Ipod in 2007 X5

Was disappointed, no info on ipodyourbmw.com? Is BMW planning something that can hold its own against the Audi Music Interface in the Q7? The previous BMW IPOD interface emulating a CD changer is rather limited.

When will ipodyourbmw.com be updated? I am worried if I order an X5 now I'l find out Ipod is going to be a factory option later and retrofit not the real deal.

I heard BMW and Apple are working on a better interface then the current one and it will be out soon.

just who on earth will make Ipod an factory option? maybe they'll opp for a build in hd : P

That would be the Ipod Interface not the Ipod. Audi Music Interface is a factory option and not available as retrofit kit. I am concerned about ordering the X5 and later not being able to get the Ipod interface or limited to aftermarket. Also does anyone have a timeline for this?

the audi system can be retrofted, so that means it can be done after u got the car

Sorry for jumping in.. but...

Isn't the E70 iPod interface the same as the one in the E63? I have the MOST BUS interface from BMW in my E63 and it rocks...

As a comparison, I do have the DICE interface in my E53 and you are right, it is terrible.

It's my understanding that the new E70 uses the "new" interface (Same as E63) that replaces the CD Changer.. money well spent IMHO.

IpodYourBmw.com needs to be refreshed. Call your dealer, I'm sure they are aware of the option.

I just had the iPod interface installed on my 2006 X5 4.4i. The cost was $349.00 installed at Niello. I had the DICE installed on my 2003 E39 and the track names would display in my MID. Does anyone know if there is a hack to do the same with the iPod interface in the X5? Thanks.

Originally Posted by guho

Was disappointed, no info on ipodyourbmw.com? Is BMW planning something that can hold its own against the Audi Music Interface in the Q7? The previous BMW IPOD interface emulating a CD changer is rather limited.

When will ipodyourbmw.com be updated? I am worried if I order an X5 now I'l find out Ipod is going to be a factory option later and retrofit not the real deal.

More than likely be the same interface that's used on the newer 3/5/6/7 series since tis based on the MOST platform.

one would think they would use iPod logic in iDrive.
just my $.02

Originally Posted by Meiac09

one would think they would use iPod logic in iDrive.
just my $.02

Don't mean to be rude, but why would one think that? Not even sure what you mean by iPod logic...

If there were iPod logic in iDrive, you wouldn't need iPod ...

In fact iPod and iDrive have little if anything in common from a technical perspective. iPod is a portable media player made by apple computer corp.

iDrive is a customized application written by or for BMW and running on top of (someone correct me if this changed) Windows Automotive - a specialized version of windows mobile with a uniquely BMW interface for navigating the menus and selections. iDrive and Windows Automotive were around a bit before iPods ....

see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsautomotive/default.mspx

Perhaps you're right though (in a way) - depending on what version of Windows Automotive they used (if they are still using it), you might not need an iPod- you may already have an mp3 player in your dashboard- it's just not an iPod and there's no easy way to get to it through the UI in your iDrive...

Has anyone hacked iDrive?

By far the most exciting news I learned at the X5 ride-n-drive is that BMW is planning on putting a USB port in the E70, starting with March production. To my knowledge this will be a first in the automotive industry, and shows the kind of forward thinking that makes BMW the company it is. I don't know what this means for the future relationship between Apple and BMW, but it clearly shows that BMW is opening the door to a wide variety of devices that will work with its cars, and isn't pinning its hopes on a single trendy machine, no matter how dominant it is in its respective market.

Originally Posted by philippek

By far the most exciting news I learned at the X5 ride-n-drive is that BMW is planning on putting a USB port in the E70, starting with March production. To my knowledge this will be a first in the automotive industry, and shows the kind of forward thinking that makes BMW the company it is. I don't know what this means for the future relationship between Apple and BMW, but it clearly shows that BMW is opening the door to a wide variety of devices that will work with its cars, and isn't pinning its hopes on a single trendy machine, no matter how dominant it is in its respective market.

I recall a few other cars have a USB drive or data chip. Only problem is to get a USB device that holds 4GB+ you will spend just as much as an iPOD.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I recall a few other cars have a USB drive or data chip.

Which ones

Originally Posted by philippek

Which ones

I think MB, VW or Audi. It was german.

ok...this link, dated 9/12/05 (??!!), says USB ports will be available in VWs by "next year."

Yet, when I go this page, that same company says they'll give you a guitar if you take a car off their hands, and then you can plug said guitar into their aux input

What gives veedub

well, it looks like a nice guitar.

Originally Posted by jim h.

Don't mean to be rude, but why would one think that? Not even sure what you mean by iPod logic...

If there were iPod logic in iDrive, you wouldn't need iPod ...

In fact iPod and iDrive have little if anything in common from a technical perspective. iPod is a portable media player made by apple computer corp.

iDrive is a customized application written by or for BMW and running on top of (someone correct me if this changed) Windows Automotive - a specialized version of windows mobile with a uniquely BMW interface for navigating the menus and selections. iDrive and Windows Automotive were around a bit before iPods ....

see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsautomotive/default.mspx

Perhaps you're right though (in a way) - depending on what version of Windows Automotive they used (if they are still using it), you might not need an iPod- you may already have an mp3 player in your dashboard- it's just not an iPod and there's no easy way to get to it through the UI in your iDrive...

Has anyone hacked iDrive?

For idrive. Click Up back, Right next, left back, center enter.
it would be more simple, and imho, more user friendly. I don't have a problem with the way it is, but since people are spouting their $.02 everywhere around here.

FYI iPod was before iDrive. maybe a really beastly prototype existed, but it was always there.

Originally Posted by philippek

ok...this link, dated 9/12/05 (??!!), says USB ports will be available in VWs by "next year."

Yet, when I go this page, that same company says they'll give you a guitar if you take a car off their hands, and then you can plug said guitar into their aux input

What gives veedub

I can't remember exactly where I saw it but a few companies annouced USB integration. Also, MB has a computer card/chip thingy available now.

The question is who will have USB in the car first. BMW could have easily done it with the MOST adapter. Just add a USB port. It is not rocket science.

The problem is unless the USB devices drop a lot in price you might as well use an iPOD. An 8GB iPOD Nano is about $250. An 8GB USB device is about $150.

I am amazed no one else, not even Lexus has iPOD intgration like BMW. The more I compare iDrive to other systems, the more I like it. It has drawbacks, but when you look beyond nav, it is years ahead of the competition.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I recall a few other cars have a USB drive or data chip. Only problem is to get a USB device that holds 4GB+ you will spend just as much as an iPOD.

Depends how they implement it. If it is simply a USB port that any USB device can plug into (IOW, not necessarily a USB music player), you can buy a 4GB USB stick for $60, load it with a couple hundred songs, and you're set for a few days of driving. But if it is merely a glorified AUX input, yeah, then you are back at square one, buying an MP3 player.

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I recall a few other cars have a USB drive or data chip. Only problem is to get a USB device that holds 4GB+ you will spend just as much as an iPOD.

And it will lack the interface and functionality of an iPod!

Originally Posted by astrohip

Depends how they implement it. If it is simply a USB port that any USB device can plug into (IOW, not necessarily a USB music player), you can buy a 4GB USB stick for $60, load it with a couple hundred songs, and you're set for a few days of driving. But if it is merely a glorified AUX input, yeah, then you are back at square one, buying an MP3 player.

I think with USB alone you will lose sort by title, artist, etc. like the iPOD has without some custom software the makes folder hierarchy's