to out a handsfree/music stream system into the E39 (business radio). What have others done? I am toying with possibly just a connects 2 system, but someone at work has a Bury handsfree system which I quite like. I have a parrot in the other car but that doesn't play music. Also will it require a SOT Lead? I have been quoted £50 for one of these!!! (eBay would suggest about £11).

Thanks in advance.

[miniman]

Mate of mine fitted a Dice Silverline in his 3 series and is very happy with it:

http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/dice-duo100bmw-ipod...

I fitted a Connects2 to my Disco and it whistles in time with the revs.

[sparks_E39]

I play music through my phone on my 528 with a tape convetor, if I don't have the phone/stereo sound balanced just right the tape whines with the revs to, like a mini supercharger

Any other options with the tape player?

[bga]

I used a parrot mk9200 in my 540. Interfaced well with the standard stereo setup (for music and telephony) and would charge my iPhone at the same time.

[dan5oclocksmith]

I got an OEM fascia adaptor and fitted a Kenwood head unit with iPod control and Bluetooth. Not only could I then play music from my iPhone, but it didn't sound as st as the 4x6W or whatever the OEM amplification is.

[Jonny944]

I've had the connects2 interface boxes in two E46's now with no problems at all, other than the fact they're a bit of a bugger to stow behind the head unit! For £50 off ebay including leads I considered it a great solution for interfacing my Iphone whilst retaining the steering wheel track skip/volume functionality.

[skoff]

miniman said:

Mate of mine fitted a Dice Silverline in his 3 series and is very happy with it:

I have a DICE SilverLine and it's rubbish.

I have the MID display as opposed to the TV screen, so I can't comment on the TV integration, but I find the version I have is nothing but trouble.

Scrolling through artists/songs/albums is incredibly tedious so you really need to set up playlists in advance
Text scrolling is intermittent at best
After sales support is pretty useless
Every time it goes wrong you are supposed to disconnect the car battery for 10 minutes (according to their support desk)- a real PITA

The only thing going for it is it is cheap.

There is a system called Intravee or something like that that is supposed to be much better if you want OEM type integration, but the best results I have heard of are from the Parrot 9200 - though there are bad stories about that too.

I think after market stereo is probably the most reliable way forward, but that does spoil the interior look of the car IMHO.

[Jobbo]

Jonny944 said:

I've had the connects2 interface boxes in two E46's now with no problems at all, other than the fact they're a bit of a bugger to stow behind the head unit! For £50 off ebay including leads I considered it a great solution for interfacing my Iphone whilst retaining the steering wheel track skip/volume functionality.

I have the Connects2 in my E46 - previously had a Dice Silverline in my E39 and E46. The Dice picked up interference (because of the long run from the boot where it connects? Who knows) but the Connects2 doesn't.

Agree about fitting it behind the head unit; takes a bit of jiggling and squidging...

[ChrisDT]

Thanks all, I want to keep the oem look inside and it looks like the Parrot/Connects route might be the best one to take for the money (sub £100).

[dan5oclocksmith]

It hardly ruins the OEM look, and is easily reversible.



You also don't have extra displays dotted around the dash, and best of all, it sounds much, much better than stock.

That's a BMW OEM single DIN fascia, for added OEM-ness.

[miniman]

dan5oclocksmith said:

It hardly ruins the OEM look, and is easily reversible.



You also don't have extra displays dotted around the dash, and best of all, it sounds much, much better than stock.

That's a BMW OEM single DIN fascia, for added OEM-ness.

With respect, that really doesn't match the rest of the interior at all.

[dan5oclocksmith]

miniman said:

With respect, that really doesn't match the rest of the interior at all.

I don't know - more grey plastic, HU lights up amber. It really doesn't ruin the look of a pretty dated looking interior, and certainly no more than sticking a Parrot display on the dash.

Anyway, horses for courses. If you want the easiest integration with the best sound, it's the best way. If you can't live with the looks, you can get mediocrity instead

[Jobbo]

dan5oclocksmith said:

I don't know - more grey plastic, HU lights up amber. It really doesn't ruin the look of a pretty dated looking interior, and certainly no more than sticking a Parrot display on the dash.

Anyway, horses for courses. If you want the easiest integration with the best sound, it's the best way. If you can't live with the looks, you can get mediocrity instead

You lose the OBC by taking out the OEM head unit, I guess? Shame.

[dan5oclocksmith]

You can still access the readout on the dash using the button on the stalk. Possible to relocate the OBC unit to the glovebox if you really want.

[sparks_E39]

dan5oclocksmith said:

You can still access the readout on the dash using the button on the stalk. Possible to relocate the OBC unit to the glovebox if you really want.

How do you reset the values though, like MPG and time etc?

[dan5oclocksmith]

sparks_E39 said:

How do you reset the values though, like MPG and time etc?

You don't unless you keep the OBC plugged in.

As I said, horses for courses. I'd rather have decent sound than know whether i was getting 18 or 19 mpg

[neil_bmw]

PH forum member DennisCooper makes Ipod interface connections for the E39 with a lovely hidden dock, check them out at http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ in the E39 section.

[miniman]

neil_bmw said:

PH forum member DennisCooper makes Ipod interface connections for the E39 with a lovely hidden dock, check them out at http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ in the E39 section.

This one?



Awful!

[dan5oclocksmith]

miniman said:

neil_bmw said:

PH forum member DennisCooper makes Ipod interface connections for the E39 with a lovely hidden dock, check them out at http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ in the E39 section.

This one?



Awful!

That's the one - still needs an Intravee (I think) to interface with the stereo - the dock is a bit of perspex with the dock connector moulded in, and a USB cable the other end (sorry if I'm selling it short Dennis).

[miniman]

I don't get it. It doesn't put the iPhone / iPod in the driver's eyeline, nor does it neatly hide it away. Surely it's also prone to being snapped off?! Might work nicely with an iPod Nano I guess but I'd rather just hide the iPod away in the glovebox.