Hi all, first time post so please go easy I have also spent a few hours trawling through these forums collating info but am in need of some assistance.
Firstly, let me say that I am loving these forums. Great that so many passionate and knowledgable people are helping each other out
I am in the UK and have just bought a RHD 2005 E90 325i (dealer launch car) which has iDrive, BMW Professional Navigation (CD and DVD slots in dashboard) with a 6 CD changer in the boot - all standard from new.
I have been looking into options for upgrading various components as the sound quality is poor, I have no USB or iPhone/iPod control etc and have come across the following problems:
1. MP3 playback. None of my drives will play MP3s in the car. Not the dash CD, dash DVD or 6 CD changer. I have been reading a few posts that say that an iDrive software update may fix this but when I spoke to my local dealer (who originally sold the car back in 2005) they said I have no way of doing this with the BMW hardware. They suggested I try after-market providers. Is this right?
2. Poor sound quality. I have two speakers in the front door (mids), two tweaters also in the front doors and two in the rear shelf (not sure about subs under back seat but have read on here that they should be there). The sound is poor from these and I read that I could use the Alpine speaker & Amp upgrade to make things better (two mids, two tweaters and an amp upgrade). My dealer just said that this counldn't go on my car. Is this right?
3. iPhone integration. I have the bluetooth integration installed and I love being able to make and receive calls in the car. Works a treat However, I was hoping that there was an easy solution to integrating the iPod functions into the car controls and sat nav screen etc but again the dealer said that they could install a glove-box cable that would charge the iPhone and control through the car controls but at the cost of no longer being able to use the 6 CD changer in the boot. This is again at odds with what I have read here. I was considering going with a Dension Gateway 500 to get around this as this now sounds like my best option as I only have an Aux In in the central armrest (though an iPhone charging cradle for a 3G is installed there too it doesn't work with the iPhone 4 - I know a new iPhone cradle is about to come out but again this won't help with iPod control).
Pulling my hair out a little and am hoping that a few of you can give my some guidance on one or more of the above. I would really appreciate it.
Please let me know if any more detail / part numbers / options etc are required to make things clearer and thanks in advance.
Firstly, let me say that I am loving these forums. Great that so many passionate and knowledgable people are helping each other out
I am in the UK and have just bought a RHD 2005 E90 325i (dealer launch car) which has iDrive, BMW Professional Navigation (CD and DVD slots in dashboard) with a 6 CD changer in the boot - all standard from new.
I have been looking into options for upgrading various components as the sound quality is poor, I have no USB or iPhone/iPod control etc and have come across the following problems:
1. MP3 playback. None of my drives will play MP3s in the car. Not the dash CD, dash DVD or 6 CD changer. I have been reading a few posts that say that an iDrive software update may fix this but when I spoke to my local dealer (who originally sold the car back in 2005) they said I have no way of doing this with the BMW hardware. They suggested I try after-market providers. Is this right?
2. Poor sound quality. I have two speakers in the front door (mids), two tweaters also in the front doors and two in the rear shelf (not sure about subs under back seat but have read on here that they should be there). The sound is poor from these and I read that I could use the Alpine speaker & Amp upgrade to make things better (two mids, two tweaters and an amp upgrade). My dealer just said that this counldn't go on my car. Is this right?
3. iPhone integration. I have the bluetooth integration installed and I love being able to make and receive calls in the car. Works a treat However, I was hoping that there was an easy solution to integrating the iPod functions into the car controls and sat nav screen etc but again the dealer said that they could install a glove-box cable that would charge the iPhone and control through the car controls but at the cost of no longer being able to use the 6 CD changer in the boot. This is again at odds with what I have read here. I was considering going with a Dension Gateway 500 to get around this as this now sounds like my best option as I only have an Aux In in the central armrest (though an iPhone charging cradle for a 3G is installed there too it doesn't work with the iPhone 4 - I know a new iPhone cradle is about to come out but again this won't help with iPod control).
Pulling my hair out a little and am hoping that a few of you can give my some guidance on one or more of the above. I would really appreciate it.
Please let me know if any more detail / part numbers / options etc are required to make things clearer and thanks in advance.