Dice / AUX-in Engine Whine

[bd3500]

Hey Everyone,

I have a Dice Ipod/HD installed in my '02 X5 and love it. So far so good, I also purchased a panavise mount and installed a Sirius Audiovox PNP-3. The orange color of the display at night matches the radio and is a much cheaper alternative then the 700 I would have to spend to get my radio up to spec for an OEM install.

I do have an issue however, currently using the AUX In, because the PNP-3 is a cig-lighter powered device, I have bad engine whine. I imagine this is because of a ground loop issue because of feeding radio from different power sources. I have been using a ground loop isolater, but the sound is muddy and low frequencies are gone.

I am thinking of trying to fix this with cutting off the cig-ligher power supply and soldering the power and ground to the common power source of the radio.

Questions: Should I run the power to the sat radio to one of the pins on the back of the radio to prevent noise, or should it go to the dice power source to prevent noise?

Additionally where can I tap into switched power so the radio comes on and off with the car going on and off (or in ACC mode)

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Best,

-B

[Tom G.]

Originally Posted by bd3500

Hey Everyone,

I have a Dice Ipod/HD installed in my '02 X5 and love it. So far so good, I also purchased a panavise mount and installed a Sirius Audiovox PNP-3. The orange color of the display at night matches the radio and is a much cheaper alternative then the 700 I would have to spend to get my radio up to spec for an OEM install.

I do have an issue however, currently using the AUX In, because the PNP-3 is a cig-lighter powered device, I have bad engine whine. I imagine this is because of a ground loop issue because of feeding radio from different power sources. I have been using a ground loop isolater, but the sound is muddy and low frequencies are gone.

I am thinking of trying to fix this with cutting off the cig-ligher power supply and soldering the power and ground to the common power source of the radio.

Questions: Should I run the power to the sat radio to one of the pins on the back of the radio to prevent noise, or should it go to the dice power source to prevent noise?

Additionally where can I tap into switched power so the radio comes on and off with the car going on and off (or in ACC mode)

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Best,

-B

The cigarette lighter is often known as a "dirty" power source, try tapping into another source or into the fuse panel in the glovebox.

Some BMWs are more sensitive to engine noise than others. If you cannot find the source of the engine whine, a noice filter may be needed. Here is a link to the version we offer on the website:

12 Amp Power Noise Filter
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=309

Let me know if you have any further questions

[bd3500]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the follow up, this is why I purchased the Dice from EAS. I am confused about the sound filter. Is it like a ground loop isolator or does it plug into the power (positive and negative)? Additionally is there any impact on the depth of the sound?

Thanks,

- B

[Tom G.]

Originally Posted by bd3500

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the follow up, this is why I purchased the Dice from EAS. I am confused about the sound filter. Is it like a ground loop isolator or does it plug into the power (positive and negative)? Additionally is there any impact on the depth of the sound?

Thanks,

- B

This is jsut a simple noise filter, the sound would be unaffected. I would try relocating the module to a different area first to see if this corrects the problem.

[bd3500]

The noise only occurs on the aux in because the Sirius Plug and Play unit hits a cig. lighter for power.

I had noise on the ipod / hd radio and just moved the wires and it took care of that.

Given there is no noise on the ipod part, I imagine that splicing the wire and feeding the power from the same source as the dice or head unit would resolve, no?

[Tom G.]

Originally Posted by bd3500

The noise only occurs on the aux in because the Sirius Plug and Play unit hits a cig. lighter for power.

I had noise on the ipod / hd radio and just moved the wires and it took care of that.

Given there is no noise on the ipod part, I imagine that splicing the wire and feeding the power from the same source as the dice or head unit would resolve, no?

I see where you're going, but we prefer the DICE power is left untouched. Since you have the glovebox fuse panel in easy access, you can use any of those power connections - verify with a multimeter beforehand before splicing.