Self Installation of Dension Gateway 500
 

I was given a Dension Gateway 500 for a present yesterday. I decided to install in myself and here is the story.
Before I start can I say I do not work for or have any connection with dension. I am not an automotive engineer (money is crap anyway) and I suffer from Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis so if I can do it anyone can!!!

I started by unpacking the various bits.
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I then took the glove box out completely. Remove pin at each side of the glove box that hold the supports in. Underneath glovebox remove 4 screws on each hinge and take glovebox out.
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Next, remove CD Changer. The screws are located under a small flap at each corner as shown. They require a 2.5 mm hex key. Don't try to completely remove the screws as they are captive. Just undo enough for the CDC to be pulled out.
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The connector is at the rear of the CDC. Unplug and remove CDC.
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Now loosen the trim in the footwell. There are 3 cross head screws to remove and the trim can be moved down.
Pull the CDC connector down and out through this gap. It makes life very easy!
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The CDC connector has power and fibre cables. You need to separate them. There is a small tab on the connector that must be pulled out with a small screwdriver. The fibre optic plug can be pulled out as a complete unit. Take care to read Dension's instructions as well. Note the direction arrows on the fibre optic plug.

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At this point follow the Dension instructions to the letter. This is what the fibre optics will look like.

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Make off the power connections. Red is +ve and Brown is -ve. I used a breakout style connector.
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Once all cables were made off I connected everything up as per the instructions to test. I had a load of problems. Main one was I forgot to replace fuse 38 that supplies power to the CDC! The air was blue. I had to go inside, have a cup of tea and kick the dog. Felt better, went back to car and found fuse on the bloody floor!!! Bugger!!
It is important that the unit is setup correctly. The instructions that came with the unit were not the same as I downloaded from the web site so beware. Set the dip switches for BMW mp3 (1 and 2 ON, 3 and 4 OFF). You must also make sure the unit has the up to date firmware. This is downloaded from the Dension support web page http://support.dension.com/support-center/...x=&mod_id=1 Finally make sure the unit is switched on or in the correct mode. This is done via the switch on the AUX box. This also has the reset button.
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If all is well you will end up with something like this on the display. You will need to plat around with the iDrive to find out the operation. Its a bit hit and miss until you are familiar with it.
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Finally , disconnect everything and have a tidy up of the electrics. I used some heat shrink tube plus heat shrink tape.
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Connect everything back up as before. I mounted the Dension unit above the trim in the passenger footwell hard over to the left hand side. I coiled all the cables up using tie wraps. Fit glovebox back as before and also the trim plate. Put all the crap back in the glove box, connect up the iPod and bingo! loads of music. I also tested out using a USB stck. Just as good.
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I hope that this is of use to you guys. I would imagine the install to be similar to those of you unfortunate enough to have the steering wheel on the wrong side. The CDC still works as well!
If I can give you any more information please PM me and I will try to help. The whole installation took me just under 1 hour, not including the tea break sorting out the fuse issue!

Regards for the New Tear.

cool! good job on the tutorial... thanks!

got a question(s). this module gives you an ipod input with the o.e.m. system without going to the dealer to get the car's idrive reprogramed for it? i have an '04 530 without navigation or ipod connection. would this system work for me? i visited their site and saw that video inputs are also available, did you get those too?

thanks,
orlee

Can I suggest a group buy ?
In last weeks many members got it and many others will .

AlexFW, I'm in for a group buy.

Great DIY tutorial! Should make this a sticky...

I think all European members would prefer to order in EU due to the duties ..

There was a shop in Germany .

"rhein audio", rysed said .

Someone should mail them and ask for a price :P

http://www.alles-in-koeln.de/kontakt/kontakt-6743.html

been reading up an apparently if you dont have the AUX or a CD-changer already installed and working it will not work for you. Blah, i gotta upgrade to much to then upgrade to this system.

if you are already asking others to mail them, you should atleast post the right url ;)

http://www.alles-in-koeln.de/store/rhein_audio.html

or

http://www.rheinaudio.info/

Rhein Audio Auto Media Service
Gilson Strasse 68a
51145 K?ln

Tel: 02203-9801188

@Muttley - great writeup!!!!!

@orlee008 - you also need a i-drive that is capable of playing back mp3. cd-changer is not necessarily a requirement, it just makes life easier because you have the bus available in your glove compartment, otherwise you need to draw the cable from the middle console where the i-drive is...

A quick reply to some of your questions.

You need to have the 6 disc CD changer and mp3 enabled on the in dash unit. You also need the screen but not sat nav. No need for coding if you have CDC and mp3. I also have the latest version of software on the car.

Wife bought mine via the Dension Web site http://www.dension.com/dealers.php You can do a search via Country. Shop around as the prices do vary, especially delivery charges. Cost was ?268.00 inc VAT and delivery. Apart from my time, installation cost me ?0.99 in bits and ?0.25 for a plaster (Band Aid for the USA) as I cut my finger when pulling the fuse. Should have mentioned to use the BMW supplied fuse puller in toolkit!

The unit gives an AUX input but no video. There is space on the unit and an unused socket so perhaps this is a later development?

I have had a chance to really play with the unit and it is really good compared to the BMW iPod interface. Easy to navigate using playlists, Artists, Albums and a general iPod menu for tracks. Did I mention that it also charges the iPod? Pretty good all round. Dogs Gonads in my opinion.

Previously had the Dension DICE kit on my X5. It was a good idea but needs more R and D to make it really useful. Looks like the Gateway is about right, especially as you can upgrade flash easily.

Hope this helps.

Just one more question : is this the cheapest way/device to have the USB port ?
Or is there something simpler ?

Thanks, bye!