How to remove USB/Aux port inside center console on 2008 E60 ?
03-25-2014 | 09:57 AM
#21
Members
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
My Ride: 08 528i
Model Year: 2008
Cool, thanks for the tip. I'll try taking it out as suggested. Did you remove/desolder the capacitors? On my other car (x3) it did make a difference, however you still have to mess with the volume because the aux is still lower than CD/Radio/USB. I guess it's just a minor annoyance.
03-25-2014 | 07:42 PM
#22
Members
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: US
My Ride: E60 550i
Model Year: 2010
Volume will depend on the source output voltage. Always set it to the max on your source unless you hear crackling (clipping the front end), then lower it until it is gone. There are better ways to find the maximum level using the sinusoidal tone recorded at full scale, but you don't need to go that route. Unfortunately CCC doesn't offer sensitivity adjustment for the AUX port. Though it is available on newer CIC version. I also removed caps on my wife's 09 550i. Opened up the top end. I also installed BT adapter so that she can stream A2DP (music) from her phone.
As far as adding another USB. I bought 1GB Toshiba HDD and it works with my USB port in the center console but not without problems. It doesn't get enough current from that port. So it works most of the time but in some cases it goes in on and off loop. I didn't want to take my chances so I took it out. I've measured inrush current and it is quite a bit higher than 500mA provided by the normal USB port. My plan was to add the USB hub and powered it off cigarette lighter (tap inside the center console). Though I haven't done it as my flash drive stores enough music plus I have a builtin storage in my CIC. Recently I've added BT adapter. It doesn't pull much current and I can use it with the hub powered from BMW USB port and have flash drive connected to it as well. I use 5port version of this hub Dynex 7Port USB 2.0 Hub DX-HB7PT - Best Buy in case you are interested.
As far as adding another USB. I bought 1GB Toshiba HDD and it works with my USB port in the center console but not without problems. It doesn't get enough current from that port. So it works most of the time but in some cases it goes in on and off loop. I didn't want to take my chances so I took it out. I've measured inrush current and it is quite a bit higher than 500mA provided by the normal USB port. My plan was to add the USB hub and powered it off cigarette lighter (tap inside the center console). Though I haven't done it as my flash drive stores enough music plus I have a builtin storage in my CIC. Recently I've added BT adapter. It doesn't pull much current and I can use it with the hub powered from BMW USB port and have flash drive connected to it as well. I use 5port version of this hub Dynex 7Port USB 2.0 Hub DX-HB7PT - Best Buy in case you are interested.
04-30-2014 | 08:31 PM
#23
New Members
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: wichita
My Ride: 2008 535i sport
This post is fantastic. I've been trying to find a solution to this problem forever and even bought, installed, and uninstalled an ms-8 before coming across this thread. It definitely improves the highs on the aux input and makes the system much more tolerable. To clarify a few things, I was able to pry the input box out with a flat screw drive from the left side of the box. I then heated the solder up on both sides of each capacitor and scraped it away with the iron and popped the capacitor off with some needle nose pliars. Not sure if that's how you're supposed to do it but it worked great!
12-07-2014 | 09:58 AM
#24
New Members
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Austin
My Ride: 2008 535i
Thanks!
Thanks for answering yourself and helping me out! Now.... If I could only remove the alternator whine at high speeds... Ugh
Not the ultimate sound machine!
Not the ultimate sound machine!
I went ahead to partially disassemble the armrest console using guidance from some other posts here on the 5series.net forum where I was able to reach under the console assembly and push the AUX/USB module out into the armrest compartment.
I have attached pictures where I disassembled the aux connector to find a small PCB with two capacitors. One cap was connected between right channel signal and GND. The other cap was connected between left channel signal and GND. There were no resistors on this board like the other AUX port kits for older cars. I removed the caps from the PCB and reassembled the module and center console. Guess what... the sound from my iPod is no longer muffled!!!
The caps measured 100nF (0.1uF), so these caps acted as a low pass filter and I could definitely hear its effects.
If you spend a lot of time listening to music via iPod or other player through the AUXIN port, the modification is worth the effort to getting sound quality similar to what comes off the head unit CD player on the E60. I actually compared four combinations:
Stock BMW speakers + original AUX - bright/lean midrange
Stock BMW speakers + caps removed - brighter midrange with more high frequency
BSW Stage 1 + original AUX - iPod sounds restrained/muffled
BSW Stage 1 + caps removed - this makes the iPod sound the best to be more comparable to built-in CD player
I have attached pictures where I disassembled the aux connector to find a small PCB with two capacitors. One cap was connected between right channel signal and GND. The other cap was connected between left channel signal and GND. There were no resistors on this board like the other AUX port kits for older cars. I removed the caps from the PCB and reassembled the module and center console. Guess what... the sound from my iPod is no longer muffled!!!
The caps measured 100nF (0.1uF), so these caps acted as a low pass filter and I could definitely hear its effects.
If you spend a lot of time listening to music via iPod or other player through the AUXIN port, the modification is worth the effort to getting sound quality similar to what comes off the head unit CD player on the E60. I actually compared four combinations:
Stock BMW speakers + original AUX - bright/lean midrange
Stock BMW speakers + caps removed - brighter midrange with more high frequency
BSW Stage 1 + original AUX - iPod sounds restrained/muffled
BSW Stage 1 + caps removed - this makes the iPod sound the best to be more comparable to built-in CD player
11-25-2022 | 02:13 PM
#25
Probation Members
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, VA
My Ride: 2008 528i
Other Posts for How to Get Behind the Consol?
I went ahead to partially disassemble the armrest console using guidance from some other posts here on the 5series.net forum where I was able to reach under the console assembly and push the AUX/USB module out into the armrest compartment.
I have attached pictures where I disassembled the aux connector to find a small PCB with two capacitors. One cap was connected between right channel signal and GND. The other cap was connected between left channel signal and GND. There were no resistors on this board like the other AUX port kits for older cars. I removed the caps from the PCB and reassembled the module and center console. Guess what... the sound from my iPod is no longer muffled!!!
The caps measured 100nF (0.1uF), so these caps acted as a low pass filter and I could definitely hear its effects.
If you spend a lot of time listening to music via iPod or other player through the AUXIN port, the modification is worth the effort to getting sound quality similar to what comes off the head unit CD player on the E60. I actually compared four combinations:
Stock BMW speakers + original AUX - bright/lean midrange
Stock BMW speakers + caps removed - brighter midrange with more high frequency
BSW Stage 1 + original AUX - iPod sounds restrained/muffled
BSW Stage 1 + caps removed - this makes the iPod sound the best to be more comparable to built-in CD player
I have attached pictures where I disassembled the aux connector to find a small PCB with two capacitors. One cap was connected between right channel signal and GND. The other cap was connected between left channel signal and GND. There were no resistors on this board like the other AUX port kits for older cars. I removed the caps from the PCB and reassembled the module and center console. Guess what... the sound from my iPod is no longer muffled!!!
The caps measured 100nF (0.1uF), so these caps acted as a low pass filter and I could definitely hear its effects.
If you spend a lot of time listening to music via iPod or other player through the AUXIN port, the modification is worth the effort to getting sound quality similar to what comes off the head unit CD player on the E60. I actually compared four combinations:
Stock BMW speakers + original AUX - bright/lean midrange
Stock BMW speakers + caps removed - brighter midrange with more high frequency
BSW Stage 1 + original AUX - iPod sounds restrained/muffled
BSW Stage 1 + caps removed - this makes the iPod sound the best to be more comparable to built-in CD player
"I was able to reach under the console assembly and push the AUX/USB module out into the armrest compartment".....can you provide the links to the other posts you used? 3.5 stopped working but everything else works fine. Replacing USB/3.5 unit before I move on to the MULF 2 but have only seen the "redneck" way of removing this unit (screw in 3.5 with plyers and some minor pulling).
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