View Full Version : New MP3 DIY
vids_blk323Ci
08-13-2002, 02:47 PM
Not sure if this is old news, but here goes
http://dutyfirst.com/E46/DIY_Main.htm
Imola Ed
08-13-2002, 04:24 PM
Originally posted by vids_blk323Ci
Not sure if this is old news, but here goes
http://dutyfirst.com/E46/DIY_Main.htm
I'm actually going to get a BMW Pila (on its way now), and hook my iPod up through it's line-in. It just sits in place of the changer (which I don't have, and don't necessarily need if I have an MP3 player!), so you switch modes to the changer and voila!
The Pila doesn't work with Nav supposedly though, which this DIY clearly does.
drewcon
08-13-2002, 04:35 PM
and the changer?
RAY330i
08-13-2002, 04:38 PM
Hey Ed... your ride is nice.... I parked somewhere near you one day in Apple underground garage.
I got my iPod install with BMWPILA and it works perfectly fine. If you need any help, please PM me and I can give you my contact.
Always willing to help...
Imola Ed
08-13-2002, 04:38 PM
Well, you would typically use the pila to hook up to a pioneer changer. But I think you can only use line-in or the changer. Not both. Though apparently, you can hook a switch up to switch between aux input and changer if you wish. But you definitely can't keep the OEM changer in.
gsnav
08-13-2002, 06:16 PM
What's PILA? Thanks. sorry. i'm still new at things
Imola Ed
08-13-2002, 07:22 PM
Originally posted by gsnav
What's PILA? Thanks. sorry. i'm still new at things
No problemo:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cneKTN7a3Da/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=541BMWPILA
vids_blk323Ci
08-14-2002, 12:35 PM
Originally posted by Imola Ed
The Pila doesn't work with Nav supposedly though, which this DIY clearly does.
:dunno: So the PILA does not work with the NAV? Meaning I can wire up a PILA and connect a MP3 player to it???
Imola Ed
08-14-2002, 01:02 PM
Originally posted by vids_blk323Ci
:dunno: So the PILA does not work with the NAV? Meaning I can wire up a PILA and connect a MP3 player to it???
If you do not have the OEM navigation system or CD-changer, you can install a PILA and hook your MP3 player up to it, yes. Mine should arrive tomorrow!
:D
Can someone give me a suggestion on how to run the rca wires from the trunk into the cabin. My problem is that I dont have fold down seats or a ski pass.
And what is better, run a long stretch of rca wires or a long stretch of 3.5mm wire to connect the ipod to the BMWPILA.
Imola Ed
09-18-2002, 02:54 AM
Originally posted by ABMW
Can someone give me a suggestion on how to run the rca wires from the trunk into the cabin. My problem is that I dont have fold down seats or a ski pass.
And what is better, run a long stretch of rca wires or a long stretch of 3.5mm wire to connect the ipod to the BMWPILA.
I just ran RCA all the way up front. You should be able to feed the cable like I did. I have split-folddowns, but I actually wired it through the side, where other wires feed through. You need to take out your back seat and the drivers side side bolster. There is a spot behind the bolster where wires are fed through to the trunk. You can put the wires through there. From there I ran them under the seat to the center console, under the rug and then just tucked under the console itself the rest of the way.
Imola Ed,
Thanks for the reply. I am totally new to modifying things to my car so please forgive me if my questions seem to be very basic. What is the side bolster you are referring to? Is it that plastic piece around the bottom part of the rear seat that has a curvature because of wheel well. If it is, how do I remove it? How do I remove the back seat? Do I remove just the bottom portion? Are there any bolts that I need to undo?
Thanks for your help!
Imola Ed
09-18-2002, 09:43 PM
Well, before I go into any detail, do you have a coupe or a sedan? I have a coupe, so I don't want to give you wrong info.
Originally posted by ABMW
Imola Ed,
Thanks for the reply. I am totally new to modifying things to my car so please forgive me if my questions seem to be very basic. What is the side bolster you are referring to? Is it that plastic piece around the bottom part of the rear seat that has a curvature because of wheel well. If it is, how do I remove it? How do I remove the back seat? Do I remove just the bottom portion? Are there any bolts that I need to undo?
Thanks for your help!
Imola Ed
09-19-2002, 01:47 AM
I actually don't think it's that different, except that I'm not sure on the sedan how to remove the seat backs. Basically, you need to remove the seat bottom (that just pulls up and out), and then the seat back on the drivers side (I don't know if it's all one piece). Then you are left with the piece I was talking about. It's straddles the back and the side of the car. You need to pull that part off, but you really can't until you take the cap up top off (that part may or may not be different in the sedan - I don't remember). Once you get that off, you can see holes where wires are feeding through to the trunk. Just use one of those, lay your cable as you want, then put everything back. I hope that's enough to go on. Sorry I don't have more specific instructions right now.
I'll give it a try this Saturday. Thanks for the help. I'll post my results when I am done. Gonna have to buy some cables sometime this week to get started right away on Sat morning.
someone explain this PILA....where do i get it from? what does it do? how much is it!?
Imola Ed
09-19-2002, 10:49 AM
scroll up to find the link.
noflash
09-19-2002, 11:08 AM
he assured me that you could have a cd-changer and mp3 player hooked up at once. I didn't ask how; I just wanted to make sure I had the option.
P.S. Peripheral makes the BMWPILA.
Imola Ed
09-19-2002, 11:13 AM
Originally posted by noflash
he assured me that you could have a cd-changer and mp3 player hooked up at once. I didn't ask how; I just wanted to make sure I had the option.
P.S. Peripheral makes the BMWPILA.
Yes, you can (as long as it's a Pioneer changer, since that is really what the pila is for). You just need a switch someplace to make/break the connection for the brown wire on the unit — that switches from CD changer to the aux input.
I created a music cd from mp3's and compared it to the same songs playing from the Ipod. The cd seemed to be clearer than the mp3. Anybody have similiar observations. I ended up getting a blitzsafe instead of a bmwpila...i dont know if that makes any difference. I am running 20' of shielded rca cables from monster cables.
btw Imola_Ed... it was really simple to remove the rear seats, thanks for your input.
Imola Ed
09-25-2002, 04:46 PM
Originally posted by ABMW
I created a music cd from mp3's and compared it to the same songs playing from the Ipod. The cd seemed to be clearer than the mp3. Anybody have similiar observations. I ended up getting a blitzsafe instead of a bmwpila...i dont know if that makes any difference. I am running 20' of shielded rca cables from monster cables.
btw Imola_Ed... it was really simple to remove the rear seats, thanks for your input.
Cool.
CDs are always clearer than MP3s, but you can make MP3s sound pretty good if you sample them at a higher bit rate. Do you know what bit rate the MP3s you were playing were ripped at?
I was thinking that the following might be some reasons why the sound is not as good,
1) Music difference is a result of Ipod decoding
2) Output for Ipod was meant for earphones not for stronger signals.
3)Something wrong with Blitzsafe interface. They shipped the unit in a large box with no bubble wrap. The interface was free to bounce all over the box. The exterior look okay but i am not sure if there is anything damage internally.
4)Long rca cable run
What do you think.
Imola Ed
09-25-2002, 07:38 PM
Originally posted by ABMW
I was thinking that the following might be some reasons why the sound is not as good,
1) Music difference is a result of Ipod decoding
2) Output for Ipod was meant for earphones not for stronger signals.
3)Something wrong with Blitzsafe interface. They shipped the unit in a large box with no bubble wrap. The interface was free to bounce all over the box. The exterior look okay but i am not sure if there is anything damage internally.
4)Long rca cable run
What do you think.
iPod decoding is very good. I don't think it's that. I think it's the 128 ripping. I import at 160, and it's decent.
As a test, try importing the same song at 128, 160, and 192 and play them back in your car.
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