Don't buy ICE LINK IPOD adapter!!!

Originally Posted by Plaz

Well, I disconnected my battery, reconnected the IceLink, reconnected the battery, and started up... same FU'd situation. Seems my IceLink must have spontaneously combusted somehow.

This really sucks... I guess I'll have to contact Dension in the morning.

It sucks because the product seems good, until it fries. Do not bother using the online support. I submitted my original trouble ticket Jan 7, and as of Feb1 no one has responded. They should remove that off the site or start supporting it.

- JP

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Seems like there is a problem with your module, try contacting Dension directly at 562.595.5153.

Thanks! Is USA responsible for Canada?

Originally Posted by JPinTO

Thanks! Is USA responsible for Canada?

Yes. If you should need help along the way, feel free to contact me directly.

Originally Posted by wingrove

hey Ryan i had EXACTLY the same problem. electrics went absolutely nuts and they have now put in a new BMW ipod adapter which i must say flat out sucks. goes dormant after you return to the car from turning it off in the middle of a track and AWFUL background noise / hiss.

Anyway i had to BEG an internet reseller to sell me an icelink in the first place as there was no reseller here in sydney and had my dealer fit it. worked for months fine then nutso! they say its a short in the ice link loom and they spend DAYS and DAYS on it. im lucky not to be hit with a bill for hundreds if not thousands of dollars to diagnose the problem.
jas

heres my thread:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=116196

I've have also experienced this problem. Fortunately I managed to find these posts which i'm sure have saved me £££ seeing as I had my car booked into BMW for an investigation. I ended up asking the Audio Shop to remove the item, their response to me was, "if i pull this unit out and your electrical faults are cured, i'll eat my hat!" I've since spoken to this engineer to ask him what sauce he had with that!!!

They recon that lots for these unit's were recalled and Dension are aware of the fault. I have a replacement being installed on Thursday. Fingers crossed, all will be well as the thought of going back to CD is horrific!

Originally Posted by Dcartelle

I've have also experienced this problem. Fortunately I managed to find these posts which i'm sure have saved me £££ seeing as I had my car booked into BMW for an investigation. I ended up asking the Audio Shop to remove the item, their response to me was, "if i pull this unit out and your electrical faults are cured, i'll eat my hat!" I've since spoken to this engineer to ask him what sauce he had with that!!!

They recon that lots for these unit's were recalled and Dension are aware of the fault. I have a replacement being installed on Thursday. Fingers crossed, all will be well as the thought of going back to CD is horrific!

I was going to order a unit until I read this.....

Originally Posted by rruiter

I was going to order a unit until I read this.....

I wouldn't worry about a few bad experiences. Mine works fine, and I know of several others with no issues....

Originally Posted by bren

I wouldn't worry about a few bad experiences. Mine works fine, and I know of several others with no issues....

hm, true. At least I know where to search when it does go south.

How long is the warranty on these things ?

I am just curious, when you install this ice link thing, do you have to unplug the I-bus cable in the back of the headunit? (factory cd player)

Originally Posted by Dcartelle

I've have also experienced this problem. Fortunately I managed to find these posts which i'm sure have saved me £££ seeing as I had my car booked into BMW for an investigation. I ended up asking the Audio Shop to remove the item, their response to me was, "if i pull this unit out and your electrical faults are cured, i'll eat my hat!" I've since spoken to this engineer to ask him what sauce he had with that!!!

They recon that lots for these unit's were recalled and Dension are aware of the fault. I have a replacement being installed on Thursday. Fingers crossed, all will be well as the thought of going back to CD is horrific!

We have never issued a recall on kits here in the states, it seems your case was simply a defective module from your description.

With a replacement module, you could have been up and running in 5 minutes.

Originally Posted by rruiter

hm, true. At least I know where to search when it does go south.

How long is the warranty on these things ?

Warranty is 1 year from date of purchase. Support is always available from Dension or ourselves.

Originally Posted by silvscorp

I am just curious, when you install this ice link thing, do you have to unplug the I-bus cable in the back of the headunit? (factory cd player)

Yes, the ice>Link Plus will use the 3-pin (ibus) and 6-pin adapter (audio signal).

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Yes, the ice>Link Plus will use the 3-pin (ibus) and 6-pin adapter (audio signal).

I am asking because for those who's experiencing the problem, this might be caused by a loose connection on the adapter. I don't have the ICE-Link and I've experienced the similar problem with all the interior lighting goes off (the turn signal and light would still work but just nothing shows in the cluster), controls on steering wheel stopped working, etc. Later on I found out this is caused by a bad I-bus connection and pin point to the back of the CD player. Some how the connector to the back of the factory CD player is loose though it seems it's got a tight and solid connection. I remember I hit a big pothole the day before this had occured and it must have bump the connector loose some how. A simple replug fix the problem.

For those who's having the problem, I suggest you to unplug all the connector and re-plug it again and see if it will fix any loose connection.

Wow, I thinking of getting this item for my bimmer. Now I'm having second thoughts, I don't want to have electrical problems. Is this a real common issue or just with M3's? I have a 2003 325i. ALso how hard is thing to install? Should I have a car audio specialist install or is it something I can do in a couple of hours or less?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by gatorsactions

Wow, I thinking of getting this item for my bimmer. Now I'm having second thoughts, I don't want to have electrical problems. Is this a real common issue or just with M3's? I have a 2003 325i. ALso how hard is thing to install? Should I have a car audio specialist install or is it something I can do in a couple of hours or less?

Thanks!

This should be something you can install in 45 minutes or less - testing can be performed in under 10 minutes by simply plugging into the CD Changer connections in the trunk.

Have you guys tried the Kenwood adapter that controls the iPod (but with a remote not steering wheel. It does however scroll your music artist-title on your screen using the RDS function. It is an FM modulated piece.
I have both the Kenwood and the Denison Icelink, and the ICelink has awful alternator whine.

Is the IceLink the same product as the DICE iPod Integration Kit for BMW (Trunk Interface) from EAS (European Auto Source? I bought the DICE iPod Integration Kit for BMW (Trunk Interface) and so far seems to work fine.

Originally Posted by Jim in Oregon

Is the IceLink the same product as the DICE iPod Integration Kit for BMW (Trunk Interface) from EAS (European Auto Source? I bought the DICE iPod Integration Kit for BMW (Trunk Interface) and so far seems to work fine.

The ice>Link was discontinued back in May '06 and replaced by the DICE kits. Dension - who are the manufacturers of the ice>Link are no longer in the US. It's primarily why they are being liquidated on eBay, it's returned product.

The DICE kits are much more reliable and currently supported.

Holy DEAD THREAD REVIVAL! Do you realize this thread went dead almost a year ago? You might do better starting a new one asking your question about the Kenwood.

Hi Tom,

I also had an Icelink Plus (obtain from Ebay) connected to my BMW E46 318i 2000 using my 4G ipod for around 5 months. It was working perfectly until last week most of my internal electrics including the a/c stopped working. Thanks to this thread, I disconnected it and everything is back to normal except I have to go back to CDs! Does the DICE have similar problems as the Icelink and is the connection the same (to the CD changer interface)? And, is that the only option I currently have for ipod integration coz I really don't want to go back to the Icelink?

Originally Posted by leoacid

Hi Tom,

I also had an Icelink Plus (obtain from Ebay) connected to my BMW E46 318i 2000 using my 4G ipod for around 5 months. It was working perfectly until last week most of my internal electrics including the a/c stopped working. Thanks to this thread, I disconnected it and everything is back to normal except I have to go back to CDs! Does the DICE have similar problems as the Icelink and is the connection the same (to the CD changer interface)? And, is that the only option I currently have for ipod integration coz I really don't want to go back to the Icelink?

The DICE was designed from the ground up with the ice>Link's faults in mind - it does not suffer from these symptoms. You are making a wise move.

DICE iPod Integration Kit for BMW - *UPGRADE*
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=283

This upgrade will allow you to retain your trunk harness and cradle - and save some $$.

I had the same problem and fix in my E46 wagon. The ICE LINK was installed in 2005 and the problem just began last week (Sept 2010). Everything was OK till now. Go figure. No more Ipod in the BMW for me. ;-(

Originally Posted by gordo325xiwagon

I had the same problem and fix in my E46 wagon. The ICE LINK was installed in 2005 and the problem just began last week (Sept 2010). Everything was OK till now. Go figure. No more Ipod in the BMW for me. ;-(

5 years is a good run for the ILP unit, the good news is that the module can be replaced with a DICE, not requiring a full kit be purchased.