Ice-Link DSP Converter and 3 and 6 pin cable install
 

Ok, here is goes. I have 2005 X5 with DSP and Nav and Ice Link Plus. All is working but I'm wondering if Al and Ed's took me for a Digital Signal converter and some wiring explanations. I had to take out the Icelink to get it fixed by Dension (firmware issue and they were great) they also turned me on to a new cable that went straight from Icelink to 3 and 6 pin cd changer port. The other cable was coax and had converter on end for 3 and 6 pins to what would be cd changer port. When I purchased this I saw them carrying and was charged for a Radio Shack Digital Signal converter. I now do not see it and based on on the Dension Install supplement for the Ice link it says cars with 3 and 6 pin connecters can use standard BMW install kit and not the Dension BMW DSP kit (?). It makes reference to "true" DSP will have cable coax but then says the bit about 3 and 6 pin, which I assume is newer.
Why wouldn't I need the Radio Shack device? The DSP is working fine with Ipod but am I missing something here? What's the difference between DSP with 3/6 pin and coax? Many thanks, Ace.

The difference is this. For X5's produced before 2003, BMW installed a digital DSP system in the vehicle which had a 3 pin connector (power and i-bus connections) and a coax connector (audio connection). Starting around the change over from the 2002 to the 2003 production, BMW started using an analog DSP system that eliminated the coax connection and just uses the same 3 pin connector (power and i-bus) and 6-pin connector (audio connections) as the non-DSP vehicles.

Thus for your 2005, even though you have DSP, you do not need the DSP adaptor kit because you don't have the digital DSP system, you have the analog DSP system.

cool, thanks for the info...

While this is true for about 95% of X5s, it's always a good idea to perform a physical check - some Euro deliveries seem to arrive with the true digital DSP.

I have DSP in my X5 and I purchased the DSP converter kit for 99 bucks... Turns out I didn't need it after all. Your right, a physical inspection prior to purchase and installation would of been best.

FWIW, I have a 2005 with DSP and have the coax connection.

I have the coax connection AND the 3/6 pin connection. The coax is not being used.... can I use this as an auxilary input?

Not sure about that. I know my X5 has both the 3 and 6 pin connectors as well as the coax but hooking my iceLink up to the 3 and 6 pin yielded no audio. I had to use the coax.

You cannot. Either the 6-pin or the coax will be a dead connection.