The Ultimate iPod Info Thread

Hey has anyone tried the new nano with the ipod adaptor? I was wondering if would work just like the last few generations or if there was anything different.

Originally Posted by stadler

Hey has anyone tried the new nano with the ipod adaptor? I was wondering if would work just like the last few generations or if there was anything different.

Should be no problem - we've tested the 2nd generation nano and Video iPods on our DICE product with success.

Hi, Does anyone have any songs with Asian titles/singers (ie. Chinese, Japanese, or Korean)? I wonder if the iDrive screen will be able to display these characters.

Do you know whether they have plan to make the ipod interface avail to 2004 5 series? It is so sucks that only 05 or later model can have this new ipod interface!!!

Originally Posted by alvindj

Do you know whether they have plan to make the ipod interface avail to 2004 5 series? It is so sucks that only 05 or later model can have this new ipod interface!!!

The kit is already compatible with your 5, the updated software for >2005 models just hasn't been released yet.

We should be seeing software available from BMW in the next 30-45 days, which is needed to allow your 5 to initialize the iPod kit.

Originally Posted by tiongtiong

Hi, Does anyone have any songs with Asian titles/singers (ie. Chinese, Japanese, or Korean)? I wonder if the iDrive screen will be able to display these characters.

Nope. All special characters will produce junk. Does not matter it's in Chinese, Russian, or Arabian characters, it'll give you just junky characters.

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

The kit is already compatible with your 5, the updated software for >2005 models just hasn't been released yet.

We should be seeing software available from BMW in the next 30-45 days, which is needed to allow your 5 to initialize the iPod kit.

COOLLL!!!! so just want to confirm , hardware is there already, all I need is to wait for the software release for 2004 5 series which according to you will be avail in the next 30 - 45 days?
Is it official news?

Thanks Tom!

For those of you who have the IPod install can you confirm if there is a limit to songs within a playlist and the number of albums or artist that can be seen.

Thanks

Originally Posted by dcbmw

For those of you who have the IPod install can you confirm if there is a limit to songs within a playlist and the number of albums or artist that can be seen.

See posts #61 - 63.

If the screen only will show 255 artists how do you locate and play artists beyond the 255?

Originally Posted by dcbmw

If the screen only will show 255 artists how do you locate and play artists beyond the 255?

Only 255 folders can be displayed per directory, so you can only view (and play) 255 artists and albums, and if you have more than that, you can't view the ones in the alphabet beyond those limits in those directories. An inelegant work-around would be to create a play list for each artist/album beyond the limit. Of course, I'm sure you're also limited to 255 folders (playlists) in the playlist directory. I have nearly 400 artists on in my iPod, so this is a pretty big issue for me. Could be a deal breaker.

I have over 800 artist. You would think they would make this fully intergrated with the IPod. I think the guys who designed this have never even used and IPod.

Originally Posted by stream

Only 255 folders can be displayed per directory, so you can only view (and play) 255 artists and albums, and if you have more than that, you can't view the ones in the alphabet beyond those limits in those directories. An inelegant work-around would be to create a play list for each artist/album beyond the limit. Of course, I'm sure you're also limited to 255 folders (playlists) in the playlist directory. I have nearly 400 artists on in my iPod, so this is a pretty big issue for me. Could be a deal breaker.

Even if you could load all your artists, albums, etc. beyond 255, it's probably wouldn't be practical anyway. Unlike the iPod, where you can whip through all these in practically no time flat with your scroll wheel as it automatically accelerates the longer you scroll, using the iDrive takes forever to scroll. I did a test and it took me 1 minute and 16 seconds to scroll through the 255 artists it loaded up. That works out to about 10 artists every 3 seconds. For the poster here who has over 800 artists, that would end up working out to over 4 minutes to get to ZZ Topp. Are you really ever gonna do that?? Even just to get to the 100th artist takes 30 seconds.

For me, this isn't an issue because I use playlists or, most often, just put it on random for the entire iPod and let it randomize my entire collection. I rarely select by artist or album, even when the iPod is out of the car. If I get stuck on an artist for a few days, I just create a smart playlist for them.

So based on how you use your iPod is critical in figuring out if this solution is right for you. If you are into playlists, this solution makes sense. But if you are always selecting specific artists or albums to listen to, using the aux port which allows you to use the iPod to control things may be your best bet.

Originally Posted by eddieb3

Even if you could load all your artists, albums, etc. beyond 255, it's probably wouldn't be practical anyway. Unlike the iPod, where you can whip through all these in practically no time flat with your scroll wheel as it automatically accelerates the longer you scroll, using the iDrive takes forever to scroll. I did a test and it took me 1 minute and 16 seconds to scroll through the 255 artists it loaded up. That works out to about 10 artists every 3 seconds. For the poster here who has over 800 artists, that would end up working out to over 4 minutes to get to ZZ Topp. Are you really ever gonna do that?? Even just to get to the 100th artist takes 30 seconds.

True--the force feedback of the iDrive controller (in nav equipped cars) when you get to the bottom of a page also makes the process slow and cumbersome.

Originally Posted by stream

Find another dealer.

Attached is the iPod interface install instructions. Install time is 0.75 hours, excluding coding.

While it's true that coding the car can take 5 hours, and also can take a day or 2 if it freezes during the process, the coding process does not require a tech to watch and wait while the coding takes place. In other words, once the coding process is initiated, the tech can work on another item on your car, or on another car, so you should not be charged for the total hours it takes to code the car.

Thanks Stream....

I just had the IPOD adapter installed on my 07 525xi. Interestingly the dealer had to do extensive software updates along with the IPOD installation. I thought this was odd as my car was a recent build in May 2006. The extra updates brought the total install time to over 4 hours. The dealer only charged me for 1.75 hours of labor for the install and charged the rest to BMW under warranty. The parts departemnt had told me before the install that I would get a 10% CCA discount. Although when picking up the car the dealer refused to apply the discount because they do not discount "assessories". After a bit of discussion, the discount was applied and I ended up paying a total of $477.00 for parts and labor.

On my car, the adapter is displayed on the I-Drive screen as MP3-1 through MP3-6 instead of CD1-CD6. I also have the lastest update applied to my Nanno (1.12 I think) and all appears to be working just fine without any problems. Others have complained of issues when using the adapter with the new IPOD 1.12 update. I wonder if part of the software updates the dealer did during my install addressed these issues.

BIG AL said in another thread that his dealer in Germany suggests that one could keep their CD Changer and still have the IPOD connection? Does anyone know anything about this?
Thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=168156

I have another question:
My car is production 4/05 w/navigation and was recently updated with MP3 capability. Unfortunately, according to the bulletin, only E60s without navi from 3/05 and E60s w/navi from 9/05 will work with newly released interface part 65 11 0 403 651.

Has anyone in a similar situation installed the interface -at risk- and it works?


2005 545i: Orient Blue/Beige, 6spd, Sport, Navi, CWP, PremSound, PDC, Active-steering, Comfort seats, Rear shades, Rear heated and folding seats and Satellite Radio.

Originally Posted by bimmernut9002

BIG AL said in another thread that his dealer in Germany suggests that one could keep their CD Changer and still have the IPOD connection? Does anyone know anything about this?

Although possible, I find it very hard to believe.

In order for the car to keep the CD changer which uses the CD Menus on the iDrive, BMW would have to create another menu choice in iDrive that is iPOD specific. This is highly unlikely by any manufacturer.

The reason is, they would be in the middle when Apple decides to make a change and if your car is under warranty, BMW is forced to fix.

By having a separate adaptor, BMW can say "At this point in time, these iPODs, with this firmware will work and is supported. If you do anything else you are on your own."

Manufacturers do not want vendor specific code mixed in with theirs. The MOST bus adapter is a CD changer to iPOD converter. There is no special iPOD specific code in the iDrive software itself.

The only possible way I can think of getting both the CD changer and the iPOD to work together is to have a MOST bus "Y" cable with a switch so you can activate the iPOD or CD Changer but not both at the same time.

I am clueless why folks would need a CD changer when they have an iPOD anyway. And certainly the in dash CD will play CD's/MP3's.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Although possible, I find it very hard to believe.


I am clueless why folks would need a CD changer when they have an iPOD anyway. And certainly the in dash CD will play CD's/MP3's.

Chuck, Could you confirm to me that after install of the iPod adapter you still have use of the in dash CD player. The reason I ask is that I have seen an online version of the ipod adapter instruction manual which lists the iDrive menu for non-7 series cars with iDrive. That menu does not show the individual CD player as an option. It shows FM, AM, SAT, CD (sub menues MP3 1 through MP3 6 all of which are iPod related).

I am scheduled to have the iPod installed tomorrow. I can certainly live without the silly CD changer, but not my in dash player.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by A2 Bimmer

Chuck, Could you confirm to me that after install of the iPod adapter you still have use of the in dash CD player. The reason I ask is that I have seen an online version of the ipod adapter instruction manual which lists the iDrive menu for non-7 series cars with iDrive. That menu does not show the individual CD player as an option. It shows FM, AM, SAT, CD (sub menues MP3 1 through MP3 6 all of which are iPod related).

I am scheduled to have the iPod installed tomorrow. I can certainly live without the silly CD changer, but not my in dash player.

Thanks.

Both in dash CD /DVD players work fine.

CD has the following sub menus

DVD - Nav disc but plays MP3s too
CD - in dash CD works fine
CD1 - iPOD Playlists
CD2 - iPOD Artist
CD3 - iPOD Album
CD4 - iPOD Genre
CD5 - iPOD PodCasts
CD6 - iPOD All music

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Both in dash CD /DVD players work fine.

CD has the following sub menus

DVD - Nav disc but plays MP3s too
CD - in dash CD works fine
CD1 - iPOD Playlists
CD2 - iPOD Artist
CD3 - iPOD Album
CD4 - iPOD Genre
CD5 - iPOD PodCasts
CD6 - iPOD All music

Thank you!

How do you like it?

Originally Posted by A2 Bimmer

Thank you!

How do you like it?

As with anything, there is room for improvement. However, it blows away a CD changer by 1000 times.

The first thing I noticed was a huge improvement in sound quality over the AUX input. Using the iPOD preout does wonders.

Ok, need some advice.

The thought of tearing my car apart to put this thing in scares me - not that I couldn't do it, just that if I broke something I'd forever be ticked at myself for trying to save $180.

That said, my dealer just quoted
$350 for the part
$180 for the install (3 hours total, the last hour is recoding and BMW pays for that)
+ tax

Total $550ish

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by doug_999

Ok, need some advice.

The thought of tearing my car apart to put this thing in scares me - not that I couldn't do it, just that if I broke something I'd forever be ticked at myself for trying to save $180.

That said, my dealer just quoted
$350 for the part
$180 for the install (3 hours total, the last hour is recoding and BMW pays for that)
+ tax

Total $550ish

Thoughts?

Find another dealer. The part lists for $300, and most dealers give at least 10% BMWCCA discount. Install is 0.75 hours, per the BMW install doc. Details of both are in this thread.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

As with anything, there is room for improvement. However, it blows away a CD changer by 1000 times.

The first thing I noticed was a huge improvement in sound quality over the AUX input. Using the iPOD preout does wonders.

FWIW, you can use the iPod line out with aux input. I have a Monster iCarCharger which does just that, and sounds great, especially when removing the capacitor/resistor from the aux input.