My new 330d

GSXRMovistar · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:10

Oracle said:
No, they shouldn't. BMW didnt offer this, its a common (bling upgrade) amongst a certain 'group of people' shall we say... so dont worry about it...

You sure they don't come as standard, as nearly every picture I've seen of a 330(d,cd,ci) has had a chrome grill?

I'd also be interested to know what this 'group of people' is seeing I've got one on mine.

Oracle · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:17

Oh poop! We're talking about the actual vertical black stipe part here!? Yes, then, they should be chrome....tbh, though Joe, i wouldnt worry about it. It looks just as good. Get a proper one though if you are going to change it, not one off ebay.

It may not have been in an accident, it could literally just be that the person who had it before didnt like the chrome. I know people who would touch a BM with chrome around the windows or the in the grill, where as I for one love it....

NickXX · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:18

GSXRMovistar said:
You sure they don't come as standard, as nearly every picture I've seen of a 330(d,cd,ci) has had a chrome grill?

I'd also be interested to know what this 'group of people' is seeing I've got one on mine.

I've got one on mine too - I think he means the proletariat

Oracle - what is the ETK / TIS CD? Does it have a list of the parts specific to our chassis number?

Also, do you know much about the OEM tv units (4:3 and the 16:9)? Is the 4:3 unit limited to old versions of the BMW navigation software? Is the 16:9 unit worth the extra premium it attracts?

If I was to buy a tv unit off fleabay, and nothing else (for the moment) would it be able to control my climate control, etc? Would I be able to wire in an Alpine DVD player?

Many thanks,

Nick

[TW]Fox · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:22

To be honest BMW's are for morons anyway

NickXX · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:23

Also, does anyone know anything about the Throttle reset? Will this work on our cars and will it make any difference?

Going to reset mine before work tomorrow - not expecting any difference, but we'll see if I arrive any earlier

.

Oracle · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:26

Nick, i gave you advise about the sat nav before including helping you fit one.

They are all interchangeable. The 16:9 screen will work with all MK computers (only MK4 is DVD), and the 4:3 unit can work with both versions as well. Each MK 4 DVD computer has a firmware (which can be upgraded). You can even modify the GUI which I have done in the past. If you JUST bought the tv screen, it would only function as a radio CD player (and yes the alpine could still run off it). I think you may be getting confused tho. It cannot control your climate control. The CC unit gets relocated to where your storage tray is (above the heated seat and ASC+T button).

However, sneakily (and not a lot of people know this), the 16:9 screen wired up fully (to sat nav and cluster, etc) can remotely start your car and cool it down at a given point in time (or warm it up). Say if you were to leave your dog in the car at the supermarket or whatever.

The ETK/TIS Cds cover all of BMWs range, you just load the software onto your comp (compatilble with XP), you can then part search or type in the last 7 digits of your chassis number and your vechiles details will appear. You can fault find and it gives you all the information you need to service your car (inlcuding the dreaded injector replacement!). I've got loads, primarily because you cannot get a Haynes manual for the 330d/320d.

Oracle · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:29

[TW]Fox said:
To be honest BMW's are for morons anyway

LMAO at that Fox.......

Nick, TBH I wouldnt hold your breath with the reset mod. Diesels operate a different throttle technology to the petrol lumps...

NickXX · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:32

Oracle said:
Nick, i gave you advise about the sat nav before including helping you fit one.

They are all interchangeable. The 16:9 screen will work with all MK computers (only MK4 is DVD), and the 4:3 unit can work with both versions as well. Each MK 4 DVD computer has a firmware (which can be upgraded). You can even modify the GUI which I have done in the past. If you JUST bought the tv screen, it would only function as a radio CD player (and yes the alpine could still run off it). I think you may be getting confused tho. It cannot control your climate control. The CC unit gets relocated to where your storage tray is (above the heated seat and ASC+T button).

However, sneakily (and not a lot of people know this), the 16:9 screen wired up fully (to sat nav and cluster, etc) can remotely start your car and cool it down at a given point in time (or warm it up). Say if you were to leave your dog in the car at the supermarket or whatever.

The ETK/TIS Cds cover all of BMWs range, you just load the software onto your comp (compatilble with XP), you can then part search or type in the last 7 digits of your chassis number and your vechiles details will appear. You can fault find and it gives you all the information you need to service your car (inlcuding the dreaded injector replacement!). I've got loads, primarily because you cannot get a Haynes manual for the 330d/320d.

Ah brilliant, thanks mate! I was still a little hazy on the tv units, but that's cleared it up. I missed out on a 16:9 screen today which went for £205 on fleabay

. Would really like to get hold of one now. Am I right in assuming it makes MP3 navigation much easier (with song titles, etc)? The newest BMW navigation software looks pretty cool.

Remote start sounds cool :cool:

- is there anything else you can do with it?

Oracle · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:39

Theres tons of things. I was absolutely shocked when I read through the manual. Dont forget, you can get ones with either a tape or CD deck behind them. As you have a changer you may as well go for the cheaper tape option. Its a fully motorised unit, it looms into the dash so all your computer functions become active on the monitor (range, mpg, outside temp, distance, etc, etc)...they also stay on the dash as well. It will only show mp3 data through a BMW mp3 changer. With the Alpine one you will need that Intravention device I linked to you before. I'll see if I can dig out the manual and highlight the other options that the 16:9 screen has.

PS, if you want an ETK / TIS CD, email in Trust

GSXRMovistar · 6 Mar 2006 at 14:03

NickXX said:
Also, does anyone know anything about the Throttle reset? Will this work on our cars and will it make any difference?

Interesting, will try this out later and see if theres any difference.

Beepcake · 6 Mar 2006 at 14:16

I don't think the nav display will show MP3 info with any changer (it doesn't even support CD Text for some stupid reason) - the Dennison IceLink for BMWs can display track details and album art from an iPod though if that floats your boat.

Have a look on AutoTrader for phots of the different screens, I personally think the 4:3 screen looks incredibly dated now, which is probably why the 16:9s hold such a premium.

I'd also recommend getting the Bluetooth kit retrofitted if you are thinking of spending some money on it, it's relatively cheap from bimmernav.com and (in my E39 at least) takes about 15minutes to fit.

One other thing to add is i'm not sure the disc you use for 'standard' navigation works with the full screen nav.. I seem to remember reading that the disc doesn't contain the graphics part.. could be wrong on that one though

Oracle · 6 Mar 2006 at 16:21

Yes it can. If you have a standard fit (or upgrade) BMW MP3 or normal CD changer, all of the radio units including the screens support CD Text from 2002 onwards. The CD Changer only (as in not mp3) will only obviously display CD Text if the CD has CD Text capability. (In my entire CD collection, I only have one cd that does this and its TQ). I do not think that this is a commonly supported feature anymore.

Links to images

Standard Display - CD or Tape

Radio Nav - Actually a rare unit

4:3 Screen Sat Nav

16:9 screen

and now ipod comapitable too!

These are using the 'Intravention' interface module which I highly recommend.

The first picture though, is now normal across late E46 (and new BMW) radio systems, provided you gave CD text on the CD or mp3 changer.

16:9 screens in factory fit form (as in, not retrofit) 2002 on will display CD text, if it doesnt, you need the firmware updating in the MK4 DVD computer.

D4VE · 6 Mar 2006 at 16:47

L0rdMike said:
Looks nice. Good engine but I dont think I could live with a Diesel. I like to take my cars upto redline.

Easy to do in a diesel

Lovely car though! If I was buying a BMW it would be just like that, very nice!

Beepcake · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:55

Oracle said:
Yes it can. If you have a standard fit (or upgrade) BMW MP3 or normal CD changer, all of the radio units including the screens support CD Text from 2002 onwards. The CD Changer only (as in not mp3) will only obviously display CD Text if the CD has CD Text capability. (In my entire CD collection, I only have one cd that does this and its TQ). I do not think that this is a commonly supported feature anymore.

If you say so, but i'm pretty sure the standard BMW fit changer+screen combo doesn't support CDText. It certainly doesn't in my 2002 or a friends 2003 3, both running the latest software - it's a common cause for bitching on BMW forums, even if it is pretty much never used

That intravention doodah looks pretty nice though, although the site seems to be lacking in information a bit (and a little out of date). I've been looking for a half decent MP3 solution since I ditched my iPod, I don't really want to rip my car to pieces to install the dennison one. Do you know if the intravention one works properly with nav and telephone? I looked at a few a while ago that either didn't work at all, or didn't mute properly

Oracle · 6 Mar 2006 at 18:01

Yes, it is exceptional. From what I can gather it was a university final year project that kind of took off.

If you email, you'll get a respone. From what I can remember, the unit price was about £100. Pricey maybe for some, but for a little box that intergrates with everything, I think it amazing.

I test drove a 330cd (on a 53 plate) a few weeks back. TQ was the CD I placed in the changer, and the text displayed on the standard Business Radio unit. There is confusion to the compatability maybe, but my BMW understanding is that post 2002 the Business Radio units (and others) were meant to support CD TEXT.

HTH

Beepcake · 6 Mar 2006 at 18:07

Oracle said:
Yes, it is exceptional. From what I can gather it was a university final year project that kind of took off.

If you email, you'll get a respone. From what I can remember, the unit price was about £100. Pricey maybe for some, but for a little box that intergrates with everything, I think it amazing.

I test drove a 330cd (on a 53 plate) a few weeks back. TQ was the CD I placed in the changer, and the text displayed on the standard Business Radio unit. There is confusion to the compatability maybe, but my BMW understanding is that post 2002 the Business Radio units were meant to support CD TEXT.

HTH

I've just dropped them a mail, 100quid is a decent price if it doesn't stuff up my Nav and Phone

The intravention site does mention that CDText doesn't work on the standard BMW setup, maybe it only works on the business radios for some retarded reason

Moot point though, most people care about MP3s more than CDs these days