2008 X5 iPhone integration questions.

Hi,

Not to beat a dead horse, but Ive seen many answers, but now I'm getting confused by the multitude of threads.

I just bought a 2008 X5 3.0i (Premium, Sport, Cold Weather & Tech packs) as a CPO from a local dealer. During negotiations it was determined that they would make my iPhone 4s integrate into the iDrive system. They are supposed to install a BMW part(s) that would allow me to plug in, but said they may also need a 30-pin female to male iphone extension cable to bring the cable up to where I want. Either the armrest (I dont want that) or somewhere on the center console. In my armrest I have an 3.5mm Aux input (no usb port). My goal is to be able to navigate my music from the iDrive, however, if I want to use my SiriusXM app or Pandora, I want manual control (which is why I dont want it in my armrest.)

So I'm looking for several types of responses on this.

• What they are planning on doing.
• Will it work as planned?
• Any pitfalls I should be aware of?
• Should I make certain of things prior to any work being performed?

Any help or guidance would be really appreciated as I do not want this to be done incorrectly or limit the capabilities I could actually have.

Originally Posted by jean d

Hi,

Not to beat a dead horse, but Ive seen many answers, but now I'm getting confused by the multitude of threads.

I just bought a 2008 X5 3.0i (Premium, Sport, Cold Weather & Tech packs) as a CPO from a local dealer. During negotiations it was determined that they would make my iPhone 4s integrate into the iDrive system. They are supposed to install a BMW part(s) that would allow me to plug in, but said they may also need a 30-pin female to male iphone extension cable to bring the cable up to where I want. Either the armrest (I dont want that) or somewhere on the center console. In my armrest I have an 3.5mm Aux input (no usb port). My goal is to be able to navigate my music from the iDrive, however, if I want to use my SiriusXM app or Pandora, I want manual control (which is why I dont want it in my armrest.)

So I'm looking for several types of responses on this.

• What they are planning on doing.
• Will it work as planned?
• Any pitfalls I should be aware of?
• Should I make certain of things prior to any work being performed?

Any help or guidance would be really appreciated as I do not want this to be done incorrectly or limit the capabilities I could actually have.

It's just the old iPod interface that uses the cd changer connections to emulate it for the iPhone. You will be able to navigate your iPhone/iPod. It's functional.

No apps support and it won't work with pandora or Sirius xm app.

Yeah, they installed it.

Your right. It takes over the CD player. I was told the BMW could only have X many sources, so they had to use the cd player in its place.

So, now I have to select CD to get the iOS device. Once selected, I have to choose which disc to play. (the manual says this info but Disc 1 is sort by playlist, disc 2 is sort by artist, disc 3 is album, disc 4 is genre, no disc 5, disc 6 seems like disc 1). anyway,

• it takes FOREVER to load if you have a large library.
• It always starts at "A" so scrolling to "Z" will take you forever.
• Starting and stopping the car will continue from last position played.
• Once you choose artist, or whatever "folder" (i.e. CD1, CD2, CD3) it will only show you songs in order of album, not a sub-folder of albums, and then songs. ( i.e. If you choose Disc 2, you can scroll to an artist (like Dave Matthews Band), then it shows you songs in order of release. (so first track you see if the first track of the alphabetical listing of the album titles loaded on iOS device.

Annoying as ****! If your a music junkie, then get a 2010 BMW or newer.