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Matty

E46: Internals of the C43 cassette head unit?

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Been a few years since I posted here :). Been back in Aus, brought the car over here and fitted an Australian cassette tape head unit. The old Japanese one is a C43 model. I recall jochen on here being the guru of all things BMW ICE, so hopefully he or someone can answer...

Basically I want to rig up something like a Sinjimoru iDeck, but without being fed through the magnetic tape head...

I'm looking at whether it's possible to gut the head unit and trick it into thinking a tape is present, then feeding in an audio signal to the tape module inputs.

The tape player module has a 1x20 IDE header - does anyone know the pinouts? The only three I've figured so far are the audio - pins 3 4 and 5.

cheers,

matt.

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Been a few years since I posted here :). Been back in Aus, brought the car over here and fitted an Australian cassette tape head unit. The old Japanese one is a C43 model. I recall jochen on here being the guru of all things BMW ICE, so hopefully he or someone can answer...

Basically I want to rig up something like a Sinjimoru iDeck, but without being fed through the magnetic tape head...

I'm looking at whether it's possible to gut the head unit and trick it into thinking a tape is present, then feeding in an audio signal to the tape module inputs.

The tape player module has a 1x20 IDE header - does anyone know the pinouts? The only three I've figured so far are the audio - pins 3 4 and 5.

cheers,

matt.

Thats already been done, yes its possible to jack into the tape input. Its also possible to send the signal to the MID on what track your on. pretty cool .. Sorry its been ages since ive seen the link for it. But if you search youtube / net youll find it. I think it was a 7 series?

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Thanks for the inputs. I've seen people online do similar stuff tapping into the tape inputs, so I know that much is possible. But I've never seen anyone fool the system that a tape still exists. Call me anal, but it would be nice to totally ditch the tape motors and reduce all noise, even if it makes 4/5ths of f**kall difference when you're driving and have background noise present...

I've figured out most of them so far (power, mute detect, audio, tape sensor microswitches, and the drive signals for the load/eject/head motor), but I need to dismantle the tape drive assembly to figure out what the last few (and seemingly most important) are.

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Thanks for the inputs. I've seen people online do similar stuff tapping into the tape inputs, so I know that much is possible. But I've never seen anyone fool the system that a tape still exists. Call me anal, but it would be nice to totally ditch the tape motors and reduce all noise, even if it makes 4/5ths of f**kall difference when you're driving and have background noise present...

I've figured out most of them so far (power, mute detect, audio, tape sensor microswitches, and the drive signals for the load/eject/head motor), but I need to dismantle the tape drive assembly to figure out what the last few (and seemingly most important) are.

if you want to simply tell the system that a tape is in, but at the same time fool the end-of-tape detection, then you'll need to override that logic. Which means pulling the tape mech apart to see what is detected where

The end-of.tape relies on rotation detection of the tape spools, when they stop rotating (impulses stop) then the mech changes direction.

Lots to fool - why not simply fit an iPod CD emulator to the Cd changer port?

Much easier, simpler, and quicker...I did that in my VW Passat. A 10min job to fit, a 5 min job to remove when the car was sold. And no damage to any of the factory components.

Heck, these days you could eve add a bluetooth connection like I have to my home stereo using the Logitech Wireless Speaker Adapter for Bluetooth® audio devices. Works great, delivers line out analog audio.

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-aud...speaker-adapter

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Thanks Jochen.

I got a fair way into it last night, found the sensors that sense the tape spool rotation. As you say they send a pulse signal out to the main board, where the brains that control it are.

There are a couple of parts to tricking it it seems.

1) you need to fool the tape head position sensors that it is moving when the load/head motor is activated - that switch opens and closes 4 times as the motor runs from one end to the other! (and there are three other switches to worry about also, which sense tape insertion and proper loading). I don't think you can just set it in one position (hard wire the switch outputs) because the tape head disengages when you switch it off or out of Tape mode.

but I could be wrong, as outlined here: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=500287

2) end of tape presumably depends on the speed difference between the take-up reel and the feed reel. I think that might be easy to dummy by bridging a link between the two outputs so they both read the same speed... (however my aim would be to ditch the drive motor to eliminate the noise)

Again though, from the link about, it seems you can get away without a tape even being present...

As you say a CD-changer emulator is much easier (e.g. the DICE system) - but where's the fun in that? (Also it's not cheap)

Today I had the head unit in with the tape module absent, it puts "TAPE ERROR" on the display when you go to tape mode, but I'm not yet sure which part of the system is responsible for it generating that error.

Half the reason for this is that I like the concept of having the iPhone up front where it can be seen and accessed.

oh well, some free brainstorming for me anyway... electronics isn't my speciality.

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> Half the reason for this is that I like the concept of having the iPhone up front where it can be seen and accessed.

Go for the bluetooth option. I have bluetooth with my iphone in my current care and it is a dream

The Logitech adapter is only about 40 USD

And a CD emulator is only 50 EUR:

http://wcs.minibarebones.de/shopping_cart....roducts_id=1384

Much much easier than what you are trying to do

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Your link is broken, and I can't find the Logitech adapter you mention.

Simplest thing seems to be this:

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/product/...ntegration-Kit/

Yep, that'll do the same thing

The LogiTech adapter can be found by googling for Logitech Wireless Speaker Adapter

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