OK, I was surprised that I was not able to locate a post that already addresses this question, so I am posting it here.
I have a 2006 530xi sedan with Sirius and the changer in the glove box, but without nav.
I want to connect my iPhone for music purposes but don't really care about steering wheel controls or displaying information on the idrive screen. I just want a good, direct signal to the amp.
So, here is my solution. I would like to remove the changer and create a custom wiring harness that just taps into the audio inputs used by the changer. Then run the cable out of the glove box for connection to the dock port on the iPhone. Seems simple enough. Why is there not already a commercially available cable to do just that. Or is there one? Or is there something that I am missing that would preclude this seemingly simple solution.
I took a similar approach with an old Acura Legend and have some decent experience doing this sort of thing.
I can't be the only one who wants only audio and doesn't care about the idrive display or steering wheel controls.
You need to do some more research. Modern BMWs use fiber optic cables to transmit data from one component to another. The audio out port of the CD-Changer is a fiber optic connection, not wire.
You have two choices:
1. Buy the BMW ipod kit, or an aftermarket version of it (Dension Gateway, Mobridge). You use iDrive to control the music selection.
2. Buy the Auxiliary Input adapter and connect the iPhone to it. The aux-input uses wires to connect the audio output of the iPhone to the back of the stereo. It costs $70 or so, plus installation and programming. You then use the iPhone to control the music selection.
I have a soulution for u,,, getting into the back of the cd changer is not ur best option.. Like Txag said the back of the changer has optic fiber cables, u dont wanna mess with.. heres wat i did bout two years ago . got aux installed at the dealer . there is a product called.( i simple- is75 ) its an ipod/ iphone cable,, one end plugs in the aux jack in ur glove box( after the dealer aux install ), the other end plugs directly into ur iphone and also charges ur phone. i routed the cable underneath the center council and out on the driver side bythe seat belt, i ran power from the battery and made the connections inside the back of the council. and it powers my phone when the car is off... whats cool about this cable is it actually has a 3.5mm cable also . i ran that one in thru a tiny vent at the bottom of the glove box. i keep that inside the glove box and i use that to plug in other devices other than ipod.. it works great.. and its a nice solution to ur problerm. All the contoll is thru ur ipod .. in my opinion its better than goen thru the i drive,, actually im thinking bout making a post on this cause i get alot of compliments...on how i did it, and the phone holder i custom made..u can get the cable from amazon for about 30.00 bucks
totall cost was under 300, bucks..for the whole install. if ur interested ,, pm me and i can give u more info.... and n- e one else thats interested
Kool ... ull b happy with it. u can also find the cable on walmarts online store and pick it up at a store near u . Ur also gonna need a 6 foot cable with a 3.5 mm plug that connects to the aux in the glove box on one end, and rca plugs ontha other end, two rca barrels will connect to the rca plugs on the i simple cable.. also 2 wires( hot and ground ) long enough to reach from the battery to the center council to connect power to the i simple cable. ( do not ground directly to the battery)( it will drain ur battery !! ) but to the ground cable thats connected to the frame. the isimple cable comes with a fuse. so u dont have to purchase one. Make all ur connections behind the two cigerett lighters in the center council .runn the ipod cable inside the center council on the drver side and out where the little carpet strip ends . the 3.5 mm for the other device run that thru a little vent inside the arm rest at the bottom of the center council. the 3.5 mm that plugs into the aux jack. run that on the passenger side into the glove box and that will always stay pluged in, ,and thats all u need to crank ur tunes.....
Soo.... there u go,,,, G found ,, once u get the parts and the aux install, pm me if u need any more help routing the cables,,
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