So, we just got a new-to-us 2006 3.0si. It has the fancy-pants audio system (SA677 on the VIN decoder build sheet), does not have Nav, and it has an iPod dock connector in the center console behind the seats. After we brought it home, I plugged a known-working aux-to-dock adapter into the connection to try it out. I am able to select "CDC" from the radio controls, but I get no actual audio from the speakers (FM and in-dash CD work fine). Also, if I listen to silence for a minute or two, it seems to auto revert back to the radio.
So, I started pulling apart the trunk to find what is at the other end of the dock cable and it is a BMW iPod interface, part number 65-11-0-035-962. It is connected to the 3-pin and 6-pin connections for the would-be CD changer (which we do not have). I've looked up the pinouts for these connectors and it would appear that it's wired up to the bus and the audio L/R/GND connections properly. I've jumpered onto the audio lines with some headphones and I indeed hear the iPod audio, which tells me the dock connector, cable, and ipod interface box are all okay. Since the radio allows me to select CDC, and seems to notice if I pull out the dock connector while it's "playing" from it, it says "No magazine", which tells me the bus connection is okay.
I wasn't able to locate instructions for the -962 part number, but did find them for the -961 version of the iPod interface. The first page says (for the Z4) "not compatible with optional Navigation, DSP Audio (SA677), and/or 6-disc CD changer". Since it connects in the same way as the -962, I'm assuming those limitations may apply to the 962 as well. The instructions also say that this is supposed to be installed in the dash and connected to the same lines, but behind the head unit.
On the left side of the trunk there is a device which I assume could be an amp, which has two connected coaxial cables, and one empty slot. Is this for digital audio from the CD changer? Is that why I'm not hearing the analog audio I know is coming out of the iPod interface? I saw some stuff on the GROM page that made it sound like if you had a 3-pin and 6-pin connector in the back, then the DSP adapter wasn't needed and analog audio should work.
So, my questions are:
- Should the -962 work with the fancy radio? Did someone pay for this and it has never worked?
- Do I need something like a GROM with the DSP adapter because of the coax?
- If I moved this to the dash and connected it to the back of the head unit would it help?
- The GROM site makes it sound like some coding to enable the CDC is required to "the audio part work", but since I can select CDC on the head unit I assume this is already done...right?
- I have not pulled the head unit to see if there are any wires pulled out of the connector that would mean audio isn't making it from the trunk to the head unit. Is this likely? I figure since it was pre-wired for a CDC this is unlikely.
What we really want is just to be able to do bluetooth music from a phone in the car to the factory stereo. We don't need any more iPod integration or really anything too fancy. Any other suggestions (knowing we have the fancy stereo and non-nav) would be appreciated.
Thanks!