Media Bridge Crashed???

[Aries326]

So, My Dice II media bridge has been working well since I bought it here used a few months ago. It's been a big plus having it since now I can enjoy my own music from my iPhone.

However, a few days ago, I was changing the column from the steering wheel when it just locked up. Now it only displays "Vol" and the number changes when I adjust the volume but the iPhone never shows up as being connected. It there anyway to reset the media bridge without having to uninstall the darn thing?

[wss4]

I have similar issues with the silverline DUO in my car. I have exchanged countless emails with Dice, tried almost every firmware version, exchanged the unit, all to no avail.

The only way I have found to reset the unit is to disconnect it physically, plug it into the computer and reflash the firmware, then reconnect.

However, with the silverline, I have found that it crashes when I try to change song/volume via the car controls too soon after I have started the car. If I let everything sit for a good 10-15 seconds before changing anything, the unit works fine, and I have not had to reset in several months.

[Aries326]

Oh boy, it's bad enough that the iPhone dock doesn't really fit well and now I have to connect and disconnect this thing to get it to restart when it is frozen? Sounds like we'll never get a permanent solution to this.

[WestCDA]

I have a Mediabridge 1500 arriving today - I hope I don't have a lot of trouble with it, but there are a limited number of options out there.

They do recommend installing it in 'an accessible place' in the manual, which allows for a power recycle (as well as connection access). I plan to put mine in the space behind the ashtray, as it's pretty simple to pull that out. My GapTech roof module and Homelink connections live in there as well, so I've had it in and out several times.

If yours is in a place that would take considerable effort to get at, you could try disconnecting the battery for a while instead to recycle the power. I disconnect my battery during winter storage or while working on the car, and all I need to do on reconnection is to update the clock and re-initialize the windows.

I see they have released a number of firmware updates. As you purchased yours used, have you updated the firmware since? What version is it running now? As it's been acting up, it might be worth a try - good luck!

[Aries326]

The last firmware upgrade I did was in March. I'll try again. Maybe there is a solution available. I've got mine kept behind the ashtray as well so it shouldn't be too difficult to yank out.

[Aries326]

Well, I took the MediaBridge out, tried to do a firmware upgrade and it gave me a message saying that it is already up to date. I reconnected the mediabridge and it still won't work. All I get is the volume read out. :-( I'm back to burning CDs.

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by Aries326

Well, I took the MediaBridge out, tried to do a firmware upgrade and it gave me a message saying that it is already up to date. I reconnected the mediabridge and it still won't work. All I get is the volume read out. :-( I'm back to burning CDs.

Connect the MediaBridge and iPhone/iPod again, turn on the radio, within the first 5 seconds, press Disc 1 to change it back to IPOD. You were in AUX which you wouldn't get signals from iPod.

I had the same problem before and I read the menu. Apparently the first 5 seconds of changing tracks/volume would switch to AUX mode.

[wss4]

If the above doesn't work, I've had to reflash with an old firmware version hex file first, then press the update button to install the most recent firmware. I had DICE support email me an old firmware hex file

[Aries326]

Originally Posted by Silververtu

Connect the MediaBridge and iPhone/iPod again, turn on the radio, within the first 5 seconds, press Disc 1 to change it back to IPOD. You were in AUX which you wouldn't get signals from iPod.

I had the same problem before and I read the menu. Apparently the first 5 seconds of changing tracks/volume would switch to AUX mode.

Tried it. Didn't work. The radio won't even go into USB mode. I'll have to try what the other poster recommended. Getting an old firmware file. BTW, I see you used to have a 3.0si and now have an M. Is the M version that much better?

[Silververtu]

Originally Posted by Aries326

Tried it. Didn't work. The radio won't even go into USB mode. I'll have to try what the other poster recommended. Getting an old firmware file. BTW, I see you used to have a 3.0si and now have an M. Is the M version that much better?

Sorry to hear it didn't help. At least mine was the input problem.

And yes, M is that much better. You would keep thinking why getting the 3.0si in the first place.

[Aries326]

Now that spring is here and the car is out of storage, I'm able to play with the dice mediabridge once more time.

A new firmware update finally came out for the MediaBridge which I installed. I also unplugged the battery, which the guys at customer support at BavAuto recommended. This seemed to do the trick. When I plugged everything back in, it worked like a dream. I could now enjoy the playlists on my iPhone. However, this was shortlived. After only a few uses, the mediabridge again crashed. It's back again to not being accessible. Whenever I push the mode button to get to the media bridge, all I get again is "Vol XX". I bet if I unplugged the battery again for a few minutes, everything will go back to normal. I don't want to keep doing this.

Any other options? Can I buy a new mediabridge module only? Any suggestions for alternatives to the mediabridge?

[Aries326]

To be fair to the Mediabridge, here's an update. I bought a brand new unit and this one works flawlessly! I've got my iPhone 5 mounted from the CD slot. Music plays just as advertised. I finally got Bluetooth to work as well and it is working fine. I'm not sure why it was freezing up during the Bluetooth linking process previously. I can make calls with it and I didn't even have to install the microphone. If your Z4 already has BT with a microphone, no need to install the microphone that came with it. The only criticism I have is that when I press the Bluetooth button on the steering wheel, BMW Bluetooth is activated instead of Siri.

[WestCDA]

Glad to hear you have it sorted out. I installed a Parrot Evolution BT kit with my Mediabridge instead of going with the OEM Bluetooth. for the same reason you stated - the MFSW phone button connects directly to Siri, which gives me full voice control access to the phonebook, music library, weather, voice to text, etc. To me that's a huge advantage, as the phone capabilities are continually updated and getting smarter with each release.

[Aries326]

How was the install for that Parrot Evolution BT kits? Did you get it from this site?

http://www.quickconnectproducts.com/Find/find.php

I'm interested in getting this. With the Parrot Evolution BT, can people hear you speak even with the top down?

[WestCDA]

Originally Posted by Aries326

How was the install for that Parrot Evolution BT kits? Did you get it from this site?

The installation was fairly easy, except for the additional work I did on adapting and optimizing the Parrot microphone. I purchased the Parrot Evolution from an online US vendor, but I purchased a Connects2 CTPPAR008 Steering Wheel Controls Adapter from the UK which is plug and play to connect the Parrot and integrate it with the BMW factory steering wheel controls. All the steering wheel buttons then work as OEM, including making, answering and terminating calls, volume and changing tracks. Pressing the steering wheel call button connects directly to Siri, to use any voice activated feature on the iphone (phone calls, music, weather, voice-to-text messaging, voice prompted navigation with graphical mapping, etc).

I removed the OEM microphone module from the 'pod' on top of the steering column, and used Milliput epoxy to embed the microphone from the Parrot kit into the same plastic mic shell in the same location. I then did a lot of testing at various speeds (top up and top down) to determine an optimum resistor value to put in line with the microphone to decrease background noise and maintain voice clarity.

Originally Posted by Aries326

With the Parrot Evolution BT, can people hear you speak even with the top down?

Yes. The iphone's Siri voice recognition requires a bit quieter environment to accurately 'hear' commands - I can use the voice commands with Siri with the top down at highway speeds, provided I put the side windows up and have my factory windblocker in place between the roll hoops. Around town the windows can even stay down. Incoming calls I can answer and converse regardless - but at high speed with the top down it's much easier to carry on a conversation after putting the windows up to reduce the noise from wind buffeting.

I use a Specdock in the ashtray for the iphone (4S) connection (digital audio input and charging), and the small Parrot EVO remote is coiled up and kept in the glovebox. (The remote is used once for the initial pairing, option and volume settings). I disabled the Parrot phone directory and built-in voice commands, as the phone does it all so much better. With the microphone in the factory location, there is no exposed wiring or anything that looks other than OEM in the cabin.

Why not use the Mediabridge Bluetooth? Beside the better integration of the Parrot with the MFSW controls, if you are using any other head unit input than the Mediabridge (e.g. CD, radio), the Mediabridge BT can't receive incoming calls. The Parrot solution works just like the factory, muting the current input (CD, radio, Mediabridge/iphone), playing the iphone's default or custom ringtone for that contact over the car speakers, and displaying 'phone' on the HU display. The iphone display shows both the phone number and contact picture as you would expect for an incoming call.

The result (as I see it) is a near state of the art voice controlled computer, media and phone integration system for the car, that far exceeds the capabilities of the factory systems - and gets better every time Apple releases an update.