E60 M5s and MP3 playback...

[gazchap]

Did all E60 M5s have the capability of playing MP3 CDs from the in-dash CD player (not the changer, I know that can't do it.)

Reason I ask, is that I've recently bought an '05 plate M5, the manual tells me that I can burn MP3 files to a CD and play those, but whenever I put them into the in-dash CD player, the iDrive screen tells me that it's an unsupported medium.

Was it an option on the M5? If so, chances are that's the problem - how do I get it enabled? Is there any way of doing it myself that doesn't involve going to my dealer and probably paying through the nose for it?

[Plainview23]

I think *think* you have to put them into the DVD (Nav) slot, then you can choose that from the entertainment menu.

[ecain63]

Have you got a usb slot inside the arm rest?

[gazchap]

Tried it in the navigation disc slot too , to no avail

No USB port, as far as I know they didn't come in until 2008ish.

[M5MarkM]

From memory you have to add them to disc changed in the glovebox.

[Daaaveee]

Mine is the same, I assume yours is from 2005 too? I have no mp3 playback whatsoever. I found out it is something that can be programmed though if you go to a dealer and ask for it.

[130R]

You can replace the CD multichanger with an iPod interface (a cable basically) then it all comes up on the iDrive like CD's do.

[gazchap]

I want to get a Dension Gateway 500S BT thing in the end, rather than the OEM iPod interface which apparently sucks balls.

This Dension thing needs the MP3 playback setting switched on I think, so I'll head up to my dealer and have a look.

[sinizter]

They need to be burned with the right settings and preferably on slightly slower than max burn speed.

They do then work.

I don't have the settings to hand now, but I can find them later if it is still of interest.

[gazchap]

Just took the car up to the dealership to see if they can enable MP3 playback, and on the way up there the car through an engine emissions light at me, so I'll get them to check that out under warranty and enable MP3 while they're at it.

Booked in for Wednesday, and they'll even come and get the car for me.

[sinizter]

gazchap said:

Just took the car up to the dealership to see if they can enable MP3 playback, and on the way up there the car through an engine emissions light at me, so I'll get them to check that out under warranty and enable MP3 while they're at it.

Booked in for Wednesday, and they'll even come and get the car for me.

MP3 playback does not need to be 'enabled'

All BMWs made after late 2004 or so can play MP3 CDs without any coding or fiddling

The most likely culprit is a bad burn ... I found this out the slightly harder way.

[gazchap]

sinizter said:

MP3 playback does not need to be 'enabled'

All BMWs made after late 2004 or so can play MP3 CDs without any coding or fiddling

This link would appear to disagree.

There was a service bulletin released that told dealers how to code the MP3 functionality back in, apparently.

There seems to be so much confusion online about this that I don't know who to believe. I've wasted about ten CDs trying various different burn settings (including just a straight "Burn MP3 CD" from iTunes, which many people claimed to work) and none of them worked.

[sinizter]

gazchap said:

This link would appear to disagree.

There was a service bulletin released that told dealers how to code the MP3 functionality back in, apparently.

There seems to be so much confusion online about this that I don't know who to believe. I've wasted about ten CDs trying various different burn settings (including just a straight "Burn MP3 CD" from iTunes, which many people claimed to work) and none of them worked.

Fair enough - Is that an M5 specific thing ? What year is your car ?

My '04 Z4 with Business radio, M3 with Individual, and my current E50 530D with the crap radio + CD-changer all have MP3 function built in. Except for the M3, pretty sure the others weren't 'specced' to have MP3 playback.

[anissut]

I've just bought an M6 Coupe and I'm having the same confusion re: this MP3 business. I ripped an MP3 using Itunes and when I put it in the front loading CD slot it's strange as it plays the first 5-10 secs of a track and then skips to the next one. Does that mean my car needs coding or does it mean I've burnt the MP3 CD wrongly.

I'm thinking of just getting the Dension Gateway 500 with Bluetooth and hopefully then be able to stream from Spotify to the Idrive system but I don't fancy taking a £500 risk to find out it doesn't work.

[Neil.D]

I burnt a music cd through I tunes and it works fine in my 2005 E61.

MP3's didn't work at all.

[sinizter]

anissut said:

I've just bought an M6 Coupe and I'm having the same confusion re: this MP3 business. I ripped an MP3 using Itunes and when I put it in the front loading CD slot it's strange as it plays the first 5-10 secs of a track and then skips to the next one. Does that mean my car needs coding or does it mean I've burnt the MP3 CD wrongly.

Since it is playing the first few seconds, it clearly can read MP3s.

[M5MarkM]

anissut said:

I've just bought an M6 Coupe and I'm having the same confusion re: this MP3 business. I ripped an MP3 using Itunes and when I put it in the front loading CD slot it's strange as it plays the first 5-10 secs of a track and then skips to the next one. Does that mean my car needs coding or does it mean I've burnt the MP3 CD wrongly.

I'm thinking of just getting the Dension Gateway 500 with Bluetooth and hopefully then be able to stream from Spotify to the Idrive system but I don't fancy taking a £500 risk to find out it doesn't work.

There is a selection in the iDrive somewhere that plays first few seconds then skips, must be set to default to play then skip, you need to find and change the settings

[anissut]

M5MarkM said:

There is a selection in the iDrive somewhere that plays first few seconds then skips, must be set to default to play then skip, you need to find and change the settings

Doesn't happen to my other CD that I put in there?

[metsta]

Spotify throught 3.5mm jack in armrest for me, also picked up a 32gb usb stick from maplin today for £15 loaded it up with tunes plugged into usb jack and boom 32gb of tunes for pennies

[anissut]

metsta said:

Spotify throught 3.5mm jack in armrest for me, also picked up a 32gb usb stick from maplin today for £15 loaded it up with tunes plugged into usb jack and boom 32gb of tunes for pennies

Where do you have a USB jack and how do I get one if I don't have one?

I have the Iphone 4 cradle in my front armrest but as far as I can see don't have a Aux in in there, or the glovebox or the rear armrest.

Am I right in saying only BMW can put in an Aux in? My dealer seemed pretty clueless when I asked him.