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Subject: I finally installed my Dice and NavTv unit to integrate with my 3G iPhone Author: rg0115 : member since May, 2007 : 3100 posts Posted on: 2009-08-19 01:36:44

So this weekend I finally decided to hook up my NavTv unit I purchase on ebay and the Dice module I bought from SoCalTom. Basically, what this setup allows me to do is run any video or photo source of my iPhone and also run all my music from my phone via my factory navigation. My steering wheel controls remain intact and allow me to navigate through my iPhone’s play list.

I have been sitting on this stuff for over a month. Let’s just say it took me many weeks of planning and growing some balls along the way to actually do this DYI. When it comes to electrical stuff, I always get scared. After all, I don’t want to blow up my computer systems in the car over a minor mistake.

After getting all my tools and parts together, I finally said screw it, let’s just see if I can make it work. I have to admit, I am very proud of myself and can actually say that the first time around everything worked like a charm. I had to do no re-work, everything just came into place. I guess all that planning panned out. Special thanks to Kapone, Edwin, Cliff, and TxDarth for giving some advice along the way.

Anyway, here is how it all came together. Here is a picture of all the parts I used.



I started off by completely removing the CD changer since the Dice unit will use the input cable from the CD changer to run everything. I can certainly live without CD changer with all my music being on my phone anyway. The CD change is held in place by 4 screws. Bavarian Soundwerks create the following instructions which walk you through all the steps. It’s made pretty easy.

DICE iPod Integration Kit Installation Instructions for BMW 7


Once I had the CD changer out I removed the rear seats and speaker box to allow me fish the wires from the trunk to the front of the car. Edwin’s write up that he created for his rear shocks replacement is great for that. Also the BSW Dice installation instruction go into all the details.

Next, I removed the center console as that is the location I wanted to place my iPhone connector. I needed to run 2 iphone hooks up to the center consol. One was for the Dice unit, the other was for my video feed from the Iphone to the NavTv unit, I had to buy that special cable which take the back of the iphone hook up and converts into a AV video and right/left audio sound. I used DavidC's write up on how to completed remove the center console. Again, with all the instruction it was easy.

Once I had everything apart. It was time to start drilling and using the dremel tool. One of my iPhone cable i have tugged away in the rear compartment, the other one is coming out of the top of the arm rest. I had to first cut a hole in the back of the compartment tray as seen here. This is where the video cable is coming out.







This is the cable box for the video



Next I drilled a whole in the center arm rest tray. This is for the cable that is hooked up to the dice unit. Forgot to take pictures, but this is how it looks when finished.



The video cable has a power source to allow for charging, so I simply hooked it up the wiring that was already in place for when I had my Sirius radio installed. By the way, those guys totally did a shitty job putting everything back together. Half the screws from the rear deck lid and speaker box are missing. Douche bags.

Here is how the power was hooked up for that cable. Red is power, black is ground. I just used tap-ins and the wires were at least 12 gauge and tick enough to get contact.



Next I ran the video cable from the rear and the dice cable along with the wiring for my switches to the front. I unscrewed the driver side seat to make it easier to run everything to the center consol. When I unscrewed the seat, I had to remove this cable. Not sure what that is about.





Here are some pictures of how I ran the wires. Once you have the rear deck lid removed you have a hole at the C-pillars that go to the trunk.. I just fished all the wiring through that way and ran them allow the rocker and then under the seat.









Here is where cable comes out under the seat. I had to place the dice unit there as the iphone cable wasn’t long enough to go to the center consol.





Everything tugged away to the center consol



Next was time to do the wiring in the rear. I opted to get power directly from the battery and run it into a junction/fuse box which allowed me to wire everything else into it. Thanks Kapone for the advice, it really made everything clean and easier with the install.

Here is a diagram on how its all hooked up. Courtesy of Kapone.



Here is a diagram of how I hooked up the automotive Relay. I learned something new about how these things work. Basically, once the car is turned on or when your you turn the key to position one, the relay will give power that goes to the junction box. Power is the pulled directly from the battery.



I cut and soldered the thick purple/white wire and ran a wire to the relay as seen the diagram above.. This wire is hot once the key is turned. When this wires give power to the relay, the relay will connect its terminal and pull power from the battery to give juice to the junction box. Genius, finally I know how a relay works.









NavTv unit on the left, junction box in the back and at the bottom is the Dice digital to analog converter.




This junction box is great, I used this to power my dice converter and the navtv unit. I will also use this to hook up the back up camera.





Nice an clean install if you ask me. Here is where I tap into the power from the battery. Notice the wire on the far right. I used 10 gauge wire



Next, I installed the 2 switches to the front. One to turn on the NavTv unit for video the other for the back up camera overwrite. I installed one behind the steering wheel, the other to the left of the wheel in the wood trim.













Starting hole for drill to get the big hole













Now time to hook up the NavTv unit and dice module I tugged away under the seat. I Velcro it under the seat so it would not lay on the ground next to the vents.







Time to test everything. And we have success. First time around, everything worked like a charm. Hellsyeah….









Aux sound for video coming through Dice unit



The only thing that sucks is that now ever since IPhone has it 3.0 software version out, their are some compatibily issue so it doesn't always reconnect the iPhone. Dice says they are hoping it will be resolved with Iphone's 3.1 update. Go figure. Always something with OS updates, even MAC can't get away from that.




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• I finally installed my Dice and NavTv unit to integrate with my 3G iPhone (pic) (vid) (url) - rg0115 2009-08-19 01:36:44 (13041 views)
  • Nice!! I like your movie choices. Last time it was Pulp! (nt) - Ed 2009-08-19 23:34:28 (131 views)
  • Robert..Nice!!!!!!!!!! - whiteil 2009-08-19 23:00:01 (152 views)
    • Had I known I would have never updated to 3.0. Do you know how I can go back - rg0115 2009-08-19 23:14:40 (153 views)
      • The people you want to talk to are at DICE! - Shled℠ 2009-08-19 23:40:34 (220 views)
      • You cant go back.. - whiteil 2009-08-19 23:30:26 (132 views)
        • I tried a restore from before the 3.0 update but it still ended up giving me 3.0 - rg0115 2009-08-20 02:41:41 (124 views)
  • Very nice. I'm glad it all worked out... - kapone 2009-08-19 22:34:51 (130 views)
    • I bet, what you are getting yourself into looks crazy, but I have to give you - rg0115 2009-08-19 23:15:34 (145 views)
  • That is totally awesome! (nt) - aaron00740il 2009-08-19 19:05:50 (133 views)
  • Nice Work (nt) - NRG 2009-08-19 15:51:18 (131 views)
  • Nicely done (from someone who knows how much work it is) ;-) - Shled℠ 2009-08-19 15:38:55 (295 views)
    • Thanks Sheld and also forgot to thank you for all your advice when I was planing - rg0115 2009-08-19 16:03:41 (137 views)
      • If we were closer... I'll be adding one next week I think - Shled℠ 2009-08-19 19:10:40 (150 views)
  • Meaning to do this for a long time. AWESOME JOB ! (nt) - mrebay 2009-08-19 15:23:19 (149 views)
  • Come do that for me....nice job very professional...really - Carguy63™ 2009-08-19 15:12:51 (138 views)
    • I could use a vacation. My wifes parents live in Port Richy. Maybe next time I - rg0115 2009-08-20 02:45:04 (130 views)
  • rg0115, you know that cable that you unhooked under - mouser 2009-08-19 15:11:18 (172 views)
    • Ah, thanks for the clarification. Makes sense now. (nt) - rg0115 2009-08-19 16:04:51 (142 views)
  • Nice (nt) - Frans750il 2009-08-19 14:28:39 (146 views)
  • Nice work Robert ! Congrats on taking the plunge and hackin into the electrical - Lexicon 740iL 2009-08-19 14:20:47 (134 views)
    • Camera is next. (nt) - rg0115 2009-08-19 14:31:18 (137 views)
  • Great job! - stas 2009-08-19 11:29:34 (146 views)
  • Dayum! Nice job Robert! Can't wait to see it (nt) - sdmike 2009-08-19 11:17:07 (143 views)
    • Let's get some people together for lunch soon... (nt) - rg0115 2009-08-20 02:28:51 (143 views)
  • YAWN! so 2008..... j/k Looks awesome buddy tnx for the preview yesterday looks - Edwin™ 2009-08-19 04:45:31 (144 views)
    • Just pulled the tricker on the camera. CCD with night vision on it's way. (nt) - rg0115 2009-08-19 14:36:32 (156 views)
      • There we go buddy!! you will love it! (nt) - Edwin™ 2009-08-19 14:57:01 (132 views)
  • Wow. Nice work and photos! (nt) - DavidC 2009-08-19 04:41:44 (143 views)
  • Sweetness! (nt) - visionbmw7 2009-08-19 03:43:24 (128 views)
  • Nice Job! (nt) - farnarkler 2009-08-19 03:34:19 (130 views)
  • Your Scary good with electronic mods Robert .+10000 great w/u (nt) - Snitch740i 2009-08-19 03:23:45 (146 views)
    • Thanks Fabian, I impress myself sometimes. This one was fun for sure. (nt) - rg0115 2009-08-19 21:25:29 (137 views)
  • Re: I finally installed my Dice and NavTv unit to integrate with my 3G iPhone - mar 2009-08-19 02:02:15 (221 views)