Bluetooth Streaming Audio (on the cheap)

Tranman · Mar 11, 2013

Great DIY!

chowdah · Mar 11, 2013

Thanks for this DIY; it's going to be bookmarked in the guidepost sticky.

Is this the BMW power adapter you referenced?

I'd probably try the Miccus on a 7hr charge alone, as I don't drive it daily. Was there another competing product you considered besides the Miccus?

This probably depends on the phone, but: how do you manage calls while the phone is streaming music? Does your phone send A2DP to Miccus and voice to headset? Or do you just talk on speakerphone? Thanks.

emfunf Discussion starter · Mar 12, 2013

chowdah said:
Thanks for this DIY; it's going to be bookmarked in the guidepost sticky.

BMW Genuine Auxiliary Power Adapter, (3 Series after 1999), (5 Series after 1996), (7 Series after 1994), All X5, X3, Z4 : Amazon.com : Electronics Is this the BMW power adapter you referenced?

Yes!

chowdah said:
I'd probably try the Miccus on a 7hr charge alone, as I don't drive it daily. Was there another competing product you considered besides the Miccus?

There a bunch of these, but this is the only one I could find that would auto-pair when fed power.

chowdah said:
This probably depends on the phone, but: how do you manage calls while the phone is streaming music? Does your phone send A2DP to Miccus and voice to headset? Or do you just talk on speakerphone? Thanks.

When receiving a call on my iPhone, the audio fades and pauses, and my phone rings using its own speakers. I can then answer and use speakerphone. I suspect if I paired to a bluetooth speakerphone, it'd switch to that rather than the phone on an incoming call.

flyzlow · Mar 11, 2013

Clever DIY. Nice job!

E55AMG2 · Mar 11, 2013

How's the audio quality? I've not found any BT interface (OEM or aftermarket) I've been satisfied with yet.

emfunf Discussion starter · Mar 12, 2013

For my purposes, I'd say it's pretty good. It's a bit weak so I have to crank the volume on the iPhone just like I did with the AUX in direct.
Quality seems fine to me, though I am running the stock 10 year old M-Audio

Mark@Evolve · Mar 12, 2013

very cool write up! Thank you

donatiphase · Mar 13, 2013

Nice solution- do you have a DIY link to your AUX Input? I have a Sony Head unit in my Pathfinder and the streaming audio quality from my iphone is excellent so i imagine this solution is a good one depending on the device used at the receiving end.

meltron · Mar 13, 2013

*edited*

Just saw that donatiphase asked the same question on whether a DIY exists for the AUX input. Can this be done on a stock head unit?

lugnuts · Mar 13, 2013

Does this work on other years other then 03? I thought only the 03s could add the AUX is that correct?

E55AMG2 · Mar 13, 2013

Correct. 9/02 prodction and later are the ones with this already built into the harness. I remember a thread about someone who spliced one into an earlier production model, but I cant find it.

flaury23 · Mar 14, 2013

Can u incorporate a microphone so you can use to talk on your cellphone?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

emfunf Discussion starter · Mar 14, 2013

Not with this this. This is strictly an a2dp streaming audio receiver. I though I might try to hide a tiny third-party bluetooth speakerphone in the headliner where the OEM mic would go, but that's another project altogether.

RichardP · Mar 14, 2013

Input sensitivity of the Aux input is set by pressing the 1-6 buttons while the Aux source is selected, 1 is least sensitive (quiet), 6 is most sensitive (loud).

split71 · Mar 14, 2013

I had no idea this existed, thanks!

chowdah · Mar 14, 2013

There is a retrofit aux DIY in the Guidepost.

bigjoe87865 · Mar 15, 2013

Hi, thanks for this idea

How do the other non miccus a2dp adapters work since they don't have auto pair?... Once the initial pair is done, do you have to re-pair with a password each time you want to use it? Or can I still just turn on bluetooth on my phone and have it pair semi automatically?

I'm asking to see if there are are cheaper alternatives as I don't need it to pair when I turn on the car. I don't leave my bluetooth radio on 24/7 on the phone. I turn it on only when I need it.

if anything, Ill just get the miccus as it isn't that expensive

emfunf Discussion starter · Mar 16, 2013

Most of the others that I looked at require pushing a button to pair when you want to use them. Since I wanted this out-of-sight, that was a show stopper for me. Prices are pretty similar across the board for these guys.

bigjoe87865 · Mar 16, 2013

Thanks a lot, I'm going to go with the miccus. I hope it still retains the same audio quality and also the same volume levels, I hope I don't need to max out the MID volume just to hear properly. As of now , I have the aux line in set at 3 /6 and it is perfect. Some songs, I crank it to 4/6.

NCVU · Mar 16, 2013

This is awesome. Thanks for the write up.

155plus · Apr 12, 2013

Excellent write-up - just did this tonight and it works perfectly.

chowdah · Apr 12, 2013

After familiarizing yourself, can you please follow up with how you (dis)like handling calls on speakerphone, or if your phone allows you to easily alternate between headset-voice and miccus-A2DP? Thanks.

Diny · Apr 27, 2013

Hows the Miccus holding up? Mine crapped out today (after less than a month of use) and I'm wondering if it's because I had it USB charging through an ipod cable with an adapter.

speedsector · May 15, 2013

there was another thread on it but i just got the following for my '08 and it works great!

Amazon.com: AGPtek® USB Bluetooth Audio Music Receiver Adapter (white) with 3.5mm Stereo Output for Headphones, Portable Speakers, Home and Car Stereo Systems: Electronics

chowdah · May 16, 2013

How do you deal with phone calls, using AGPtek (e.g. speakerphone)?

speedsector · May 20, 2013

my iphone 5 connects to both the M5 and the AGPtek via bluetooth so when playing music, navigation, etc. on my phone, it will send the signal through the AGPtek on the AUX setting. when placing or receiving a call, it works just like it normally does. so far the only issue i had was that the AGPtek lost signal once while i was driving so i just unplugged/plugged the AGPtek back into the usb slot. it works great and i think it is another best bang for the buck mod out there. i'm not sure if works on all years of the e60 but mine is an '08 with the usb for ipod integration.

Aradaiel · Jul 27, 2013

Has anyone attempted to do this with a DSP adapter and leave the bluetooth receiver near the cd changer?

I've seen folks do the DSP adapter and leave the bus wire plugged into the cd changer so you get aux-in on an older car but it's displayed as the cd changer.

I'm worried it wouldn't have enough range placed in the trunk, but it could be easily moved to under the rear seat or center console with a long stereo jack wire.

ChrisM · Mar 19, 2014

I recently set this up, got the DSP adaptor, powered it, plugged it into the Miccus RX, left the CD changer plugged in to the IBUS. You leave it on CD mode and it works perfectly. There are no range problems sitting in the front seat.

Note that, as said earlier, it does not act as a headset, it only streams audio, it does not answer telephone calls.

For people that want their bluetooth turned on automatically, and to auto-sync with the Miccus, you could try a solution using NFC tags. Simply get an NFC tag, program the NFC tag to turn on bluetooth and connect to the Miccus RX. Then when you get in your car, drop your phone on the NFC tag, and voila.

Aradaiel · Jul 27, 2013

I just ordered the stuff to try it. Grom DSP adapter was $55 from ebay and the bluetooth adapter was $15 shipped via amazon (shipping was as much as the adapter, what a Joke). I'll let you know how it works, either way.

SleeperE39 · Jul 30, 2013

I've wondered about this, but was hesitant as I'd want at the very least APT-X support, and some kind of decent output level.
Not many bluetooth devices list their analog DAC type, or the output level they can drive.

Typically I am using an IPOD touch headphone out directly to the CD analog input of the BMW/Alpine C43 radio.
My Galaxy S3 headphone output does not sound nearly as good.

The Crystal Acoustics Blu-DAC-UK looks like it has everything - APTX, Auto Reconnect, and Wolfson DAC.

Not sure if it is worth cutting the wire though as it isn't APT-X lossless.

emfunf Discussion starter · Jul 30, 2013

That Crystal Acoustics receiver looks super nice. You should try it and report back

thart777 · Sep 21, 2013

Thank you! This is great! Although I listen to my stereo less in this car than any I've owned (I like listening to the engine), this will be handy.

emfunf Discussion starter · Mar 16, 2014

Update: I'm starting to have pretty frequent drop outs with the Miccus. I see Diny had his die too... bummer.
The GROM I put in our E53 doesn't cut out, but I think the sound quality is lower. Back to tinkering.

YucA · Mar 17, 2014

I had a blitzsafe ipod adapter in my previous car (s2k), and was VERY happy with it. I still receive promotions from the company and they just sent this out...

Blitzsafe - HON/BLUETOOTH V.2X

Thats the link for a honda adapter, but I emailed them asking if they had one for my car (02 pre-AUX DSP) and they said yes, they already have one...

This was the email response:

"I realized not all of our Bluetooth interfaces are listed on our website yet. If you would like to order the BMW Bluetooth, please call me or you can enter it as the Honda or VW, which are listed on featured products if you click on the “our products” button. Just make sure in the notes that you need the BMW BT V.1."

She also confirmed that is uses the CD changer connections in the trunk.

Seems pretty slick for less than $100. Especially due to the fact that the cd changer is a larger paper weight back there...

They currently have a special coupon code for St. Patty's day for $30 off...“BLITZ30”

-----------
Prior to getting this email, I had already been running a super cheap BT setup. I broke it down in the link below:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3...5-e52-z8-discussion/153461-poor-mans-iphone-diy-integration-10.html#post4367521

Seems like the blitzsafe adapter is for music only, but I've never been satisfied with BT phone functions. They always tend to sound like poo, even in brand new cars, so that doesn't bother me. I think I'm eventually going to jump on that blitzsafe!

Bluetooth Streaming Audio (on the cheap)

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