E46Fanatics Official DICE iPod integration kit Q/A thread

Thanks Tom. I hope I can get it back to stock.

I would like to point out that Dice has not responded to my help ticket in over a month. I've attempted to reinstall it after some time, but now I can't even access the initial controls. I think I'm going to return this and buy a USA Spec adapter.

Yeah and it says someone will respond in 2 business days. I guess they only work a couple days a month.

Whoops, I meant that they haven't responded in over a week and not a month. Regardless, I'm over it.

I've already returned my Dice unit. Problem solved.

Originally Posted by slosvt

I have two questions...

First, I have the single CD business radio right now. How hard is it to update to a NAV unit? Is a NAV unit worth it or should I switch to an aftermarket unit?

Second, is there anyway for phone calls to come over the mediabridge (bluetooth) if I am listening to FM radio? It works perfectly if I am streaming Pandora on the phone, but does not seem to work if I am listening to FM radio.

Thank you,

Anyone have input on my second question? This is a trunk install...

Originally Posted by slosvt

Anyone have input on my second question? This is a trunk install...

You will need to manually switch over to the mediabridge manually.

Does anyone know where I can purchase the mic and radio harness separately?

For anyone that has the Dice Mediabridge MB1500 with the optional Sirius SC-C1 satellite radio tuner and has a '02-'06 E46-or is using a factory radio that is post 2001-are you able to store satellite radio station presets using the preset buttons? I have the older Blaupunkt 'double-click' factory CD head unit, and it is a known issue that you cannot store satellite radio station presets using these older head units. This is a huge pain as it takes forever to go to different stations, and having presets wokring is what is needed. Before I commit to buying a later model Alpine factory radio, I want to be sure that the station preset feature will work with the MB1500/SC-C1 combination.

I will answer my own question so that others that might have the same question in the future will know-I purchased a used factory CD head unit with part number ending in 902, May 2003 manufacture date. It is iPod, Aux input, and Sirius capable. It does allow me to finally save Sirius radio station presets-plus, the overall operation of the Mediabridge functions is much faster and more responsive than with the older Blaupunkt manufactured head unit. The overall sound quality seems to be just slightly better also. Now the problem I have is that the display is much dimmer than the climate control and OBC displays. It doesn't affect the operation, but it is very annoying as the original head unit was perfect in this regard.

Originally Posted by Eric Giles

Now the problem I have is that the display is much dimmer than the climate control and OBC displays. It doesn't affect the operation, but it is very annoying as the original head unit was perfect in this regard.

You can't win . Perhaps the illumination wire is not working? Does the brightness change when you flip the lights on/off?

Originally Posted by jon-k

You can't win . Perhaps the illumination wire is not working? Does the brightness change when you flip the lights on/off?

Unfortunately it's not a simple issue such as that-the actual LCD display is dim, and it's because the light source behind the LCD is failing, or the LCD display itself is failing. I have been searching but it seems there really isn't a fix for this problem-people just buy another unit and hope to get lucky.

The functionality of the setup is finally working the way I want it to, so I will deal with issue for now..until I cannot put up with it any longer.

Hopefully someone has run across this issue before. I have had a dice unit hooked up via the trunk for a year now. Last night it just cut out. I have disconnected the unit and the battery for several hours to no avail. I have also pulled fuses 41 and 7 to check even though I dont have navigation. Any suggestions on what I can check next? Any other fuses or possible issues that could affect the unit? The head unit doesnt even recognize that something is hooked up to the cd changer connections in the trunk anymore. I'm starting to believe the dice unit isn't working anymore.

Anyone have input over my issue with category browsing with Sirius connect and the dice duo.

Tom thanks for the help with my install. I had most of the problems most folks get and I did what most folks do: I didnt disconnect the battery or update the firmware. I'll say this; you need to do the updates, then install with the battery disconnected to get this thing to remotely respond as advertised. In the end, it wasnt hard, just tedious. It also has some quirks that you have to get use to, like when you start it up, dont try to browse within the first 5 seconds or you'll switch it to satellite or AUX. If you dont know that you did that, you'll just sit there thinking the thing is whacked out, but it's just doing what it's programmed to do. I've used it with the ipod locked and unlocked and both work, but again, you need to understand the instructions are like reading your BMW instructions the first time you got the car; it doesnt work exactly as you'd intuitively think, but it works. Although the help ticket seems to be a dead end, calling direct got me all the answers I needed.
Really only one minor nit and that is I havent for the life of me been able to get rid of the scroll creep interference.
Willing to offer any help to those with the basic BU set up.

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

If the iPodyourBMW kit was previously installed, it's very likely the wiring was not returned to stock (audio pins within R17 Radio harness connector are relocated to the BMW iPod harness during the original installation) before the DICE was installed - which is the reason you have no audio.

Please inspect the wiring, I'm certain this is the reason.

Somewhere I read that there is a tool to unlock the wires from the plug. Do you have a part # or the name of the tool I can search for?

Originally Posted by tmckinl

Somewhere I read that there is a tool to unlock the wires from the plug. Do you have a part # or the name of the tool I can search for?

Here ya go:



Instructions (you can follow in reverse) can be found here: http://m3.madrussian.net/diy_ipod.shtml

Thanks Tom. I've been looking everywhere for that tool.

I ended up making a tool to release the pins and got the wiring back to stock. unhooked the battery cables and reinstalled the mediabridge. I'm still getting no sound from the setup. It will control the iphone and the tracks are displayed on the radio but just no sound whatsoever. I double checked the trunk connections and they are right. What should I try next? Do you think I have a defective unit?

Any recommendations? Want to install a media bridge with blue tooth for my IPhone 4 into my 2000 328i w factory navigation.

iam having an issue with an alternator noise and the chirping....an example...