Official: Dynavin E46 Radio - Installation, Question & Troubleshooting Thread

Dreamliner,

Why did you need the VW Amp adapter? is that required for everyone buying this system?

Would you advise someone who hasnt installed radios before to take this to get done (along with AC relocation kit) at a shop?

Thanks for your review!

Originally Posted by colinschick

Dreamliner,

Why did you need the VW Amp adapter? is that required for everyone buying this system?

Would you advise someone who hasnt installed radios before to take this to get done (along with AC relocation kit) at a shop?

Thanks for your review!

The VW Adapter is for the antenna...the 99-01 models had an older style antenna cable and the included dynavin antenna adapter is worthless (to the older e46).

Its not overly complicated, you just have to take your time. An install of the deck involves:

Removing the glove box
Removing the trim above the glove box
Removing the trim above the radio
Removing the panel on the passenger side pillar
Removing the corner plastic mold cover on the passenger door jam
Removing the window roll up/down / gear shift panel
Removing the ashtray/pocket

all in all, pretty simple...honestly, the hardest thing was getting the cigarette lighter out of the old molding kit.

Originally Posted by JJR4884

quick question guys

if you are on radio and you press the arrow up/down on your steering wheel... does it scroll through your preset fm stations like an OEM radio?

i would imagine that this will also work for cd and ipod songs, hopefully....

unfortunately not. it seeks to the next available station.

From the Dynavin message board:

“At first, we are very sorry for the design errors.
After one week of learning and survey , we found all the background noise and station interference noise are high - frenquency noise, but we used the common low – frequency speakers for testiong, so we did not detected this bug before.
Now we have found the solutions, that is to replace two capacitors and two resistances in the mainboard, in this way the background nosie will be reduced to 25% than before, station interference noise also will be lower substantially. we have sent the solution to our distributors , please clients whom has this problem contact with our distributors and consult with them to deal with this issue.”

and....

“For managing it, we need to open the dvd player ,detach the dvd loader and see into the mainboard. So we highly suggest the client find expert to do this work.”


Doesn't look like an easy fix.

Wow that sucks.

you get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by BG in NJ

From the Dynavin message board:

“At first, we are very sorry for the design errors.
After one week of learning and survey , we found all the background noise and station interference noise are high - frenquency noise, but we used the common low – frequency speakers for testiong, so we did not detected this bug before.
Now we have found the solutions, that is to replace two capacitors and two resistances in the mainboard, in this way the background nosie will be reduced to 25% than before, station interference noise also will be lower substantially. we have sent the solution to our distributors , please clients whom has this problem contact with our distributors and consult with them to deal with this issue.”

and....

“For managing it, we need to open the dvd player ,detach the dvd loader and see into the mainboard. So we highly suggest the client find expert to do this work.”


Doesn't look like an easy fix.

Not sure which upsets me more, the shitty product, the shitty fix (up to 25% less, how about none?) or the shitty English

Either way, definitely not an easy fix--this is something that should have been caught during quality assurance testing or R&D

Good luck

I wonder if the fix that dynavin has come up with might lower the output of the unit (and the noise floor along with it) to a level more compatible with the bmw amp.....the simple fact that they said they were using speakers for testing and not an actual bmw car....or at least the amp and speaker from a car....makes me think that they didnt properly account for the e46 amp.

I have done installs before on oem "amplified" systems (older fords in particular) that I didnt know were amplified until I turned everything on and got symptoms very much like the dynavin problems. Hiss, clicks, hums, bleed, all kinds of problems. Installed a line output converter in line and the problems go away. This is common everyday practice for a stereo installer....matching input and output levels of different components so everything plays nice together.

Or maybe its nothing related to this at all and they just got a few components wrong on the board

And while it sucks that they got it wrong the first time, at least it looks like they are quickly trying to get everything right...

1. Where can I get one of these adjustable line output converters and how hard are they to install and price?

2. Another ? on the external mic that came with the dynavin kit. I Installed mine in the bmw factory location. I cant test it yet as my blue tooth phone is a piece of Sht. Did anyone who installed it in the bmw factory location leave the foam on the mic on or off?

Mine is a non HK unit. I've had many excellent sounding factory stereos and as much as I love my bmw the sound system is shitty at best. Does this hiss and bleed through happen on all systems or just the HK? I am about to order this system but I dont want any hassels, Is the noise there when driving around or is it just when things are quite and you are listening to it? Also is it any better than the business CD. Thanks

Originally Posted by jeffb325

I wonder if the fix that dynavin has come up with might lower the output of the unit (and the noise floor along with it) to a level more compatible with the bmw amp.....the simple fact that they said they were using speakers for testing and not an actual bmw car....or at least the amp and speaker from a car....makes me think that they didnt properly account for the e46 amp.

I have done installs before on oem "amplified" systems (older fords in particular) that I didnt know were amplified until I turned everything on and got symptoms very much like the dynavin problems. Hiss, clicks, hums, bleed, all kinds of problems. Installed a line output converter in line and the problems go away. This is common everyday practice for a stereo installer....matching input and output levels of different components so everything plays nice together.

Or maybe its nothing related to this at all and they just got a few components wrong on the board

And while it sucks that they got it wrong the first time, at least it looks like they are quickly trying to get everything right...

Looks like your initial assessment was spot-on!

Couple questions:

Is it fair to say that the hiss/hum/bleed will only come through the unit's balanced outputs? That is, would the line-level outputs not be affected by this interference?

And, if the line-level outputs would be affected, is there a technique or device that can be used to lower gain of the signal coming from the line-outs? A LOC's counterpart, if you will...

Sorry if the questions don't make sense, I know just enough about car audio to get myself into trouble.

I have an old A/D/S amp that I'm considering installing along with the Dynavin. The amp has plenty of power for front and rear component speakers and a sub. I'd like to get it into the car, but if noise will be an issue at line level, maybe I'll hold off.

My unit's still sitting in the box on my desk - waiting on an HVAC relocation bracket.

Thanks!

Awesome work on this thread Nick.

The Bluetooth Phonebook - This is something I've seen quite a few times on various pairing devices that download the phonebook.

Navigation Icons - the iGo software is quite tweakable. The guys on the Avic411.com forums have done massive overhauls to it. And GPSUnderground.com has lots of info on the config files.

Noise - Jeff's theory on the line level is a very valid one... be interesting to see if someone tries this before I get my unit.

Originally Posted by jeffb325

I wonder if the fix that dynavin has come up with might lower the output of the unit (and the noise floor along with it) to a level more compatible with the bmw amp.....the simple fact that they said they were using speakers for testing and not an actual bmw car....or at least the amp and speaker from a car....makes me think that they didnt properly account for the e46 amp.

I have done installs before on oem "amplified" systems (older fords in particular) that I didnt know were amplified until I turned everything on and got symptoms very much like the dynavin problems. Hiss, clicks, hums, bleed, all kinds of problems. Installed a line output converter in line and the problems go away. This is common everyday practice for a stereo installer....matching input and output levels of different components so everything plays nice together.

Jeff,
I am thinking of trying this loc fix. I am going to use a pac oem2 and install it on the dynavin wiring harness after the head unit. What do you think? I figure that it is a cheap fix if it works and i don't have to cut bmw oem harness.
thanks
Todd

Originally Posted by mass03m3

1. Where can I get one of these adjustable line output converters and how hard are they to install and price?

any adjustable LOC with wired inputs AND outputs should work, peripheral has one that I use all the time but they just got bought out by PAC....this one looks like the right PAC LOC.

http://pac-audio.com/productDetails....&CategoryID=28

Any car audio shop should have these or something similar in stock, a cheap one should work just fine, they should cost less than $50.

Basically to install this it needs to be spliced in line into the dynavin wire harness on the speaker outputs. This would allow you to reduce the dynavins output and therefore its noise. Since it sounds like only half of the dynavins volume scale is being used the output could be reduced significantly without any change in performance (except the volume numbers would be higher under regular use) as long as the dynavin doesnt produce excessive distortion at higher volumes this should work fine.

Or maybe dynavin will come up with a nice solution!

Originally Posted by fotoflojoe

Looks like your initial assessment was spot-on!

Couple questions:

Is it fair to say that the hiss/hum/bleed will only come through the unit's balanced outputs? That is, would the line-level outputs not be affected by this interference?

And, if the line-level outputs would be affected, is there a technique or device that can be used to lower gain of the signal coming from the line-outs? A LOC's counterpart, if you will...

Sorry if the questions don't make sense, I know just enough about car audio to get myself into trouble.

I have an old A/D/S amp that I'm considering installing along with the Dynavin. The amp has plenty of power for front and rear component speakers and a sub. I'd like to get it into the car, but if noise will be an issue at line level, maybe I'll hold off.

My unit's still sitting in the box on my desk - waiting on an HVAC relocation bracket.

Thanks!

Dont know if the hum is on the line outs....does this unit even have line outs?

if the line output were used with an external amp the gain on the amp could be adjusted down,,,no need for a LOC.

I dont have this thing yet so my advice is purely thoretical

Originally Posted by jeffb325

any adjustable LOC with wired inputs AND outputs should work, peripheral has one that I use all the time but they just got bought out by PAC....this one looks like the right PAC LOC.

http://pac-audio.com/productDetails....&CategoryID=28

Any car audio shop should have these or something similar in stock, a cheap one should work just fine, they should cost less than $50.

Just bought a pac loc off of amazon for $20. I will install when I receive it and let everyone know if it works.

Originally Posted by jeby

unfortunately not. it seeks to the next available station.

wow that fvcking sucks

Is it me or am I the only one that got european maps?? Turned it to Nav mode and got situated somewhere in Europe it seems, couldn't understand a lick bc it wasn't in english.

x10 on the comment about the cigarette lighter, I swear I was going to snap that plastic mold for the F*** of it just to get it out.

Originally Posted by doubledees

Is it me or am I the only one that got european maps?? Turned it to Nav mode and got situated somewhere in Europe it seems, couldn't understand a lick bc it wasn't in english.

Who did you order from?

Originally Posted by jeffb325

Dont know if the hum is on the line outs....does this unit even have line outs?

if the line output were used with an external amp the gain on the amp could be adjusted down,,,no need for a LOC.

I dont have this thing yet so my advice is purely thoretical

Thanks!

Yeah, the Dynavin has front and rear RCA line outputs.

Originally Posted by TR_MS3

Who did you order from?

Euro-spec. Or am I not adjusting some setting, it has to be the sd card given right?