I'm interested in opinions from anyone who has installed the Dice Electronics' i-AUDI-T2/5V ipod interface (http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/DICE_I_AUDI_T2.html), or any other ipod interfaces for that matter. My '07 RS has the factory MMi and glovebox mounted six-disk changer. Although the exhaust is probably the best sound in town...I'm missing my iPod in a big way. Enough that I'm willing to remove the cd changer in favor of an interface for my iPod (Touch 2g). The dealer wants approx. $500 parts & labor for the Audi interface...hard to swallow and I understand there really isn't much of an interface. I had the old gen ice>Link in my E46 M and I loved it so if any of you have installed the Dice unit I'm curious in, a) how you like it terms of functionality and, b) how easy was the install

Thanks, E

Had the older Icelink+ in my B7 S4 (worked great). When I got the RS, ENFIG sold me the more functional Gateway 100. With the Euro wheel, functionality isnt as easy but it works fine - I keep the ipod on shuffle and bypass songs I'm not in the mood to hear. BTW, the song names do appear on the cluster display ... :)

edit: If I can install it then anyone can ...

i have it in my '07. overall it's good, but the interface is a bit clunky, and my radio loses the ability to control the iPod if the car sits for more than 2 days. but, unplugging the iPod and then reconnecting it makes it work again (and then re-enabling the 'shuffle' feature). it's not ideal, but it was way easier than any of the other options i looked at. and it has an AUX input as well.

you won't have any problem installing it. i just asked my local Audi dealer to pull the CD changer and leave it on the floor (since i don't have the removal keys). the wiring harness is designed to only fit in it's mating connectors, so you can't (without trying REALLY hard) hook it up wrong. there isn't any custom wiring or splicing required. it'll take you about an hour. and it'll save you the installation fee.

good luck.

Definitely look into the Alpine KCE 130 unit with the Koufatech interface integration unit. I installed this ipod interface and am able to still have the cd changer. I can also watch videos on my ipod through my nav screen. Similarly all track names and artists are shown, and steeringwheel controls work as well. Also the in dash screen displays song information as well. Unfortunately, however, the availability in the US is very limited, had to order the parts from the UK and Netherlands. It might be a bit more work, but with this car you dont want to necessarily take the easy way out. I love my ipod interface, and it works great. Sound quality is fantastic. Anyway, hope I could help

Definitely look into the Alpine KCE 130 unit with the Koufatech interface integration unit. I installed this ipod interface and am able to still have the cd changer. I can also watch videos on my ipod through my nav screen. Similarly all track names and artists are shown, and steeringwheel controls work as well. Also the in dash screen displays song information as well. Unfortunately, however, the availability in the US is very limited, had to order the parts from the UK and Netherlands. It might be a bit more work, but with this car you dont want to necessarily take the easy way out. I love my ipod interface, and it works great. Sound quality is fantastic. Anyway, hope I could help

Guys, really appreciate the feedback.

Chazaki - interested in the Alpine solution you went with, but you're right that it is a hard find. I didn't get any direct matches when I searched for "Alpine KCE 130". Do you mind sharing where you found yours and also if you did the install yourself? Thanks!!

I apologize its the Alpine KCE 425i, I put the wrong number by mistake. No wonder it was so difficult for you. It comes with an easy to read DIY manual and while it wasnt easy and took a good number of hours to install (ensuring that nothing gets scratched of course), it was well worth the effort.

what about just loading your songs on SD cards since it sounds like you have Nav. I think the song names come up. I am buying an RS4 but have not gotten it yet to test that out.

The SD cards are only able to be 1gb each, so you cant hold very many songs on them. Plus you have to type in every song name if you want it to come up on the nav.

The SD cards are only able to be 1gb each, so you cant hold very many songs on them. Plus you have to type in every song name if you want it to come up on the nav.

Correction - 4 GB cards work. If I'm not mistaken you can fit up to 400 songs per card (seems Audi software wont read more than that) and song titles do display on the cluster ...

My Ipod has approx. 6,000 songs on it ...

Apologies again, Steve is correct.

Too sure that is 4GB per slot for 8GB total correct?

Too sure that is 4GB per slot for 8GB total correct?

You can use 4GB cards, but the unit won't read more than about 400 files off each card. Seeing as you can easily fit ~400 songs on a 2GB card (@192 kbps) there really isn't much point in using 4GB cards. Also note, that the unit does NOT support the newer SDHC cards.

My only complaint about using the SD cards is that it can take a while for the unit to read the cards if they contain a lot of songs, but I still use them on a daily basis.

All, thanks for the feedback re the SD card option...I had all but forgotten about that. Honestly, I had an iPod interface in my e46 M and got spoiled with it, so will ultimately go that route with the RS, whether it be the Dice or Alpine unit.

Chazaki - I'll PM you, interested in a few more details on the Alpine option

-E

I was wondering how that Alpine solution works if you change over to Navigation, does the iPod music keep playing? Looks like an interesting setup

I was wondering how that Alpine solution works if you change over to Navigation, does the iPod music keep playing? Looks like an interesting setup

Music continues to play no matter what menu you are at (such as the Nav screen). Only problem is when you get a phonecall through bluetooth, unlike the CD player that pauses the music, with the Alpine unit the music still plays unless you pause it. Other than that the unit works flawlessly, allows you to play music and videos on your ipod on your nav screen. Also you are able to create playlists from the Alpine interface right in your car. Finally, the unit comes with a very handy remote control so picking your music while driving is incredibly easy. Hope this helps


~Chazaki
(P.S. if you have any further questions feel free to PM me, I put the unit in my car about a year ago)

I apologize for back to back posts but I need to clarify. When you get a phone call, no music comes through the speakers, only the phone call, however the music on the iPod is still playing (though you cant hear it). When the call ends the music returns and is still playing.

Not sure you can find 4 GB non SDHC cards - searched for them last year

took me a while to find a link, but here it is for anyone that's interested in the Alpine unit with the Kufatec video interface:

http://kufatec.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1028

-mikeC

I apologize its the Alpine KCE 425i, I put the wrong number by mistake. No wonder it was so difficult for you. It comes with an easy to read DIY manual and while it wasnt easy and took a good number of hours to install (ensuring that nothing gets scratched of course), it was well worth the effort.

hey Chazaki,

i spent about 6 hours yesterday trying to put this thing into my car. everything seems to work, but i can't find an ACC connection for the Alpine unit (yellow wire that connects to switched power). i tested it by jumping the constant power line yellow wire, but i didn't leave it connected since the KCE425 and the iPod would run continuously.

how did you hook up ACC for the Alpine unit? even in the harness for the radio, there doesn't seem to be a switched power line.

i'm guessing that most of the devices in the car come alive once the CAN bus goes live, but i would have expected an ACC line in there SOMEWHERE.

for anyone - if you can let me know how to find a switched power source, that would be huge. even my V1 is wired to a constant power line, which is a pretty lame way of wiring stuff in this car.

thanks.
-mikeC

ps: i now have a Dice Link iPod adapter for sale if anyone wants it.

This sounds Great! I'm a new 2007 RS4 owner(only 3 days) I was wondering does this work on iPhone4? If so great! I am assuming you did you install yourself..I would prefer to take it to a stereo shop to install....Thanks! This is AWESOME

ps: i now have a Dice Link iPod adapter for sale if anyone wants it.

Interested ... Just picked up an 08 RS4 that came out of the factory with an AMI but was converted to 6 disc. Need to get rid of it ASAP!