Ted,
First off, maybe update the 1st post in this thread for what you're looking for in each thread/forum: chassis install only, UI feedback, or both. How you want it broken down: e46 or e39/e53, and/or +/- Nav. And where each install type should make posts.
This is an e39 w/nav. I'll install the other unit in the e53, when it's fully sorted.
Review from a local drive today:
- Sounds great. UI on the Nav is great. Using the steering wheel controls is great. It surpasses what one would expect to have Bluetooth in these cars a couple generations old. So hats off for the design and execution!
- Using a iPhone + BT, streaming from iTunes. UI is great, and settings UI is much improved over what
Ryan/e39Source has in his vid.
- Digital is much, much better. Use digital if possible.
Questions/Bugs:
- Electrical noise or interference
when music is not playing. Amp is on, BT selected, music not playing. Once music starts, noise floor drops and music plays. Noise
sounds digital (discrete tone/sounds) not analog noise. Seems to only come from front right speaker. BlueBus to amp is coax digital, so that can't be the source. Cable proximity to the amp? I can move it a few inches away to the CD changer to see if that helps.
- Autoplay enabled. Does this work only if the app is open? I closed iTunes app in the phone, and when car restarted, BlueBus played some random music from iTunes library. Another time BlueBus started playing music from Vox app. Note: I close apps often. I can try to leave iTunes app next time without closing. No biggie, since I could disable autoplay anyway.
- When connected, all phone sounds route through Bluetooth: notifications, camera clicks. No notifications/vibrations route to the phone. Is this expected?
The specification for the BlueBus BT 5.0 chipset indicates that
transmission is ~1.5Mbps with a connected BT 5.0 unit. So better than CD quality is possible. Are there any limitations to BlueBus connecting to a BT 5.0 device, such as this
Fiio M5?
Minor, minor bugs aside, this sound of music over BT with integration to our factory systems is amazing and well worth the price!!!