Xoutpost.com - Intravee II/Alpine KCA-420i Install

I decided to install the Intravee II and the Alpine KCA-420i iPod Adapter in my 2006 X5 4.8is. My goal was to have an easy install and removal process encase I ever decide to sell the X5 (probably won't happen). If you want to keep the stock CD Changer in the X5 there is enough room to do so, however, it was easier to install and troubleshoot without it in place.

Things you will need:
8mm socket set
Intravee II
Alpine KCA-420i iPod Adapter
Sticky Back Velcro
Serial Cord or USB to Serial Adapter
Computer and access to the Intravee Forum
iPod/iPhone/iTouch
Plastic Case for iPod/iPhone/iTouch

Steps:
1. Disconnect the battery (I choose not to disconnect the battery, however procede at your own risk if you choose to leave the battery connected).
2. Remove the stock CD Changer using the 8mm socket set.
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3. The Intravee II uses the 3-pin and 6-pin connections from the stock CD Changer to work. The cords for these connections are not very long, so I choose to place the Intravee unit where the CD Changer existed.
4. Please the “hook” portion of the sticky side Velcro on the Intravee unit. This will allow it to connect to the soft wall of the X5.
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5. Use the double-sided Velcro on the Alpine KCA-420i unit. Placing one piece on the bottom side of the unit, and the other on the cross bar frame that is above the MKIV unit.
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6. Place the double-sided Velcro on the plastic case for the iPod and on the topside of the Alpine KCA-420i unit.
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7. Hook everything up, reconnect the battery and test.
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Issues: After connecting everything up and testing, the Intravee would redraw the screen on my navigation unit every 3 seconds or so, so a firmware update was needed.

Steps to update Intravee Firmware:
1. Register with the Intravee Forum, you will also need to send an email to the Forum Administrators with the serial number of the Intravee unit.
2. Once granted access download the newest version of the firmware and the “downloader” tool that will allow you to upload the firmware to the Intravee unit.
3. The Intravee unit must remain hooked up to your car and have power going to it if you wish to update it. Make sure your engine is running, it gets its power from the 3-pin and 6-pin connections. Hopefully you have a laptop, if not try to borrow one from a friend. The Intravee Installer is only Windows compatible, you so must have a Windows laptop. If you have a Mac you have to run VMWare Fusion/Parallels or Boot Camp for this to work!!!
4. Hook-up the Serial/USB-to-Serial Cord up to the laptop. Go into the Device Manager of Windows XP and make sure the COM port is set to a port number lower than 32.
5. Connect the Serial/USB-to-Serial Cord up to the Intravee unit.
6. Execute the “Downloader Tool” it will try to auto-discover the Intravee Unit. If it cannot discover the unit you will receive an error. Click OK to the error and the UI of the program will open up. Go File→Serial Port Setup. Select the appropriate port and make sure the speed is set to 115200. Once connected you will receive some messages telling you that the unit is turned on.
7. Go File→Open Firmware, select the Firmware file you downloaded from the Intravee website. This will upload the firmware into the Downloader program.
8. Go File→Program Firmware, this will upload and install the firmware into the Intravee Unit. There is a progress bar in the lower right hand corner. Once the upload process is done, the unit will reboot (takes a couple of minutes).
9. Connect everything back up to the car if you disconnected anything, and disconnect from your laptop. Test again.