Help with iPod install, etc.

[Spykes424]

Okay, Here's the deal.

-95' BMW 318i (First Car! :D)
-3G 15GB iPod
-iTrip
-Belkin Auto Charger

- The iTrip is always staticy in all cars. So I figured hey, the auto charger as a hole to plug a cable in. Maybe I can plug the other end to my cd player (Sony CDX-M610). But there is no holes visisble on front? Any ideas/help/suggestions? I would like to make it nice and neat, like most people, but I dont wanna mess up my car. And dont know where/how I would put it TIA!!!

[Spykes424]

bump :(

[bhb399mm]

Don't worry, theres a pretty easy solution.

First, i wouldnt recomend using the itrip for a number or reasons (do a little research on this forum)

Second, the Sony head unit that you have is a good one, so it has the capibility to hook up to an aux imput. You might already have an aux imput on the back of your head unit, you should pull it out and check. (by the way, an aux imput isnt the same as 'preamp out') if you have the aux imput, you can hook everything up pretty easially, using the belkin auto kid and an rca to mini plug cord.

if you DONT have aux out plugs, you will need to buy the Sony XA-C30 UniLink Adapter (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-08fzzgWn7qK/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=158XAC30&search=158XAC30) which will allow you to conect an aux source (your ipod).

install the Sony XA-C30 somewhere (under your seat, in the glove box, etc) and then run a pair an RCA to mini plug wire from the xa-c30 to whereever you want to mount your ipod. then conect the belkin auto kit (either directly to the cigeratte plug, or hardwire it). then plug the rca plug into the ipod and youre done.

check out my instal (in my signature) to see how all this would go together. good luck with your install.

[Spykes424]

Wow thanks. Are you sure my cd player has aux? I couldn't find out, I searched google, best buy, looked in manual, etc. Also if it does have Aux, I'm kind of hestiate to install a cable under something, because I've never attempted something like this. You think best buy or circut city would do something like this?

edit// whats the dif. between plugging the belkin into ur cig lighter, or hardwiring it. i thought that was bad if u had it always plugged in. runs the battery down or something? also wouldnt that take up the lighter, so i could never use it again? and where would i put wires, etc. becuz my lighter is on my dash, so they would be out in the open?

[bhb399mm]

on my previous post, i said i wasnt sure if you had aux out or not... since they dont make that head unit anymore, theres not alot of info available for it... the best way to find out is pull the head unit outta your dash and look for yourself. if you dont have an output on your head unit, the Sony hideaway unit will, so that might be your only option.

hardwiring your belkin just means splicing in an extra cigeratte adapter (like in my instal) and hiding everything behind your dash. your BMW is pretty easy to take apart, so you shouldnt have any problem if youre only even alittle technically inclined. look at my instal pics for more info

in regards to your concern of battery drain: this depends on how your car is wired. some cigeratte plugs are shut off completly when the ignition is turned off, while others stay on even when the key is removed. if you splice in an extra cig. plug behind your dash, it will work exactly like the stock one (on or off when ignition is off). Usually german cars' cig. plug stays on when the car is off. this is easily fixable by making sure you unplug your ipod when you leave your car. in my instal, the cig plug is always on, and i've left the ipod charging over night with no problems in the morning. but always a good idea to unplug all accessories when leaving your car.

Bestbuy, CC, or any auto stereo shop will do a good instal for you. just make sure they understand what you want the end result to be. make sure you ask them how much itll cost so youre not suprised. it also might be a good idea to shop around alittle.

good luck

[Spykes424]

Okay, I looked at the back. But I don't see anything that says Aux In. I do see some holes that say things like, sub out, bus in, audio out, rear, front, L, R, 10a fuse. I took some pics. THANKS SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME!!!

http://homepage.mac.com/spykes424/pictures/sony1.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/spykes424/pictures/sony2.JPG
http://homepage.mac.com/spykes424/pictures/sony3.JPG

[bhb399mm]

Yeah, it looks like you'll need the sony hideaway unit that i linked for you in my first post. that will plug into the 'bus in' plug on the back of your head unit, and then the ipod audio out will plug into the hideaway unit.

[Spykes424]

Okay, so I need that unilink adapter, some bus in plug, and a aux in plug? then just take it to bestbuy so they can install in my glovebox?

[bhb399mm]

Originally posted by Spykes424
Okay, so I need that unilink adapter, some bus in plug, and a aux in plug? then just take it to bestbuy so they can install in my glovebox?

the unilink adapter //probably// comes with the bus plug to hook it up to the head unit.... the only other things you would need is a 1/8" stereo mini plug to RCA cord (http://www.monstercable.com/computer/productPageComputer.asp?pin=1731) and the Belkin Auto Kit (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=T6715LL/A). You might also want a mount depending on where you wanna stash your ipod in the car.

IMPORTANT: if you are planning on having an instal shop do the job, dont buy anything until you have talked to them and make sure they understand what you want them to do - you dont wanna get stuck with parts if the shop cant/doesnt want to do the instal. also, i would sugest finding an indipendent stereo instal shop in your area because these are usually more reputable than BB or CC.

[Spykes424]

well i just got back from best buy. the said the adapter would not work, because my cd player has to have the option of aux, so if it doesnt have an aux input, then it wont now how to switch between that and the radio/cd, etc. so he said i should just get a new cd player for like 109 dollars, that has aux on front. :(

[bhb399mm]

Originally posted by Spykes424
well i just got back from best buy. the said the adapter would not work, because my cd player has to have the option of aux, so if it doesnt have an aux input, then it wont now how to switch between that and the radio/cd, etc. so he said i should just get a new cd player for like 109 dollars, that has aux on front. :(

Dude, they dont know what they're talking about, you would just select CD Changer.... it doesnt need to say AUX to have an AUX input... your receiver is way bettere than a $109 unit....

also, getting a unit with front panel (as aposed to rear) aux imput is the easy way to do it, but it wont be the cleanest.

my advice is find an independent instal shop. the guys there will actually know what they're talking about, and give you much better advice.

[Spykes424]

are you sure this would work, i mean how would the adapter add in the feature for my cd player to go to aux mode, it cant do that now, so how can this adapter add that in? seems impossible.

[bhb399mm]

yes i'm sure.... i just did the same exact thing in my girlfriend's civic using a blitzsafe adapter. The blitzsafe unit plugs into the head unit where the CD changer would plug in and tricks the head unit into thinking audio is coming from a changer when it is really coming from the ipod. You press the cd/cd changer button on your head unit, and the CD changer source comes up. it says "track 99 disk 1" or something like that. When you press play on the ipod, the audio comes thru the head unit.

if you're really woried about it, why not email blitzsafe and ask them specifically about your make/model vehicle. they'll respond fast.

[Spykes424]

well which should i use, the one that was posted earlier (sony unilink, etc) or the blitzsafe, although that one looks like its for stock cd players, because u select model of your car isntead of model of your cd player. so which should i get? and then i buy 2 cables (one to ipod one to cd player?) and put the adapter in the glovebox? can cc or bb install it or a local shop or what?

[bhb399mm]

i forgot you had an aftermarket head unit...

you would get the sony unilink hide away unit, and have a car audio shop install it in the glove box or somewhere else convient for you. then you would use a cable like the Monster? iCable for iPod? (http://www.monstercable.com/computer/productPageComputer.asp?pin=1731) to hook up the ipod to the unilink box or to a car adapter like the Belkin Auto Kit (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=T6715LL/A). this will give you a dock conector for the ipod to charge, and give you a line out for audio.

i'd suggest finding an independent car audio shop who actually konws what they're doing to do the install, because it sounds like the CC by you isnt very skilled in that dept. don't buy anything until you kno for sure you have a shop to install everything.

good luck