2009 Rear DVD Controls & Sound

[mattd860]

Considering a 2009 fully loaded M35x with rear entertainment system but the car is missing the remote and headphones which can be bought for ~$200 from audovideo2go. Can the system be operated by the front controls? I know video cannot be displayed in the front nor do I want it to, but is there a way to play/pause/ff,rw,etc from the front so I can get the video to play for the kids in the back?

Also, can the audio from the dvd play through the car speakers while the car is moving? I'm not too concerned about he headphones if the kids can listen to the movie though the car speakers even if that means we all have to listen as well.

Lastly - has anyone managed to connect an ipad or smart phone to the rear dvd system?

[EdBwoy]

Can the system be operated by the front controls?...
is there a way to play/pause/ff,rw,etc from the front so I can get the video to play for the kids in the back?

Without the remote the controls are limited and you lose some functionality, but yes, you can perform basic manipulations to the DVD from the center console buttons.
Have you checked eBay?

I know video cannot be displayed in the front nor do I want it to

Actually you can, but you have to have the car stationary and the park brake applied. Some people install a bypass module to enable them to play video without these restrictions... but also importantly for pethaps a front seat passenger to be able to work the navigation.

Also, can the audio from the dvd play through the car speakers while the car is moving?

Yup! Just select DVD and whatever is in the player takes over the sound system.

Lastly - has anyone managed to connect an ipad or smart phone to the rear dvd system?

I haven't tried to, but you should have an ipod input beside the DVD player in the arm rest cubby.
Or, find the appropriate converters that allow you to output apple content into RCA, then use the 3 ports at the back of the center console. I know you could play a Playstation through those.

[mattd860]

Can video be played on the rear DVD screen via the RCA inputs while the car is moving??

[EdBwoy]

Yes. The car's motion only affects the screen on the dashboard.

[mattd860]

Interesting. So I could technically purchase this device (http://www.adcmobile.com/hdmi-av/) and transmit video and sound to the car for the kids from our ipad. We don't do DVD's anymore and I don't like the kids fiddling with our ipad in the car. But now we can turn on a video on the ipad and transmit it onto the rear dvd screen for long trips.