Need help!!, AV INPUT Question! PIC ATTACHED

[Hans_ACS]

Originally Posted by Sudesh

Not sure if this would help any but did you try going through the different settings for your AV channel? It has PAL, NTSC, AND SECAM. When I installed my rear view camera it wouldnt come up on the screen but that was because I had picked the wrong AV setting on the screen. Just a thought.......

good point, but I tried all of them. We have PAL, secam and NTSC. None of them worked. Very bizar !

[Essam Khafagi]

guys, I am using a very cheap cable male-male 3.5mm to connect my iPod (through the headphone jack) to the rear A/V in and it works great ! ... and I don't pull the jack out to make it work ... the only problem is that u cannot use the screen in the same time ... it only gives black screen with flickers ... but the audio quality is perfect

[UKenGB]

Resurrecting this thread. Having read it, I conclude that the AV input connector at the rear of the centre console consists of the 4 way 3.5mm jack (L & R audio, composite video and gnd) just like many previous iPods themselves had. This makes sense as it would allow audio and video to be supplied into the car's system through one single neat connector.

BUT...

This suggests stereo audio and we all know that the TV Tuner does not have this capability.

So...

Is the audio signal downmixed to mono or does this input connector actually feed video to the AV input on the Tuner and audio to some other input (AUX in?) that can do stereo?

Some of the previous responders seem to be using this connector. Is it stereo or mono?

[Alan Z]

Originally Posted by UKenGB

Resurrecting this thread. Having read it, I conclude that the AV input connector at the rear of the centre console consists of the 4 way 3.5mm jack (L & R audio, composite video and gnd) just like many previous iPods themselves had. This makes sense as it would allow audio and video to be supplied into the car's system through one single neat connector.

BUT...

This suggests stereo audio and we all know that the TV Tuner does not have this capability.

So...

Is the audio signal downmixed to mono or does this input connector actually feed video to the AV input on the Tuner and audio to some other input (AUX in?) that can do stereo?

Some of the previous responders seem to be using this connector. Is it stereo or mono?

I have tried to find a better solution to connecting a DVD player's audio input into the car's audio system without using this input at the rear console. As I believe this method would not achieve the best in sound quality.


Having looked through both UK & US accessory catalogues (on this site) it would appear BMW have already provided an AUX input for the likes of Ipods which has already been well documented within this forum. Check the following as an excellent guide:
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/stereo/9506-fitting-aux-input-cable-x5-nav.html

However I noticed the US catalogue gave an option of different audio leads which would allow for RCA type Aux input connection, as with both types they are located at the rear of the dashboard NAV screen. The only trouble is my local UK dealer's system doesn't recognise the US part numbers?

[whitey]

in the end i gave up on using this av in port [ didnt like the screen flickering ] , and fitted a the ice link and then a av input output lead to the tv module and fitted a 300gb hdd media player

[UKenGB]

I'm sure this AV input can be successfully used (as some have so reported), so my question still remains, what IS the audio input? If it goes to the TV tuner, then it must be mono, so why a stereo socket? Or, does it use an alternative input?

I have been pondering the idea of iPod video (or any other video source in fact) and the problem is that the AV audio input is mono. Surely an OEM BMW all singing, all dancing DVD option cannot be limited to mono. Can it?

Has anyone arranged stereo audio in conjuncion with video to the front screen? It occurs to me that this could be tricky as you would need to be able to independently select an audio input and video input. Is this possible?

[Alan Z]

Yes this is possible if you choose to use the connections directly behind the Nav Screen. The Aux Stereo audio is then fed via these connections into the cars system. You then should see a new Aux connection available on the monitor, which will then enable another source to be played via this means. The US 2006 accessory catalogue offers such a Stereo cable for the purpose of connecting devices such as DVD players. This is quoted as follows:
Optional: Aux Input adapter (allows DVD audio to be played through the aux input in the radio.
Vehicles Without Sat Nav: Part No. 84 11 0392 070
Vehicles With Sat Nav: Part No. 84 11 0395 143

However the installers of my DVD system and twin 7" Headrest monitors choose to connect the audio visual via the tuner in the boot. This means when wishing to view a DVD input you must select Television and then AV channel. This works but it means once in motion the dash monitor (only) will constantley display the BMW warning on the screen to prevent its video use in motion. The rear screens and audio remains unaffected, however when using the Satnav the map screen will only be displayed when a change of direction is announced all other times the dash monitor remains blank except for the warning. A separate modification is available to provide video in motion if so required.

[UKenGB]

But if you input stereo via the AUX in connection, there is no video. If you select AV input on the TV it's mono. So how do you select AUX in for audio and AV for video? I can't see how you can do this, so how can you get stereo audio to go with your DVD?

[Alan Z]

Yes you can get stereo using the Aux connections leads at the rear of the dash monitor. But as you assume correctly this won't achieve a visual input to the front monitor.
The Aux input will not be shown as a selection until this lead has been connected it can then be sourced via the audio settings. In theory this would then allow you to have stereo sound.

I suppose it all depends on what you hope to achieve, knowing that the dash monitor cannot be used in motion (without adaption).
If you just wish to ensure stereo sound for those watching the rear monitors then this will achieve your goal. It will also ensure your Satnav screen can be constantly accessed without the constant warning signs.

If you wish I can exam my installation further and see where the connections are made?

[UKenGB]

I'm still not getting this.

We KNOW that the AUX input is stereo.

We KNOW that the audio connection for the Tuner's AV input is mono.

So how can you get stereo sound from your DVD - anywhere? If the DVD's video is connected to AV input and it's stereo ouput is fed into AUX, what input can you choose that will provide both of these? Select AUX and you get stereo audio, no video. Select AV and you get the video with no sound. How can you select the 2 different inputs, one for audio and another for video?

If indeed that AV input on the rear of the centre console has stereo audio, where does that lead go? Specifically, where does the video signal go (AV on the Tuner I guess) and where does that stereo audio signal go? A wiring diagram for the UK car would really help here.

In fact I am still having difficulty getting it to work at all. I have a straight through AV lead (4 way 3.5 jack either end) from an iPod dock to the AV in and all I get is a flickering screen of black on black (strange, but that's how it appears). Changes from PAL to NTSC and vice versa just produce a different kind of flicker. This dock ouputs video perfectly to my home AV amp, so it HAS to be something to do with the car.

Can anyone who has got this working let us know exactly how you did this?

Thanks.