[zenmaster]

I've read the manual and searched the forums first, but could not find any specs for BMW's supported audio file formats.

For example, what are the supported MP3 bitrate ranges for the CD and DVD players? I do have some audio books that won't play, presumably because the bit rate is too low (may be something like 16kbps). What MP3 tag formats does BMW support? What sampling rates are supported? Any other formats besides MP3 and WMA supported?

[zenmaster]

Got some answers after a lot of googling...

For example, what are the supported MP3 bitrate ranges for the CD and DVD players? I do have some audio books that won't play, presumably because the bit rate is too low (may be something like 16kbps).

128-320kbps works. Bitrates < 128 unknown.
A BMW TSB says no VBR supported, but contrary to that VBR does work (e.g. 192, 256, 320kbps).

What MP3 tag formats does BMW support?

ID3 tag v1.0, v1.1, and v2.3 (only the v1.1 features of v2.3)

What sampling rates are supported?

I've read where 44.1KHz is the only sample rate that is supported. Contrary to that, 48KHz is claimed to also work: (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=22149&page=3).
(Turned out my audio books were skipped because they used a 22KHz sample rate.)

Any other formats besides MP3 and WMA supported?

No. (no support for AAC, WAV, OGG, etc)

As far as burning the CD's, here are two recommended settings:

Data CD-ROM (ISO)
No Multisession
Data Mode 1
File System: ISO 9660:1999
File name length: 207 chars
or
File System: ISO 9660 + Joilet
File name length: 31 chars (Level 2)
Burn Speed: 8x. If you burn higher, then you might get errors depending on your media and CD burner make/model.
Disc-at-Once write method
Make sure to check off "Finalize CD" before burning

[BK]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

Got some answers after a lot of googling...

I appreciate you posting the answers after you found them. I had several of the same questions.

[4-series]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

Got some answers after a lot of googling...
128-320kbps works. Bitrates < 128 unknown.
A BMW TSB says no VBR supported, but contrary to that VBR does work (e.g. 192, 256, 320kbps).
ID3 tag v1.0, v1.1, and v2.3 (only the v1.1 features of v2.3)
I've read where 44.1KHz is the only sample rate that is supported. Contrary to that, 48KHz is claimed to also work: (www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22149&page=3).
(Turned out my audio books were skipped because they used a 22KHz sample rate.)
No. (no support for AAC, WAV, OGG, etc)

As far as burning the CD's, here are two recommended settings:

Data CD-ROM (ISO)
No Multisession
Data Mode 1
File System: ISO 9660:1999
File name length: 207 chars
or
File System: ISO 9660 + Joilet
File name length: 31 chars (Level 2)
Burn Speed: 8x. If you burn higher, then you might get errors depending on your media and CD burner make/model.
Disc-at-Once write method
Make sure to check off "Finalize CD" before burning

Thanks for the info. What is the difference between the 2 options you mentioned above? also, are these instructions for nero or some other s/w?

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by 4-series

Thanks for the info. What is the difference between the 2 options you mentioned above?

Sorry about that..Actually one set of options with two choices for file systems, but there are more file systems. The differences are in the number of characters available for your music/audio file names.

Instructions should read:
- Select "Data CD-ROM (ISO)"
- Select "No Multisession"
- Select "Data Mode 1"
- Select File System:

ISO 9660:1999 (v2) supports 207-char filenames or
ISO 9660 + Joilet supports 64-char filenames or
ISO Level 2 supports 31-char filenames or
ISO Level 1 all-uppercase 11-char filenames

BMW CD player should read all above formats, but ISO 9660:1999 may be the best choice:

"ISO 9660:1999 is the latest update to the ISO 9660 standard.
It improves on various restrictions imposed by the old standard,
such as extending the maximum path length to 207 characters,
removing the eight-level maximum directory nesting limit, and
removing the special meaning of the dot character in filenames."

- Select Burn Speed: 8x. If you burn higher, then you might get errors
depending on your media and CD burner make/model.
However, using Verbatim media, I've had no problems burning at my drive's
(Philips DVD8631) max speed of 40x.
- Select "Disc-at-Once" write method
- Select "Finalize CD" before burning

also, are these instructions for nero or some other s/w?

Instructions are generic. I've used Nero and some freeware called "CDBurnerXP Pro 3" with no problems.

As far as the MP3 bitrate goes, I typically use either 160 or 192.

[4-series]

Thanks zenmaster

[zenmaster]

How MP3 encoding sounds compared to original CD-quality linear PCM

On the subject of appropriate bitrate to use for MP3 encoding, the debate will continue indefinitely. However, I think this article by Sam Lin provides enough information to serve as a guideline: MP3 vs CD Audio Quality Tests

Another more recent article on the subject: Do Higher MP3 Bit Rates Pay Off?

"...in many cases, we were unable to tell the difference between an uncompressed track and one encoded at 160Kb/s, the bit rate most of us considered the absolute minimum acceptable for even portable players."

VBR (Variable Bit Rate) vs CBR

Since the BMW MP3 decoder supports VBR, it makes no sense not use VBR if you are encoding your own audio files. VBR saves space without compromising quality. For example, with VBR, song sections with silence are encoded at low bitrate, but CBR wastes space.

Lin says, of the "LAME" MP3 encoder, "I've found the High Quality settings (-V 2 --vbr-new) - ~190kbps - to provide sufficent quality that I find CD's burned from the output to be sonically indistinguishable from the originals."

The LAME Encoder

FAQ List of recommended LAME settings
LAME, Software the uses LAME, and MP3-related Links

[sapperelite]

Is there any way to burn my ITunes songs as an MP3? When I tried, I was told that ITunes purchased songs cannot be murned as an MP3.

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by sapperelite

Is there any way to burn my ITunes songs as an MP3? When I tried, I was told that ITunes purchased songs cannot be murned as an MP3.

I read where you could first "Burn the [ITunes] track(s) to a CD, then you can open the CD in iTunes and the Convert Selection to MP3". Somewhat of a PITA, but it supposedly works.

Another option is this product, which apparently can convert your ITunes songs directly to MP3.

[Evil E90]

ok....I tried just about every method I found on bimmerpost on getting an MP3 cd to work on my 06 330i but I am not having any luck. I'm pretty much at my wit's end on this. A dealer told me my CPO car had the mp3 update done in 07. I have Nav with no cd changer. This is what I tried so far:


1. Sony cd-r music cd's which worked for some and I also tried other cd's
2. Nero burning ROM 8 set to CD ROM (ISO) with these settings:
- no multi session
- ISO tab set to
Data = mode 1
File: File System = ISO 9660 + Joliet and ISO 9660:1999
File name length = Max of 31 chars level2
Character set = ISO 9660 (standard ISO CD ROM)
Relax Restrictions = all four boxes checked
Burn set to write and finalize cd, write speed set to the lowest which is 8x and write method is set to disc at once.

3. mp3 files are 128 to 192 kbps and 44kHz


I have gone through 5 discs with no luck. They work fine on my pc's and laptop and read as an mp3 cd. I want to enjoy my music but I'm stuck with music cd's with about 12 tracks each and I have to change them because I don't have a cd changer. I am looking into the ipod adapter which seems to be my only hope. I'm open to any other advice. I don't understand how BMW can make an amazing car and yet make it so difficult to make a simple mp3 cd

[scrumpee]

After a bit of experimentation with the 6-disc rear trunk-mounted CD changer on an E92 (2007) and contrary to the experience of some, the following appeared to present less of an issue as I managed to have MP3s working across the following variables:

- bit rates

+ Constant Bit Rate (CBR) from 128 kbps to 320 kbps
+ Variable Bit Rate (VBR)

- types of media

+ CD
+ CD RW

- burn speeds

+ 2x to 52x

In my situation, the issues appeared to be primarily attributable to:

- Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) not supported

- issues with MP3 to be primarily attributable to:

+ Digital Rights Management (DRM)
+ uncommon MP3 tags

This appeared to be more pronounced when converting music from FLAC to MP3. The following workflow worked for me.

Assuming DRM has been removed from the media...

FLAC to MP3 Conversion [dBpoweramp]
-----------------------------------

Basic Settings
- Converting to: mp3 (Lame)
- Bit Rate: 320kbps [sample rates: 32, 44.1 & 48 kHz]
- Encoding: Slow (High Quality)

Advanced Settings
- Frequency: [as source]
- Channels: [auto]
- Original
- CRC Error Protection
- Force ISO Compatibility

MP3 Tag Normalization [Mp3tag]
------------------------------

Tools > Options
enable:
- IDv2.3 ISO-8859-1

Only preserve tags (discarding all other types of tags not listed below)
- ALBUM
- ALBUMARTIST
- ARTIST
- COMPOSER
- TITLE
- TRACK
- YEAR

Burning to Optical Media [ImgBurn]
----------------------------------

manage files using
- Disc Layout Editor

Options
- Data Type: MODE1/2048
- File System: ISO9660 + Joliet
- Recursive Subdirectories

Advanced > Restrictions > ISO9660
- Folder/File Name Length: Level 1 - 11 Characters, 8.3 Format
- Character Set: Standard

Advanced > Restrictions > Joliet
- Folder/File Name Length: Level 1 - 64 Characters