BMW E38 multimedia upgrade

[Knut Anders]

My car is a BMW E38 750iL, year 1999 (10/98). The car was originally equipped with the S677A Hifi System Professional DSP with original CD changer. It is now upgraded with MkIV navigation, 16/9 widescreen plus latest generation BM54 radio. The BM54 radio has a great advantage when looking for an upgrade since the radio has AUX. My car is an ibus car.
When upgrading my system I made these changes:
Replaced the original CD changer with the digital mp3-changer CP600BMW. This upgrade gave me a lot more music stored on SD cards plus ID3-tags. This was a very easy upgrade since it was pure plug & play:

In addition I also installed a c.Logic interface. The interface allow two other units to be installed plus a reverse camera. I installed all of them. I chose an aftermarked reverse camera that fits and replaces the license number lamp.
The other two units I installed is a DAB+ unit with OSB and USB plus a multimedia USB player (usbLink3) which support both movies, music and photos.

Above is the DAB+ shown. This unit requires a phantom powered DAB+ antenna and I chose the Funke ADSC 710 which I installed in the rear window. I have very good reception and a very strong signal.
Please notice the two IR sensors mounted at each side of the widescreen. These are for the remote controls for both the DAB+ unit and the usbLink3 unit. Both these units supports a USB external hard discs to be installed. I've only installed an external USB harddisc with the usbLink3, The USB external hard disc has 2TB storage and is sufficient for my use.
The usbLink3 menu looks like this:

Music: I have ripped many hundred CD's and LP's in 320 kbps and stored it on the external hard disc.

What about making your own photo album?

Or movies?

I have stored a lot of BMW E38 photos plus various data spec photos (such as what bulbs the car use etc.) plus various movies. Movies starring a BMW E38 is an obvious choice…

I also stored some movies of fireplaces. On very cold days I play fireplace movies and listen to the crackling sound from the speakers. Very odd choice perhaps … but cool;-)

I have several fireplace movies, with both small and large flames.

Everything I did work splendid. I'm extremely satisfied with the CP600BMW mp3 changer. If my home country Norway had not been the very first country to close down the FM band the replacement of the CD changer would have been my only upgrade. Since the Norwegian government decided to go for DAB+ radio I decided I needed the DAB+ as well. The unit I chose works splendid. There is no "buffering" breaks when changing channels (as some other DAB+ solutions produces). The radio is instant and I get ID3 tags with information regarding what song is playing, who the artist is and which song/artist is next in line. I also get photos of the artist plus the radio channel host.
The installation of the usbLINK3 gave me the possibility to store all my music (plus various photos and movies) on a USB hard disc making it available for in-car listening and viewing. All my music (CD's, LP's and reel to reels) is ripped in 320 kbps. Each time I buy new music I only need to disconnect the external hard disc and rip the new music for storage on the hard disc.
If you also own a BMW E38 equipped with the BM54 radio (with support of AUX) and the MkIV navigation you can install DAB+, usbLINK3 and reverse camera. If your E38 is equipped with an original CD changer and ibus you can replace the CD changer with the CP600BMW mp3 changer. I recommend all these upgrades. After all the E38 isn't the easiest car to find good solutions for. If your E38 also have DSP (like mine) it is often even more difficult.

[Mless5]

You guys up there must have long and cold winters eh?
What are those little boxes with blue lights on either side of the headunit?

[Knut Anders]

Yes indeed;-), although I did the upgrade last summer;-)
The little boxes with blue lights on either side of the head unit are the IR-sensors for the remotes for the DAB+ unit AND for the usbLINK3 audio/video player. After installing all the equipment I found out that both remotes actually works on both units, but there are a few options that are specific for each of them as well. The range of the remotes are pretty good so it would also have been possible to mount the sensors further bach within the car but I'm still satisfied with the outcome/result.
I get access to the c:logic MK-AUX interface by hitting the "Mode" button on the headunit until I reach AUX in the menu. I then longpress "1" for the DAB+ and "2" for the usbLINK3. For all other settings (except volume) I use the remotes.

[Al thex]

Knut Anders Great job there! I'm very impressed with your system installation and how nice the screen looks with that car video and the fire. Maybe I can try to follow what you did one day.

[MarcoZandrini]

Great work!

[Knut Anders]

Knut Anders Great job there! I'm very impressed with your system installation and how nice the screen looks with that car video and the fire. Maybe I can try to follow what you did one day.

Thank you! The installation wasn't very difficult actually. Everything (all wiring) was done in the luggage compartment, by the navigation computer and the BM54 radio. The manuals were all very good and easy to follow. The most "difficult" task was in fact to route the DAB+ antenna and the wiring for the reverse/back up camera (Not difficult but time consuming).
My experience from using the upgrade is still very positive. The Kufatec HY-100 DAB+ receiver is very good and the sound quality from both the usbLINK3 and CP600BMW are excellent. I also love the display of ID3 audiotext, though I would have loved the possibility of displaying Album Art as well (My Kufatec HY-100 actually does).
With a 2TB external hard disc I also have all the storage I need when ripping to 320kbps.
I was lucky to have a car with the latest version BM54 radio. This has AUX-input allowing the c.Logic MK-AUX to connect.
If you decide to go for it you will not regret!

[Al thex]

Your feedback and detailed experience is appreciated.
I am in fact new to working with cars and a total beginner in this. I just got the car around 3 months ago. My radio keeps shutting off every few minutes (a common problem I learned) so the 1st thing is buying a new MKIII or MKIV navigation unit in the back and getting my faulty one replaced for now. But later along the road, I would love to have the screen video capabilities you got running. I may need to change the screen since it's always off now even when the radio is on. More on that to become clear after getting the navigation system I believe.

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