Idrive & Ipod/mp3

[Muahahaha]

I have an '00 528i and am now looking to upgrade to an '05 5er or 7er. Only problem is the well-documented lack of support for Ipod/MP3 with iDrive systems. With an hour commute each way, no way I will get a car that doesn't let me play my iPod.

The only solution for right now appears to be FM modulation/transmission - but I can't/won't use this because the NY area is too full of stations and the sound quality simply bites. This means, from what I can tell, after extensive research, that I will have to wait until BMW supports IPOD. At the moment, it looks like there is no third party option out there.

The salesmen in my area don't appear to have "official" knowledge of Ipod support in the '06s, but I gotta think, particularly with iDrive moving to the 3er next year that the '06s will support it. I can't imagine that starting next year virtually all of BMW's product line will be unable to play iPods/MP3s.

I guess my question is, has anybody heard anything, official or otherwise, that would validate my decision to wait? The only thing I have found is a blurb in AutoSpies indicating that they are working on it....

[ts9090]

i have the auxilery input for my bmw, it works great, i hear its much better than the ipod adapter

[Muahahaha]

Originally posted by ts9090@Nov 29 2004, 10:58 PM
i have the auxilery input for my bmw, it works great, i hear its much better than the ipod adapter

[snapback]239838[/snapback]

WHat year is it? Do you have iDrive? Was not aware that you could put an aux input in an iDrive head unit....

[ts9090]

i have an 04 325 ci

i dont think i have i drive, you are supposed to put the aux input in the glovebox, but if you do it , tell them to put it somewhere closer to you, like next to your seat

[BMWLotAttendant]

To me...this is funny.

TS9090-you have an e46 3-Series...which is compatible with iPod...and yes they connect it in your glove box...the whole process takes less than 10 minutes.

Muahahaha-I'm not sure...but if the newer 3s, and Zs...and I think the Xs may have it too....but I'll ask.

If you get an O5....it comes with/has an option of Bluetooth...today an 05 Z4 convertible had it equipped...and I've seen an 05 3-Series with BT too.

The 06 3-Series...is the one with the iDrive system.
But the 05 3-Series has the option of SMG transmission.

[k2c69n]

Originally posted by BMWLotAttendant@Dec 2 2004, 11:45 PM
To me...this is funny.

TS9090-you have an e46 3-Series...which is compatible with iPod...and yes they connect it in your glove box...the whole process takes less than 10 minutes.

Muahahaha-I'm not sure...but if the newer 3s, and Zs...and I think the Xs may have it too....but I'll ask.

If you get an O5....it comes with/has an option of Bluetooth...today an 05 Z4 convertible had it equipped...and I've seen an 05 3-Series with BT too.

The 06 3-Series...is the one with the iDrive system.
But the 05 3-Series has the option of SMG transmission.

[snapback]242505[/snapback]

what about the e36's , do you have to buy the $100 adapter in order to hook it up?

[Muahahaha]

Thanks for the responses guys!

Yes, I know about the Aux. Input; I just had it installed on my wife's X5.

My questions are pretty specific as regards iDrive. It is pretty clear that you can use an iPod on all the late model 3s, x5s, and z4s. But I have NEVER heard of anyone having the capability to use an iPod with an iDrive-equipped car, except with an FM transmitter. Which suck.

I have a '00 528i and was hoping to get a new BMW next year, but since they all will have iDrive and I won't be able to use my iPod, I guess I'll be holding on to it for a while longer......

[brien4787]

alpine head unit

after that, it is just a 10 dollar alpine aux cable and you are set.

[Johnathan_Hess]

Yeah, but with the Alpine headunit, it's so damn cumbersome to navigate your entire playlist on the dinky little headunit screen.

You'd want to put down some money for the fold out, 7 inch touch screen. You can navigate your entire iPod reeeeeal quick.

It's only 1500 bucks.

Woohoo.

[brien4787]

just use ipod to switch song dude...its right there...no need to spend mucho money