bmw e30 install tips

[fretster]

has anyone done a car install on an e30 bmw? ive been trying to find a solution that doesnt involve wires running around everywhere. currently i have a alpine cda-9825 with the aux adapter and just plugging into the phone port on the top of the ipod.

i really want to find a solution using the line-out via the dock, and would prefer just a straight dock->rca connection but i cant seem to find one anywhere.

i was looking at the dock installs, but i have a contour showcase 4g case and it wont fit in a dock, plus i cant really think of anywhere in my car where that would be all too intuitive.

ive been searching the forums for the last week or so looking for some way to do this, i dont really want to hardwire a belkin auto kit (because of the volume control on the belkin unit) and the sik unit doesnt look like it'll fit in the dock port at the base of my contour case.

is it possible to just buy a belkin auto kit adapter for cheap on ebay and use the cable to add an RCA cable to the end of that?

thanks alot

[fretster]

after more researching, ive found the belkin auto kit to be something i could use. however i havent found a good guide for hardwiring it into my cigarette adapter so that it's out of sight/mind. can anyone point me towards one?

[DrewT]

I'm gonna do this exact same thing this weekend, and take pictures while I'm doing it and the write up a how-to. It'll be pretty easy if you know basic electronics. If you know how to solder, it'll be better.

I'm basically gonna hack apart the auto-kit, do a true line-out mod (search the forms for it, the how-to for that is here), and then instead of putting another cig lighter in behind the dash, I'm just gonna chop off the lighter part and solder power leads directly to it. I'm also gonna pull a trick which will let me charge the ipod with my car off (when i want to, other times it won't, so the unit will auto-pause) just using a switch and some diodes. Not too hard, but more to install.

-Drew

[fretster]

Originally posted by DrewT
I'm gonna do this exact same thing this weekend, and take pictures while I'm doing it and the write up a how-to. It'll be pretty easy if you know basic electronics. If you know how to solder, it'll be better.

I'm basically gonna hack apart the auto-kit, do a true line-out mod (search the forms for it, the how-to for that is here), and then instead of putting another cig lighter in behind the dash, I'm just gonna chop off the lighter part and solder power leads directly to it. I'm also gonna pull a trick which will let me charge the ipod with my car off (when i want to, other times it won't, so the unit will auto-pause) just using a switch and some diodes. Not too hard, but more to install.

-Drew
thanks for the reply, i found this article about bypassing the built-in amp on the belkin auto unit ( http://www.cruze.org/pics/showdate.html?date=2004-03-13 ). i just hope ill be able to figure out how to do it from the pics once i have the unit open infront of me, because i cant really tell what the heck is going on with it.
as for your method of installing the kit behind the dash, im interested in that (no extra cig lighter + switch). im definatly interested in seeing the writeup you put together. thanks ;)

[sbono13]

for your alipine 9825, the cleanest solution is the alpine ipod adapter (kca-420i). you should be able to stash the ipod in your glove compartment.

[fretster]

Originally posted by sbono13
for your alipine 9825, the cleanest solution is the alpine ipod adapter (kca-420i). you should be able to stash the ipod in your glove compartment.

everything ive read about that unit says its a POS unless you have a $500 head unit. i just assume do this so if i ever buy a new head unit, all i have to get is another aux adapter not be stuck with a $100 paper weight. also i would rather wait to see better head units come out that have better support for the ipod than the afterthought that alpine has released.

[code777]

UHHHH, well i use to have the 9825 and the 420i and i can say it worked fine. i just exchanged the 9825 for the 9835 but only because of personal pref. not because it is a POS (far from it). The 420i is the best way for now but like you said, in a year there will be better more user friendly interfaces. AUX adapters are just not worth it (for me) as I've had two of them and both worked 80% of the time... the 420i is working out for me and I'd like to see a firmware (rumor only) to fix the unuser friendly probs. but for now i'm a happy camper!

[sbono13]

Originally posted by fretster
everything ive read about that unit says its a POS unless you have a $500 head unit. i just assume do this so if i ever buy a new head unit, all i have to get is another aux adapter not be stuck with a $100 paper weight. also i would rather wait to see better head units come out that have better support for the ipod than the afterthought that alpine has released.

Suit yourself. I love my 420i with my 9827 HU and think it's well worth the $100. After all, the Belkin power adapter costs $40, and it can only power the ipod and perhaps turn it off if you are lucky. When I was using an Aux-In I hated trying to fuss with the 3G ipod touchwheel while driving... took way too much concentration. With the Alpine ipod adapter, i can still use the HU's FF/Rew controls, see the song titles on display, and switch playlists/albums (if I'm feeling patient). We also installed the ipodyourbmw accessory in my wife's e46... keeps the bmw's dash nice and clean and ipod-free.

I'm curious where you heard that the more expensive HUs offer an improved user experience? as far as I know, the scrolling would still be slow, although you might see a few more lines of text at once...

[code777]

i have the 9835 and its top of the line (got an insane deal) and it works the same as it did with the entry level 9825 (which is also an awesome HU for the money!) and the only difference is sound quality being better because on the 9835 you have a 5band EQ and more sound shaping options and more features, etc... the 420i works the same way. Until they come out with a firmware of somesort for the 420i (or the iPod) they will work the same with all HU's.

I agree, I used two different AUX-in with my previous Sony HU and it was nothing but problems. Hard to operate while driving and for whatever reason one of them just never worked (sound cuttin in and out) but i admit it could have been the HU's prob but...