Motors Chat Thread Round 1

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 3:24pm

OK, stupid question time!

Since I have always used CDs in every car I've owned, I never had a need for AUX inuputs/cables etc.

My current car has an Aux In port and I just want to verify what I need to get in order to play songs from my iPhone? I know it's an Aux cable but is it one that has the same connection as the charger on one end and a normal headphone type jack on the other end? Possibly also a USB connection to charge the phone from the 12V socket beside the Aux In port.

L-M · 15-10-2012 3:25pm

Head phone to head phone 3.5mm...

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 3:27pm

I have one of those which I connect my PC to my stereo but would that not have radiowave interference in the car?

Matt Simis · 15-10-2012 3:28pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I have one of those which I connect my PC to my stereo but would that not have radiowave interference in the car?

Radiowaves? But it transmits the signal over a wire...?

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 3:28pm

Lovely stuff. Thanks lads

I'll let ye know what it's like to have finally joined 21st century ICE

Matt Simis wrote: »

Radiowaves? But it transmits the signal over a wire...?

True but when I test-drove that R3 RX8, he had a connection like the one I was talking about with the iphone charger on one end connected directly into the back of the OEM stereo and that had quite a bit of interference. It was the type that got louder in conjuction with engine revs.

langdang · 15-10-2012 3:43pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Lovely stuff. Thanks lads I'll let ye know what it's like to have finally joined 21st century ICE

Aux in is only slightly better than the old style "headphone to tape" gizmo!

But I have an irrational and unusual hatred of Aux-in, nobody else seems to have such issues with it!

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 3:46pm

langdang wrote: »

Aux in is only slightly better than the old style "headphone to tape" gizmo!

But I have an irrational and unusual hatred of Aux-in, nobody else seems to have such issues with it!

I was just thinking that haha! I have no hatred nor love for it as I'm only going to use for the first time soon.

Matt Simis · 15-10-2012 3:49pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

True but when I test-drove that R3 RX8, he had a connection like the one I was talking about with the iphone charger on one end connected directly into the back of the OEM stereo and that had quite a bit of interference. It was the type that got louder in conjuction with engine revs.

That would be a ground loop isolation problem, not radiowaves either..

It gets louder as the interference is tied to operating voltage which is scaling with RPM (due to the alternator).

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 3:55pm

Matt Simis wrote: »

That would be a ground loop isolation problem, not radiowaves either..
It gets louder as the interference is tied to operating voltage which is scaling with RPM (due to the alternator).

Obviously, I don't know much about motor electrics as it's not an area that interests me so I haven't a clue about all this

dar83 · 15-10-2012 4:21pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Obviously, I don't know much about motor electrics as it's not an area that interests me so I haven't a clue about all this

What if someone told you they had some really dirty cables in there behind the stereo...

:eek:

The horror!

:P

Hal1 · 15-10-2012 4:22pm

Get a good quality type, one with gold connectors. It will be better and would be less chance of hiss over the speakers.

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 4:26pm

dar83 wrote: »

What if someone told you they had some really dirty cables in there behind the stereo...

:eek:

The horror!

:P

LOL

You're one to talk!

Northern Monkey · 15-10-2012 6:39pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

OK, stupid question time!

Since I have always used CDs in every car I've owned, I never had a need for AUX inuputs/cables etc.

My current car has an Aux In port and I just want to verify what I need to get in order to play songs from my iPhone? I know it's an Aux cable but is it one that has the same connection as the charger on one end and a normal headphone type jack on the other end? Possibly also a USB connection to charge the phone from the 12V socket beside the Aux In port.

Get one of these for the 12v socket Dave. It sits almost flush with the end of the socket, so you can plug in an ipod cable to charge it and still close the armrest.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-USB-Car-Charger/dp/B003TOO3ZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350322270&sr=8-1

The 12v socket on the e92 only comes on when you start the car, so you won't have any issues with battery drain if you leave your ipod plugged in to it.

Excuse the mess, but this is it in my car.

AA724CBA-D92A-4934-B2DC-048E95300628-4466-000005DF06ECB69C.jpg

AA724CBA-D92A-4934-B2DC-048E95300628-4466-000005DF06ECB69C.jpg

pred racer · 15-10-2012 6:41pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Obviously, I don't know much about motor electrics as it's not an area that interests me so I haven't a clue about all this

Its why older car stereos had a capacitor on the back of them to remove high frequency noises.
Its also why your ht leads are carbon and not copper;)

Cd's :eek: aux in :eek::eek: what age are you.......90

You do realise its the twentyfirst century??
Surely that german yoke you bought has bluetooth.

Or was it an option like everything else on a german car:p

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 6:46pm

I had this kind of thing in my head:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Audio-Music-Charge-iPhone/dp/B007KDPTUQ/ref=pd_sim_ce_3

It looks to be 3 in 1 but I haven't a clue!

Also, how do you know my name?? :eek:

pred racer · 15-10-2012 6:51pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I had this kind of thing in my head:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Audio-Music-Charge-iPhone/dp/B007KDPTUQ/ref=pd_sim_ce_3

It looks to be 3 in 1 but I haven't a clue!

Also, how do you know my name?? :eek:

That will do the charging, but for aux input you will need 2 x 3.5 jacks, one for iphone and one for car.

challengemaster · 15-10-2012 6:53pm

pred racer wrote: »

Surely that german yoke you bought has bluetooth.

Or was it an option like everything else on a german car:p

Bluetooth and iPhones don't place nice together, due to apple design.

pred racer · 15-10-2012 6:57pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Bluetooth and iPhones don't place nice together, due to apple design.

Yeah I know, apple are *****! But it can do music streaming, thats what the a2dp bluetooth was developed for, it just cant do fcuck all else.

Best option........get a decent phone:pac:

pred racer · 15-10-2012 7:41pm

Not many of these left around,
Took the photo in work today, anyone know what it is;)

http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t398/Edwharding/DSC_0065.jpg

dgt · 15-10-2012 7:45pm

I'm not old enough to remember those on the road

Were you at a Renault meet?

pred racer · 15-10-2012 7:58pm

dgt wrote: »

I'm not old enough to remember those on the road

Were you at a Renault meet?

Nope, in the carpark at work!

I really wanted to take a pic of a white m3 with a dacia duster either side of it, but the m3 owner was there, and hes a prick!

Northern Monkey · 15-10-2012 8:00pm

pred racer wrote: »

Not many of these left around,
Took the photo in work today, anyone know what it is;)

http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t398/Edwharding/DSC_0065.jpg

R17 gordini?

pred racer · 15-10-2012 8:03pm

Northern Monkey wrote: »

R17 gordini?

Close, its a TS.

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 9:22pm

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 9:27pm

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Aaah jaysus I thought you got a new car

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 9:30pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Aaah jaysus I thought you got a new car

Sorry MM. But I'm am gettin very tempted by a few E39 525/ 530 Tourings I've seen.

challengemaster · 15-10-2012 9:32pm

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Sorry MM. But I'm am gettin very tempted by a few E39 525/ 530 Tourings I've seen.

Is Marlow's one sold? You couldn't find a better E39 touring in the country tbh.

Stheno · 15-10-2012 9:35pm

I remembered last week it was our anniversary today, then forgot clean about it today.

Due my bemusement when I arrived home to a cheerful OH enquiring about dinner plans!

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 9:38pm

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Sorry MM. But I'm am gettin very tempted by a few E39 525/ 530 Tourings I've seen.

I'm hoping there's an "i" after those numbers and not a "d" ??

challengemaster wrote: »

Is Marlow's one sold? You couldn't find a better E39 touring in the country tbh.

Awaiting response to above question before formulating a smart-arse comment towards you :P

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 9:56pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Is Marlow's one sold? You couldn't find a better E39 touring in the country tbh.

I'm fairly sure it is. Think I recall reading something about him seeing it, and regretting having sold it.

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 9:59pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I'm hoping there's an "i" after those numbers and not a "d" ??/Quote]

Yeah, it would be an i alright. Been keeping an eye on my mileage of late, and even considering the way ill be travelling to my new job, I reckon I'll be doing between 12 and 15,000 a year. Probably closer to 12,000.

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 10:00pm

Good man yourself!!

Now CM - he obviously wants a petrol so go way with your dirty diesel dealings!!

challengemaster · 15-10-2012 10:03pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Good man yourself!!

Now CM - he obviously wants a petrol so go way with your dirty diesel dealings!!

Ah here, diesel or not marlows e39 touring was incredible. You'd take it over a petrol one any day tbh.

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 10:05pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Ah here, diesel or not marlows e39 touring was incredible. You'd take it over a petrol one any day tbh.

Never had the pleasure of seeing it in the flesh, but it did look fantastic in the flesh. I'd imagine it was far from standard as well.

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 10:12pm

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Never had the pleasure of seeing it in the flesh, but it did look fantastic in the flesh.

Rightio......someone has been injecting petrol into their veins :P

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 10:19pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Rightio......someone has been injecting petrol into their veins :P

It's te effect of having spent too much time in a diesel!!!

Marlow · 15-10-2012 10:27pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Is Marlow's one sold? You couldn't find a better E39 touring in the country tbh.

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

I'm fairly sure it is. Think I recall reading something about him seeing it, and regretting having sold it.

It sold within 2 days of it being on done deal to very near the asking price. Still see it once in a while and miss it, but it was the right thing to do (sell it).

/M

Marlow · 15-10-2012 10:35pm

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Never had the pleasure of seeing it in the flesh, but it did look fantastic in the flesh. I'd imagine it was far from standard as well.

There was nothing standard about it. Here is the build-thread.

Some of the pictures are missing for some reason, but you get the idea.

/M

Marlow · 15-10-2012 10:41pm

Start

Result:

Also, it was stock 163 bhp. In it's final guise it was around 230 bhp and 365 ft-lb.

/M

Chuck_Norris · 15-10-2012 11:07pm

Thanks Marlow. That just puts even more ideas in my head. Absolutely savage car.

MetzgerMeister · 15-10-2012 11:20pm

Since it[s the right page for it, could someone post a picture of that red Alfa with 666 on the number plate?

the merchant · 15-10-2012 11:36pm

I've had my 525d touring for nearly 5 years and up to recently have been thinking of selling. The thing is that I'd be lucky to get €4k for it and to get a car that I like as much that's has all "the usual" bits done would cost me a fortune, only to be worthless in a few years.

I think I'll hang on to what I have for a couple of years...

Would have loved to have seen Marlow's one though. Really nice job. Marlow, did you remove your rear air suspension?

Hey Zeus Quintana · 15-10-2012 11:36pm

Marlow · 15-10-2012 11:38pm

the merchant wrote: »

Would have loved to have seen Marlow's one though. Really nice job. Marlow, did you remove your rear air suspension?

No. I never got around to do much more research into that. I changed the complete suspension from SE to MSport tough, including suspension airbags.

It might involve changing the rear axle, but I'd really need to find a Touring with rear springs to crawl under and check it out. I even had arranged to do that, but then sold the car after having 2 years.

/M

challengemaster · 15-10-2012 11:42pm

@Marlow

I know it had a sports exhaust (can't remember which one), did you decat it before remapping it?

One thing I'm trying to figure out with mine. I'll certainly be changing the backbox to get rid of the downpipes, and I know a decat would help in terms of a remap, but I couldn't live with myself if my car went boo :pac:

Marlow · 15-10-2012 11:46pm

challengemaster wrote: »

@Marlow

I know it had a sports exhaust (can't remember which one), did you decat it before remapping it?

One thing I'm trying to figure out with mine. I'll certainly be changing the backbox to get rid of the downpipes, and I know a decat would help in terms of a remap, but I couldn't live with myself if my car went boo :pac:

The exhaust system I stuck on mine was out of a UK car. It was a complete cat-back (so 2 cats instead of 4) from eco-tune with a stainless steel backbox from Tony Banks, that was designed for that exhaust system.

The remap was done before the exhaust system was changed, but had to be retweaked afterwards again as the back pressure in the OEM system is different from the cat-back system and that actually changes the fuel economy badly.

My recommendation is, that if you haven't remapped yet and you want to do a de-cat or cat-back, then wait until you have all the bits in place and get somebody to do the remap, that has a dyno or does rolling remaps. Don't use somebody that just pushes an update in, that he's bought elsewhere.

/M

the merchant · 15-10-2012 11:49pm

Marlow wrote: »

No. I never got around to do much more research into that. I changed the complete suspension from SE to MSport tough, including suspension airbags.

It might involve changing the rear axle, but I'd really need to find a Touring with rear springs to crawl under and check it out. I even had arranged to do that, but then sold the car after having 2 years.

/M

I take it you weren't overly impressed by the msport rear suspension so, as you were already considering changing it? I think I remember seeing all round coilover sets available on US sites but thery were huge money.

It's one thing about owning a touring, any parts specific to that style are savage expensive or rare as rockin horse sh1te i.e. shadowline trim!

Marlow · 15-10-2012 11:53pm

the merchant wrote: »

I take it you weren't overly impressed by the msport rear suspension so, as you were already considering changing it? I think I remember seeing all round coilover sets available on US sites but thery were huge money.

It's one thing about owning a touring, any parts specific to that style are savage expensive or rare as rockin horse sh1te i.e. shadowline trim!

No. The sports suspension is superb and is more than adequate for normal road use. If you however take the car to a track or do regular hard driving, the airbags just won't last. Even the MSport ones.

KW does a complete coil-over set using Koni shocks. Steve Wright, who did the E39 M5 Touring build in the UK, used those in his Touring, still using the MSport airbags in the back and was quite happy with that.

If I had kept the car, I just wanted less things to be able to go wrong with it and the air suspension is one of the weak-points of the Touring. I've done a massive amount of troubleshooting on it and two garages hadn't been able to determine a problem I had until I got under the car myself and found the issue myself.

/M

challengemaster · 15-10-2012 11:56pm

Just looking at Eco-tunes website, came across this....

http://www.ecotune-scotland.co.uk/product/BMW_320D_E46_Exhaust_System_Centre_Decat

Looks pretty sweet...:D

I'm planning on giving it to Joe Power to remap when the time comes

Marlow · 15-10-2012 11:58pm

challengemaster wrote: »

Just looking at Eco-tunes website, came across this....

http://www.ecotune-scotland.co.uk/product/BMW_320D_E46_Exhaust_System_Centre_Decat

Looks pretty sweet...:D

The Ecotune exhaust system is fantastic for the E39. First of all, the front cats were removed directly behind the manifold. Then the flexi-pipe section was moved up there instead, so it doesn't sit exposed under car anymore and breaks, when you rub it over speed bumps and the likes.

The sound of that exhaust with the 525d 6-pot was more like a 6-pot jag petrol engine. No diesel characteristics left and very distinct.

So win-win on sound, performance AND one weak-point eliminated.

Joe is who does all my remapping and I can't recommend him enough.

/M

***Motors Chat Thread*** Round 1

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Motors Chat Thread Round 1