Which is Best, Aux Kit or Dice Kit?
 

Hi guys

I’m about to have IPod wired up to my X5 3.0I and I was wondering which is better or recommended?
Bear in mind that I don’t have a CD Changer or Sat Nav in my X5
1) A simple Aux input kit installation?
Or
2) The Dice iPod integration kit?

Regards

Pro's for Aux and IPOD
- Simplifies installation
- Can us any other source
- Use of IPOD to control

Con's
- No radio interface; display nor controls
- Does not Charge

I had an integration kit in my M3, I kept the IPOD in the glove compartment at all time. I NEVER navigated through the songs with the car interface - took forever. I always just put it on shuffle whole library.

I put the Aux kit in my X5. I keep my Iphone on top of the cup tray, with another power cable running from the rear power source. Works great. I can control my music at my hands, it automatically fades out when bluetooth is in use, and when done, it fades music back in. It's like a full integration with the interface of the iphone. Only thing it doesn't do is show music up in the NAV screen, but it's always on map.

whats the difference between the 2?
I got a CD changer, could i keep the CD changer and hook up a MP3 player/ipod and have BT?

It does if you get something like this Monster iCarCharger AUX 1000 for iPhone and iPod - Apple Store (U.S.)
I've had that (the Griffin version) for the past 3 years in another vehicle and it has worked like a charm. Of course, as you said you have to use the iPod to control songs, but it doesn't bother me since I leave the iPod near the shifter.

I have thought of the Dice unit but there are too many people experiencing problems. I wonder if one could modify the Spec Dock to tie it in an Aux connection?

I believe i am like this guy... we dont have an AUX port. I got a 2001 BMW with a standard radio + CD changer...
From what I read, both options disconnects the CD changer. I might do it just cause why do you need a CD changer if you have a MP3 player.
Will there be something that mutes my radio when I get a BT call coming in... I can install a Motorola hardwire unit. It has a wire that will mute a radio and I know how to hook it up to an aftermarket radio. I just never messed around with a OEM BMW radio. Wondering if I can do the same.

I would get this eas - 714.369.8524 | DICE - SILVERLINE PRO iPod Integration Kit for X5 00-06 (Trunk Interface)

Connects to your cd changer plugs and you keep your st.wheel controls.
Just ask Tom he will look after you:thumbup:

thats what I have in the x5, x3 and 325i. works great and charges iphone. and in my wifes car, she just plugs it/ has bluetooth

I mucked around with a couple of bits trying to hook up to the aux input with out luck , ended up bying one of those tape units ,just put the tape in tape deck run the wire out of it down to the centre ashtray and plug in the i pod , dosn't charge the i pod but sound is fine and it only cost $18

i really like that silverline pro. WOW, its what i wanted for music... I am picking one up even without the BT
the website said nothing about it having bluetooth. Could you tell me how you got BT with this unit?

You may want to look into the Intravee II sold by Bimmernav.com. I had it in my 540 and it worked better than any other one I've seen or used. The interface with the Navigation screen was awesome. Check out this picture

I'm in the same boat, looking at getting the dice or spec dock kit for the x5 however not sure how bluetooth works either with all this. I'd like it all integrated. I think i have to buy some type of adapter for bluetooth for my x5.

i dont have a nav screen..

i have the ipod retrofit and its horrible imo....having to create six playlists out of 1500 songs is impossilbe to navigate through with any efficiency. i would just get the aux in and control everything from the ipod.

there is a limit issue on charectors with dice only, it will look like this but it will scroll. here is what it looks like in my 325.

as far as BT goes, my wifes x3 has BT, so she just plugs in her phone and she gets music and phone controls straight from her steering wheel and calls show through the radio and the music stops when a call comes in.


oh and with the Dice you can program it to display song text on your OBC! so it scrolls on where your gauges are






http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...i/DSCN0146.jpg

This sounds like bluetooth is the way to go...It does everything? I don't have the cradle in the vehicle, not sure if it even has bluetooth in the car. I posted on the Aussie forums to see if they would run my vin to give me all the options. Is there any other way to see if I have bluetooth? It doesn't say on the original window sticker, but the bluethooth owners manual is in the car and it says there's bluetooth...but this could be just a basic catch all. Any info would be helpful. Thanks everyone!!

you can tell if you have BT by pressing the man face button on your steering wheel, or looking in the back for the BT module. In her X3 i mounted the wire to the iphone up to where the caddy holder thing is in the dash where normally the GPS goes and she gets in plugs in the iphone and bam, music, phone controls all in steering wheel

will the dice ipod thing allow you to control your ipod from the ipod. everyone already say it sucks on the dash,....

where can i get aux cable for 2003 x5

I have the Dice, keep the ipod in the rear CD cubby and control via steering wheel, no need to ever touch the ipod. Dice allows you to control the ipod from the ipod or via dash, you set the jumper switches to your desired preference. The dash function works great but I do scroll slower to avoid lock up between the ipod and Dice box. Slower scrolling is about 1-2 seconds rather than rapid firing 15 clicks in a row. Not a bad compromise at all. The sound is CD quality. Many Aux inputs are barely better than radio quality like my Saab 9-3- I rate it as poor. I have not yet created playlists so can't comment on the Dice in that regard..

The kit only allows you to put the iPod in the rear cubby? I only own 1 iPOD and i would like to be able to hold and remove my ipod easily. I would put it in the center console. That should be possible?
You cant control the iPOD itself if it is in the cubby

:iagree:

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...d-adaptor.html

guys i already said i dont have a nav and just a regular radio... *sigh*

I use the intravee and it works great.

My co-worker ('06 3.0) is interest in the Aux kit, but we don't see an auxiliary port anywhere near the cigarette lighter: was there a stereo option that she doesn't have that comes with the port?

IMHO, the Aux Kit is the way to go. It's much cheaper than Dice/Intravee, it sounds great and it allows you to still keep your CD Changer.

Hmm, the problem with the aux kit is that you have no steering wheel controls and no song titles on the dash display AFAIK-correct me if I am wrong. Dice is not cheap neither is it outrageous. I keep the Ipod in the rear cubby where the CD changer goes. Frankly, who cares if you lose the CD changer-they are so 90s. 6 discs with a whopping 20 songs per disc if you are lucky. I have a 32G ipod thet holds more songs than I own so losing the paltry 6 disc that won't even recognize MP3s is of zero consequence. I now have a multi thousand song hard drive that I can remove at will and I don't have to fiddle with it in the console in order to play a particular song. I love the Dice.

I installed the DICE kit in my X5 non-nav non-dsp. I am very happy with it. I routed the cord to plug in my ipod into the ashtray. I bought the radio interface instead of the trunk interface. With this kit i pulled the radio out and put the DICE harness directly into the back of the radio. I did not have to route a wire from the back of the car to the front. One thing to note: my car has bluetooth hand free. When i put the new harness into the back of the radio two pins had to be moved from the back of the radio into the new harness to maintain the hands free system. Plugs 6 and 12 are for the hands free audio through the speakers. This is the only thing to keep in mind if you use the radio interface. It is not difficult to switch out but i didnt know ahead of time and had to take the radio face out a second time. DICE is nice. It gives you all the functionality you could ever want and it charges your ipod, iphone etc... I was debating between aux or dice and decided on dice because it charges.

i have a E53, 2004, nav head unit with cd changer in the boot, no dsp.

i read a lot of reviews, right or wrong i've also read a lot of comments about bad audio quality with those mp3 units. plus you have to most often remove the stock cd changer to install those.

so i got the oem aux cable from the dealer and i installed it in the dash.

works like a dream, i can connect to any mp3 player now, plus i have the stock cd changer. i've attached a photo.