Soundplicity control:III allows interfacing of modern Bluetooth, USB, and satellite radio electronics to existing BMW controls built into steering wheel and to existing BMW display in dash board.
Step 1: Order Specialty Toolkit and Soundplicity Control III
Here’s where you buy the tools that include plastic rivet remover for disassembling trunk trim pieces, plastic cable tucking tool to help prevent damage to trim pieces, and the Soundplicity electronic control unit:
Here’s a couple of pictures of the Soundplicity unit and of all the parts that come with that unit plus the additional adapter cable mentioned in the next step:
Step 2: Order SiriusXM SXV300V1 Tuner and Audiovox AACCSATCBL adapter cable
Here’s where you buy the vehicle tuner:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-f2v37e0RDFf/p_220SXV300/SiriusXM-SXV300V1-Tuner.html
You also need this adapter cable:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-zPuYwxhfBJu/p_220AACCSAT/Audiovox-AACCSATCBL.html
Here are some photos of those two items:
Sirius XM tuner connection to adapter cable:
Soundplicity connection to adapter cable:
Step 3: Remove CD Changer
Watch this video to see how you remove the CD Changer so you may use the wires that were plugged into the CD Changer for the cabling harness that you run from the trunk to the front of the car where you plug in the Soundplicity unit:
Step 4: Watch the installation videos to familiarize yourself with disassembly and assembly steps
Installation of DICE DSP Adapter for a BMW iPod & iPhone Integration Kit for BMW 5 Series / M5 97-03 (E39) and X5 00-06 (E53) with Premium (DSP) sound system
Complete process for installing a Soundplicity ONE / Control II / Control III Kit and Bluetooth Microphone in an E39 (other late model BMWs are similar but we release specific videos all the time). Simple to install these kits provide iPod/iPhone connectivity, Bluetooth voice and music streaming, USB input, Aux Input and Satellite Radio (in the case of the Control II, iPhone/iPod and Sat Radio Only) in your 5 Series or M5
BMW E39 Glove Box trim removal
Go to manufacturer’s web site and view their instructions and videos:
Step 5: Run cable harness from trunk to front
Running the cable harness is not rocket science; removal, trim removal is non trivial. Go slow, and take your time. I pretty much followed the method in the http://www.bavsound.com instructions/video. My neighbor loaned me an additional trim tool that was made out of nylon and had nice little hook on the end to help get my fingers underneath the trim piece that goes along passenger side near bottom of the doors. You will need to move seat up and back to tuck cable up into trim. You may also need some fairly advanced yoga postures. My particular car has fold down back seats. After removing back seat, place padding over latch for bottom seat so you do not damage the leather on the back support that folds down when you run the wires. If your car does not have fold down seats, you will need to feed the cabling harness from the inside of cab through the grommet to the trunk.
Here’s a photo of the two wires that used to plug into the CD Changer:
*** Unplug the negative terminal of the battery before plugging in any wires ***
Plug the Soundplicity cabling harness into the wires from the CD Changer. Route cabling harness from trunk to rear seat using nylon tie wraps to properly harness excess cable:
Junction between CD Changer cabling harness and Soundplicity cabling harness carefully placed behind grommet with nylon tie wraps holding each cabling harness to the main cabling harness so mechanical structure minimizes possibility of connector problems later in life due to vibration over the years:
Tuck cable underneath lip of vibration/sound insulation where rear bottom seat will go back into car when done. Traverse with cable to passenger side of car. Continue tucking cable around the side of the rear passenger seat and up underneath the plastic trim near bottom car doors to reach the front glove box.
Step 6: Install microphone
I followed the instruction from Bavsound in their video and made one small modification. I fabricated mic stand using a piece of picture hanging steel wire.
- remove plastic clip from mic
- wrap wire around mic
- twist wire to hold mic in place
- mount nylon tie wrap holders with double sided foam
- harness mic wire to tie wrap holder with small tie wrap
- twist each end of picture wire onto nylon tie wrap mounts so mic is angled directly at my mouth
Ultimately, you will tuck mic cable as directed in the installation video where it goes through the trim where trim meets windshield. Then, you tuck cable into trim with nylon or plastic tucking tool that won’t damage wire or trim until you reach upper corner of windshield on passenger side. Tuck wire into junction between trims pieces at that corner to reach inside of rubber gasket around door. Tuck wire into that rubber gasket to reach bottom corner of glove box.
Step 7: Install Sirius XM satellite radio antenna
I looked at various methods to mount antenna included the recommendations from the manufacturer and opted to choose a different location. Here’s why. I do not want some magnetic mounted blob on the outside of my car. I mounted antenna in front corner of windshield on passenger side because routing the wire to bottom corner of glove box was easy, and that location is where the other wires are located. The double sided foam tape I used di not work so well on the leather. Antenna is pretty much only held in place by it’s wire tucked into the trim. I did purposely mount antenna far enough away from corner to maximize amount of unobstructed view through clear glass.
Step 8: Update firmware on Soundplicity unit
Before plugging in your Soundplicity unit, and before re-connecting the battery, you must update the firmware. Here’s where you get the firmware:
You will need to obtain a USB cable that plugs in your PC or Mac with mini USB on one end to plug into Soundplicity. Fortunately, I had one from another piece of electronics I had purchased some time ago and think they must be a fairly common cable.
You will need to register your product to download the firmware. Follow the instructions in the firmware updater, and pick out SiriusXM SXV300 Connect Vehicle Tuner when presented with that option.
Step 9: Install Soundplicity unit
Remove the trim piece underneath glove box that easily slides out without any tools. Run USB extension cable from inside of glove box to side of car behind glove box with the other wires so you may plug iPhone, Android, or USB media into Soundplicity inside glove box without having any exposed chargers, wires, or adapters.
Use tie wraps to properly harness excess cable to existing structure on passenger side of car near back of glove box.
Here’s what my harnessed cables look like before plugging the Soundplicity unit:
*** Document your Sirius XM Connect Vehicle Tuner Radio ID before harnessing that unit ***
Plug in Soundplicity and Sirius units, harness cables with tie wraps, and gently tuck unit up into side. Re-connect battery. Done.
Step 10: Activate your Sirius Satellite Radio Subscription
Go to the Sirius XM activation web site:
Choose “XM” for your radio. Choose “I’m new and don’t have username and password.” Create/document your username and password. Enter your Radio ID.
Enjoy. It works really well. I tested Bluetooth phone connection with my son yesterday. I pressed button on steering wheel to engage Siri on my iPhone after Bluetooth pairing. Soundplicity automatically switched car audio system from Sirius XM Satellite radio to the iPhone. The iPhone placed the call, he answered, and he said quality was good on hands-free speakerphone even with background noise from all windows wide open. Sirius XM Satellite radio reception worked fine with antenna mounted inside car even with car inside garage.
