BMW Active Sound: Give us the best sound system?

[Technic]

Thanks for the step-by-step install...

Originally Posted by motzus

Just installed the cable today and it works as advertised. No more active sound. It took me two tries to install the cable because I'm a moron and can't follow simple directions. I did the install on an F80 with the HK stereo so it will look different on cars without the HK stereo.

So some tips...

The cable as you get it cannot be plugged into the ASD module. You need to switch the housings between the cable that you received and the cable that is already in the car. To do this

Step 1:

Pull the housing off of the cable that you received. Note how the two parts are arranged in the housing.

Step 2:

Pull the housing off of the cable in the car. Note how the two parts are arranged in the housing.

Once the housing are swapped you can plug the existing cable from the car into the new cable and then plug the new cable into the ASD module.

I was worried that the black portion of the new cable would rattle in my car so I used a zip tie to hold the new cable in place. There was a very convenient hole for this purpose.

I tucked the black plastic connectors under the metal bracket behind the hole. The connectors are out of the way and very secure.

[BigChuck]

Originally Posted by Technic

Thanks for the step-by-step install...

Anyone having Bluetooth connection issues after the install?

[motzus]

Originally Posted by BigChuck

Anyone having Bluetooth connection issues after the install?

No issues with bluetooth after install.

[RocketBoots]

I guess BMW is giving us their "best" sound system (they offer) for the F8X now, making HK standard. ROFL.

[ppendyck]

Sorry if these questions are moronic but I have read the post several times and could not find the answers.
1. Is the objective of the harness that Technic supplies so that there is not an error could when the car is in for service, as well as removing active sound?
2. If the sound can be disabled through coding who bother with the hassle of physically changing the harness?
Thanks

[GregoryK]

Originally Posted by ppendyck

Sorry if these questions are moronic but I have read the post several times and could not find the answers.
1. Is the objective of the harness that Technic supplies so that there is not an error could when the car is in for service, as well as removing active sound?
2. If the sound can be disabled through coding who bother with the hassle of physically changing the harness?
Thanks

1 - You are completely correct. The ASD is hooked up to CANBUS. If it is removed your dealer will not be able to upgrade the software for the stereo etc. because there will be a hardware error code. Technic's harness bypasses the ASD but leaves it connected to Canbus.
2 - You can code it out but you will have to redo the coding every time there is a software update.
Hope this helps.

[tganschow]

Looking to purchase one of the ASP hardware deactivation cables from Technics. Any ideas how to contact him?

[GregoryK]

Send me a PM. He is really great to deal with.
Click on his name above left and find "send a PM"
Or look on other forums where he has posted recently and PM him on those.

[sl1111]

Originally Posted by Technic

Active Sound Design (ASD) = synthesized sound = pre-recorded engine sound + OEM audio

There is a small OEM module/amp that generates, controls and outputs this pre-recorded engine sound, and depending on your OEM system (Stereo, HiFi, Harman Kardon/B&O) it will mix the engine sound with the iDrive audio either at the ASD module (Stereo system and HiFi) itself or the ASD module sends the engine sound to the OEM amp (Harman Kardon/B&O) and it is mixed in there.

There are 2 ways to disable the mixing without affecting the car diagnostics: coding and hardware bypassing. Coding simply disables the internal mixing function of the ASD without actually disabling the module -car can still be dealer-diagnosed without errors of missing module. Hardware bypass simply reroutes the analog inputs/outputs of the ASD so no engine sound reaches the OEM speakers/OEM amp. The ASD still is connected, still function, still can be diagnosed but it simply outputs nothing.

Example of hardware bypass (100% PnP) in a MY2014 528i ASD:

I can not message on this forum yet. I sent you an email through your web site regarding a harness for an R60 Countryman. Thank You for any follow up.