Ok, i did a search of this thread, but I did not find a solid answer... Dice interface, pre March HK head unit (05 mini), if I connect an iPhone, will I at least be able to see the songs/album art, etc on the face of the phone? What will I see? A picture would be nice ! Does it matter if I use the trunk mount of the connection on the back of the head unit (hard to get to I would imagine)?

I suppose a nice place to put the iPhone would be a custom mount, between the two gauges on my steering wheel (yes, I have Nav), so the iPhone would sit up highest, easiest to view, eh? I guess I would need to head unit mount the Dice, eh? What is the difference between the head unit mount and the rear mount? Does Dice make a dock that can be mounted from the back (I was thinking of using a thin piece of metal to connect the dock behind the two steering wheel mounted gauges, I think that might work, need to go look...)... any ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? I might just forget the whole thing and get a custom stereo installed (this is the first car in a long time I have not done that in, last one was $6k, and most of it was stolen :( )...

Thanks!

 

No, the iPod will lock out when connected to the DICE and utilize the iPod-specific features only. If you want to browse the iPod commands of the iPhone while connected, perform the following steps:

1. Connect iPhone
2. When iPhone asks to go into accessory mode, press NO or wait for several seconds
3. Press the HOME button for +7 seconds
4. Navigate through phone like normal.

One caveat, you will not have proper text display or steering wheel/radio control in this mode. To return to normal, disconnect/reconnect the iPod.

Eyes should be on the road, not the iPhone.

I would recommend a combo of the 2 mounts:

ProClip Angled Mount, Low - Mini Cooper (853580)
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=229

ProClip Padded Adjustable Holder with Tilt Swivel for iPod
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=225

This will hold the iPhone and keep it out of the way from other devices.

 

Ok, so, I WILL be able to touch, see the iPod controls on the iPhone when the Dice is in control of it? I would like to at least be able to see the album art on the iPhone as it plays.... Is this what shows? Or will the iPhone just say "connected" or something like that, a picture is worth a 1,000 words !

Also, since I just tried my iPhone in a mini iPod stereo (wth dock), I noticed static, then remembered people talking about static issues and airplane mode.... is there noise with the Dice adaptor?

Ok, the two big deals with the Dice I need to clarify are:
Does the iPhone's iPod screen show the album art/info, can I control it from my steering wheel AND the iPod interface on the iPhone at the same time? And, is there noise when the phone is not in airplane mode? Thanks.

[quote=tom @ eas;1704374]No, the iPod will lock out when connected to the DICE and utilize the iPod-specific features only. If you want to browse the iPod commands of the iPhone while connected, perform the following steps:

 

The iPhone is locked out when connected to the DICE. You can press the Home button for +7 seconds to regain clickwheel control, but you will get the issue explaned above.

We have not heard any reports of this, I can't see why one particular mode would cause noise rather than another.

 

hi. im pretty new to the whole mini thing and i got the dice ipod adapter because i read so many good things about it. the only thing im nervous about now is i guess was not thinking when i got it and ordered it and i got the trunk kit when i wanted to get the hu kit and have it go in the glove box. can i still install the dice unit behind the hu? i dont have a cd changer so im not sure how it works installing it back there. im really hoping i dont have to try to return it. and i think going through the back will end up making it harder.

 

If you got the trunk interface kit, you must use the CD Changer connectors in the boot. The cable is long enough to route to the cabin area to place the iPod anywhere you wish.

 

Reinitialize your DICE, here's what I recommend:

a. Disconnect iPod from cable
b. Remove battery cables, negative first
c. Touch battery cable terminals together (away from battery) for +5 seconds, a small spark is normal as this is stored power draining from the system.
d. Allow cables to remain disconnected for about 5-7 minutes
e. Reconnect battery cables onto battery, negative last.
f. Reboot iPod by pressing on MENU and CENTER buttons for +5 seconds and then reconnecting to the DICE cable after the reboot process is completed.

Let me know if these steps correct the problem

 

thanks for getting back to me. i kept it. i just felt bad making my husband install it and have to wire it from the trunk. he just finished installing it though and says everything works good. cant wait to hear it.

 

I finally got around to re-routing the DICE cable. If anyone remembers I had a bad case of alternator whine but only when playing the iPod via the Dice.

I have H/K (amp fills the RR pocket) and OEM Sirius (tuner fills the LR pocket). I had to use the extra BMW cable to connect the pass-thru port on the Sirius tuner to the DICE cable and route everything forward from the LR corner. Because of cable lengths I had chosen to route the Dice cable forward along the left side of the MCS under the interior trim molding and up into the dash where the Dice module was located. This routed the Dice audio cable very close to the battery cable and a large bundle of power wires that also run down the left side.

An audio noise filter (from EAS) didn't solve the problem, so I finally removed the rear seat and pulled the Dice cable out and experimented with a cable route that avoided the power cable bundle as much as possible - crossing over to the RH side below the rear seat then forward under the lower door entry trim and into the dash. This removed the annoying whine to a barely noticeable state - my wife didn't even notice it until I played something very quiet (Enya) and still commented that she would have noticed if I hadn't said something.

So - if you have an '06 or older MCS , have added the OEM Sirius, and want to add the Dice iPod interface or Dice HD unit - be sure to route the cable across to the RH side of the car and avoid the annoying whine.

 

I have a car that I might not keep for much longer. Instead of running wires from the boot, etc. couldn't I just temporarily leave the ipod in the boot and start it on shuffle prior to starting the car on the way to work and the way home?

 

Absolutely - if you should change your mind, you can always route the cable to the cabin area later.

 

My dice unit has worked great for the last year until last week when it stopped playing anything, but it would still display song information. I think this was weird so I tired another ipod and that worked great.. So I found out it was the ipod that had the problem and I have since gotten it replaced (thank you applecare).
So my question is now I have a new ipod:Classic when I plug it in the ipod says accessory attached and gives me no control via the ipod, but I do have control with the h/u and steering wheel. Is there something I can do to get control back on the ipod (normally the front passanger goes through it trying to find what she likes)? I am assuming that this is something new with the new ipods.

 

Unfortunately, no. The iPod Classic and e3rd Generation nano do not have Clickwheel capabilities with the DICE. However, all other features are still available.

 

Tom,

Any idea if DICE will be able to support control from the iPod with the iPod classic and 3G Nano in the near future via a firmware update or hardware change. My iPod has also died and I expect that it may be replaced with an iPod Classic.

Thanks,

Phil

 

the iPod's Clickwheel is locked on the 3rd Generation nano and new Classic - all other DICE-specific features are still available.

 

I recently got the new Nano as a gift. It works fine with the Dice but for some reason the screen stays lit. I'm wondering if that will prematurely wear out the screen.

 

You'll be fine, we have yet to see any burn-in on our 4th Generation iPod (monochrome).

 

Hi
I got my DICE from EAS today and installed it
It was easy and simple to install --took me less than 10min
The problem:
I have 3rd gen nano and it locks the wheel button.
It means that you have only contorl through the radio.
You can't see the album art or anything
I''m pretty disapoint......
However,
Neo (http://www.neocaraudio.com/index.php) is compatible with everything
I think Dice should update the firmware or somthing.
By the way, EAS is great place to shop though fast and responsible.

 

Yippee and Hurray. Iphone installed with DICE and functioning. Can't believe I did it. I did a boot installation on my 7/6 build date MCS cabrio of the DICE ipod integration system. The thing works as an ipod and quiets during dialling and talking or when receiving a call and talking and gives me multi-function steering wheel control with text display!!!! In IPOD mode the iphone just says "Accessory Attached" and doesn't give you ipod control screens, but the radio gives you what's playing and the multi-function buttons advance the tunes. Happy camper until the next project.

 

Holy crap...I read so much and I still don't think I got a straight answer.

I want to have my iPod in the glovebox and be able to control it from my head unit, and I want to also add XM radio in the near future, but not right away. Again, I want everything to be controlled from my head unit. Now, to add to the dilemma, I have an original iPod Shuffle I'll be using to begin with - plain ol' USB/stereo jack connection. So...

Can I buy the DICE unit and use the aux input for my iPod Shuffle, then when I get a "real" ipod, swap over to that and control it with the head unit, and then finally add xm? If so, what do I buy?

 

I have an Iphone + Dice question.

It seems when the Iphone is connected (and you get the "Ipod Accessory" screen on the iphone) you cannot actually control the ipod EXCEPT to foward and rewind.

You cannot hit RND on the deck, does nothing. 1, 2, 3, 4 do nothing.

And for some reason.. it always plays the same song when you first plug it in. I believe it plays the same song you played the last time you controlled the iphone by hand (hold 7+ secs etc).

Any chance of teh DICE getting a firmware upgrade so it plays nice nice with the iphone?

 

Yes you can - this would be the kit you need:

DICE iPod Integration Kit for Mini Cooper (Radio Interface)
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=629

You can use the shuffle on AUX until you get a larger ipod or iPhone.

 

No firmware upgrade is needed - the DICE is compatible with the iPhone. Have you verified your DICE module's DIP switches are all set to the OFF position?

 

If you want to browse the iPod commands of the iPhone while connected, perform the following steps:

1. Connect iPhone
2. When iPhone asks to go into accessory mode, press NO or wait for several seconds
3. Press the HOME button for +7 seconds
4. Navigate through phone like normal.

One caveat, you will not have proper text display or steering wheel/radio control in this mode. To return to normal, disconnect/reconnect the iPod.

 

What about the XM? To be honest I'm planning on going with XM first, then once I actually get the iPod hooking that up. Do I buy the XM Direct kit, then the DICE iPod kit? Where do they hook up if I'm using them both, and how do they work (ie do they both display on the deck, control by the radio, steering buttons, etc)