[Rich9600]

Hi folks,

Slowly narrowing in on my order. I'm thinking that the enhanced Bluetooth option may be the ticket for me. But, I've still got some questions too difficult for my dealer...

With Enhanced a Bluetooth (6NS) is the album artwork displayed on the standard cars display, no navigation system specced?

Is it possible to use a USB hard disk in place of a flash drive? I have a 250GB iTunes library... I realise it would need to be a robust one... Or, a good chunk could fit on an iPod Classic.

My library is mostly ALAC, ripped CD's with some HD Audio in there also. Can these files be played by the car or do I have to squash them to 256kbps or similar?

Also, I'm thinking Advanced Loudspeaker vs Harman Kardon? Maybe Harman Kardon, if I can feed it proper files... I'm just after clarity, not volume.

If nobody out there has any experience or thoughts on any of this I would much appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance.

Richard.

[F30AM]

Get both EBT and HK.

For EBT read this thread:
http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=919384
Your touchpad iDrive is useless without it.

For HK:
If you like your music, it is the bare minimum IMO.

[ll71]

+1

My opinion, go Pro-Nav, Enhanced BT & MSport + pack.

[d4springer]

You can use an external drive, I would recommend getting an SSD, the idrive indexes your music and if you have loads this will take time, SSD is lot faster. Make sure it's FAT32 though, not sure if idrive recognises other file systems (not bothered checking anyway).

ALAC I'm not sure about, I did have WAV Lossless working so maybe ALAC will be fine, I think the older idrive struggled with the larger sizes but maybe it's ok now? I've seen reports on this forum (older posts) where people were having problems with ALAC on the CIC idrive.

Get HK, sounds great whether it's loud or not.

[M4dski11z]

Originally Posted by F30AM

Get both EBT and HK.

For EBT read this thread:
http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=919384
Your touchpad iDrive is useless without it.

For HK:
If you like your music, it is the bare minimum IMO.

Useless?

[DaveH28]

I have started using Itunes match for all my music, so all my Itunes library is in the Itunes match cloud, Since coding EBT in, I can fully control all music without anything on the idrive or plugged into the USB, Very rarely suffer from buffering of the cloud...

Just another alternative that I have cottoned onto only since getting my f31.

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by DaveH28

I have started using Itunes match for all my music, so all my Itunes library is in the Itunes match cloud, Since coding EBT in, I can fully control all music without anything on the idrive or plugged into the USB, Very rarely suffer from buffering of the cloud...

Just another alternative that I have cottoned onto only since getting my f31.

So you are accessing all your music from the cloud over your iPhone BT to the pro nav? That's very interesting. Do you get the album art too?

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by Ray335d

Useless?

I think 'useless' is harsh. I have EBT but not sure I should have bothered, unless it lets me access music from the cloud...

Many here don't have EBT but have most if not all of the functions like voice control.

[Rich9600]

Thanks for all your replies. A SSD drive could make a lot of sense, no moving parts... I would be annoying if a pothole bounce caused the head to strike the disk...

Cloud music should work, but wouldn't you still need an iDevice to play it through? Also, only 256kbps. Sadly not an option for me as the mobile phone signal is sketchy round here. None or GPRS in many places. However, if you could use the data connection of pro Nav etc that would be a bonus...

My thoughts are to get EBT and a USB connectable SSD, mostly likely a normal drive and a USB enclosure. Control it through the basic I drive?... It reads like is should work in the present brochure...

" 6NS Enhanced Bluetooth telephone preparation with USB audio interface and Voice Control, wireless connection for compatible Bluetooth mobile phones with the vehicle, including hands-free facility. With additional snap-in adaptor, which must be purchased separately, includes charging function and connection to external aerial. Enables convenient connection of an MP player, Apple device or USB memory stick in the vehicle through USB interface with operation by equipment-dependent controls (iDrive, favourite buttons, multi-function controls for steering wheel or Voice Control) of the vehicle."

It looks like the USB drive option used to be standard?... Is it still? If so do you get artwork with it? I have an older printed brochure and it suggests that a navigation system is required to display album artwork. Is there anybody without Nav who gets album artwork? I use Navigation about 10 times a year and manage spline with TomTom. So, I'd much rather spend my money on other toys, like a bigger engine...

Cheers

Richard

[ll71]

Yes, there is a BT option for artwork.

That blurb on EBT is BS, it doesn't tell you the half of what is MISSING if you don't buy EBT.

On all the new cars you get a USB interface.

You miss BT MAP (for Email) and A2DP for streaming BT audio. If you want either of these you need EBT.

[DaveH28]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

So you are accessing all your music from the cloud over your iPhone BT to the pro nav? That's very interesting. Do you get the album art too?

Yeh I have pro nav, and yes it does show album art, it's exactly the same as plugging in via usb.
Still gotta plug in if I want apps then the bluetooth audio is redundant but nice when I'm on a short journey and can't be bothered plugging in, just get my music playing over bluetooth from where it left off

[Bens3T]

So can you play from the cloud if you have EBT?

[DaveH28]

Originally Posted by Bens3T

So can you play from the cloud if you have EBT?

You can play from the cloud if you havent got EBT, but you have to plug your phone in either via the USB (pro nav) or USB Y cable (non pro nav).

I am just using my Itunes match account (£21.99 a year) to store all my songs in, then the iPhone presents them to the drive as if they are stored on the device itself.

[Bens3T]

Originally Posted by DaveH28

You can play from the cloud if you havent got EBT, but you have to plug your phone in either via the USB (pro nav) or USB Y cable (non pro nav).

I am just using my Itunes match account (£21.99 a year) to store all my songs in, then the iPhone presents them to the drive as if they are stored on the device itself.

So if you aren't worried about plugging the phone in via USB - what does the EBT give you if you don't need voice control?

[DaveH28]

Originally Posted by Bens3T

So if you aren't worried about plugging the phone in via USB - what does the EBT give you if you don't need voice control?

Good Question - I coded because I could. You do get your text messages through, also on short journeys when I dont get the phone out to charge my music starts up over BT Audio, which is very practical in real life.
Voice control is there anyway on pro nav regardless of what the EBT option says.

I suspect its a much better value for money addition when you dont have any nav at all.

[M4dski11z]

So you definitely get voice control if you have Pro Media but don't spec EBT?

[DaveH28]

Originally Posted by Ray335d

So you definitely get voice control if you have Pro Media but don't spec EBT?

Yes, Definately.

[M4dski11z]

Originally Posted by DaveH28

Yes, Definately.

Exxxcellent! I don't even think I'll bother coding EBT then. Thanks for that.

[Finnie]

Who in the UK can give some easy to understand instructions to code the 6NS. I've read some of the thread and i see the words but for the most part dont understand a word.

In an ideal world I would love to take the car to someone who could code for me but not sure if there is anyone in Scotland to help. Other choice is get a cable, a token and do it myself. Again anyone who could assist with this would be much appreciated. My internet is shockingly slow, is it possible to get the 10Gb file off a coder on a memory stick or something. It will take me about three weeks to download a file that big!

All help/advice greatly recieved.

[ll71]

Ebay.

[Rich9600]

Just a quick update.

I was at my dealer last night and after much confusion and their insistence you can only get artwork on Pro Nav, I tried connecting my iPhone to a couple of cars. Basic car with just iDrive, no joy. Advanced Nav, no joy. Advanced Nav with 6NS, full control and album artwork!

So, going for basic iDrive and 6NS.

[Rich9600]

For anybody looking into this I have pre-delivery tested my car and with the basic iDrive (no navigation specified) and EBT I can connect my iDevice by the white apple cable and the album artwork is displayed on the iDrive.

Edit.

I've no idea how this naps to the updated cars if Model Year 2014 Build Week 10 on! It only mentions the BT Streaming by the A2DP protocol. This may or may not include the USB upgrade for all cars...