jay2jay99

Ok, done lots and LOTS of reading up on here regarding the Dension Gateway 500 and just need someone to clarify if this is correct, at the moment I don't know if I have a cd changer (I am waiting to pick up my car and when I saw it the glove box handle was broken but they are fixing it) but what I assume is:

If I have a cd changer and it plays mp3's I can plug the dension straight in.... might not be 100% on that,

If I don't have a cd changer I have to get it activated for cdc and mp3 and then the Dension will work,

If I have a cd changer but it doesn't play mp3's then I need to have it activated for mp3 and then the Dension will work,


What confuses me is when people are saying to get the Dension to work you need to get the ipod option activated (is this the same as getting the mp3 activated) but BMW won't do it with the Dension installed as it's not a BMW part and they can't do it with nothing installed as it won't work........ so how do you do it? Don't tell me you have to buy the BMW ipod kit just to get it activated and then rip it straight out again and put in the Dension? Clarification would be sublime!

jay2jay99

Should've mentioned I have a 2004 525D, no sat-nav or bluetooth

Fetish

You're right there is a ton of information out there, and for me at least that only made it more confusing.
I can tell you what worked for me.

I had my Dension installed first, (thinking I was already mp3 enabled, but in actuality I was only playing mp4's i.e. itunes and seeing cd text). After having the Dension installed, I then went to BMW and had the mp3 activated and that enabled my Dension to work. There is a switch on the Dension to turn off so that there are no error codes seen by BMW, be sure that's set to off before they do the update. I would also recommend taking in a CD with mp3's to verify that they have done the correct update. Lesson learned on my part. After the mp3 update was performed correctly but Dension then started to work.
I'm sure others more experienced will chime in, but this is what worked for me.
Hope this helps, Mike
BTW I have an 04 with CDC.

jay2jay99

Hi, thanks for that, at least I'm not alone! I've had a look at Densions for sale over here, the website i've been looking at is www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk on that site they have a compatibility chart (I have attached it below), for the 5-series it says you need i-Drive CCC which I believe I have not.... more confusion! I've attached a pic of my dash. Also I have just found out that I don't have a cd changer but hopefully I have the cables for it other wise I'm $crewed

delwarulislam

Jay you should most defo have the Cables in the Glove Box as my friend has the same and his got the cable in glove box you have to take the black case (to see fuses) out from the back in order to see the cable...

And you should be able to activate mp3 on the M-ASK unit which you have but that im not sure about...

If youu live local to me then gimme a shout and ill try and help...did you buy the car from BMW itself or from another dealer (not bmw dealership)????

jay2jay99

Thanks alot for that, it's appreciated! I'll wait until I have the car, if I've got the cd changer cables then I'll take it to BMW with a MP3 disc in the single slot and get them to activate it so the disc works and then I'll install the dension when it arrives.... with a bit of luck it'll then all be working.

I bought it non-BMW dealership, they just specialise in them.

delwarulislam

Let me know how much bmw quote for the mp3 activation cos i know a garage that does all these programming for bmw and his got all the softwares and equipments for our cars and i will introduce you to him...by the way his not them hanky panky garages that you get in the backstreets his garage is actually proper clean and with no grease on the floor lol...let me know how it goes...

Happy to help you out and if i cant help then there are alot of knowledgable people on this forum that can answer alot of questions that certain tom, dick and harry BMW techs dont even know about and can answer

jay2jay99

I just rang my local garage saying that I wanted the MP3 feature activated, they said that it isn't possible to play MP3's on the single CD drive on a car that old. I said that I wanted it activated for the fibre bus and he said it can be done on that and to fit the ipod kit and software would be ?350, and then I said about getting just the software done so then my options are open for cd changer with MP3 discs, BMW ipod attachment or third party attachments and he said it would be an hour to two hours work ?115-?230 plus vat. How does that sound?

jas_r_1

could you pm me the details of this garage? I work in Docklands so hopefully it isn't to far. I am looking to do thi install in the near future and it would be good to get details of a garage from someone who knows their work

kErb

Are your cars still under warranty? I had my MY2005 E61 MP3 enabled / programmed as a warranty claim because the vehicle is specified in the handbook as MP3 enabled from the factory. They will only do the work if you complain that the centre dash CD player won't play MP3 CD's, but you musn't mention you want to activate an I-pod or Dension. As part of the BMW download you automatically get the I-pod programming at the same time. There is PDF available on this forum (I may well have a copy on my home computer which I can upload if needed) which is the official BMW work instruction. Follow this link for more info: https://5series.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=59271