XSeries-forum

Afternoon all, I have decided to try and get my hands on all the kit needed for ipod integration.  After trawling through the threads thrown up after a search I think I have a pretty good idea of what is needed/ what goes where however I do still have a couple of questions which I hope you can help with:


1. Does it matter what software version the car is running if I buy a new intravee unit?  My ability to permanently disable any piece of IT hardware is legendary so I would much prefer a plug and play solution and not have to either update the intravee or car!

2. Alternatively is there anyone in Kent (Canterbury area) who does software updates and intravee programming for a reasonable price?

3. The most popular idea seems to have the intravee in the boot either in place of or above the CD changer, the alpine unit under the back seats and the ipod in the centre console.  Is there any issue with putting everything in the boot given you get full control through the steering wheel/head unit?  I only seem to change the ipod every couple of weeks or so given the mileage I do so daily access is not really an issue at the moment.

4. I have DSP which I think means I need to get the ‘Dice DSP Adaptor’ to go between the car and the Intravee II unit, unfortunately I cannot seem to find anywhere that has them in stock.  Can anyone tell where I can buy now if indeed I do need this?  Toys in Your Car are coming up as out of stock…


On a slightly different musical note I was driving down to my sisters over the weekend and which is all single carriage A roads and B roads.  During overtakes the engine sounded pretty rough above 5-5500rpm, not in a broken way just not as nice as lower down the engine range.  Is this a characteristic of the 4.6 V8, what causes it and what would fix it?  It has that proper V8 'woofle' at lower revs (less than 5000 rpm) its just a pity it doesn’t sound like this throughout the entire rev range!

I am planning on taking the kids up to North Wales this weekend to see Aunts & Uncles so i am very much looking forward to driving up in comfort but not so much looking forward to two tanks worth of Shells finest; the total trip will be in the order of 700 miles or so, two tanks thereabouts by my reckoning. 

Do you own an E53 X5? If so, yes this seems to be the better option at the moment.

Answers to your questions:

1. Can do, car not at all but the Intravee, yes. Extras versions of the software are available that can give you added functionality for the car and not necessarily the iPod.

2. You can post it to me with an SAE and we can go from there, others have. If not confident to DIY.

3. Not above but instead of the changer, you will lose the changer. The IV plugs into the connectors changer was plugged into and the Alpine unit plugs into the other end with a connector for the iPod ready to receive the Apple device you have. The issue will always be hibernation of these Apple devices. Some you can't wake without physically pressing the button on the device, others can have calender alerts to keep them alive, etc. This will eat into battery life though. Hence preferences to keep them in the centre console. RichardP can help with a mod to the Alpine device which overcomes this.

4. Can't remember on this one - RichardP will know.

I'll assume you have the petrol derivative with that sort of rpm, I've got the diesel... Sorry can't help.

I don't think you need anything between the DSP and the Intravee, but Sanj will be back I am sure to advise on that, as he missed it first time.......

Erhum - see number 4....  O:-)

I don't think you need anything either but didn't want to say that in case I was wrong, so I dumped it on Richard! )

Hi Sanj, yes its an E53 4.6.  Thanks for the offer - I will let  you know once i have the intravee unit!  That is good news on the DSP issue, i will have a look behind the CD changer at the weekend and see what connections are currently in place.

Thank you both for the info,

John

[quote="Eiger120"]
Hi Sanj, yes its an E53 4.6.  Thanks for the offer - I will let  you know once i have the intravee unit!  That is good news on the DSP issue, i will have a look behind the CD changer at the weekend and see what connections are currently in place.

Thank you both for the info,

John
[/quote]

If you're lucky, you'll find a 3-pin and a 6-pin set of connectors. These are a direct fit to the Intravee.

What year is the car?

And you're very welcome.

Watching with interest as only live 15miles or so away from thread starter.

Also, when previously searching for similar info, can across this website, where the guy is based in Sittingbourne and covers Canterbury.

http://www.caraudiokent.co.uk/

Hi Dark_Stranger, a useful link - thank you.  I might give the guy a call just out of interest.

Sanj, its a E53 4.6is 53 plate bought from a member on here through Pistonheads.

Looking at the connectors behind the CD changer I don't think i need the DSP Adaptor which is good.  As far as the intravee goes they pretty much make the same money second hand as new so i will probably go down that route.  I am watching one on ebay at the minute but it looks like it will go for £110+ by the end of the auction, for not much more a new one sounds the best option for me.

Thank you,

John

Spoke to RichardP for you yesterday and older cars WITH DSP had a coaxial cable to the Changer and that required the DICE adaptor to give you the 3-pn/6-pn connectors needed to go into the Intravee. Of course the later models have the correct connectors.

So you just need to check you have the newer type connectors (which I believe you do) and you're good to go. Get the Intravee new and start searching on eBay for the Alpine KCA-420i. Make sure it comes with BOTH cables (the AI-Net cable is quite dear to replace otherwise).

Did you make any progress on this?

Hi, just noticed that my website has been recommended so thought I'd join the conversation.

If you want any electrical add ons feel free to give me a shout, I'm mobile and work all over Kent as well as parts of Essex and Sussex.

Hope you got it all sorted.
Si

p.s we can offer a DAB upgrade which works off the iDrive and or ipod connection, feel free to give us a call on 07884 433207

A very quick update for you - I got as far as buying the alpine box but then motorbike trackdays and holidays swallowed up all my spare cash!  The Intravee II is on hold and I have just booked another track day on the 22nd so it might have to wait even longer than I would like.  Been racking up the miles in 'Betty' though, she failed the MOT on Friday as the brake lines were incorrectly routed - will try and sort it out this week.

Si - I will call you closer to the time & thanks for the reply.

Regards,

John

I'm putting my intravee and KCA up for sale later today