How to import music (USB) into iDrive

Originally Posted by asaseaban

Both the USB connection in the glove compartment and the centre console can read and/or write to a USB drive. However, ONLY the center console has the audio connection for the iPod

and that's why BMW recommend you plugin the iPod in the center console. Some USB drives have small programs (for security reasons) that run on them which sometimes require authentication

before full access is granted to the USB drive or data on it. Some Kingston usb drives fall into this category and may not work in your BMW.

Instructions on how to import music from a USB drive onto the iDrive hard drive:

***Car SHOULD be OFF***

1) Insert the USB drive into any of the USB connection(s); Center console OR Glove compartment.

2)Turn the car ON

3) Press the Menu button and select CD/Multimedia OR press the CD button


4)Select External devices


5)Select the USB icon Not Connected. NOTE: Even though your USB drive is connected, it'll still show Not Connected.


6) Press the Option button OR move the iDrive knob to the right. Scroll down and select Music data import/export


7) Click on Import new music (USB)


8) You should now see Importing music...


NOTE: If it says No USB device detected


Do the following:

• Unplug the USB drive
• Turn the car off
• Exit the car and lock/arm it
• Wait for about four (4) minutes and repeat steps 1) thru 8).

If still No USB device detected, i recommend you try another USB drive.

9) When the import is complete, click OK. That's it.


The music collection you just imported will be labelled USB 1 (assuming this is your first).
To rename it, do the following:

1. Select USB 1 and Press the Option button OR move the iDrive knob to the right. Select Rename album
   
   
   
2. Use the back key |<- to delete USB 1
   
   
   
3. Enter a name for your music collection and click OK
   
   
   
4. Music collection USB 1 is now renamed
   

NOTE: There MAY be several and different ways to accomplish importing music (usb) and i hope you find this one useful.

Have fun!

Worked like a charm - Thanks!

Dear,
Pleeeeeease help!!! I look to control my USB flash disk (pen) from the i-drive . is it possible on my car?
I own a 2006 BMW E60 520d and the I-drive doesn't display like the one shown in this thread. it looks a lower version in my car. do you think it can works for me? any advise.
great thanks.

Originally Posted by starsolitaire

Dear,
Pleeeeeease help!!! I look to control my USB flash disk (pen) from the i-drive . is it possible on my car?
I own a 2006 BMW E60 520d and the I-drive doesn't display like the one shown in this thread. it looks a lower version in my car. do you think it can works for me? any advise.
great thanks.

Just try it and see what happens. Either it works or it doesn't.

Ok will do tomorrow and inform.

Pardon my ignorance but hone you guys mention centre console, what you'll are referring to is the handphone cradle? Where exactly does the iPod connect to in the centre console?

Originally Posted by SAMLAMBO

Pardon my ignorance but hone you guys mention centre console, what you'll are referring to is the handphone cradle? Where exactly does the iPod connect to in the centre console?

Nope its not the cradle. It's the USB connection with the audio jack next (left) to it.

Originally Posted by asaseaban

Nope its not the cradle. It's the USB connection with the audio jack next (left) to it.

Got it thanks.

Once again, I am finding answers about my new x3 on this forum instead of from the BMW site, or my owners manual. Finally uploaded my music to the vehicle. I cannot understand the rationale of having the usb connected and it saying "not connected". I thought that my computer experience would be enough to figure out a basic operation - but NO!

I am thankful again for this site - last time it was the setting up of profiles that we needed help with. I seriously find the owners manual (and also customer support - who I called about the profile and the woman - who sounded more like a teenager) was unable to find the proper support guide to help me!

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by janccm

Once again, I am finding answers about my new x3 on this forum instead of from the BMW site, or my owners manual. Finally uploaded my music to the vehicle. I cannot understand the rationale of having the usb connected and it saying "not connected". I thought that my computer experience would be enough to figure out a basic operation - but NO!

I am thankful again for this site - last time it was the setting up of profiles that we needed help with. I seriously find the owners manual (and also customer support - who I called about the profile and the woman - who sounded more like a teenager) was unable to find the proper support guide to help me!

Thanks again!

Glad you found some useful information on here. If you need further assistance or help, don't hesitate to post on here. I've found the BMW community more helpful and useful than the BMW CA, dealership, and customer support.

Is there a way to do this? I cannot find anywhere.

Can FLAC files be imported into the iDrive system on my 2012 x3? Will the iDrive play FLAC files?

Originally Posted by asaseaban

Both the USB connection in the glove compartment and the centre console can read and/or write to a USB drive. However, ONLY the center console has the audio connection for the iPod

and that's why BMW recommend you plugin the iPod in the center console. Some USB drives have small programs (for security reasons) that run on them which sometimes require authentication

before full access is granted to the USB drive or data on it. Some Kingston usb drives fall into this category and may not work in your BMW.

Instructions on how to import music from a USB drive onto the iDrive hard drive:

How to import music (USB) into iDrive
!................................................. ..............................

Brilliant write up - saved me a lot of time and head scratching!

[/QUOTE]

I got a 2009 750 and i dont see that option of playlist, Any ideas?
Thanks

Originally Posted by Huncowboy

Thanks! I guess I will need another ipod classic.

Has anyone tried to hook up an IPad, just curious!

Good write-up but it doesn't work. I bought a BMW usb - center console connection will play from it but not save. Glove compartment usb connection recognizes it for archiving but does not recognize it with my own content on it; will neither play nor upload. I've tried the turn off, lock, come back and start over twice; same results. I have all of my '60s & '70s LPs on .WAV files on my computer; would like to have them on the BMW. No-one in the Portland dealership has a clue how to do it, and the telephone help line was totally useless. Very frustrated!
Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

After my last post I connected the dots - BMW made the system to work with iPod. So of course the files can only be apple files - it will read and play WAV files but the "store in vehicle" system will only recognize them if they are converted to MP3. Incidentlly, Audacity is a good conversion software.

I am on my second snap in adaptor for iPhone 4 and neither of them recognizes my phone. Any suggestions??

Originally Posted by asaseaban

Both the USB connection in the glove compartment and the centre console can read and/or write to a USB drive. However, ONLY the center console has the audio connection for the iPod

and that's why BMW recommend you plugin the iPod in the center console. Some USB drives have small programs (for security reasons) that run on them which sometimes require authentication

before full access is granted to the USB drive or data on it. Some Kingston usb drives fall into this category and may not work in your BMW.

Instructions on how to import music from a USB drive onto the iDrive hard drive:

***Car SHOULD be OFF***

1) Insert the USB drive into any of the USB connection(s); Center console OR Glove compartment.

2)Turn the car ON

3) Press the Menu button and select CD/Multimedia OR press the CD button


4)Select External devices


5)Select the USB icon Not Connected. NOTE: Even though your USB drive is connected, it'll still show Not Connected.


6) Press the Option button OR move the iDrive knob to the right. Scroll down and select Music data import/export


7) Click on Import new music (USB)


8) You should now see Importing music...


NOTE: If it says No USB device detected


Do the following:

• Unplug the USB drive
• Turn the car off
• Exit the car and lock/arm it
• Wait for about four (4) minutes and repeat steps 1) thru 8).

If still No USB device detected, i recommend you try another USB drive.

9) When the import is complete, click OK. That's it.


The music collection you just imported will be labelled USB 1 (assuming this is your first).
To rename it, do the following:

1. Select USB 1 and Press the Option button OR move the iDrive knob to the right. Select Rename album
   
   
   
2. Use the back key |<- to delete USB 1
   
   
   
3. Enter a name for your music collection and click OK
   
   
   
4. Music collection USB 1 is now renamed
   

NOTE: There MAY be several and different ways to accomplish importing music (usb) and i hope you find this one useful.

Have fun!

May I say your guide really helped me import my music from usb to the I drive. I was ignoring the usb because it was greyed out and saying no usb connected drove me nuts well it drove the wife nuts with me whinging.
Thanks

Whats the best way to update an existing library of songs? Seems like the USB transfer always makes a new bloody folder...

great info, thanks guys