I bought an Ice Link for my 06 MCS and (yes, I am lazy) had BestBuy install it for me. The guy showed me that my head unit has no place for the Ice Link cable to plug into, saying I needed the connector for a CD changer. Has this happened to anyone? Any advice? I hate not having my iPod with me when I drive and am not interested in any FM modulators. Thanks.

PS. The Ice-Link box did say it was for 03-05, so maybe there has been a change since 05?

 

Durn, this is frustrating to hear. I would ask your MA, since BMW can't seem to get their new updated Ipod adaptor out there, this is the last solution for any '06 owners. I'm at the point of taking out my entire system
Annette

 

If you bought it at BestBuy... it should be the "CD Changer version" with cable anyway! It connects to the cable that is in the back boot, behind that removable panel NOT to the back of the headunit.

If they were trying to hook up the Best Buy version of IceLink to your headunit it wouldnt work. Sound like they dont know what they were doing.

 

I am running the CD Changer version of the IceLink Plus in our 05 & 06 MCS's with no problems. Both purchased at Best Buy.

The newer one, purchased last week, even had the doubled ground wires in the cable....no need to move the ground cable.

 

According to BestBuy's site;



Trunk installation kit comes with a cable that plugs directly onto the factory CD changer connector harness located in the trunk of your vehicle

Not only should I have read this, but the guy working for BestBuy probably should have known the method of install mentioned on his company's website.

So is getting the cable from the trunk to the front easy?

 

Depends how much you want to hide it. In my 03, I was able to run the wire under the trim all the way up the passenger side so that the wire came out behind the glovebox. No cable visible at all. I removed the rear seats to do this (having done it once without removing the rear seats, this made it a bit easier to get the wire under the trim) There are a zillion threads on here describing the process. Two are:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ad.php?t=33619
Specifically, posts #66, 67, 68 (Page 3, I think)

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=44570

 

my exp. was similar. Plugging in the IceLink & getting the cable to the front take 10 minutes.

Hiding the cable along the pass side took me about an hour or so, took the seats out too. Also, you WILL need a set of torx bits. Esp, the big one to get the seat belt bolt out.

not hard, just takes some time.

-jac

 

Thank you all for your help. I have since read (almost) all the messages and have learned a great deal. I guess I will go back to best buy and purchase the IceLink again.

 

First, you are letting some teenager deal with an install that they probably know nothing about. My advice, never let Best Buy touch your car or computer.

Now, I have an 06 and bought the Ice Link Plus for my H/U. I installed it myself and it took about 15 mins. The H/U version will work with the 06 as will the trunk version. The reason that I went with Dension is because BMW had discontinued the IPOD adapter until it could be revised. The new one is due out early this year and is probably going to be roughly the same as the Ice Link Plus.

If you have Nav, be advised that you will have to move one of the connectors to the new harness if you install the H/U version. If you don't, you will not hear the voice. Even with that, it is still a very easy install.

 

If you have a Nav unit - you don't want do buy the unit that plugs into the HU.

I recently installed that particular unit and there are some problems. In researching a resolution - and a discussion with Will (DaFlake) and Zoltan
(Dension tech) I discovered information that Dension was not aware of - in fact I discovered that they've never done an install of their product in a Mini "05/'06 with Nav. I also had a discussion with their sales manager - and we agreed that their sales people would no longer state that "there is not a problem with the Icelink Plus HU and Mini '05/'06 with Navigation system" as I was told when I placed my order.

I am awaiting arrival of their trunk mount/cd changer unit. I am still skeptical as to preventing display of ID3 tags on the screen of of the navigation system - but have assured Dension that I would work with them if there is an issue.

I am very happy with Dension's willingness to resolve my concerns.

 

In a way, I agree with Sami on this. It is probably better to get the trunk mount for the 06 (should affect the 05 the same way) with Nav.

Now, I bought the HU version and installed it on my 06. During the first test, two items didn't work. One, the NAV voice was gone (I could hear the radio cut out, but no voice) and the ID3 tags interrupt the NAV map. A quick look behind the HU and I realized that a cable needed to be moved from the old connector to the new. That done and the voice worked like a champ.

ID3 tags are not important to me and if they are not important to you then the HU version will work just fine. I'm starting to find it amusing that the very company that created this product has no clue on what the capabilities of it are. The reason that the ID3 tags didn't work is because it uses the phone channel to display the information. If this is the case, then I highly doubt that the trunk unit will be any different when it comes to ID3 tags. However, it might....

Overall, I am satisfied with my unit. I do a lot of Autobahn driving and looking down at my HU to see what is playing is not a great idea, so that feature really doesn't bother me. I have steering control and the capabilities of creating and controlling the playlists from my HU.

So, Dension, consider it tested and simply put out that ID3 tags will not work with the NAV system.

 

I've been using the iceLink (trunk) with my '05/NAV HK system for awhile and love it. No ID3 on HU though. It doesn't bother me. I did a write up of what you get (with pics) in another thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...77&postcount=2

Steve

 

I am still waiting for Dension to return my email from weeks ago. Every day that HK Drive+Play looks a little more appealing...

 

Will and I have been sending PM back and forth on this issue And I too suspect that using the trunk mount will again activate the bluetooh display on the Nav unit I think the only issue it is going to resolve is not having to relocate the cable bundle for the Nav voice on the head unit. Having worked in quality assurance and testing I speak the same language as their tech's - I'll keep nam uptodate on any progress. I understand we are about three weeks away for a full install on the MCS 05/06 with nav.

Unless there is someone who wants to donate their car for a install so they can get their crack team on it to write a proper install - they're in the Long Beach - any Volunteers ?- probably at a reduced price

 

So you had to use the "notext" file to turn off ID3 tags right?

 

I used the menu option under setup. The tricky thing is that, once text is activated, ALL display is on the NAV or HU (whever you have selected), including the menus to turn the feature off and the display is only one line, and slow to respond. It helped to be familiar with the menus (after pressing CD6) and to be very deliberate in pressing keys (and patient) as the response is slow. The selected menu option will appear on the display one line at a time so knowing that, for example to get to the text options, you need to go UP (or track back) once you enter the menu will help you get there quicker.

 

That I know - but I couldn't turn off text - Dension supplied me with a file that I ran from my ipod to totally reset the unit (doesn't appear on their website) If you want it PM email and I'll send it as an attachement.

So when it comes to ID3 tags it's all or nothing
Interfering with the Nav - to me - is not an acceptable solution to displaying ID3 tags. I will push Dension to make changes in their firmware

 

I'm running v2b2. WhenI was running 2b1 I had to use the file you mention. I have a big collection of iceLink firmware by now. Been an iceLink user for a long time.

I'd like them to get tags working properly. I'm not far from Long Beach, I ought to contact them myself. Although, now that I have a vid iPod, was thinking about adding video in to my NAV and then I could see the whole display! Although this still negates the NAV at the same time, but would be slicker (or maybe just a cool novelty!).

 

I came up with an idea for the text problem on sat nav Minis & mailed it to dension BUT they didn't reply

 

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but just to clarify for those of us who are slow....is it true to say that ID3 tags will not show up on the non-nav MC with/without the H/K system?

 

Not exactly. At some point the MINI HU (I believe it happened in '03 models, but it depends on when your HU was manufactured) supported display of text from MP3 CDs. These HU's will display ID3 tags from the iceLink attached iPod if your iceLink has the proper firmware and is properly configured. It has nothing to do with HK (HK systems have the same HU as all the others, just different DSP/Amplifiers/Speakers in an external processor). Indeed NAV systems display ID3 tags in the same way, however the display of ID3 tags interrupts use of the NAV.

So:

If your HU currently supports tags on MP3 CDs

and

If you have the current iceLink firmware supporting tags

You can display iPod tags on your HU

However:

If you have NAV,

Your NAV display will be interrupted by the tag display regardless of whether you choose to display them on the NAV display or HU display.

 

FWIW, the trunk mounted ice-link still has the same issues with the NAV system when displaying id3 tags on the H/U.

I wish I had done research here before ordering the ice-link adapter. I have the exact same adapter in my 04 330 w/ NAV and other than a variable font size display, it works great and as expected with tag display.

The last thing I want to be stuck dealing with is to have to select playlists on the wee-bitty ipod screen in the car, just because dension hacked together the H/U display.

Did I mention the alternator whine too? Disconnect the iPod, select the CD changer source on the H/U; motor off - no noise. Start the car, then take off and enjoy the whine pitch synced with the engine speed.

I'm not very happy and I'm on day 3 of marginal tech support (Zoltan gave useless info and Chase appears to be MIA). I'll update here if I have any improvements or something worth sharing.

Cheers!

 

Still waiting to hear back from Chase...

In the mean time, I've been playing around with the ipod interface and have noticed some quirks that may be handy for others that have (or would like) text display on the H/U, but buggers up their NAV screen.

When you turn off the ignition to leave your car, leave the stereo playing the ipod playlist. When you come back into the car and fire her up, wait for the H/U to stop displaying "Warning", then display the tag info. Only then, press the NAV ok button to close the USA legal nag screen. You NAV will now work fine without going to the "Speed Dial" screen. If you exit the NAV screen however, the "Speed Dial" screen with tag info is forced back on you.

Doing a double tap of the "R/T" MFSW button will display the map screen for 1-2 seconds, then return to tag display in "Speed Dial" screen.

Double tap the NAV "menu" button will lock up the tag display on the H/U and allow you to use your NAV system normally. A double tap of the "R/T" MFSW button will restart the tag display on the H/U and NAV screen.

These "work arounds" help, but are not an acceptable long term solution. Now if I could just get rid of the alternator whine, I'd be much happier (had to listen to my noisy Muslimgauze playlist to make the whine seem like it was part of the music).

Cheers!
Dave

 

Another update,
Zoltan (Dension TS) acknowledged that there is an issue with the current ice-link design and they have new hardware that "should" be released in the next two-three weeks. Zoltan stated that there is a known issue with noise (ground loop/alternator whine) with the current H/W on some Minis. Head unit installs typically don't have noise issues. The new H/W is also suppose to fix the tag display issue with Nav systems. Since I just purchased the ice-link, my bad unit will be exchanged for the new H/W. I asked about the same ice-link in my 330 purchased a year ago and he said they cannot change out that unit for free and it's too early to say on upgrade pricing or anything like that. It will be on a case-by-case basis. If you're on the fence about buying a ice-link, it might be best to wait a few weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this will have a happy ending and I'll certainly update the forum with whatever I find.

 

interesting speednut. thanks for the heads up about new hardware.