E30 Zone

Hey all,

I'd like to hard wire my iPod into my car (don't buy an FM transmitter!) and it looks like the Blaupunkt stereo that's currently installed might not be suitable.

I'm told that I need a unit with an input port on the back. I assumed that most car stereos would've come with this so a disc changer could be installed. I'm wondering if a BMW Business CD unit would have what I'm looking for. Anyone have wisdom they care to share? I know nil about car stereos.

Thanks.

Don't know about the bmw bit but what you need is a headunit with an AUX input normaly just a red and white RCA but some, like mine have a normal headphone jack aswell. there was a company called caraudiocentre IIRC and they were selling an adaptor to fit to any factory head unit that could run a CD changer. so you might be in look

I've got the original Panasonic head unit which has a CD-IN 3.5mm jack on the front. Really handy for MP3 players
Maybe you should go retro?

Morat wrote:I've got the original Panasonic head unit which has a CD-IN 3.5mm jack on the front. Really handy for MP3 players
Maybe you should go retro?

Believe me, I've thought about it. I used to have a '97 Golf with a cassette deck that had a jack on the front. Never, EVER used it for anything, but sure could use it now!

I'm pretty sure that newer BMW Business CD stereos have an input on the back. I'm tempted to get a used one because they look nice and stock in an E30 interior. Bloody pricey, though.

Ah-ha! I discovered that my Blaupunkt does have an input on the back side (for a DAT player or tape deck). Those Germans think of everything. It's just a simple 3.5mm mini-jack port.

Hooked it up and... . . . . ...nothing. I can just barely hear music playing through the speakers at max volume. Okay stereo geeks, is there something obvious that I'm missing?

buy the alpina head unit with the ipod unit attached. allows u to change track on the pod with the stereo and charges it at the same time.
defo worth it.

i doubt u missed anythin KDS, it sounds quiet cause of the puny little amp that the ipod has. gotta remember its really only meant to power headphones. i bet all these ipod speaker docks have amps in em to further boost the volume.

i fitted an ipod in my 318 and it sounded really quiet too, the only saving grace there is the fact my headunit has a +6dB signal boost function for AUX inputs which makes a huge difference.

if u wanna make it louder then use either an equaliser or a line driver to whack up the gain.




thats what mine looks like, complete with bodged together cradle

stephen318 wrote:i fitted an ipod in my 318 and it sounded really quiet too, the only saving grace there is the fact my headunit has a +6dB signal boost function for AUX inputs which makes a huge difference.

if u wanna make it louder then use either an equaliser or a line driver to whack up the gain.

Ahhh. That's the information I was fishing for! Unfortunately, at least here in Canada, car stereo shops will do NOTHING to help troubleshoot your system--all they know how to do is move new merchandise.

I got a cable that has a dock connector to twin phono's - that way you get line level out. Just wish I could charge at the same time!

James

jamesc wrote:I got a cable that has a dock connector to twin phono's - that way you get line level out. Just wish I could charge at the same time!

James

Motorworld do a charging bit for a ipod that hard wires in

Does it have a line out as well though? Thats what I cant find!

I have just set up all 3 of our cars with Aux inputs for my MP3 player (not an ipod but still a hard drive mp3 player with headphone jack. here is what i did

1) car 1 - bought new pioneer head unit DEH-30MP (http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_det ... _id=25-121) for about £80. cracking head unit with line in jack and IMPORTANTLY gain control on AUX in to compensate for low leverl output from MP3 player

2) car 2 - factory fit Audi Symphony head unit with 6 disc in-dash changer....i found a compnay that does and interface that plugs into the CD changer bus and fools the head unti into thinking it has a seond cd changer attached (this unit takes a second cd changer as well as the indash one.) . the interface has a simple phono input for the MP3 player. clever but expensive at £80 for the interface but means our expensive audi can still keep its integrated stereo and look nice.

company called soundlinxs and have loads of interfaces for all different kinds of factory fit and aftermarket head units. www.soundlinx.co.uk

3) E30 - fitted and old pioneer P seriens head unit that i have had for 7/8 years (this has a retro tape deck and not a CD slot !!!!) you can buy a connected which goes into the multichanger bus for about £20 (£40 if you want to be able to connect multichanger as well - althougfh why would you need this if you are using and MP3 player ??. anyway - buy any second hand Pioneer P-series head unit from ebay for about £50 then buy a CD-Rb20 connector (£20 on ebay). this will give you aux inputs. this solution is sheal and effective (head unit also has a gain for aux in.---tip you need to enable the aux in in the menu system so need the manual or download one from pioneer website....i spent ages wondering why it didnt work only to find i needed to press a couple of buttons to turn AUX in on.

i spent ages sorting this out and have learned a lot......if you need any more help please ask me as i might save you a lot of time and hassle

cheers
Jonathan

don't mean to sound out the obvious but the ipod has a volume control have you used this?

it works on my pioneer

on ebay there are many ipod adaptors which work with rca inputs etc but they still charge it as they piggy back the iso connector for ground and switched live.

have a browse it will take 5mins to find