How many of you have iPod installed.
I would like to install iPod in the M3 and need some ideas.

Thank you

How many of you have iPod installed.
I would like to install iPod in the M3 and need some ideas.

Thank you

I use the tape adapter. Cheap removable. Would like to install something better, but dont have time or $.

I have on installed i have an alpine head unit + Ipod Ibus interface device.

Sick setup ipod sit in the glove box charging controll everything via head unit.

Great setup < $400

I have on installed i have an alpine head unit + Ipod Ibus interface device.

Sick setup ipod sit in the glove box charging controll everything via head unit.

Great setup < $400

Actually I do have Alpine unit with Ai-Bus, it is not the 2004 model but I read somewhere that even the older will work, it might not show the songs name.
I will get the alpine interface and try it.

I use the Dension ice link plus, purchased at Best Buy $200 (not for ipod shuffle) . You just unplug your trunk cd changer (or find the trunk cd changer plug) and plug in the ice link adapter which has an ipod dock, and away you go. I mounted the ipod in the trunk as I don't want to be messing with the ipod interface while driving my M. The ice link access's the first 5 play list on your ipod via the 1-6 disk buttons on your head unit. The # 6 disk button gains access to the ice link menu and feature like shuffle mode and others. I set up my first 5 play lists on the ipod as genre and leave the ice link in shuffle mode (my preferred listening method, the next song is always a surprise). I mounted the ice link dock to a piece of aluminium plate I had around and used the tooth side of velcro on the back of the plate and placed it on a flat area of the trunk carpeting below the cd changer, it moves a little if you grab it and twist but sticks gangbusters and has never come off.

The kit comes with a 15' cable that allows you to mount the ipod dock in the cabin if you want to route the cable from the trunk cd changer access point. The only advantage of having in the car is being able to see the ipod screen. The ipod interface is overridden by the ice link which is controlled by your head unit. The head unit has limited control of the ipod but enough to keep you in the music (my 40 gig. has over 6,000 songs, better than 6 disks). Having the ipod in the trunk keeps you for having to remember to hide it when you park so some moron doesn't screw up your car to steel a $300 ipod. Another nice thing is it powers the ipod on and off and sounds great, better that the cd changer (smoother, less grainy) I will post a photo of it mounted in the trunk tomorrow when there is some light.

:D http://forums.***************************************?attachmentid=104477

Actually I do have Alpine unit with Ai-Bus, it is not the 2004 model but I read somewhere that even the older will work, it might not show the songs name.
I will get the alpine interface and try it.

I belive the ipod unit said as long as you have ai-bus it will work.

just the 2004 units have and extra button to navigate through the menu's

dont know how well it will work with older units

m3bez, are you running that setup off of the stock head unit?

I got the RCA 3 foot long audio cables that plug into the back of my Clarion at one end and plug into the iPod at the other. I snaked the cable from the back of the headunit behind the A/C and the display and have it poking out of the top of the sunglass nook. Looks really trick, only problem is the music coming from the iPod is not nearly as dynamic as the sound from a cd especially the bass. I have the Clarion 645, two Memphis Audio amps, two Clarion 10s in a cust. box and CDT component speakers with crossovers and tweeters in the front and some cdt coaxial for rear fill. After having used the iPod for a few months the pros seem to be ease of being able to play any one song from my entire collection but the cons are that the sound is pathetic compared to a cd. This is my experience at least.

I belive the ipod unit said as long as you have ai-bus it will work.

just the 2004 units have and extra button to navigate through the menu's

dont know how well it will work with older units

It is worht it to try, if didn't work I will return it.

Thanks

Yes stock head unit

I have the Alpine 9835 HU with the ipod control box thingy... honestly, selecting songs with the dial on the HU sucks... you have to get creative with how you organize your playlists on the ipod or you will be turning that dial all day long.

I am seriously considering selling the ipod control box and just getting some RCA cables so i can use the ipod itself to select songs.

What i would like to do ideally is make a little RCA port in the blank spot next to my ASC button... two little white and red plug ins... that would be cool.

My son has his ipod connected to his alpine and we've compared exact cds and songs from the ipod and I think the ipod sounded better. Maybe it's the way some of you have downloaded the songs onto your ipod. I know there is two choices on how to download. I'm going to go the rca route on my older alpine.

$9 tape deck connector. Simple dimple.

And iPods fit nicely on the sunglass-holder-under-tape-deck-thingie.

-Eff

Here's a couple options for you. I have the setup from the first link in my M3. About $100 total shipped and about $70 for installation + parts at best buy. Its sounds great and I highly reccomend it.The second link looks like a new option, but I don't think it allow you to continue to use your CD changer like mine does. Mine came with a great toggle switch that allows you to hook up two RCA input devices (Ipod, etc) and also use your CD changer. I did the whole tape adapter thing for awhile and it sounded like crap compared to this. It's CD quality if not better. If you really like clear music this is the way to go. If you just want something to listen too, the tape adapter is probablly a better buy.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/soundsds1.html

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/blitzbmwmlink1v1dsp.html

It works with all 1996-2004 3 Series including Z3 and M3 and 9/95 production to present M3's.

I'll go take some pics and post what everything looks like for everyone.

Sorry for the crappy quality but here are some pics. I had to use my camera phone since I don't have a regular digital. They located the toggle switch hidden away in the back of the sunglass holder. Very nice setup.

just to avoid any confusion with a salesman if you go to buy anything at best buy, alpine's either use Ai-Net or M-Bus controls, not AI-Bus. M-Bus is the older version that does NOT support ipod integration, while Ai-Net fully supports it.

if anybody wants to buy my alpine ipod integration adapter, i'll sell it for $60 shipped. it's in mint condition.

I have a 7893 and went the Ai-net to RCA, then RCA to head phone way so I can plug the ipod into a headphone jack. Was cheap <20$ but the subs dont play music for some reason. Can someone tell me how to fix this? or am I just fucked. I was thinking about getting teh 420i thing?

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/blitzbmwmlink1v1dsp.html
Wow, that second link is exactly what I have been looking for. The integration options which disable iPod controls seem to get get bad reviews... many people sound like they are annoyed by the HU control (limited to playlists, or very slow/impractical navigation, etc).

All I wanted was a way to hook up the iPod to my factory stereo, have it charge when in use, not have the audio come from the top headphone jack, plus have the iPod controls active. And that logjam solution looks like it fits all the criteria :)

BMWMLINK1V1 or BMWMLINK1V1DSP

If anyone has experience with either of these two options, please let us know how the solution has worked out.

Wow, that second link is exactly what I have been looking for. The integration options which disable iPod controls seem to get get bad reviews... many people sound like they are annoyed by the HU control (limited to playlists, or very slow/impractical navigation, etc).

All I wanted was a way to hook up the iPod to my factory stereo, have it charge when in use, not have the audio come from the top headphone jack, plus have the iPod controls active. And that logjam solution looks like it fits all the criteria :)

BMWMLINK1V1 or BMWMLINK1V1DSP

If anyone has experience with either of these two options, please let us know how the solution has worked out.

Yeah and logjam has excellent customer service. I got a faulty unit when I did my M3 installation and they had a new unit with return postage out to my house in 2 days. Spoke to them on the phone and they are willing to do anything to keep their customers happy.

Do a search for my username in this subforum. I've done quite a bit of screwing around with my ipod in my e36s.

I did a writeup of my ipod install into my 96 M3 a few weeks ago. Rather than purchasing an adapter, I just spliced into the CD changer wiring harness. I also used the dock connector from the apple firewire cable to make a custom cord that charges the ipod and gets the line out signal from the dock connector. I located the ipod in the center console. This way, I didn't have to cut anything in my dash, and the ipod is hidden but easily accessible.

I also posted a writeup of my ipod install into my old 325ic, in which I used the apple ipod dock located in one of the cupholders.

EDIT: That device from logjam is new and looks very nice. It does almost exactly the same thing that my setup does.

http://bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386950

My iPod connection ^^^