additional info on the aux input

jadeddjay · #1 08-02-2005, 05:46 PM

i have a 2004 x5 3.0i with the bmw business cd and no gps or dsp
i didnt want to spend 35 dollars buying a factory kit. i went to radio shack to get a 1/8" phone stereo jack for 3 dollars

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=274-248

it acutally fits right into the cigerette holder in the ashtray. wires can be brought through ashtrey light and through the hole under the ashtray.

i did not have a torx screwdriver nor did i want to buy a set of torx screws. a small flathead screwdriver from a micro set works just fine. i used it to turn the torx lock about 90 degrees counter clockwise, and at the same time used a pair of small pliars to pull the head unit out using the volume pot. the lock will turn back by itself, so you have to hold the torx lock while you pull the whole thing out.

the acutual connector for the aux input was acutally located on the back of the cd player, not on the radio. it took me the longest time to figure that out. for the adaptors to the factory wiring harness, i took the pins out of an old power connector to a computer floppy drive. they fit right into the connector. i took out the pins, and the wires to which they were connected. i then used buttconnectors to splice together the wires. the connector locks into the housing for the wiring harness via a rail, and if the terminals are inserted the correct way, they will get in the way of the rail. i turned the terminals upside down and le the rail lock the pins in place.

i used some pretty thick wire, so they were not flimsy...it helped when i was trying to snake the wires down to the ashtray. it also helped to remove the air control panel by pushing it out from behind.

so i saved myself alot of time and money... besides the time it took to figure out the very sketchy directions online, it is really easy and not invasive to the vehicle at all. i didnt need a drill or anything, just one small flathead screwdriver and a pair of small pliars. and about 5 bux

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ncx · #2 08-02-2005, 07:29 PM

Did you put a capacitor and resitor inline in your DIY Aux cable like the OEM aux cable? You should if you didn't. The cable is only $34 and plugs right in. Seems alot easier than going to Rat Shack and trying to figure how to make a cable. Congrats though, I am not patient enough to try to reinvent the wheel.

jadeddjay · #3 08-02-2005, 10:42 PM

whats the resistor for

not really about trying to reinvent the wheel... i like doing things for myself, as a learning process. i dont trust anyone else. also, i didnt want to deal with waiting esp if parts have to be ordered.

dkl · #4 08-02-2005, 11:45 PM

Can you please post a picture of the jack installed in the cigarette holder? I'm thinking about installing the jack in that exact location. Thanks. NCX is right, for $34 bucks or less for the aux kit, it's not worth it for BMW to void your warranty if something does indeed go wrong with your home-made mod.

jadeddjay · #5 08-02-2005, 11:52 PM

i will post the picture tomorrow when the sun is out, thanks for the advice, i will be ordering the aux kit tonite

one more thing...just for the sake of learning info...

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=13716

Quote:

Hi,

As you might know from the AUX input circuit diagram that there is one 300kOhm resistor between the right and left signals. I was told (technician guy) that it protects the radio but also cuts off the lowest frequencies form the signal. Well,
I've been using the AUX for some sound content for a while and I think that the bass is really lacking in AUX. E.g. if I switch the radio on the bass is much much deeper.
Tech guy also said that this resistor can be removed if there is a problem with the sound (bass).

Have anybody of you noticed this ?

what do youguys think?

dkl · #6 08-03-2005, 12:23 AM

If I remembered correctly, the 300kOhm resistor is there for the system to detect that you have an Aux connector attached. To an audiophile, this isn't really a good scheme since that resistor will introduce crosstalks between the left and right channels, although at a very low level which can only be detected by an instrument...but still, not a good practice. But the aux input is still much better than an FM modulator. A 300kOhm resistor cutting off low frequencies sounds like BS to me.

jadeddjay · #7 08-03-2005, 12:29 AM

so if its already detecting the aux input... then theres really no poitn for me is there? or am i at risk of shorting soemthing out? maybe the internal resistance of my dap is enough for it to detect?

thanks so much for the replies and information... will post pix tomorrow

dkl · #8 08-03-2005, 12:39 AM

If it detected your connector without that 300kOhm resistor, then it sounds to me like you lack those DC blocking capacitors. So...if you haven't already done so, you should add some series DC blocking capacitors on each line on your self-made kit. I understand that these capacitors are on the aux kit that you buy from BMW. The blocking capacitors will prevent any DC signal from your portable MP3 player from over driving the inputs of the head unit and vice versa. The values of those capacitors WILL determine your frequency response...especially the lower cut-off frequencies.

ncx · #9 08-03-2005, 08:48 AM

I think the capacitor was also used to elimate loud pops from entering the radio when you first power on your source (MP3, player, DVD, etc). See diagram:
B1 is for cars with Business Radio/Dash CD
C1 is for cars with NAV

bozo · #10 08-03-2005, 09:30 AM

So Ive read all these posts, and I realized -- I have no f(&#in clue what you're talkin' about. Is this the wrong place, or should I start a new thread asking what the hell the connector is for anyway?

Oh yeah--parallel resistor with cap in series = high pass filter.

So I can just plug in an i-Pod in there and go?

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