Intravee II and extra features added with it

[haywire]

Searched the forum and didn't find any info about the Intravee II, its installation and cost.So I would like to start a thread and discuss about it.Basically, Intravee started off as a BMW iPod integration kit. I wasnt so interested with Intravee before this, as I already have Aux In and AV input in my car. But recent read on UK BMW forum has opened my eyes of its extra features added on since its initial development.I was looking for a way to automatically fold and unfold my side mirrors, and found out the Intravee II can do this and much more! So been reading up on it a bit, apparently these options are only available with special firmware update which needed to be requested from Intravee themselves. This is the firmware version 6.02 which was not included with the hardware initially.The hardware required are these:

The Intravee II unit

Alpine KCA-420i iPod adapter

Long AiNET Cable - to connect the Intravee to the Alpine KCA-420i above.So the extra features, apart from the iPod integration, which you can read someplace else, are as follows (not a complete list, but the highlights):

Some of the options. If the car have sat nav (GPS) the Intravee can actually synchronise the time with the higly accurate GPS system.

Mirror folding menu

Mirror folding options

Mirror unfolding options

Some car info: Type of car, fuel type, fuel used since last service, service due date, number of previous services

PDC info. Distance from obtruction of each sensor

This one and below I like. Live data! Outside temperature, coolant temp, current speed and engine RPM.http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5592255864_10435e4c07_z.jpgSecond page of the live data. Accelereration/ deceleration in G's!!!http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5592255854_5948389bf1_z.jpgJournal entry. This one remembers your last journey, max speed, max coolant temperature, and max acceleration and deceleration in G'sThats some of the features, you can read more with the user manual here:http://www.intravention.co.uk/files/public/Documentation/Intravee_Users_Guide_V6.02-4306.pdfIntravee website - Doesnt seem to be updated for a while though.http://www.intravention.co.uk/Official distributer in the UK. They post worldwide apparently.http://www.toysinyourcar.com/acatalog/intravee.htmlAs you can see the Intravee is best used on the widescreen 16:9 screen, but it can also be used on normal radio with limited functions I think.Those above are printscreens from the user guide, I dont actually have it installed in my car, but very much would like to do so soon! I'm convinced by now to purchase a set. I'm actually in contact with the person who developed Intravee in UK. They are actually open to suggestions if any new features can be added, and I have heard stories that they amend their firmware to suit individual customers.Anyone know how much I can get them here in Malaysia, and where? I can do the installation DIY I think. Would like first hand experiences from those who have installed this in their car.

 

[bmw7833]

Wow, interesting! Can this thing use with the HU i am using now? May be u can ask for me from the person?

 

[B33mEr]

Bro, so do we actually need an ipod in-conjunction with the hardware above or the features can be done without one?

 

[aidilj]

Wow this product is very elaborate, they manage to use all the IBUS info to best use. Thanks for sharing the info, at ~RM740 this is a steal, now I regret spending on the DICE silverline which I no longer use.

 

[aidilj]

Bro, so do we actually need an ipod in-conjunction with the hardware above or the features can be done without one?

You don't always need an iPod to use the above features it seems. iPod is another peripheral that it supports.

Does it make the KCA-420i optional if you don't want iPod integration?

 

[haywire]

Wow, interesting! Can this thing use with the HU i am using now? May be u can ask for me from the person?

I dont think so. They're designed to be used with original BMW HUs. But check yourself though.

 

[haywire]

Bro, so do we actually need an ipod in-conjunction with the hardware above or the features can be done without one?

I think its optional.

You don't always need an iPod to use the above features it seems. iPod is another peripheral that it supports.

Does it make the KCA-420i optional if you don't want iPod integration?

Correct.

 

[haywire]

Wow this product is very elaborate, they manage to use all the IBUS info to best use. Thanks for sharing the info, at ~RM740 this is a steal, now I regret spending on the DICE silverline which I no longer use.

Yeah thats the thing, they managed to communicate with the iBus and use the information avalable which many other who tried to do so failed.

All these info lingers on the iBus, its just BMW who didnt let us have it in the first place.

 

[525i]

Hi Haywire,

I have the Intravee II since 2009. Been using it on my E39 but without an Ipod. Instead it connects to a Alpine MP3/CD changer. Works very well. Much better than the DICE unit. It shows all the song info but this is the first time I am hearing that it can include other info from the car. However my unit probably needs an software upgrade to be able to do this.

If you are interested and have the time, we can tinker with it since I have the unit. If this is successful I'm sure many will come onboard. Let me know.

 

[haywire]

Hi Haywire,

I have the Intravee II since 2009. Been using it on my E39 but without an Ipod. Instead it connects to a Alpine MP3/CD changer. Works very well. Much better than the DICE unit. It shows all the song info but this is the first time I am hearing that it can include other info from the car. However my unit probably needs an software upgrade to be able to do this.

If you are interested and have the time, we can tinker with it since I have the unit. If this is successful I'm sure many will come onboard. Let me know.

Hi there. You will need to email Intravention and request a firmware update. The one above is version 6.02. Did they supply a cable (serial) with the Intravee when you bought it? If they did, you will need a USB to Serial converter to connect to a laptop, unless you have a very old laptop with serial connection.

One more thing, the Intravee can only accept Alpine CD/MP3 changer right? So I cannot use the ori BMW CD changer currently in my car?

How much did you bought the Intravee and the CD changer for? And where?

 

[bmw7833]

On the link u gave above, there stated user will lost the CDC function.

 

[aidilj]

On the link u gave above, there stated user will lost the CDC function.

The way I understand it is that, it connects to the existing CD changer bus. As it talks AInet, you can only use Alpine CD changer not the existing BMW CD changer

 

[bmw7833]

The way I understand it is that, it connects to the existing CD changer bus. As it talks AInet, you can only use Alpine CD changer not the existing BMW CD changer

Most of the CDC in BMW also made by Alpine actually.

 

[aidilj]

Most of the CDC in BMW also made by Alpine actually.

The CD changer needs to communicate through AINET while the one in our BMW uses the IBUS, so they are different protocol even if they are made by the same manufacturer. Don't quote me for this, based on my understanding only..

 

[aidilj]

Intravee installation

http://www.intravention.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=385.0

 

[haywire]

The CD changer needs to communicate through AINET while the one in our BMW uses the IBUS, so they are different protocol even if they are made by the same manufacturer. Don't quote me for this, based on my understanding only..

That was my understanding exactly. I was only asking because maybe Intravee have updated their device to include compatibility with the ori CDC, just in case it works. They didnt update their website, so the possibility is there. Lucky I know the person who is actually developing it in a BMW UK forum. He's the one who pointed out the new features to me, which was only available with a firmware update.

 

[aidilj]

That was my understanding exactly. I was only asking because maybe Intravee have updated their device to include compatibility with the ori CDC, just in case it works. They didnt update their website, so the possibility is there. Lucky I know the person who is actually developing it in a BMW UK forum. He's the one who pointed out the new features to me, which was only available with a firmware update.

Basing on my understanding of the bus and replies from RichardP, there are a few challenges in supporting the BMW CDC.

There is only one port for CD changer on the intravee hardware, so if you are to make it IBUS compatible only one device can be connected to that interface which is the BMW CD changer. This would break their support for iPod / MP3 CD changer / satellite radio / etc. So they'll need to add another IBUS specific port to support BMW CDC to not abandon support for other devices.

This can be done if somebody make an AI-Net to IBUS interface like what they have for AI-Net to iPod.

Intravee already emulates the CD changer so you can't have another CD changer connected to the IBUS bus.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that supporting BMW CDC requires hardware change not just firmware if they want to keep supporting AI-Net peripherals.

 

[525i]

I really cannot remember how much I got the Intravee II for. All I remember is it was less than 200 pounds. It was through their official supplier from

 

[haywire]

So its not available in Malaysia then.

Did you get to display the mp3 tags on your setup? The user manual states that without the Alpine KCA420i unit the screen will only display 'Track 1', 'Track 2' etc instead of.the song name.

Yes I think you need to email them to request firmware update. Include the serial number of your unit.

My side mirrors are factory fitted with the auto folding electric mirrors. Right now I use a switch on the mirror control console to fold and unfold.

Where do you live? Might want to try it out before i buy.

 

[erica34]

hoping to get the intravee unit soon since already have both alpine kca 420i and mp3 changer.