A Question for Mikey!

[dogzdinner]

Mike,

I've got an aftermarket Video interface to feed into my standard SatNav system.....at the moment it's fed on a permanent live because otherwise the mini logo no longer displays on the screen unless the unit has power.

My basic question is whether or not there is a 12v line that goes live as soon as you unlock the car on the remote fob and then stays live until you lock the car again?

I'm assuming the SatNav gets it's signal from the canbus to start but I'm not aware of an interface that will give me that capability?

What do you reckon?

Obviously, anyone else who may have an answer please feel free to pipe up as well!

Cheers,

Tom...

[dogzdinner]

Bump!

[Mini4Cathy]

You might want to ask Mike Craven, who posted the terrific MINI Video Input article in www.motoringfile.com -- I don't recall him talking about such a 12v feed. I think you're right that the Nav system uses a 12v line that's always available, and detects the key in the ignition from a message on the I-BUS or the K-BUS.

Mike uses a 12v line that's on while the car is turned on and the 12v line from the reverse lights, and added two inexpensive Radio Shack relays to enable a rearview camera automatically when in reverse, and a composite video input when he flips a switch.

[dogzdinner]

Bump....Mikey are you watching!

[mikeythemini]

Hello
First throughts are how about using the wire on the alarm roof sensor in a reverse way,
I use it to switch on my window & mirror closers.
You coud use a change over relay to switch a live. when the alarm switches off
Never done it myself but should work

[dogzdinner]

Thanks for the reply Mike....would I be able to buy some bits from you (I've been waiting before I order my Sharkfin GSM extension cable!) and would you be able to give me an idea where to pick up the various cables I need to splice into?

Cheers,

Tom...

[TheOfficeMaven]

Hi Paul/Cathy,

Thanks for the links to my MF review. I'm glad that you liked it (and I'm sorry that dogzdinner blatantly ignored your attempt to help him out ).

As for dogzdinner's problem with the nav display in his MINI not showing the MINI logo when he first gets into his car after installing the aftermarket video input... I had a problem like this as well. I believe that it is the result of the nav computer not spinning down properly (i.e. it never goes into sleep mode). In my case, it wasn't the video input that was causing the problem (although I too thought that it was at first - I'm using the OEM MINI video module and not an aftermarket one though). Instead, the problem was being caused by the OEM AUX input cable I was using.

There is something weird happening with the AUX cable when I plug my PS2 unit's audio output into it. It is getting some strange feedback that is somehow being fed back into the radio (and hence the K-Bus) and is preventing the nav computer from spinning down. Another weird side affect of this is that my head unit was always loosing the AUX input mode. I finally fixed the problem by installing a Radio Shack Ground Loop Isolator (270-054 - $16.99) inline between the PS2's audio output cable and the OEM AUX input. No problems ever since.

I'm not exactly sure if dogzdinner is having the same problem, but I guess that it's worth a look. Lots of folks with iPod's plugged into the OEM AUX input are having similar problems as well. He should be able to test the problem by simply unplugging whatever cable he has plugged into the OEM AUX input, and then closing up the MINI and walking away from it. When returning to the car and opening the driver's door an hour or so later, the nav computer should spin up (you'll hear it do so if you listen closely) and the MINI logo should display. If not, then there may be some other problem related to the aftermarket video input feeding back into the K-Bus through the nav computer.

Personally, I wouldn't try to Band-Aid fix the problem by running a positive feed to it. Rather, I'd try to find the source of the problem and fix it there instead. If a signal is being sent to the K-Bus that's preventing the nav computer from spinning down, it could cause other weird problems later on as well (or even a flat battery).

I hope this helps some...

[mikeythemini]

Love it

[rkw]

OT to the TheOfficeMaven: did you receive the PM I sent to you on NAM? I wanted to get your opinion on rear camera solutions for the MINI. I probably should have posted it as a thread because there may be useful information for others.

[TheOfficeMaven]

Hi rkw,

I'm afraid that I haven't checked my NAM Inbox in a couple of weeks now. Sorry about that. I'll take a look at your PM and try and give you an answer to your questions within the next day or two.

-- MIKE

[dogzdinner]

Nope....not the same problem for me at all....All I need is a feed that goes 'live' when I unlock the car via the remote as if I have it connected as it is at the moment the thing is permanently live and it drains the battery!

I want it to work this way as I still want to be able to see the Mini logo on the display when I open the door!

Do I really need to....absolutely not! BUT do I want to.....too right!

So what do you reckon Mike?

Cheers,

Tom...

[TheOfficeMaven]

Hi Tom,

I'm sorry to hear that your problem isn't related to the AUX input as mine was. Alas, I'm afraid that I don't have a solution for you on this one. All I can say is that something having to do with your aftermarket video input must be feeding a singnal to the MINI's K-Bus which in turn is what's causing the factory sat nav to remain active or in standby mode (you won't see the MINI logo on the nav display until the nav computer spins down into sleep mode and then awakes back from it). It is weird that when you take away the power from your video input the problem occurs. I'm completely stumped. Maybe you should see what the manufacturer of your video input has to say about it?

Once again, I'm sorry that I can't be of more help to you...

-- MIKE

[dogzdinner]

I've obviously not been clear enough here!

This has nothing to do with the Nav unit spinning up or down...that all works fine!

The only problem that I have is that the the video input unit uses a harness that effectively breaks into the video feed to the screen.

My problem is this, to see the Mini logo when I unlock the car, the video unit has to be powered, if it isn't then there is no picture on the screen.

If I leave it permanently connected like I have at the moment the battery runs down as the video unit draws too much current....everything else shuts down as it should do.

Is that any clearer?

All I need is a signal from the car that goes 'high' when the car is unlocked so that I can run it via a relay and not have the current draw on the battery.When I lock the car again the signal needs to go low and therefore de-energize the relay and cut power to the video unit.

Any more ideas?

Cheers,

Tom...

[rkw]

dogzdinner, please tell us which aftermarket video input unit you are using. I expect to purchase an OEM or aftermarket unit soon, and want to be aware of any issues I may encounter.

[dogzdinner]

The aftermarket ones are all pretty much the same....I think mine was from www.navwithtv.com but I'm not 100% certain...it just give you the ability to switch between the Nav Screen and the chosen composite video input.

The important bit is that it came with the appropriate BMW NAV connectors.

Cheers,

Tom...