Touchscreen, iDrive retrofit for E53?

[TerminatorX5]

The prices are on their websites:

CP600BMW - 220 euros + shipping
iDrive for E53 - 350 euros + shipping
mediaPlayer - 430 euros + shipping
touchscreen - $60 + shipping
carputer - 700 euros + shipping

[Nik]

Not about price. If you like car and not selling it, then you will pay. too much for me is mousepad. to me something like that is cheap, but I don't feel that way about iDrive, I just love it.

[TerminatorX5]

i did not hear from anybody using the CP600BMW - is that thing too new on the market, or it is not that good after all?

[chas3]

Last time I checked, the maintronic product had a ridiculous price. Most of the people probably go for grom or the dension products.

[TerminatorX5]

As I continue digging around, it seems that there are several possible routes that can be taken here...

1. the simplest route - get the CP600BMW, and basically substitute the SDs for the CDs. This route does not require a monitor or anything else, and only needs CD changer connection. All I-BUS cars in the US sold with pre-wired for a CD Changer, even if not installed. About $350, and if you have original changer, you might be able to offset the cost by selling the old unit.

2. Completely going out of way and getting EVERYTHING there is to get. This route will call for a computer. Obviously, a computer can do the MP3, the video in whatever formats, you can get a DVB-T USB dongles, you can get navigation, skype, wi-fi, even 3g/4g... the list is endless...

This route is most difficult and expensive - I checked current prices for an ITX-form computer on eBay, a machine running UBUNTU (Linux), with 1TB HDD, 2GB RAM, automotive power supply, wi-fi with BT card running about $400-$450 delivered.
Then you need to get an IBUS controller that will feed the video to the monitor upfront and whole bunch of other things - you might end up paying in vicinity of a $1000 for the hardware, plus the labor... However, this will resolve 95% of your multimedia requirements... maybe even 99%... lol...

the debate is still open...

[Virgil]

Another good variant :

YouTube - ‪DVB-T MPEG4 BMW i-BUS MK4 1/4‬‏
YouTube - ‪DVB-T MPEG4 BMW i-BUS MK4 2/4‬‏
YouTube - ‪DVB-T MPEG4 BMW i-BUS MK4 3/4‬‏
YouTube - ‪DVB-T MPEG4 BMW i-BUS MK4 4/4‬‏

for the U.S. market I can replace the DVB-T tuner for ATSC. For Brazil - ISDB-T

[Dubs]

Bump
Anyone got any new info on the probability of running iDrive on an older car?
I'd love my E53 to run it.

Dubs

[nigwhyrito]

I was told not possible for the 06 and below X. is possible for the 07 and up x.
Theres a canadian company that does the retrofit.
They looked over every aspect of idrive for 06.. just not possible.

[TerminatorX5]

That russian site that i mentioned at the beginnig should allow you to do the idrive in an i-Bus car, even as old as 1997 e36. The price is ridiculous - that is why nobody is going for it.

[TerminatorX5]

I just heard, that the russian's guy email is bouncing, even though his site is up... just be careful with that guy, i don't know him, his info just came up in the search...