[Jackdaw]

I installed a Gateway 500 in my E90 March 05, Professional, I-Drive.
It failed to work with the 2.02 MOST firmware on their website but does work perfectly now with a BMW specific firmware which is currently beta but should be downloadable soon. The official firmware should be fine for most cars but the beta one is for older ones like mine. If anyone else is having trouble I can email the right firmware.
I'm impressed with it so far.
If an Ipod is connected one can choose between browsing on the Ipod or on the Nav screen. The layout on the Nav screen is like that on the Ipod - Artists, Albums etc and the use of the I-drive controller mirrors the use of an Ipod click wheel. Also there's a handy ABC search facility.
If a USB device is attached there's a similar facility plus direct browser navigating - the same as if browsing an MP3 CD with i-drive. There is a delay when the USB device is first connected because it needs to build a database. I have suggested that they make a PC utility to build this database before connection.
Artist/Album/Track is shown from ID3 tags when playing mp3's.
I'll post some pictures in a few days.
Also, I'll be testing it soon with a large hard drive to see how responsive it can be. It's no slower with an 80 GB Ipod than the system is with an MP3 cd and so I'm cautiously optimistic it can handle a 250GB hardrive.

[baltik]

Sounds promising for those of us that missed out on 6FL - will the video functionality be available as well?

[bartman32]

And a working link!

[Jackdaw]

will the video functionality be available as well?

AFAIK, video is limited to the AV extender to use with an Ipod 5G - I do not have this part and have no intention of buying it. There's also a bluetooth module for a wireless connection to a bluetooth music player and/or phone. Again, I don't have this.

I'll post some photographs on Wednesday - I'm away from home until then and do not have my camera with me.

[Jackdaw]

Okay here's some pictures:
I installed it just behind the cd changer:



At the moment I've just put my ipod in the tray above, there's also a clip which I'm not using:



First you select the source (Aux in to GW500, Ipod or USB):



Ipod GW is control via I drive rather than the ipod itself which is Ipod UI:



Thereafter, navigation is the same as on an Ipod, the I drive wheel replicates the Ipod wheel. Note also that it is possible to search Albums or Artists:













Navigation via USB is the same except there is also folder navigation.
I'll test it with a 250 GB hard drive at the weekend - I need to sort out a power supply for it first though.
The sound is digital via MOST unlike the 6FL. Also there is no battery drain issue on the Ipod. It's very responsive on my 80GB Ipod (same speed as an MP3 CD in the dash.)
I would recommend it without reservation but you will need either a CD changer fitted or a car coded by the dealer to accept a CD changer.

[baltik]

Looks extremely promising, any quirks or downsides to this system like random functionality, speed of loading etc?

[zenmaster]

I like this. Could turn out to be better than both 6FL and the OEM iPOD Interface (cd-changer emulator)

[Jackdaw]

any quirks or downsides to this system like random functionality, speed of loading etc?

The only quirk I've found, after two weeks of use, is that the GW500 boots faster than the Ipod (only by a few seconds though.) What this means is that sometimes the GW500 defaults to its own Aux as source when the iginition is turned on because the Ipod has not finished booting. You just wait a few seconds for the Ipod and then it's only a few moves on the I-drive controller to select Ipod GW and then it returns to whatever it was playing before the ignition was turned off. I haven't had this issue with a USB pen drive because they are ready almost immediately. As I said I'll be testing with a USB hard drive at the weekend.
This is an extremely minor issue which I suspect will be remedied in a firmware update for the GW500.

[msbean]

how much was the unit? and was it easy to install or did you have it done at a shop. also any chance you could show a picture as to where the other end of the cable on the module goes into?

[Jackdaw]

how much was the unit? and was it easy to install or did you have it done at a shop. also any chance you could show a picture as to where the other end of the cable on the module goes into?

I got it from here: http://www.autobra.co.uk/shop/produc...roducts_id/201 for £270.
The cables on the module that you see in the first photograph are not connected to the car - one is to an RCA and bypass switch to reconnect the CD changer, one to the Ipod and the other is a USB extension lead.
You have to disconnect the fibre optic cable on the MOST ring with the light coming out of the CDC and connect this to a plug that goes into the module. I couldn't photograph this without removing it again. You also need a power source (non-switched +12v and ground - you can tap into the cd changer's or the amp's power supply. Full instructions are here: http://support.dension.com/downloads...2007.06.25.pdf The E60 diagram applies to the E90 too.
As long as you're confident tapping into a cable for power it's OK to install. Otherwise it would take a HiFi installer about 20 - 30 mins.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: When I installed it I followed the E60/E61 instructions. The new installation manual http://support.dension.com/downloads...2007.06.25.pdf has instructions for the E90 and says that it is the input fibre optic cable to the CDC that should be used (i.e. opposite to the E60 instructions I used.) This may explain why when my USB hard drive had insufficient power to spin up the CDC came back online. I can't be bothered to reverse it now but will do so if any other problem emerges.

FURTHER UPDATE
I have tried the new E90 instructions but these do not work for me - the CDC stays online constantly. I have reverted to the E60 instructions. Shanmand, however, had the opposite experience. I suspect that there are hardware and possibly software differences which depend upon the build date of the car. I would therefore recommend trying it both ways - the cables can be reversed easily.

[msimon18]

Can you do video on the NAv screen ???

[ipodonidrive]

This is great info. I knew some will come out with a better version of the BMW solution. Will this work with E90 Professional Nav System?, Does anyone know where to get this in the USA?

[Jackdaw]

Can you do video on the NAv screen

Please see fourth post from start - I did not buy this add on video module but it is supposed to play video from Ipod 5th Gen.

Will this work with E90 Professional Nav System?,

Yes - that's what I'm using it on!

Does anyone know where to get this in the USA?

Try this link: http://www.automobilitydistribution....H&Category=125
I would check with Dension whether there are any material differences between USA and European BMW vehicle software coding.

[drkeng]

Wow! Very interesting. Wonder who will be the first US guinea pig, as in will the US software be compatible? Let's try to get some info from Dension.
Why do all the pics show at the bottom CD5? And after CD5, what are 001, 006? Must have something to do with needing the car coded for a CD changer. Wonder if US dealers will do the install and about warranty issues.

edit:
Just looked at Dension website; only small box mentioning BMW and Mini. Mostly MB, Audi, Porsche (considering it for our Cayenne)

edit2:
Don't see any BMW after 2005 on the compatibility list at Dension.

[Jackdaw]

And after CD5, what are 001, 006?

It always goes to CD5 or CD6 - I assume this is connected with how it fools the MOST system into recognising a non-OEM component. A car without a cd changer would have to be coded to accept one before fitting the gateway 500 - whether a friendly dealer would do this I don't know.

The distributor in the link above supplies the USA and Canada and so they ought to know whether it is compatible with North American cars.

Don't see any BMW after 2005 on the compatibility list at Dension.

It is on the list, see: http://www.dension.com/oem2.php?car_id=1015

I'm not going to have time until next week to test a 250 GB hard drive - I've been too busy at work to sort out a power supply.

[OC Guy]

Interesting. I might have to get this after someone in the states does a write up.

[MusicMan]

Great write up! Thanks for the info. I contacted Denison after purchasing my e90 almost 2 years ago. The Gateway 500 has been in development a long time. Seems like it was worth the wait.
I do not have a CD changer in my car. So I guess that means taking the car in for coding after the installation. Not sure how the dealer will react to that request. Can't wait for someone in the US to get this installed.

[NAandTT]

Jackdaw. If I have the cd changer but dont have the I drive, can this still be usable? Will it work?

[ipodonidrive]

I just called Dension in Canada and they said that the Gateway 500 is $549.00 and $40.00 shipping charge to California, you could ask for Harry for info. (905) 764-9533.

The only thing is how to get you E90 ready for CD changer so the Gateway 500 will work. I do not know where to go here in Northern California (South Bay Area) to get this update, the BMW dealers will just laugh at me if I request this from them. Any ideas here?

[MusicMan]

Originally Posted by ipodonidrive

I just called Dension in Canada and they said that the Gateway 500 is $549.00 and $40.00 shipping charge to California, you could ask for Harry for info. (905) 764-9533.

The only thing is how to get you E90 ready for CD changer so the Gateway 500 will work. I do not know where to go here in Northern California (South Bay Area) to get this update, the BMW dealers will just laugh at me if I request this from them. Any ideas here?

So did Dension close up shop in the US? They installed the adapter in my e46 a few years ago at their Signal Hill location.
It is not uncommon for someone to install a CD changer themselves. So, would it not be possible to ask the dealer to code your car PRIOR to the installation. Maybe someone who is a BMW technician could confirm that it's possible to code a car PRIOR to installing the CD changer (or Gateway 500).

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by MusicMan

Maybe someone who is a BMW technician could confirm that it's possible to code a car PRIOR to installing the CD changer (or Gateway 500).

Sounds like a non-issue.

[DrPowers]

Originally Posted by Jackdaw

It always goes to CD5 or CD6 - I assume this is connected with how it fools the MOST system into recognising a non-OEM component. A car without a cd changer would have to be coded to accept one before fitting the gateway 500 - whether a friendly dealer would do this I don't know.

The distributor in the link above supplies the USA and Canada and so they ought to know whether it is compatible with North American cars.



It is on the list, see: http://www.dension.com/oem2.php?car_id=1015

I'm not going to have time until next week to test a 250 GB hard drive - I've been too busy at work to sort out a power supply.

Let us know when you try out the 250GB Hard drive... if this works I will definately buy it.