[tsilver9]

Can someone direct me towards a guide and the proper AUX cable to install in my 2002 M3 .... It has Navigation but no CD Player.

Also, what are your thoughts on a iTrip alternative.

Thank You

[NikolaiD]

The easiest and cheapest way to do it is to sacrifice the tape deck if you don't use tapes.
It could even be free if you have an old pair of broken headphones laying around, so you can cut off the cable...

[tsilver9]

Originally Posted by NikolaiD

The easiest and cheapest way to do it is to sacrifice the tape deck if you don't use tapes.
It could even be free if you have an old pair of broken headphones laying around, so you can cut off the cable...

So r u saying i could take out the entire tape deck and splice a cut headphones wire to the old connection?

i dont give a s*** about the tape deck.... so would i have no use to get an AUX cable at all?

[NikolaiD]

Ok I'll spend two minutes to write this out...

For newer Navs take out the screen and behind it you'll find a wrapped up aux connector. You can use this connector and use the BMW OEM AUX kit, or just splice a headphone cable in it. The plug looks like this:


For older units like yours and mine:
You don't need to open up the screen or tape deck, just slide it out.
The unit has two plugs connected to it, a white and a blue. The white seems to carry video, the blue power and sound. Among all the wires there are two twisted pairs, they are:
blue with black stripe - Left +
blue with brown stripe - Left -
yellow with black stripe- Right +
yellow with brown stripe - Right -
These are the audio wires out of the tape deck.


Make sure you CUT, not t-tap or splice to eliminate any noise or sound that's coming from from the tape deck.
I just used the cord off an old set of broken headphones and pulled the other end on the inner side of the emergency brake boot where it stays pretty much hidden when not in use, no drilling, no buying parts:



My phone has a 2.5mm connector, so I have to use an adapter, that's why the plug is so long...



The last part is tricking the deck to think there's a tape in it. I used an old Tape/AUX adapter and cut the cable off of it. You can take a regular tape, open it , take the line out and replace it with a rubber band, so both sides spin.

The only problem with this setup is that there is no gain control, so the AUX is quieter than the radio tuner, so if you switch back without turning it down, the music will be on full blast. It took me a week to get used to it, and it's really not a big deal, jus something you should know...

[tsilver9]

AWSOME! thank you so much.

[kuksul08]

M3F ftw

[tsilver9]

bumpp