The Ultimate iPod Info Thread

I was wondering if the IPOD adapter will power the IPOD off when the ignition is turn off. It would a pain to have to open the glove compartment to turn off the IPOD everytime you leave the car for an extended period of time.

For now I have my IPOD Nanno connected to the AUX port and its working and sounding great. Easy to use and with the Nanno right by my side it's easy to manuver through the menu to select music lists and songs. Although it will be nice to see the songs displayed on the I-DRIVE screen, I'm waiting for further IPOD interface details to see if it will be worth having installed.

I have the Dension Ice>Link installed with my 20G iPod. It stays in my glovebox year round and I have never had a problem with it. It has been in 108 degree heat and been in 36 degree cold and has shown no ill effects.

Originally Posted by GolferEngineer

I'm considering upgrading to the iPod interface in the near future - I'll sacrifice the CD changer for the iPod.

However, I have some concerns about leaving the iPod in the glove compartment during the summer and winter months.

Here is the operating data from the Apple/iPod website:
Environmental requirements
Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Non operating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Being an engineer, I'm leery of leaving the iPod in the car since operation and storage cannot be guaranteed.

Do users take the iPod with them whenever they leave the care even, for example, at the shopping mall, to prevent damage?

Am I being overly concerned or does anyone have bad experiences with damaged iPods due to temperature extremes?

I keep my iPod in the center arm rest console w/ no problems.

Originally Posted by Gary1227

I was wondering if the IPOD adapter will power the IPOD off when the ignition is turn off. It would a pain to have to open the glove compartment to turn off the IPOD everytime you leave the car for an extended period of time.

When connected to a power source through the dock connector, the iPod turns itself off a few seconds after the power is turned off. Even with my hardwire iPod install (see sticky above) it turns itself off after I turn the car off.

I merged two threads into this one so there could be a slight disconnect somewhere in the middle...FYI.

My local dealer told me that the correspondence they've seen from BMW seemed to indicate a November delivery date for the iPod adapter, rather than July as we had been led to believe. Does anyone have any new information on the availability of the adapter? Thanks.

Originally Posted by sjaroslo

My local dealer told me that the correspondence they've seen from BMW seemed to indicate a November delivery date for the iPod adapter, rather than July as we had been led to believe. Does anyone have any new information on the availability of the adapter? Thanks.

See post #17 in this thread.

Thanks, Stream. But my car is an '07 so I'm not worried about the software; my dealer made it sound as thought the hardware will not be available until November--that would bite!

Originally Posted by sjaroslo

Thanks, Stream. But my car is an '07 so I'm not worried about the software; my dealer made it sound as thought the hardware will not be available until November--that would bite!

My dealer told me the hardware will be released the end of July--and that was after he emailed and heard back from his BMWNA technical contact. Time will tell...

So today is July 31--has anyone had the new iPod adapter installed???

bump

I wonder if the iPod connector will be available in a Mazda before our cars...

Apple, Car Makers Team Up To Offer iPod Connectivity
A WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE NEWS ROUNDUP
August 3, 2006 10:06 a.m.

Apple Computer Inc. struck deals with three major car makers to offer iPod connectors in new models.

Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., said Thursday it teamed up with Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Japanese Ford-affiliate Mazda Motors Corp. to offer "seamless" integration of Apple's iPod portable music players.

GM said its device, called "personal audio link" will sell at dealerships for less than $160, plus installation fees, and be introduced in October. The Detroit auto maker expects to make the device available on all of its 56 vehicle models.

Ford, based in Dearborn, Mich., said it will offer built-in audio-input jacks in 14 2007 models. Customers would be able to play their iPod as well as any other MP3 player with a standard 3.5 millimeter audio output.

In early 2007, Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers will a special audio system that will allow a driver to store an iPod in the glove box and select music using the steering wheel or radio controls.

Mazda will offer iPod connectivity in its entire 2007 lineup of cars and sport-utility-vehicles.

When it does finally become available, are there any guesses as to how much it will cost installed?

Does anyone know if having the navigation is critical to the functionality of the iPod integration kit?

I assume not, and that it's simply a matter of having iDrive, which obviously all E60 owners have.

I found this on the other forum. It was what we were all waiting for but am not sure if some will be happy with the compatibility matrix.....

Interesting to note that the pdf states compatibility is only with cars from 03/05 forward.

BMWUSA website says compatible with all E60's.

I have checked with my parts manager and the part number for my 03/04 production 530 is different than the part number for 03/05 production vehicles. There very well may be a hardware difference involved.


Edit :

I spoke with BMWNA and they confirmed that the part is not currently compatible with pre 03/05 production due to SW coding in the head unit. An upcoming version of Progman will address the software problem and make the unit compatible with all E60's and the E65 as well.

This is not to poo-poo on the iPod interface parade, as I was anxiously awaiting its release myself, until...

I've been burning DL DVDs, and have decided I won't go with the iPod interface (yet?). With 8.4GB+ per DVD, you can carry a humonguous amount of music on a DVD. Burn half a dozen, and you have more tunes than most people have time to listen to.

I realize this may nor work for all (gotta have NAV, gotta have a DVD burner, etc), but it is an interesting alternative. And if you already have NAV & a burner, it's a free alternative!

Originally Posted by ademitt

Interesting to note that the pdf states compatibility is only with cars from 03/05 forward.

BMWUSA website says compatible with all E60's.

I have checked with my parts manager and the part number for my 30/04 production 530 is different than the part number for 03/05 production vehicles. There very well may be a hardware difference involved.


Edit :

I spoke with BMWNA and they confirmed that the part is not currently compatible with pre 03/05 production due to SW coding in the head unit. An upcoming version of Progman will address the software problem and make the unit compatible with all E60's and the E65 as well.

That's consistent with what my dealer told me a month ago:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=17

Originally Posted by astrohip

This is not to poo-poo on the iPod interface parade, as I was anxiously awaiting its release myself, until...

I've been burning DL DVDs, and have decided I won't go with the iPod interface (yet?). With 8.4GB+ per DVD, you can carry a humonguous amount of music on a DVD. Burn half a dozen, and you have more tunes than most people have time to listen to.

I realize this may nor work for all (gotta have NAV, gotta have a DVD burner, etc), but it is an interesting alternative. And if you already have NAV & a burner, it's a free alternative!

I've been playing my 8GB double layer DVDs for months now:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=27

Small issue, but any iTunes songs are too much of a pain to burn, and although I don't use nav very often, I wouldn't mind having it available, so I'll probably spring for the iPod interface.

Originally Posted by stream

I've been playing my 8GB double layer DVDs for months now:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=27

Small issue, but any iTunes songs are too much of a pain to burn, and although I don't use nav very often, I wouldn't mind having it available, so I'll probably spring for the iPod interface.

stream: It was your posts that originally led me to DL-DVD heaven. Thanks!

Don't use iTunes, so no prob there. On those rare occasions I need NAV, I keep a loaded MP3 CD in the playa

That said, I'll prolly spring for the iPod interface at some point; love my toys!

Originally Posted by astrohip

stream: It was your posts that originally led me to DL-DVD heaven. Thanks!

Don't use iTunes, so no prob there. On those rare occasions I need NAV, I keep a loaded MP3 CD in the playa

That said, I'll prolly spring for the iPod interface at some point; love my toys!

You know what "they" say--he who dies with the most toys, wins!

I ordered the Ipod interface yesterday from my dealer. Its supposed to be in next week.

BMW just released a hold on it yesterday mid day. So its available.

Supposedly I will need a quick software programming done and the unit runs off of the CD changer presets on the I drive screen. You can't have the CD changer is you use this.

Originally Posted by stream

That's consistent with what my dealer told me a month ago:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=17

My dealer just confirmed what he told me a month ago:
The bad news (for me, at least) is that the retrofit programming for my car will not be released until September (applies to nav equipped E60 cars produced prior to 9/05).

And, given that we're in mid-August and the iPod interface just got released (in print--don't think they've made it to dealers yet), I'm not holding my breath for September for the retrofit programming.

I checked with my dealer today concerning the I-POD interface. They said that they currently are not yet in stock in North America. No further information is available.

My dealer has a few of the new iPod adapters in stock (1 is tagged for me ), but the parts dept. did not have info on the labor cost for install. I would have thought that this info was included on the bulletin that BMW sends to the dealers with the part numbers, etc.

They passed me on to the shop foreman to get the labor estimate, but I want to make sure I'm not getting hosed because I'll have the first install into an E60.

Anyone know what the install time should be? Jspira?