Question about Intravee and KCA-420i set-up

[ChrisLux]

I've been thinking about an integrated i-pod set up for my 05/05 E53 .
It has radio/cassette/sat-nav HU with cd-changer .

I've seen a few posts recommending this set-up , but non mention if you can keep the cd-charger
(as I prefer to do) or if you have to bin the charger and use it's input for the wiring .

Can someone pls advise me on what's possible ??

Thx in advance .
Chris

[phill]

No you can't keep the cd changer. Sanj is the best person to advise.

Phill

[pvr]

You would never use your cd changer anymore anyway ...

I ordered my car without it (first one without a CD changer in 2005), and with the Intravee I never missed it.

[ChrisLux]

Thxvm Guyz ,

Problem is it's the Missus car , and she hasn't got (and doesn't want) an i-pod , it's for me
and my daughters to be able to use when we're in the car .
I read somewhere about a system where you can keep the cd-changer as well as having an i-pod
intergrated , but I'm blowed if I can remember the name of the company that advertised it as it
was years ago before I got an i-pod myself !!

[Sanj]

[quote=""phill""]Sanj is the best person to advise.

Phill[/quote]

Thank you for the high esteem Phill

But many far more knowledgeable folk on here that can answer just as well if not better. Just that I hover on the forum a lot more (got no life)!

But yes, the inputs for the CD changer will now be your inputs for the new Intravee setup (the KCA-420i is also needed to connect to the iPod). You will potentially suffer from the deep sleep issue on all iPods, but work arounds of calendar entries, alarms and simply placing the unit in the centre console all help.

There is a switch released by Intravention but it is currently not being made (I hear) and it is adding to your setup cost, this allows other Ai-Net units to be attached (pretty sure the OEM unit still can be). If you don't want this type of setup cost (almost £300) think about Dension (they allow you to keep the changer - I think) but the GUI is not as good. Plugs into the RCM module.

Another forum member RichardP is THE guru on this, but hopefully this helps answer your question.

[Timh]

Hi

The intravee is a great piece of kit although not cheap. You can keep the cd changer if you add a intravee switch or alpine switch. Problem is that the switch for the intravee is no longer available and also the alpine unit is no longer available. So you need a secondhand one. Problem here is they are rare....I know I am after one!!

To be fair the intravee is just as easy to use as the changer....menus are easy and quick. I don't think it's really that important to have the switch if I am honest. It's more of a nice to have..
I am in no desperate rush to buy the switch but I think I would buy one if one came up.(anyone want to sell one???)

TIM

[Timh]

Oh and by the way you would need also an Ai net alpine cd changer to replace the BMW one. The wiring is different on the original BMW one. Intravee has 3 Ai net inputs

Tim

[pvr]

You are not talking about this one, are you?

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=24001

[Timh]

No

The kca420 is easily available the one that is not is the kca410c switch

The 420 is the iPod adaptor
The 410c is the switch

Tim

[RichardP]

There are three possible AI-Net switches that you can use, but unfortunately none are currently available.

The KCA-400c - 4 x AI-Net, can be stacked to give 6x AI-Net.
The KCA-410c - 2 x AI-Net 2x Aux.
Intravee switch - 3 ports, AI-Net or Aux in any combination.

I know that there are plans to have another batch of Intravee switches made, but I don't know when.

I've not heard good reports about the way the Dension Gateway allows you to retain the OEM CD Changer, I think they even discontinued it.

If you don't want MP3 playback capability from the CD Changer, you can pick up a CHA-S604, CHA-S605, CHA-S614 or CHA-S624 for much less than you'll be able to sell the BMW Changer for, still makes the system expensive though due to the cost of the switch.

You could always leave the OEM CD Changer in place and physically switch the cables over when you want to use it (same applies to an AI-Net CD Changer), nmot ideal, but it's possible.

[lezmtaylor]

Richard, is the KCA-400c the same as Intravee switch Serial.no :00038 ?
lez

[Sanj]

[quote=""lezmtaylor""]Richard, is the KCA-400c the same as Intravee switch Serial.no :00038 ?
lez[/quote]

Don't think it is Lez - One's and Alpine (KCA-400c) unit the other made by Intravention. Same as the Intravee in size...

[RichardP]

[quote=""lezmtaylor""]Richard, is the KCA-400c the same as Intravee switch Serial.no :00038 ?
lez[/quote]
No, as Sanj says the Intravee switch is the same size as the Intravee, the KCA-400c is much bigger, 40x120x180mm.

[Sanj]

[quote=""RichardP""]No, as Sanj says the Intravee switch is the same size as the Intravee, the KCA-400c is much bigger, 40x120x180mm.[/quote]

Phew, am I glad you're back! Much prefer you to be known as the guru!

I'm no where near qualified!