I've been reading through lots and lots of threads regarding the Dension Ice-Link Plus but can't find any in the last few months that have what I am looking for.

It seems there were some problems with previous software versions. Has anyone done an install within the last month that can offer an opionon of how things are working? Do the ID3 tags display on the HU? If they do, what information is displayed? How easy is it to scroll through the menus on the ipod? Any other insights, tips, information you can share?

Thanks, Ken

 

I'll let you know later in the week. I had an old unit that is being replaced with a new one and I should be getting it this week. It should have the latest firmware and all that. I have an April build '05 so I should get ID3 tags, but we'll see. I'm just hoping it doesn't act up like the old one and make my ipod reboot and do strange things.

 

I have one...

Install is easy. ID3 tags show on the HU and Nav... Song Title and Artist.

As for the scrolling, it is pretty much pointless. It is rather slow but still a good unit for playing MP3s.

 

Though Icelink makes a lot of promises, I must express my concern.
I was/am not very happy with the performance of my Icelink especially since it is not performing. That's it period.

you can check my post listed elsewhere.

 

Installed the trunk mount IceLink Plus in my wife's late-build 05 MCSa. Put it in the car in september.

Took a little tweaking (moving a ground wire, getting the correct firmware files, etc) but the IceLink works very well, ID3 tags display on the HK HU and everything. Great sound, easy to use.

One complaint, you can not pick the iPod Control AND the iD3 tags on the HU...so you have to pull the iPod out when you want to scroll to new music. Not a huge complaint, but it is there....

 

isn't one of the features of the icelink +, being able to
switch control to the ipod instead of the headunit
w/o unplugging it??

 

Here's my experience - I bought the Icelink Plus with the latest version of the firmware for my 2006 MCSC with HK.

I could not get text displayed on my head unit. I was able to transfer the control and display to the iPod display "blind" and then it worked for playing playlists. (Still no text on the head unit.) Except I had a slight engine rpm noise in one speaker. And the only way I could play music was to use the iPod display. All it really did for me was allow my iPod to charge while playing.

I took it out and now use the aux input with the iPod. It doesn't charge the iPod, but my Nano plays a long time between charges so that is not an issue.

I am not at all happy with the Icelink.

 

There are some definate usability issues with the ICELink, a good portion of them are unrelated to the firmware but more to the limitations imposed by the HU and the MINI.

First, you shouldn't have any problems getting ID3 text if your car was built after Jan 05 with the current firmware on the ICELink.

Also sound quality is excellent.

However, the first thing you need to be aware of is that the iPod doesn't react immediately to input from the MFSW or HU, there is a 1/5 to a full second delay until the iPod responds. I'm pretty sure that this is because the signal needs to travel from the HU (or MFSW) down the ibus over to the Dension controller and then over to the iPod.

The other is that trying to control the iPod using the HU/MFSW is not remotely intuitive. There's a learning curve and it takes quite a bit of attention in order to select what you're lookin for.

 

And yet - I have the latest version, an 06, and get no ID3 text. I have everything plugged in correctly. Dension support has been unresponsive, basically telling me that they do not promise ID3 text and have had some issues with some 06 cars and the Icelink Plus.

 

Hence the word should. It's a device that does one thing well, produce excellent sound quality, and is fair at best on the rest of the things it is supposed to do...

 

It seems to me that ICELINK Plus installs with the rear cd changer wiring are rarer than hens teeth!

 

What has led you to that conclusion?

I've got the CD-Changer install and so does everybody I know who owns the Icelink. They're more common now since the version offered by Best Buy is the CD-Changer version...

 

I've struggled with iceLink in several cars and am still a big fan, in spite of its shortcomings. It is slow. It was slow in my Volvo too. I believe this has to do with the integration and command translation with existing iBus and HU. Be patient and learn how it works, before long you won't notice as you'll know what to expect for a response from your ipod.

I have never seen anywhere where Dension promises ID3 tags. I cannot speak for their customer service, as I have been able to figure out everything either here or MINI2 or Google. I purchased my iceLink from BestBuy (Boot install) and it worked freat out of the gate. I did have to swap pins for the grounding issue...no big deal.

I downloaded 2B2 firmware and installed it from here or MINI2 links. Dension does not support 2B2 for the MINI, so attempt at your own risk. In another thread, I posted pics of the result of ID3 tags on my HK with NAV elsewhere on NAV. Yes, it works. No it is not usable. I am still plenty happy with my iceLink. The sound quality is very good (it is a well known fact that the line out from the dock connector is much better than the headphone jack for line-in applications). It works with the MFSW both with playlists or for track fwd/back and within an album selected before dropping the iPod in the cradle. Also, the Dension cradle is quality (I have mine on the Panavise mount.

Overall, yes, I wish it was faster, I wish I could get ID3 on my NAV - hell I wish it gave me the iPod video screen on my LCD but for what it is - I'm happy.

 

I actually have the head unit version. Hasn't really worked right since day one. This new one should work right I hope. If not then I'll have to look for something else. Maybe I'll just replace it with a whole new head unit...like an Alpine with their ipod adapter or something similar. We'll see in the next few days how it turns out.:impatient

 

I bought the iceLink>Plus to get text display (and i had it hooked up directly to the head unit), but I could not get a good solid connection to the head unit (it would flake out)so i switched to my CD changer hook- up. From my previous iceLink v1.1. It doesn't work with the Plus (and i was using the saple gun to rout wire and put a staple through the connection cable, now it doesn't charge the iPod... d'oh). Need a new cable to go between the connexion box and the iceLink and between the iceLink and th eiPod (i destroyed that one, that's my fault). I've been meaning to call Dension, but I need a bit more funding.

 

Can anyone tell me/show me how they did the install of the boot connection. I'm going to be doing mine shortly and want to mount my ipod on the right down-tube next to the radio. What's the best way to route the cable so the cradle is there with minimal wire showing? I just bought my IceLink Plus from Best Buy last week...thanks!

 

I ran the cable from the left boot compartment down into the battery compartment, had to loosen the trim a little to fish it down... Then up the back of the battery compartment towards the front of the compartment, into the boot and through the space between the left rear seat back and the left side of the car.

Poked the cord along the base of the left rear seat and down to the floor. Where I could I stuffed the cord under the plastic trim by using 2 screw drivers, one to gently pry the plastic lip up and the other to stuff the cord into the gap. I stuffed it in that trim until I reach the door, at which point I dropped down and under the drivers seat. The controller board is under the drivers seat and the remaining cord runs under the mat and up to the center console...

 

This may seem like a stupid question.. but you DID go into the IceLInk setup menu and select TEXT to turn on the ID tags, right?

 

Yep. Once I could get to the Icelink Setup menu. Mine came set to send the text for the setup menu to the HU, but of course it wasn't doing that. I had to figure out how to get the setup menu to show in the iPod by following the map in the instructions and doing it blind. Once I could see the setup menu on the iPod I was able to confirm that the ID tags were turned on.

 

Interesting approach. I fished the cable from the CD-changer connection up to the passenger compartment with a straightened coat-hanger (although in retrospect, a fish-tape would have been a much better choice), and pulled the plastic around the passenger side away from the rubber weather-stripping.

I placed the wire under the plastic all the way up to the bonnet-latch, then over the glove-box. The only thing that had to be removed was the floor-mount for the passenger side front seatbelt, which--I understand--has been revised for 05 & 06 models. Aside from that, there are just plastic tension fittings for the inside door-sill. These can be pried up and re-inserted with moderate effort.

The actual Ice>Link device is mounted in the passenger foot-well with lots of ventilation, since it overheats in the Summer and kills all interior electrics (grrr...). Finally, the mount is right above the MINI Fini cup-holder.

 

..i meant in Convertibles!

 

I put my new module in yesterday evening. This morning it immediately forced my iPod to reboot! grrr Since then it has been working ok. I got the text to display on the head unit and it actually seems to sound better than the old unit I sent in to be replaced. I just need to see if it will work consistently now.:impatient

On a side note, has anyone that has returned an ice-link module had an invoice sent with it that said you owed money? I bought mine this past summer so it still should be under the 1 year warranty. I don't understand why I would owe money then.

 

Thanks to those who responded on the routing from the boot. I put mine in this weekend and the Icelink works like a dream if you ask me. Granted, it's not the most intuitive thing to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's very nice. I also used a Panavise mount to mount it next to the radio and I think it's very clean looking...I'll try to post pics.

Those who are thinking of going with the IceLink, I say definitely do it. I have a late '05 and had no trouble getting the text on my head unit either, install took about 10 minutes and with the Panavise, I'd say it looks like a professional install if I do say so myself.

I did quite a bit of research before I decided what I want and to me the only way to go is the Icelink mounted to the Panavise mount.

 

Greeat call! I have the IceLink with the Panavise mount too and wouldn't go any other way. I have NAV, so the ID3 tags don't work, but with the Panavise mount I can see the ipod screen anyway.