iPod Hardwire
 

This is the coolest thing yet. My new M3 is hardwired for iPod. Simply plug it into the cable in the glovebox, "BMW" lights up on the iPod display, close the glove box and control the iPod via steering wheel buttons!! No more lousy sound quality from those FM transmitters. There are a few limitations. Only 5 playlists can be controlled and those must be renamed 'BMW1', 'BMW2', etc. The playlist number shows up on the stereo display, but you don't get song/artist/album info.

http://www.ipodyourbmw.com/

Ya, they've had those out for a little while now. Problem is, they are sold for 2002 and up models. There is a guy on Roadfly that supposedly has figured out how to make it work on older (E39) 5 Series, but he hasn't posted his "how-to" yet. I'm still waiting as I'd like to integrate my IPOD into the wife's car. Oughta be pretty cool when/if I get it hooked up.

Funny that this came up today, i was looking at info about it this morning.
Dension (http://www.dension.com/main.php or http://www.densionusa.com ) have a good looking system called ice link plus that connects to a large range of after market head units and a few factory units.
Another option is that Alpine (http://www.alpine.com/ ) have their own adaptor (KCA-420i) to allow an iPod to be connected.
Both of these systems allow track selection by playlist, artist or album. both will display track information on the head unit if the head unit is capable, both charge the iPod when connected.

I will be getting something like this very soon. :D

Oh, by the way, here is the compatability list for the ice link plus for BMW.. enjoy
Compatibility:
BMW K1200LT motorcycle, BMW 3-series 1996-2005 (except 96 318ti), BMW 5-series 1997-2003 (dsp option maybe required), BMW 7-series 9/1998-2001 (dsp option maybe required), BMW X3 2004, X5 2000-2004 (dsp option maybe required), BMW Z3 all, Z4 2003-2004 (dsp may be needed for Premium sound only, not for standard sound) , Z8 2001-2003, Mini Cooper 2002-2004

Does not support:
BMW 7-series 2002+ (iDrive), BMW 6-series 2004+ (iDrive), BMW 5-series 2004+ (iDrive)

After wading through all the web pages, I discovered this item is $200+; a little pricey if I say.

Any other options for good sound repro?

Sherwood

well.. i have an iTrip (fm transmiter) and i think the sound sucks, i have a tape adaptor but once they get hot they start making noise (and you have a cable hanging out the front of the head unit). you can get an adaptor to allow auxilery input to your head unit but you have to have a head unit that alows aux in and you have to but the adaptor and your signal is still only headphone quality. IMHO an adaptor that comes in as a cd changer, as does the above two, is the best way to go if you want good sound.

I use an AuxBox from PAC on my Chevy. It works great and I can use my sterring mounted controls. No display on my head unit though. Check them out.

Sherwood, which car are you looking into hooking this up to?

Juan,
We're giving an IPOD to my daughter for Christmas, and was just wondering about how it would hook up to the two family cars. One has an Akai ('96 Dodge Caravan), the other a new Panasonic CD head unit ('97 Accord).

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Sherwood

Sherwood,

For starters, check in here: http://www.pac-audio.com/products/aai.htm

Since you have aftermarket head units it will not be as easy as on my case and perhaps you'll have to use an FM adapter.

I'll keep an eye out and get back to you with any additional info.

Juan

A lot of head units have an AUX input. If your does, simply buy the cheap cable that connects your iPod to the head unit. Cheap, good sound quality. Downside (if you can call it that) is that you will contol the iPod through the iPod clickwheel, not the head unit.

Juan,
Thanks for the link. It looks like these devices use a pre-amp (or something) to boost/convert the signals to line level for the head unit along with an interface to control the IPOD. Maybe I should contact the manufacture and see what they suggest.

Regards,
Sherwood

It works really good in my application (I was one of the guinea pig for its development for the Chevy Bose system). I really like being able to control it from the sterring wheel.

Sound quality is comparable to running a CD on the deck. It also recharges the unit.

I just got an iTrip and the sound is fantastic. I keep the iPod up high, on the dash or underside of the passenger side visor. Sound quality is related to how close the iTrip is to your antenna. If you're not getting great sound, send it back.

I got an iTrip after reading about it here.

I've found it to be ok. When I tried it with the car stationary, it sounded pretty good. But on the road, it gets a fair amt of static sometimes.

If the car antenna is mounted on the front fender (or in the frt windshield), I think it would probably work really well. On my old BMW, the antenna is on the rear fender, passenger side. That seems to push the limits of the iTrip. If I put the iPod on the rear shelf, it works fine! But tough to reach it that way.

I still like iTrip a lot, though. Works well in the house, good for when you go to other's houses, etc. For only $35, it's a neat gadget.

The antenna in my car is right at the back (VW R32), so how do you think the iTrip would work in this application?

It might work OK since the R32 is a smaller car. But as others have said more than a few feet is pushing it. Find someone that has a iTrip and try it out.

I believe that Aiwa makes the cheapest deck with an Aux-in (under $100) and for around $140 they make one with MP3 playback too. In my daily driver I got lucky and had a cheap Aiwa deck with an aux-in in it already. I think it works great with my ipod and sound quality is much better than FM transmitters.

iPods haven't taken off as much in Aus as the have in America, and the iTrip stuff was only launched a few weeks ago, but I'll try to find someone who has one.

How do those cassette adapters sound?

Hi,
I sent to america when i got my iTrip (about 12 months ago).. as some have said, it has a very limited range and in my BMW hatch the antena is part of the rear window and it's crackly at that distance. I never use my itrip unless it's to play music at a friends house and then the itrip is next to the amp. if they have a spare input i use monster cables for a direct connection but some don't have any so then i use the itrip.
I find that the casset adaptor gets hot after a short while and then starts to make noise in the car so it's not ideal either.
I'm looking at changing my sound system soon so i'm going to be either getting an alpine with their ipod connection adaptor or getting another brand with the ice link plus that i memtioned previously. both of these options alow control of the ipod via the head unit. another option is to use an AUX input and use the ipod controls.

If you would like to have a try of an itrip in your car send me a PM and we can meet somewhere so that you can have a go. i work in the city and live north.:D

Both of my cars have passenger front antennas. It works beautifully. After reading your post, I Put the iPod/iTrip in the back seat. Lots of static and a poor (unacceptable) sound.

If I were you, I would just add a miniplug-stereo input wire plugged into your Aux input. It will work perfectly. I do not need the functionality of controlling the iPod through the head unit. The click-wheel is perfect.

The cable to connect your iPod to your head unit is about $5

This is assuming that your head unit has an AUX input on the front. If it has the AUX input on the back it may be that simple aswell but many head units will need a converter box to convert the sterio jack signal into something that the head unit can use. The pioeer adaptor is about $120 in australia from memory.