Engine Whine using DICE
 

I have started having engine whine when I use the IPOD with Dice and the engine running.

I already have a ground loop isolator. Question for Tom or anyone: where does this go. The isolator has two wires, one at each end.

Thanks.

Mickey

You've had the DICE kit for a while, has anything changed within your system?

Nopes. Nothing changes. No additions or subtraction to the system. The whine was never there.

Mine started last week, just like you MiCkEy, nothing changes, no additions / subtraction and the whine was never there :confused: : ......... e~

+1 Mine started whining about 3 weeks ago. Checked all cables and connections, and nothing has been changed. :dunno:

The DICE could be picking up interference from other devices in the vehicle. You can try relocating the wire to see if the noise is diminished or if you cannot find the source of the noise - the ground loop isolator you have must be used.

Some BMWs are more sensitive to engine noise than others. 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

Typically, the GLI gets installed in the brown wire of the DICE harness, which is power. The red goes towards the battery side, the blue towards the module. the ground will need to go to a clean chassis ground or the battery.

I just had the same problem. I moved the wires to another area and the noise is gone.

Now which wires are we talking about. the Dice unit itself is under the driver seat. A cable runs from there to the center console.

Do I try and relocate the wire running from the trunk to the dice unit itself or the cable running from the Dice to the ipod?

If the memory serves me well, I saw somewhere on the bmwtips.com a reference to a magnetic insulation of the power and signal wiring.
Check the post at http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/XMRadio/xmradio.htm

and then check the www.mcmaster.com for a part # 5756K31, this one is thinner than the film mentioned in the bmwtips post and about $0.50 cheaper per foot.

This process will not hurt the installation and it might actually help with the engine whine, and you can wrap all of your wiring without relocating it. This wrap would provide magnetic shield, while the ground loop isolator would provide electrical "shield".

You will need to use electrical tape to wrap the wires, I am not sure how good the adhesive is on the other part numbers that are sold on the same McMaster's catalogue page.

Also, as a good installation practice, once you finish the wrap using the electrical tape, you might want to use a small wire-tie to tie around the last loop of the tape, to prevent the tape from unwinding, when over time it will have lost its adhesive properties.

Keep us posted of your success (I have no doubt that with GLI and the tape you will succeed),


TerminatorX5 :)
Have fun

No, the wire running from the cargo area to the DICE module.

rearranged and the whine is less noticeable.

MMM,
so the whine is still there but is not at the bothering levels, right?
How did you have wires routed in the first place and which route did you choose for the second time?
I would think, that you can go either on left edge or on the right edge of the car, right?

Can you share the knowledge, please?

:)

Try relocating the module to a different area of the vehicle, away from other electrical devices or power wires.

I just rearranged the extra cable in the side of the trunk and used some cable ties to make it into a loop. That did it.

Watch the loops, or you'll soon be picking up FM.

My cable excess sits under rear seat, and cable run goes up center console. I have big time whine/alternator noise, so don't go that way. But it is an e46. I'd like to move it to my 4.8, but it was a royal PITA to run the cable. And with the noises, I don't really dig my current setup anyway. Probably run Aux and USB-to-12v to center console storage bin.

Whiny DICE
 

Same problem as well but its been getting progressively worse. Never noticed the whine after the install, but in just the last couple of weeks it seems to be getting louder. Whine is noticeable in both HD mode and IPOD mode.

The actual module itself is sitting underneath the front passenger seat with the cable ran under the carpet trim passenger side door wells, behind the pillar trim and under the rear seats.

The ipod cable (which is really too short by the way, is there a longer one that's available?), I ran under the passenger seat rail, along the crease between the back carpet and the front carpet and into the center console.

Odd thing is, it seems to matter if there is someone in the seat or it its empty. Not sure if its because the seat is in a different position or not.

I'll try moving the cables around like someone suggested, but I'm not sure how that would help since I haven't move them around since I installed it.

Let's run a chain of thought -

a car is running on DC power with (-) being a common plane throughout the car. DC power does not induce currents in adjacent insulated wires (other than at the power up and power down cycles).

the electrical turbine in the car (alternator) produces an AC current that is being converted via bridge into DC power and then stabilized at a certain charging level (let's say, about 13-14VDC). The AC currents will induce AC currents in adjacent insulated wires. Longer the wire, more chances it will pick up induction, any loops in the wire will magnify the induction effect (think of charging circuitry in the keybob and the ignition coil). Chances that the ground plane is "infected" with the AC current are high. Moving and relocating the cable will reduce, diminish or eliminate the "whine" but there is no solid scientific back-up, as what and how to do this task exactly, other then trial-and-error method.

Introducing a shielded cabling would eliminate the induction into the wires protected by the shield that is grounded, unless the shield is picking up the induction from the ground itself. In this case, the shield is actually magnifying the "whine" as it is always next to the signal wires :).
Possibly, to avoid this, the shielding would need to be grounded via Ground Loop Isolator that will prevent the AC currents from entering the shield directly. This would provide electrical solution to the issue.
The induction phenomenon is of electromagnetic nature, so, naturally, in addtion to the electrical insulation via GLI, magnetic insulation may also prove helpful.

I would welcome comments, suggestions and solutions - just have a pity on old fellow, don't hurt me too much... :)

Agreed on the cable length, which is why we offer this kit for a shorter cable run:

DICE iPod Integration Kit for BMW (Radio Interface R40)
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=660

Whine was getting really bad there for a while. Moving the DICE HD itself around didn't help at all. Went into the back side panel where the wires are connected and noticed the cable and the connectors where next to and partially wrapped around another bundle of wires that was in there. Moved the DICE cable away from the wire bundle and whine is gone! Didn't need to use a ground loop isolator but I store bungee cord and jumper cables in this back area too so chances are I might accidentally move those cables back together so I might put one in there anyway.

I think that you might be able to get some whine relief by moving around the cables in other areas, but the back panel area seems to be the most critical.

I had my DICE Ipod module, installed to a BMW X5 4.4 for 4 months and the whining noise started 1 month ago. DICE sent me a replacement module and it didn't work. They told me to ground the module and it didn't work. I had just tried your suggestion today by moving the rear wires around and it worked so far. For my situation, I also had to move my module to another position. If I left the module in the original position, it does not work. I hoping the whining will stay away forever. It is very annoying. In the meantime, I also ordered the flexible magnet sheeting from McMaster-Carr. I will update everyone in a day or two if the whine noise does not stay away. Thank you! IvIheaded1 and all who contributed to this thread for the great suggestions.

UPDATE:

It was a sucess. I drove the X5 all afternoon yesterday and this morning and the whinning noise is gone.

Was that with the magnetic sheeting??

I had this problem with my first DICE along with what sounded like tape hiss. Dension sent me a new unit and it was clear as a bell. Now the whining sound is coming back.

Tom - what is happening for the unit to sound so good on initial install and then slowly start getting worse?? The unit is in the exact same place as the last one and no changes have been made to the system.

No sheeting yet. I just ordered the sheeting yesterday. I wanted to add the sheeting to provide more protection against interference.

Where is your DICE located??

As long as nothing has changed in your configuration - it shouldn't change in the DICE. Try relocating your module to a different area of the vehicle to see if this changes things.

It was installed just what the instructions asked for on the X5. It was near the ashtray (I also bought the ashtray Ipod dock) standing up sideways on the driver side behind the side panel. Now, it's laid flat in the same area and I also rearranged the wires in the back where the multiple disk player is located. So far it's been working for two days.

OK, I have mine sitting under my driver's seat. I will have to try a new location.

Let us know about the magnetic shielding - I have another project I might want to use that on.

Update after all these years:

It turned out that the magnetic shielding did not work at all. I finally found a solution shortly after this post. I just strapped down the DICE box module with a several plastic ties near the connection area really tight and left the module in the same place. The whining noise never came back since. The hiss noise is to a very, very minimum. If this works, make sure the module is stabilized in a good area with no movements.

Excellent thread as I stopped using the Dice (Aux) hooked up to my sons Portable DVD player as the whine noise when he was watching movies became unbearable.