CD/AUX/Bluetooth options for CD/Cassette setups

[ewebby]

I have no DSP, Business CD on 2001.
Will this one work, they say it does not work with Reverse Radio, don't know what that means and they have not replied to question.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124200510091

[X5chemist]

Pull your radio and cassette out. On my last pic, if you have pins under the round holes, that's probably where the cassette pins are located. Mine has a business CD. The blank must be cassette or rear CD carrier. Oh, my CD still works too.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Pull your radio and cassette out. On my last pic, if you have pins under the round holes, that's probably where the cassette pins are located. Mine has a business CD. The blank must be cassette or rear CD carrier. Oh, my CD still works too.

Ok, it might be making some sense now as to why they put “does not work with cassette”. With my dsp, I have my cd changer in the rear, and the cassette in the front. Again I am assuming, but it seems all of the inputs are being used.

And, it seems the aux only works on the cassette input, not the cd. So I am thinking, if I pull the cassette, and replace it with the aux, I will have the cd changer and aux, instead of cd changer and cassette. It does make sense as to why the aux would be plugged into the cassette port, due to how a cassette player is analog.

Any thoughts?

E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[X5chemist]

Process of elimination. Now we need a wiring diagram to rule out speaker wires. As my CD and speakers all still work, it's must be the black 12 pin connector. The new harness connections are where the blue tabs were removed. One must be AUX and other is anyone's guess.

[Happy]

I just noticed that the male aux harness has 12 pins, versus the female harness that has 10 pins. The female harnes also states cassette support.

I don’t think I have a choice there. 10 pin must be for dsp, and 12 for non.

E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[Happy]

After hours of research, none of these aux options work with my E53.

The cassette option I have does not support an aux adapter to achieve the input capability.

E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[haigha]

Happy: I have DSP too. I've followed these types of threads with curiosity. I added the OE Aux input to my system early on, maybe in 2004. First I ran it so the wire went through to the cupholder. Removing the middle console to do that was a pain.

Now I have the Aux input running to the glovebox. I had an old adapter, from my e30 325i, to convert the flashlight charger to a 12V cigarette lighter port (switched!). I bought a Kensington Bluetooth adapter in 2006 to plug in there. I've been using that since. The sound quality is decent, not great. I'm sure there are better performing similar 12V adapters now. One nice feature is it came with a remote that wraps nicely around the gear shift knob.

Last year, I added a 12V splitter adapter in the glovebox. I added front and rear wireless license plate cameras. Their display power plug is in the other side of the 12V splitter.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by haigha

Happy: I added the OE Aux input to my system early on, maybe in 2004.

Its the year my E53’s sound system was manufactured (prior to 09/2002). Plus, the cassette deck is definitely a deal breaker. There is absolutely zero aux support.

Nice install! You were definitely ahead of the times!


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Happy

Its the year my E53’s sound system was manufactured (prior to 09/2002).

It seems that even some of the later audio units cannot use an aux input either - my "Professional CD" (Becker CD54) made in week 47 of 2004 doesn't appear to support an aux input either.

[Happy]

Ok… So after hours of research, I found a solution to adding an aux adapter on pre 09/2002 DSP business sound systems.

Here is a pic of X5chemist’s business CD player head unit.



In the pic you see all of the numbers referencing information regarding the part. His business cd build is 02/2006, with a software version of 47. Also, the e24 means it can decode MP3’s as well.

Here is a pic of my business CD unit that arrived today.



The pic shows mine is the same, although a month newer. The CD unit’s harness was direct plug and play. On power up everything was normal with DSP, radio, and CD changer no coding required. Steering controls work as well as dash display. Time to try CD mode. With an MP3 disk loaded and CD mode selected, track 01 began to play. Success!!

So this modification essentially converted my pre 09/2002 sound system, to a 03/2006 reaping all the benefits of the 2006 model DSP E53 factory system. What makes this special is, this was performed on an 01/2002. My E53 has the pre 03/2002 drivetrain and parts from the original design, now with the entertainment electronics from the final design. The best of both in my opinion.

I have ordered the genuine BMW aux adapter, and will finish installation when the part arrives. More pics soon.

Big shout out to X5chemist! Without your posts, I probably would have never gained this knowledge. Thanks!!

E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21