rewmer

Well-Known Member
Thought I would just have a little preach about the Intravee ipod interface for the 02 to 05 Range.
I just get the feeling not many are aware of what they are, how they do it and the way they do it.
You see a lot of posts of people wanting graft in these Chinese all singing head units and although they look OK bitter experience has taught me they are not. I spent a fortune buying back original nav and associated parts on a X5 (L322 test Mule ;) ) after living with one for 6 months and then I stumbled on the Intravee.
What it is, is a interface for the car iBus. It goes in place of the stock CD changer and from this you then connect up your iPod via a Alpine iPod interface (KCA 420i).
Ipod control is then through the stock Nav screen controls in a seamless OEM style. Now because this little darling is connected to the iBus, it can also do many other things.....

Lane change indicators - dab the indicator stalk and get 3 or more flashes (you choose in setup)
enable daylight running lights
mirror fold on lock
various alarms - overheat, over rev when cold etc
and a load of other things I cant remember. Its relativly old tech, but the way it integrates into the stock system is awesome. You can also (if you can find the right one, add DAB via another Alpine unit, although these are very rare as they havent been manafactured for a few years.
Below is a screen shot, not fully set up as it still has a blank top right - but you can see I have set it to show engine tepreture in the far right corner (lower temp stat fitted - hence 88deg)
IMG_4751_zpsrto6gnth.jpg

Here we have the three bits - note the stick tape holding the screen in the Pod. This was purchased spares or repair for £10 of the auction site because the front touch screen was missing - 64 gb of storage is more than enough ! and it gets tucked into the hole left by the CD changer.
IMG_4755_zpsbuiuntou.jpg


The only issue I had (apart from wrestling the cd changer out) was because my car is a late 03, it had a 10 pin plug for the changer insted of the usual 3 pin and 6 pin plugs. This meant I had to buy the 3 and 6 pin plugs and swap over the pins to make the connections - a relativly straight forward operation which I have full details of if required. Although the tech is a few years old, they are still in production and the firmware is regulary updated to add new features and bug fixes, you will have to join a BMW forum though to acess this and the guy who looks after the software side.

Any how, thats it. Just wanted to spread the word about this awesome bit of kit.Look it up and consider it before cutting into those looms and facias.
- I have no connection with Intravee. Just love how it works -
 
It is something I have been considering for a few years along with the MK 4 Satnav upgrade. I bought the Alpine unit but that's as far as I got. I have an 04 plate so plug is probably different. I think Bemble did a write up on it a few years ago. I think there is a way of keeping the CD changer as well isn't there?
Nice reminder though, I would love to get my TV working as well as connecting up a USB interface maybe..
 

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