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System Overview: Notes

Audio playback takes place either through the vehicle's speakers or via headphones. The volume of the speakers can be adjusted via the multifunction steering wheel, the head unit or with the remote control. The volume is controlled speed-dependent during playback through the speakers. The driving speed is registered by the wheel speed sensors.

The sound settings can be configured on the CIC or with the remote control. If audio is played back via the headphones, the volume can be adjusted either on the headphones (infrared headphones) or using the remote control (hard-wired headphones). The infrared headphones receive their signals from the infrared transmitter.

Fig 1: Identifying Rear Seat Entertainment System (RSE)
G06925394Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

External devices can be connected via the two AV inputs directly to the RSE control unit or via the AUX-In connection or the USB-audio interface in the center console. The USB-audio interface provides an additional jack and a USB connection for a type A USB connector.

Fig 2: Rear Seat Entertainment System Function Diagram
G06925395Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM COMPONENTS REFERENCE CHART

Index Explanation
1 Central information display (CID)
2 Head unit, Car Information Computer (CIC)
3 iDrive controller
4 Central gateway module (ZGM)
5 Rear display FD2 with rear display control unit and infrared transmitter
6 Infrared headphones
7 Rear display FD with rear display control unit and infrared transmitter
8 Remote control
9 Rear seat entertainment control unit (RSE MID)
10 DVD changer (DVD)
11 Video switch (VSW)
12 Not for US

When playing a DVD in the CIC, the picture cannot be transmitted to the rear seat entertainment system. When playing a DVD in the RSE control unit the picture is not transmitted to the CIC. However audio playback is possible in both cases.

During playback via the DVD changer, picture and sound are transmitted to the CIC and the rear seat entertainment system.

For safety reasons, no picture is shown in the CID while the vehicle is being driven, although audio playback is still possible.

When an external device (e.g. game console) is connected to one of the AV inputs of the RSE control unit, the video signal is output on the right or left display depending on where the source is connected. A selected DVD can still be viewed on the other display.

The RSE control unit features a FBAS or CVBS (composite video baseland signal) video signal input.

The RSE control unit has a CVBS video signal input connected to the DVD Changer through the video switch to display of media played in the DVD Changer on the rear screens. In this case the video switch is needed because a source with a CVBS output (e.g. DVD changer) is connected to the CIC and the RSE.

The CIC has only three CVBS inputs, If there are more than three video sources to be connected to the CIC a video switch has to be included to comply with the equipment configuration.

NOTE: (FBAS) Farb-Bild-Austast-Synchron is CVBS (Composite Video Baseband Signal) in which just the video signal is transmitted through a single wire with the audio signal handled separately.