Sorry, but I don't consider what you are describing as a "zoom" capability, rather it is just reforming the picture from a 4:3 to a 16:9 display. Perhaps just semantics.

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OK, that's fair enough mate, it is however the ISO standard for exactly this function, it's not something that BMW made up, its the specific term as defined for the mode switching of aspect ratios on all TV's sold in the EU (and USA I suspect).

If you scroll through the aspect ratio modes on you home TV, then you will probably have one.

^ exactly the definition of zoom, it does a bit more but that's the nub of of it.

Indeed.

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Sept 03, M3, Silver Grey. Retro-fits: Modded Mk4 DVD Drive, OEM Bluetooth, VR Control, Rainbow Speaker Upgrade, Sony SOT Amp, HK Sub, CCFL, Intravee II, NightMode.

Yes, the 16:9 capable VM offers these zoom levels

hesitating between the Dietz and BMW TV module. As far as I can tell:

The Dietz needs to be plugged into the radio module in order to get stereo playback (using the playback channels of the medium that sits behind the navigation computer's screen - ie cd, md or cassette) BUT I could opt not to use the stereo playback from the Dietz and simply use the standard BMW AUX installation kit for audio. I think this can work since the video is simply enabled using the clock button, whatever mode the audio is in. Questions:

1. Provided the connection to the radio module is not used, would one be able to mount the Dietz in the front of the car - eliminating the need to wire the video input all the way to the front (losing video quality)?
2. Can NavCoder enable TV-in-motion for the Dietz?

The BMW TV module will enable a new source on the navigation computer. When switching to this source, you would need to build a custom switch to tell the system to use the stereo from the AUX instead of the mono input of the TV module. This requires custom SW + HW interface to the iBus. Additionally, you would need to take the back seats out for proper wiring of the video cable. The good side of the TV module is that it will correctly deal with navigation interruptions, but I do not anticipate to need navigation interruptions since I would want to replace the navigation with the navigation coming from the iPhone. Questions:

1. The TV module can indeed stretch an image to eliminate the black horizontal bars? Did anyone succeed in displaying the iPod / iPhone output full screen? Was the image stretched or distorted?
2. Apparently there is a digital or analog version of the TV. Would this make a difference in terms of video input quality?

The Soundgate would be perfect for what I need, but it overrides the navigation screen rather than offering you the possibility to switch (with the clock button). Also it seems that the trigger wires would require installation in the trunk. Would the Dietz also require these inputs before working?

Lots of options... and I have not considered the TVonNav module yet...

Aux-In won't work unless the Dietz SPECIFICALLY provides this option.
The Dietz listens for you pressing the CLOCK button, and then switches the audio to the headunit tape deck (resp Mini Disc or CD player, dependign on what is fitted). To switch to the Aux-In requires a different switching command, so the Dietz would have to support Aux-In as an input for this to work.

Cable length here makes no difference to visible video quality. We're talking a car with a small screen, not a TV broadcast studio :-)
And the AV-IN is on the TV tuner in the trunk, there is no AV-IN at the headunit.

TV-in-motion occurs inside the video module (TV tuner) and is thus valid for any video source - TV or AV-IN. It has nothing to do with the Dietz.

Yes.

Yes, I used my iPod as a video source, and the picture and sound was fantastic. I ran AV cables from the video module of my E39 (in the trunk) to the glovebox, and had the iPod in the glovebox as a movie player.
I compressed the DVDs to the native size of the 4:3 screen I had, and this resulted in around 100MB per DVD. I could thus store approx 100 movies on my iPod.
The quality was fantastic - sound and video.
I could make the picture fill the screen by choosing between the video options available in the iPad and the options on the video module.
Letterbox, full 4:3 etc were all possible. Just like a typical TV setup.
Of course, the source material has an impact as well.
No picture distortion occurs.

No difference in quality, just a difference in functionality.
Analogue = analogue TV formats only (PAL, NTSC, SECAM)
Digital = same as analogue, plus DVB-T reception as well (good for DVB-T countries, useless in the USA)
Both have AV-IN and AV-OUT.
If you are in the USA, then the Analogue is better - it responds faster and will be cheaper. No need purchasing a DVB-T tuner when you cannot use it.



what "inputs"?

Dietz requires simply:
AV connected to AV-IN
Dietz module connected to power, ground and ibus. And audio-in I believe. Thus close to the radio module, which is in the trunk.

Good to know! Wonder why they could not switch to your AUX and leave the existing inputs intact.


When you say video module, do you mean any vendor's video module? In case of the Dietz you do not need to have a BMW TV Video Module.

Curious - how did you route your audio?

Hehe, I know what your next gadget and car mod will be

In the installation manual page 3 it shows activation wires, that is what I meant with inputs.

Because AUX is not available on all radio models and version. Aux-In was only NewGen radios from around 2005 onwards.

I mean the BMW OEM Video Module, also know as the TV Tuner. If fitted to the car, you gain TV reception, AV-IN and AV-OUT, and Reverse-Camera-In

I ran the wire from the glove box down under the door sills in the proper cable channel to the trunk, and then to the Video Module (TV Tuner) where it connected to the AV-IN port. I had previously fitted RCA connectors to the AV-IN and AV-OUT ports so that I could run a standard shielded RCA cable (Video + L + R). As the AV-IN is mono only, a adapter was used to connect L+R to the mono input.
I also connected ground to a ground bolt, and power to a fused power point on the fusebox behind the glovebox.
That way I have 12V to charge the iPod, and a proper ground.

The wiring diagram on the page is very clear and self explanatory. You wire it as you wish to control whatever devices you fit, according to your needs, desires and budget :-)

I note that unit only can be controlled by the trigger wires, it has no ibus functionality.

Found another module that could work for the E46 without TV tuner, is anyone familiar with this one? Am trying to find the installation manual.

That looks perfect. Fleixible and power and a good price. Buy and try.