Homemade aux input question...i'm stumped!
 

I'm having issues getting my stereo to goto AUX mode in my 01 X5 4.4. I've found various little threads there and there about being able to install an aux input into my cd53 e39/e53 cd player so I can run my Treo through it. At this point i've got about 22 windows open, all pointing in different directions as to if I can install an aux input. I've looked on EAS's site, and it says that I need an 02 or newer E53. I've also found threads that say as long as my SW version on the cd player is 50 or more, I can do it. Then i've found E39 and E46 pictures where either the information changes, the main harness pins (larger pins in the pic below) are round instead of flat like mine, and they've got 10 pins for the aux input where i've got 12 pins.
I've already got resistors, capacitors, and random wiring harnesses to connect directly to the pins....I just need to know if my stereo is capable and which pins to use.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/CIMG3010.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...s/CIMG3009.jpg

I actually purchased an upgrade to my radio in my 2001 E46 so that I could have AUX a few years back. It is working fine today. Here are the pin-outs. You have everthing you need. You will see AUX come up when you have the AUX wire pins connected.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7481/76562145.jpg
Also to check everthing this is the

NEW Small black plug: x13649 plug
1 / Tape left +
2 / Tape left -
3 / Left Connection for AUX Input
4 / Right Connection for AUX Input
5 / NAV / TV Audio +
6 / White-Black / Phone audio + Positive
7 / Tape right +
8 / Tape right -
9 / No connection
10 / AUX Input Ground
11 / NAV / TV Audio +
12 / Brown-Black / Phone Audio - Groundv

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachm...1&d=1089824621

Think you still need a newer radio. My original one had the round pins and it was built around 2000 - I upgraded to a radio tuner from around 2003. Your version number appears correct but the date of MFG appears to be before AUX was available. Found this: "the radio needs to be 09/02 or a SW of 43 or higher." Make your cable - plug it into the correct pins (3 of them) and see if the mode button on your HU changes to AUX. My E46 was more involved than my E83. I had to purchase round to flat pin connectors for the E46. The E83 was plug n play but I ran my AUX to the drivers side rear section for my CarPC. BTW the first step up was to get the AUX functionality...where as an even newer radio will be able to show ID3 tags in music from you CD Changer.

What is all that X18805 and SA661+650/663 stuff? I keep scrolling back and forth between the pics I took of my deck on the 1st post and the diagrams, and none of it matches up :(

Its just where you connect the AUX. The back of the HU unit (I did in the E83) and some buy the tuner (I did in the E46). I have NAV in both so the connectors are different. Just look at where in back of the radio you connect. The other AUX diagrams are more to see how you fit the resistor/capacitor in place.

First off, Do you have Nav?

Second, I believe if you pull out your radio/nav, you should find the wiring harness into it might have a loose connector that connects to nothing. If you do, THAT is the wire that already connects to the back of the radio unit under the spare tire. It should have a yellow, black & brown wires.

This is what I found:

3-Yellow (Left)
4-Black (Right)
10-Brown (ground)

so match on the New AUX connection:

3-White/red (left)
4-White/blue (right)
10-White/brown (ground)

But if you don't have that connection behind the radio/nav...you can buy the proper connectors to wire the AUX into the BLACK connection.

I don't have nav, so the back of the deck only has the connector that goes back and forth between the deck and the cd player. There are two connectors on the back of the deck and I can only assume one would be used for the harness to control a changer...that I don't have. I would assume there is a way to tap into the same wires that feed signal from the changer into the deck, and hook up an aux input that way. I'm just to cheap to spend $90 on the BSW unit that hooks up through the changer connector that same way that I'd like to make on my own from Radio Shack parts, just like people have been doin for 02 and older decks.

AUX Input help
 

Hi,
I have made my self an AUX-input cable as it was easy to fabricate and soldier.
My Radio module is located in the trunk.
(I own a 2004 Euro spec 325ci Cabrio with Navi 16:9 screen).

I found Pins 3,4,10 to already have leads going into them, this means that the original PINs are available in the dash behind the screen module.
But i am using the aux for my CarPC, hence i took them out, and plugged my connectors in the black plug next to the white CD changer plug and had everything wired back to the radio unit.

i tried the PC, the sound is very low, I turn up the volume way too much to hear a moderate sound come out.
My question is:
isn't this amplified in the stock amp already?
is there a better way to connect my CarPC?
What would cause the radio module to not detect the AUX in?
soemtimes i feel it just doesn't see it, it flips over it just as the tape mode
does when there is no tape.

Thanks for your time

FK

The capacitor/resistor network causes the radio to detect the Aux input, so make sure the values are correct and there is no intermitant connection in the resistor.

You can change the Aux sensitivity by using the number keys, I think 1 = quiet, 6 = loud.

Thanks for the quick response Richard,
I am merly a hobbiest when it comes to electronics, but I am sure I got the right values and connections, however I will double check everything with a voltmeter tonight.

This explains now the P1 that i saw in the top right corner, hmmm I did see pictures showing P4 or so but always thought it is just different radio modules.

Thanks... I hope this fixes my issue.

Regards,

Fadi

I have not had volume issues with my CarPC's (today one in a 330XI and another one in an X3). I did not make my own AUX cables but rather just purchased them. In the X-3 ran the audio cable from the front HU to the rear of the vehicle to the CarPC which was a longer run than the 2 foot audio run in the 330XI. I would tend to believe that the volume issues are caused by your cable. I also would say that this is the best methodology to get to the audio in your car. My carpc application just displays in the AUX mode and all of the radio control mapping (both steering wheel and HU) work well with my music / video application.

On a tangent I have been experimenting with making a very small CarPC for the X-3 and during my "experimenting" noticed an audio hum from one of my test pcs. Just recently updated this same said PC to another MB/PS and the hum has gone away. I am not sure but believe its related to the 12VDC automotive style MATX II PS I used.

1 - Yes this is amplified in the stock amplifier
2 - no, I believe that AUX is best methodology. Originally folks were doing it via the tape audio input connections.
3 - If it doesn't see aux its your cable or the revision of your radio that doesn't have AUX mode. What model / revision radio do you have? Your 2004 radio should have AUX functions.

Hi Pete,

My radio module has the AUX input feature, I can select it and hear music through it.
All what i did was prepare a 40 cm wire from the PC to the rear of the radio module. (i have it in the trunk, while the navi and controls are in the dash as you would know of course)
I did notice that the AUX was not 100% stable, but i was testing by going back and forth between the front seat and trunk so not the best way to check things. I will let my wife help out and see how it goes.
However, what richard suggested solved the loudness issue, my aux setting was originally set to P1, switching it to P6 gave me excellent sound/loudness similiar to FM radio loudness or Cd Changer loudness, so at least that is solved.

Thanks for answering my questions, now I know that atleast I am on the right track :) Just gotta make sure the AUX cable is clear of any lose connections.

Next would be the PSU for the mini pc that i am working, I have an M2-ATX that needs to be utilized.

Thanks
Fadi

Fadi -

Sounds like the testing is going good. I didn't know that an option for loudness was available with the AUX connection.

I believe for my radio I used the standard connectors / inserting the pins on the end of the OEM aux cable into the connector that goes into the radio tuner as depicted in the pictures above.

The PSU / MB audio hum was unique to the combo that I set up. I have a similiar PSU / MB combo (Epia MB and M2-ATX) in the 330XI with no audio hum.

I cannot for sure pin point that the audio noise is coming from the mini-itx board or M2-ATX PS. It might be a combo of both MB and M2-ATX PS. Testing it at home with a USB based soundboard and its still giving me an audio hum.

The new combo E83 CarPC is a dual core Atom based Intel MB with a mini M2-ATX PS and has no audio hum.

What are you using for your video interface to the NAV and your IBUS interface?

For the IBUS, I got my self the Resler IBUS interface
(IBUS Interface for BMW cars) (v5, USB link)
FTDI components are not available here, niether melexis, so
it would be better to just get it from him, He is a great guy to deal with btw.

as for the video interface, i tapped into the video module (with TV tuner) and used the Reverse Camera inputs just as most setups out there.
I also bought a VGA to COMPOSITE adapter which went for about 40 bucks i think.

If you want i can get you the brand/link for the VGA converter because it doesn't come to mind at the moment.

Regards,
Fadi

Fadi,

I was curious. I am using same IBUS interface in the E46. Tapping into OEM TV tuner as you are. Video from Epia is composite out. Picture is OK.

In the E83 using a combo IBUS and Video interface. Kind of customized to the BMW with a VGA In and a VGA Out and interfaces between the NAV and HU.

How does your video look from the VGA to composite adapter?

- pete

Pete,

I'll have a couple of pictures ready by the end of today.
couldn't get them earlier due to heavy work load and the fact that the setup is
not yet actually intalled!

BR,

Thank fadi,
I would like that.
Here's a link to my E83 endeavor. Even different cuz I switched to a new case and pc.

BMW E83 - CarMediaWiki

BR,Pete

Hi Pete,

Nice and helpful wiki there...
looks like a clean install, perfect!

I have attached a couple of images showing the system in action with a small short video.

quality ain't that great, but it'll do.
Over and all, i think the video quality is good and I wouldn't need more for everyday use, even watching a movie is nice on that screen.

I haven't done any font optimization or window size adjustment, so still it can be improved.

I wonder what made you move to CarMedia rather than keep Car-X?

Regards,
Fadi

Very nice! I used Car-X in my E46 for about 5 years. Its nice. CarMedia is actually a bit nicer and simpler. It is being supported today where as CarX is no longer supported. CarMedia is a plug n play setup. All of the IBUS mappings are all done.

I see, well you are right about that, not a lot -if any- is being done to carX, atleast no for the iBUS, the iDrive version and Audi version seem to get some attention as they are commercial and not free now.
BTW, would you happen to know if it is possible to get PDC (parking sensors) readings via IBUS? i am seriously thinking of doing my own front-end and want to have a nice visual effect of the parking distance remaining...etc.
Did you stumble on anything similiar through your search or through carmedia?

Thanks

hmm i just saw on youtube a carmedia demo that shows PDC in action!
guess it is doable :)

Yes there are some users of Carmedia which are using the parking sensors. I don't have parking sensors but when I go in reverse I do see the icon of the vehicle and the music pauses. Give CarMedia a try - its plug n Play.

I've updated the Wiki to include the newest CarPC in the E83. This was after 4 different versions of CarPC and cases. I've also started to "build" the E46 wiki. Its been a while since I built that CarPC but its still running after many years. Initially used CarX in the E46 but just this past few months switched over to CarMedia. I guess I use CarMedia cuz I wanted something basic and simple. With the NAV 16:9 RGB display you really can't to heavy graphics. A simple touch screen overlay though would be nice and theoritically could be done. Other than that mapping all of the radio control knobs works for me. The author of CarMedia has made the application modular somewhat. My next E83 tweak was to install a rear mounted camera which wouldn't be too difficult.

If I hadn't placed the Video/TV module back into its place, i'd have taken some shots of my install (atleast concerning the video) to contribute to the E46 section of the wiki.
BTW, CarMedia is very nice, i gave it a try on my laptop, looking good. I will contact the auther to see if he provides any external sdk/api for us to develop on top of his work (that'll be just perfect).

Thanks for pointing me to it, it seems i was confusing mediaCar with CarMedia, one is commercial, the other is free!

At one time he was providing the source and I believe the first gen source is still there (Carmedia 1.0).

The video was of concern with the E83. I bought an OEM TV module for the purpose of using it for the PC but really didn't have any space to install it.

I then purchased a small video interface ($300) which I was never really impressed with the video so I sold it on Ebay.

The interface I am using now has a built in IBUS interface and the RGB video out is very good on it and in addition it allows me to interface via VGA with a VGA passthru.