[LEDZEP]

For those who don't cruise the Audio forum, I have a thread showing the way the 6FL iPod/USB option works using iDrive:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...324#post847324

[msimon18]

Nice - thx for sharing. I've got 26 GB of albums on my iPod that I plan to use in the 335 (if I ever get it) so I hope it really is as intuiitive and easy as you state.

I currerntly have a Phatbox in my 330cic that I will be selling after I turn in the car end of May. The Phatbox is extremely easy and since it talks to you you never really take your eyes off the road. I was quite upset when I found out it would not work in the 335.

Anyway - we should all stay healthy so we can hace fun with these cars !!

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by msimon18

Nice - thx for sharing. I've got 26 GB of albums on my iPod that I plan to use in the 335 (if I ever get it) so I hope it really is as intuiitive and easy as you state.

I currerntly have a Phatbox in my 330cic that I will be selling after I turn in the car end of May. The Phatbox is extremely easy and since it talks to you you never really take your eyes off the road. I was quite upset when I found out it would not work in the 335.

Anyway - we should all stay healthy so we can hace fun with these cars !!

Thanks - I agree, good health and happy motoring!!

I considered a Phatbox once but never got one. What I love about the iPod is that you truly take your music everywhere with you... simple as dropping it in your pocket.

[msimon18]

Yeah, but I intend to leave the iPod in the box or else I will just leave it somewhere or frlget to connect it. I have an Archos AV400 (20GB) that I use for travelling.

[Chi-town330]

definitely looks a bit slicker than the dealer-installed USB option (which I have).

EDIT: I did NOT mean the USB interface, I meant the dealer installed "iPod interface"

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by Chi-town330

definitely looks a bit slicker than the dealer-installed USB option (which I have).

I think the main difference is that it shows things by name instead of CD1...CD2, etc. May be some subtle differences in drill-down capabilities or something.

[0asis]

hi, from that original pic.. i see the ipod signal split into the aux in and the usb port.. does that mean the audio is still travelling through the aux in and the USB port is just to import file info?

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by 0asis

hi, from that original pic.. i see the ipod signal split into the aux in and the usb port.. does that mean the audio is still travelling through the aux in and the USB port is just to import file info?

I think that is correct. I think JSpira gave details on that, but I'd have to review the thread and it's gotten quite long!

[0asis]

yea, i was skimming quickly 'cause at first i thought maybe you can use the USB-to-iPod cable that comes with your iPod ya know? i thought it was a straight connection but i think the BMW connector does some magic in the middle to split the signals apart.. i don't see why it can't just stream everything via USB.. that would be pure digital vs. AUX IN, doesn't that default the audio to stereo? who knows i could be full of $hit

[LEDZEP]

Others reported success (limited functionality though) with the Apple cable. Mine never worked. Takes forever to download the files too... with the right cable it is very fast.

[The Chad]

Since it's "splitting" the signal coming from the dock connector, you're getting the good quality audio out from the iPod, instead of the signal from the headphone jack, which should make it sound pretty good.

I'm assuming BMW had to do it this way to ensure compatibility with Apple's FairPlay DRM and music from the iTunes Store. AAC decoding being performed by the iPod, and the BMW is only controlling what the device plays.

[0asis]

Originally Posted by The Chad

Since it's "splitting" the signal coming from the dock connector, you're getting the good quality audio out from the iPod, instead of the signal from the headphone jack, which should make it sound pretty good.

I'm assuming BMW had to do it this way to ensure compatibility with Apple's FairPlay DRM and music from the iTunes Store. AAC decoding being performed by the iPod, and the BMW is only controlling what the device plays.

that's a great point about the signal coming from the dock connector vs. headphone jack. good call!

has anyone been able to get the USB port to work with non-iPods?

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by 0asis

yea, i was skimming quickly 'cause at first i thought maybe you can use the USB-to-iPod cable that comes with your iPod ya know? i thought it was a straight connection but i think the BMW connector does some magic in the middle to split the signals apart.. i don't see why it can't just stream everything via USB.. that would be pure digital vs. AUX IN, doesn't that default the audio to stereo? who knows i could be full of $hit

The iPod doesn't have any capability to stream audio via USB. You can use the iPod USB cable if you've configured your iPod to be a USB Hard Disk (this has to be done in iTunes). For the latter the BMW electronics reads the iPod strictly as a hard disk and generates the audio internally just as it does for MP3 CDs. Functionality is reduced when you do it this and you can't play any songs from the iTunes store.

[0asis]

Originally Posted by jmonier

The iPod doesn't have any capability to stream audio via USB. You can use the iPod USB cable if you've configured your iPod to be a USB Hard Disk (this has to be done in iTunes). For the latter the BMW electronics reads the iPod strictly as a hard disk and generates the audio internally just as it does for MP3 CDs. Functionality is reduced when you do it this and you can't play any songs from the iTunes store.

.. when in doubt, chalk it up to magic. that's what i'm going with

what else is magic?
- big mac sauce
- paris hilton's extended 15 minutes
- spandex on big people.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Chi-town330

definitely looks a bit slicker than the dealer-installed USB option (which I have).

There is no dealer-installed USB option. It is ONLY available from the factory.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I think that is correct. I think JSpira gave details on that, but I'd have to review the thread and it's gotten quite long!

You are korrekt.

[johnc_22]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

For those who don't cruise the Audio forum, I have a thread showing the way the 6FL iPod/USB option works using iDrive:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...324#post847324

How much less usable is the glovebox interface that the dealer can install? My car was ordered before the 6FL option was announced but using the AUX in is just too hazardous.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by johnc_22

How much less usable is the glovebox interface that the dealer can install? My car was ordered before the 6FL option was announced but using the AUX in is just too hazardous.

Only marginally so... I'd consider it.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by johnc_22

How much less usable is the glovebox interface that the dealer can install? My car was ordered before the 6FL option was announced but using the AUX in is just too hazardous.

It´s very usable. Aside from the addition of USB support, there are some nuanced differences.

I´ve had mine since last June and think it´s great. Of course, I´m getting the 6FL option in my 550i but I won´t see that until opening day at BMW Welt in Oktober.

[Chi-town330]

Originally Posted by JSpira

There is no dealer-installed USB option. It is ONLY available from the factory.

I stand corrected, JSpira, my apologies. I have the dealer installed BMW "iPod interface", and have repeatedly called it a USB interface on this forum. I thought the long thin plug on the bottom of the iPod is a USB port. Goes to show my ignorance.

let me rephrase my post: this definitely looks a bit slicker than my dealer-installed iPod interface

I will attempt to edit my original post and correct.

so other than the functionality differences LEDZEP, described, are there any differences in the AUDIO quality of the 6FL option vs. the "dealer installed iPod interface?" i.e., in either or both scenarios, is the iPod processing sound, or merely passing the data along to the Logic 7 for processing/amplification? (which I assume we would prefer, as the less components processing the signal the better)

thanks and my apologies.

[hl0m4n]

can all 335i do this with ipod using this adapter? looking at my 335i i don't seem to have the usb type of wire only aux....help please.

[Chi-town330]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

can all 335i do this with ipod using this adapter? looking at my 335i i don't seem to have the usb type of wire only aux....help please.

unless your car was JUST built, and has the 6FL option, then you don't have it, you are correct. And yes, you can have the dealer install an iPod interface that allows you to control the iPod thru the iDrive (and I think also works via the stereo on non-iDrive, but not 100% sure). Note however that this interface uses the car's CD disk changer interface to the stereo, so you can't have both the 6-disk AND the dealer-installed iPod interface. i.e., if you already have the six disk, or really want it, you are SOL. and that's how it works, for example "CD1" of the six disk becomes your playlists, "CD2" is how you access your artist list, etc. Your in-dash CD player of course still works.

the kit costs $319 list, and they usually charge 2 hours or so of labor to install. if you do a search, you will find many, many threads on this subject.

also, one tip I like to pass along - for higher sound quality, increase the bit rates of your recording (when burning from a CD). Default iPod bit rate is 128kb/s. I double that, to 256. this also increases the amount of storage required on your iPod, that's the downside, but the sound is much more crisp (IMO).