Kmoy's DIY $5 Aux Cable (Lots of Pics)

[kchang39]

I would ask xisco44, his works.

he's been helpin me but no luck yet

[gcbimmer]

Is there a certain type and guage of wire I should use? Copper? Braided? Not braided?

[whitecouch]

Is there a certain type and guage of wire I should use? Copper? Braided? Not braided?

Definitely copper braided wire. Solid wire is not made for automotive use. 18ga should suffice. Copper is just the standard for automotive use.

[gcbimmer]

How do these come into play?

[jbro1988]

I made the connector today and tried it out on my 2002 525iT, build date 06/02, and unfortunately it did not work! The cable and connectors all worked well, but the MID does not switch to the CD changer function. Does anyone know if there is some way to program the MID to be able to switch over to the CD changer function so thatthis mod will work??
Thanks in advance

[whitecouch]

How do these come into play?

It does not, it is just the rest of his radio shack purchase.

[gcbimmer]

This is what came out with my first try at this. Pretty messy and I can always do another. Didn't clean up the plastic yet either. I wasn't worried about the color of the wires and left, right or ground. I can figure that out later. All I wanted to do was solder and get them in the right pins (3,4 & 10) without contacting one another. Would be a lot easier with another pair of hands or a soldering kit to hold things in place while I soldered. Not good, but not that bad considering what I had to work with. What do you all think...should it work? Should I do it over, but cleaner? Do I now have to cover the connections with epoxy or something of the sort? Or is it off to Radio Shack for the 1/8" Stereo Panel-Mount Audio Jack, solder that and give it a go? Any advice or comments are appreciated.
Thanks

[whitecouch]

Looks great, finish it up and use it!! I covered my connections, I'd do it just to be safe, but honestly, as for looks, you'll never see it again. I wrapped my wires to keep with the stock look.

[H8R]

Oh man...

I contacted BSW to buy their kit...and the answer I got from my email was that sirius/xm units were out of stock.

I'd really like to put Sirius in my wifes 1999 540it, but I am beyond clueless when it comes to this stuff.

Where can I buy a kit etc....

[gcbimmer]

Looks great, finish it up and use it!! I covered my connections, I'd do it just to be safe, but honestly, as for looks, you'll never see it again. I wrapped my wires to keep with the stock look.

I just picked up the 1/8" Stereo Panel-Mount Audio Jack and am hoping to get this all soldered and ready to go this week. I have a hot glue gun that I will use to cover the connections. Should that be ok? Also, before I plug in, do I need to disconnect the battery during the plug in? Or is it ok to just do it with the car turned off?

[whitecouch]

I used hot glue, I don't see why it won't hold up. It isn't the cleanest or most professional look, but its hidden.

I didn't disconnect the battery and I have had zero issues, I even reconnected it with the car on the second time around (it slipped out when I pulled the radio), YMMV.

[gcbimmer]

I used hot glue, I don't see why it won't hold up. It isn't the cleanest or most professional look, but its hidden.

I didn't disconnect the battery and I have had zero issues, I even reconnected it with the car on the second time around (it slipped out when I pulled the radio), YMMV.

Do I just disconnect the plug I have circled in red with the one I fabricated? Can I just leave the one I unplug unconnected and tucked away behind the unit? Also, I am having trouble getting out the plug circled in green. It would make it a lot easier if I could get the CD unit out of the way as there is not much slack in the wires to work with. I don't want to force it, how is this clipped in? Also, I didn't try yet, but might as well ask now, any trick to get the one circled in red out of the harness? I think I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel...
Thanks.

[whitecouch]

I didn't have anything plugged in there... I don't see why it wouldn't work if you tried it.

[gcbimmer]

I didn't have anything plugged in there... I don't see why it wouldn't work if you tried it.

All plugged in and working!!! Now all I have to do is figure out where I want to install the jack. I see alot of people put it in the glove box, but I am going to want the ipod handy to select tunage. Might have to go with the cupholder even though I really don't want it there. Any other suggestions?
And Thanks for all your help!!

[BMW1023i]

has anyone figured out a way to have it work on a pre 2003 model?

[whitecouch]

has anyone figured out a way to have it work on a pre 2003 model?

Make one and try it? Mine is a 99 and it worked just fine.

[gcbimmer]

has anyone figured out a way to have it work on a pre 2003 model?

First thing you should do is remove your CD unit and see what kind of plugs you have in the back. Take a digital of it and post it. You can get more help if we can see what you have.

[sktn77a]

Do I just disconnect the plug I have circled in red with the one I fabricated? Can I just leave the one I unplug unconnected and tucked away behind the unit? Also, I am having trouble getting out the plug circled in green. It would make it a lot easier if I could get the CD unit out of the way as there is not much slack in the wires to work with. I don't want to force it, how is this clipped in? Also, I didn't try yet, but might as well ask now, any trick to get the one circled in red out of the harness? I think I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel...
Thanks.

The existing plug is for the prewired cellphone. The instructions for the BMW Aux adapter cable kit tell you, if you have this plug, to take the three wire pins out of the Aux adapter cable plug and insert them into the existing cellphone connector plug (they are the same). This way both the cellphone and Aux inputs remain available.

Keith

[mpwr ren rebel]

The existing plug is for the prewired cellphone. The instructions for the BMW Aux adapter cable kit tell you, if you have this plug, to take the three wire pins out of the Aux adapter cable plug and insert them into the existing cellphone connector plug (they are the same). This way both the cellphone and Aux inputs remain available.

Keith

The rear of mine looks the same as gcbimmer's. I tried putting the pins on 3,4,and 10 but it didn't work. Any ideas? Here is a pic of my CD unit:

[supraman88t]

October 2001 - Dosent have the AUX input.. I have a 5/02 540 and it didnt have it either... From what I could find... 09/02 and up have the AUX input.

[mpwr ren rebel]

October 2001 - Dosent have the AUX input.. I have a 5/02 540 and it didnt have it either... From what I could find... 09/02 and up have the AUX input.

total disappointment.

[peteWine]

If you use the kind of 1/8" plug that "switches" (just like a laptop - if you're plugged in, the sound only goes to the headphones and vice-versa) inline between the headunit and the changer, you will not lose the use of the changer. The problem I am having is I have no way of knowing which wire goes to which pin without destroying the cable.

Does anyone know what color wire corresponds with which pin?

[Xeniczone]

Just a quick question.

Does AUX mode only show up after this adapter has been plugged in? For anyone who has successfully done this.

[UkiSash]

Just spend the whole day on this. I suppose I should have read the forums first. However allow me to clarify. My cd player says 01 November. That means it was manufactured in NOVEMBER 2001 ? And That model does NOT have AUX ?

PS: sry for brining up a dead thread. Also Thanks OP you motivated me to get off my ass and actually do something.

[weasel like]

Just spend the whole day on this. I suppose I should have read the forums first. However allow me to clarify. My cd player says 01 November. That means it was manufactured in NOVEMBER 2001 ? And That model does NOT have AUX ?

PS: sry for brining up a dead thread. Also Thanks OP you motivated me to get off my ass and actually do something.

From what I've read, only software 40 and 50, manufactured 9/2002+ have AUX capability. I think you are SOL dude. This listing should help confirm: http://bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/694974