[zanary]

Ok, so I've been interesting in purchasing the Traffic Pro since reading Ron's thread below. I emailed the HK guys on Saturday and have had three or four conversations since then via email. I have some good and bad news to report for those who are interested. First, let's start with his contact information.

The contact at HK is:
Christopher M. Dragon
[email protected]
Director of Brand Marketing
Harman Consumer Group
Mobile Audio Division
JBL
Infinity
Harman Kardon

Here are the questions I asked.

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(Q) Do you know what the approximately price for the BMW version (Z3 or M Coupe)?
(A) The price is going to be $1499.00 including discs and installation
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(Q) Can it control the BMW 6-disc CD Changer?
(A) I do not believe the unit we will be selling has the BMW protocol in it. However, we will have a changer
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(Q) Will it contain CDs for the entire US and/or Canada,
or only for select portions of the US and/or Canada?
(A) The unit will come with the most current Navtech CD's that cover the US. I do not believe Canada is part of this bundle for anyone.
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(Q) If the product will be re-branded as a BMW
accessory, will the dealerships be willing to do the
install, or do I have to find someone to install it?
(A) The product we will be selling will be branded HK. We will have 600 install centers for this product.
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(Q) Do you know approximately when we can start to place
the order? I was hoping to place my order this week,
but sounds like I have to wait a few more weeks.
(A) Yes, you will have to wait a few more weeks. I am going to respond with my real e-mail address so we can stay in touch.
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I sent him another message and here are those questions and answers:

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(Q) Will the Traffic Pro to be sold for BMW vehicles, will be re-branded as a "BMW Traffic Pro" and will show upon power up the BMW logo. (I sent him a link to Ron's pictures from his 01 M Coupe from the original NAV It post!)
(A) I am aware of the BMW specific unit that is sold in Europe. A few did make it state side as well. However, we are going to be selling a unit that is going to address the aftermarket category as a whole. To this end the unit will power up saying "Traffic Pro" .
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(Q) The same above pictures show the LED colors of the Traffic Pro match the amber light that is normally found on the BMW Z3/M Coupes. Will that be the case with the HK Traffic Pro?
(A) It will be available with four different illuminations, one being the amber that matches BMW.
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(Q) Will we receive a special harness that allows us to connect the Traffic Pro to the BMW CD Changer.
(A) We will not directly offer a harness for the unit to interface with BMW. However, we will have a tech support line that will be able to provide the vehicle wiring codes including speed pulse and reverse. The unit will come with a standard harness that is colored in the US standard wiring codes. The aux harness will be available as an option. The unit will also have a 5 RCA jack instead of the bare wire currently on the unit for use as a sub or center channel output. The price I stated with installation will include a basic install. If dash kits or special harnesses are needed these will be extra. This is a great price for an exceptional product.
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(Q) There are many others who are interested in knowing more information about the Traffic Pro. May I pass on the information you have given me, or is this confidential until product has been released to the general public?
(A) Certainly pass the word. Also, mention the URL http://www.hktrafficpro.com. I have provided a place for people to send me an e-mail. We will be sending a blast when the unit is shipping.

So in the end, it appears to be a great product, but it won't be branded BMW, it won't control our CD Changers out of the box, and $1500 could be a bit much for some.

Opportunities :
(1) Can we get a hold of the Euro version that he refers to that made it to the US?
(2) Can we get a hold of the harness that allows us to control our CD Changers?
(3) Would the price be cheaper if we can find the Euro version?

Any thoughts?

 

[phrider]

Will the CD system play....

1. MP3 CD's?
2. CD-R's?
3. CD-RW's?

Will any of the compatible CD changers play MP3's?

 

[ARC///M]

:thumb:I am a freind of Ron`s and have witnessed his NAV First hand,I want the BMW LOGO on start up we will have to figure out how to make it happen.It is a fun and stress free tool.

 

[zanary]

Questions and answers as follows:

(Q) Does the Traffic Pro play MP3 CDs?
(A) You can hook satellite radio or MP3 player to aux input.
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(Q) Does the Traffic Pro work with CDRs?
(A) I am not sure (we will need to investigate)
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(Q) Does the Traffic Pro work with CD-RWs?
(A) I am not sure (we will need to investigate)

 

[zanary]

Ron or anyone else who has received the European version in the US:

Do you know the BMW part number for the Traffic Pro and all it's accessories (i.e.. harness, etc...) that we might need?

With the limitations of the US HK branded version (including the missing BMW logo upon power up) I think I would like to purchase the Euro version...

If we have enough interest, maybe we can organize a group buy to reduce the costs?

What's everyone's thoughts?

 

[Ron Stygar]

(Q) Does the Traffic Pro work with CDRs?
>>>Yes.

 

[Ron Stygar]

Ron or anyone else who has received the European version in the US:

Do you know the BMW part number for the Traffic Pro and all it's accessories (i.e.. harness, etc...) that we might need?
>>>Yes. Looked into doing just that for some folks.
It was posted on the Becker message board that the Euro version won't work in NA.
Connect to: http://members4.boardhost.com/beckerboard/msg/2150.html

 

[zanary]

Ron: Thanks for the information. So, we're SOL if we wanted to purchase the exact one you have (i.e.. BMW Branded with BMW harness)?

If we were to purchase the HK branded one, do you know where we could just purchase the harness from, to make the installation easier if we already have the BMW CD Changer?

Would this be something you or http://www.leatherz.com would be willing to sell?

 

[Ron Stygar]

If we were to purchase the HK branded one, do you know where we could just purchase the harness from, to make the installation easier if we already have the BMW CD Changer?

I do not think that the available BMW harnesses from BMW have provisions to run the changer.
Hoping to see the HK aftermarket one to see the differences between it and what I have. Maybe somone will send me one.

 

[zanary]

Hey Ron,

Sorry I must have been confused when reading one of your post in your original "Let NAV It" message thread.

In one of your posts dated 06-01-2002 at 12:34 AM, you wrote:

"Spent a couple of weeks with the Harman Kardon Traffic Pro DIN sized navigation system. This unit also controls the BMW CD changer. ..."

I understood that as long as the BMW HK harness as shown in this picture http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/trafficpro-24.jpg was used to connect the Traffic Pro to the cables pre-installed by BMW, then one could control the BMW CD Changer with the HK Traffic Pro.

Did I understand it correctly, or did I miss something?

What I want to do would be to purchase the Traffic Pro with the understanding that I can control my BMW CD Changer that is already installed in my Z3 Coupe.

 

[Ron Stygar]

The harness I received came from HK, not BMW.

 

[zanary]

Thanks for the reply, Ron. I think I finally get it.

So, even though the HK guys say that the US HK branded Traffic Pro will not control the BMW CD Changer, I'd still like to try it and (cross my fingers) prove them wrong.

I have sent an email to HK Europe asking if such a harness is available, and how can I go ahead and purchase it.

Let's see what their answer is.

 

[Horst]

The adapter cable for Traffic Pro installation in a BMW Z3 is available from the Becker parts dept. Call Burl at 888 423 3537 x1209 for price and part number.

The HK Traffic Pro will only work with a HK/Becker changer BE2660.

 

[phrider]

Will the HK/ Becker changer or Traffic Pro CD unit play MP3 CD's?

 

[Ron Stygar]

The adapter cable for Traffic Pro installation in a BMW Z3 is available from the Becker parts dept. Call Burl at 888 423 3537 x1209 for price and part number.

The HK Traffic Pro will only work with a HK/Becker changer BE2660.

Is the cable you mention the same as the one that comes with the BMW installation kit? BMW part number 65 90 0 139 835.

Won't the NA HK Traffic Pro aftermarket unit come with this?

So if I were to buy the NA HK Traffic Pro aftermarket unit, and then purchase a Beckers BE2660 changer, it would come with the cable to let me hook it up to the NA HK Traffic Pro aftermarket unit?

The Traffic Pro unit available in Europe as a BMW accessory won't run the BMW changer either. Would the Becker BE2660 changer work with it?

 

[Horst]

1) HK Traffic Pro does not play MP3 CDs, neither does the six disc changer BE2660. Traffic Pro however does have an aux. input feature that allows you to run a MP3 player through the head unit instead of the CD changer.

2) The power and speaker cable with the HK Traffic Pro is a universal cable to connect the unit in any application. The adapter cable for a Z3 and many other BMWs is a Becker cable, part # 1188.496 that makes the installation of TP in a BMW almost a plug and play installation. The adapter cable connects all power and speaker lines, you just have to add the reverse line.

3) The HK/Becker six disc changer BE 2660 comes with its own connection cable and universal mounting hardware.

4) The BMW Traffic Pro in Europe has I-Bus and works with some BMW changers. HK/Becker TPs in Europe or in the US "DO NOT" work with any BMW changer. Only the BE 2660 will work with Harman/Becker Traffic Pro.

5) I am not sure what your cable with the BMW part # referes to.

 

[Rachel]

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[Ron Stygar]

In response to Rachel's post

HK Traffic Pro will have 3 color schemes, one matched the BMW interior lights
>>>I heard 4. Does it match the BMW lighting is the ? Haven't seen an aftermarket unit yet.

it should be noted that even using the Traffic Pro as both a GPS and a CD Player is do-able. TP only asked for it's NAV CD every so often.
>>>Only if you deviate from the stored route, which I do at times.

Which means- for those who already have the BMW 6 CD Changer you have to eat that or sell it (or hack it- see above.)
It also means if you want it in your trunk, you will have to run another wire from the head unit to the trunk because the BMW pre-wiring wont work with the BE2660.
>>>Don't know about that yet. Is the BE2660 a six CD unit?

So... is there ANYONE who has shown how to run a wire from the head unit to the trunk? It seems to me that if someone could show us how to do that (I tried but I couldn't figure it out) then it would be a whole lot easier to swallow.
>>>Doable, but too involved for some.
It also sounds easier than hacking cables to work with the BMW CD Changer.
>>>Not sure of that yet.

Another point- the Harmon fellow said the price includes installation. That's interesting. Many of us prefer to DIY. The only part of the installation I couldn't do myself was the reverse lights wire- and that's just because I am chicken.
>>>I agree that selling it with installation (ONLY) is a mistake. All of the six or so people that I know that want it will definitely install it themselves. Will be relatively easy once I put a how to up.
Most without knowing how it works, will think that the $1499.00 price point is too high. Packaged with a CD changer, and no installation, at that price would be a home run. You really have to use one to realize how great it is.

One last thing... as much as we all love BMW, I think the bottom line is that it was BMW's decision that the HK Traffic Pro is incompatible with it's changer, and it is BMW's decision that the display will not say "BMW".
>>>Bad decision on BMWNA's part. The unit HK prepared is compatible with the BMW changer. If they (BMWNA), knew how Traffic Pro worked, which I assume that they did not, they would have approved it. Would like to know what they based their decision on.

Go easy on the Harmon/Becker folks, they want this to work for us.
>>>I agree. HK folks are not the problem.

Ron Stygar or someone will figure out the hacks.
>>>Looking at it just to see. If the HK aftermarket unit does not have (I bus) capability, no amount of wire hacking will work.
Again, I'd like to ask someone like Ron to show us how to run a wire from the cockpit to the trunk.
>>>Not a big deal for me. Will post some stuff if one wanted to do this on a coupe. Not familar with roadsters, but many have installed the new sub woofer mod. Based on this, they would also install the HK stuff, CD changer included.

 

[Rachel]

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[Rachel]

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