E46 Questions...

[Youstolemyname]

Went halves on a 325i with the missus last week as she badly needed a new motor, I still have my company car for a few months more but after a few drives of it may buy her out come March!

Couple of quick questions that I hope some more clued up members can answer.

1. Is there any way of setting it so the climate control does not come on after the ignition is started? Every we start it we have to press the fan button to turn it off. It starts up on auto at the lowest speed but a quick press and hold of the fan minus button turns it off.

2. What is a good, cost effective iphone/ipod integration system. Ideally I want to be able to use my iphone or ipod via the steering wheel controls. I don't want to have to fit a new stereo if possible as I guess it will look ugly?

She loves the car, I love it even more

 

[Youstolemyname]

Why would you possibly want to do this? If you turn the system on there is zero airflow into the vehicle at all, even on the coldest of days it quickly becomes hot and stuffy in the car

Didn't realise that, just thought it was odd with the fans coming on automatically...

a lot of people use the parrot systems: http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/for-ipod-and-iphone . haven't got one myself though but have heard good things.

Will have a look at that. Have seen the DICE Silverline kit which looks good but more expensive.

Any other iPod suggestions?

 

[Youstolemyname]

No, that's the way climate control works. Leave it all on auto with the air conditioning on and it's much more pleasant.

Right...Never had climate control before so will leave it as is then

Loving the car to bits, very quick and getting an average of 32Mpg so far.

Now just to get the audio sorted. Got one of those iTrip things. Should be called iTip as that is where it is going after today.

 

[Youstolemyname]

Erm maybe I have misunderstood point 1. But are you saying regardless of your setting when you turned the car off that the climate control is on and blowing air when you turn it back on? Sounds like a malfunction to me.

Mine is whatever I had it on when I turned the car off.

Yes. If I turn the whole system off, and turn the car off, when I get back in and start the car climate control is back on. I thought the same i.e. it should not be on if I turned off with it all off. That said, from other advice, it seems like I should have it on anyway

Thanks Wicksta, that looks a neat solution, will add it to the list. Pretty cheap too...

Quite like the looks of this though:

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.php?productid=73&cat=0&page=1

Along with the DICE Silverline and the Dension Gateway. How easy are these things to fit?

 

[Youstolemyname]

A friend has it in his Mazda. Not see it in action but that seems to be the gist of it. I have the multifunction steering wheel so if I can integrate into that then even better.

Only problem is I have zero experience of fitting car audio so no idea where I would start....

 

[Youstolemyname]

Hamish, you don't lose the CD changer with the Parrot kit as it has it's own screen, amplifier (louder than the standard radio) and controls.

miniyazz, the way most BMW iPod adapters (including the one linked to above) work is they emulate the CD changer and read the button presses over the car's bus. They also send signals to put messages on the radio such as displaying playlists etc. It's far more complicated than a couple of phono connectors.

So the ipod is not played through the car speakers via a parrot kit?

 

[Youstolemyname]

It is played through the standard speakers, it has it's own amplifier not speakers. It connects inline via ISO connectors and cuts off the standard stereo when you use it for phone or iPod.

Ahh cool, so similar to the other devices I have mentioned then I guess but with better phone functions and you can keep the multichanger.

Interesting....

 

[Youstolemyname]

been looking at the parrot as a solution as it seems like it could be installed in other cars if she doesn't keep the BMW.

Do we need a wiring adapter to connect up to the parrot kit and if so, which one?

thanks for any advice