IPOD your BMW

[jam101]

Hi,
In the USA you can purchase a cable which connects your ipod to your BMW I-Drive. My parents have a 530i in the UK but the accessory is not offered. Is there a specific reason for this? Will the cable not work at all on UK-spec cars?
IPOD your BMW
Thanks

[JeffC]

I asked about this for my E90 and they said it costs around £300, I asked for supply only but they told me I still have to pay to get the software to make it work and wouldnt save anything ??

[tangoecho]

This DOES exist for UK cars. The latest UK BMWs can be ordered with an AUX socket in the centre armrest which links into the iDrive. I'm certain this socket can be retro-fitted as well. All you need to do is buy a cable for that on ebay (there's a specialist retailer cant remember the name but if you go on ebay just type something like "BMW 5 series ipod cable" and it will come up) and also connect your iPod via the white cable it comes with to the USB port of the AUX socket. I've done that, works perfectly. Only downside is that so far I cant seem to get the iDrive to accept Playlists which is mildly annoying, it just rattles off songs by artist.

[mogul]

Not sure about a retro fit but I have the aux in on my 07 535 and my ipod connects through a cable which I bought from a dealer for £35 when the car was delivered.

The aux in ipod etc option costs £250ish if you specify from new and is worth the money IMO.

[JeffC]

I have my ipod permanany connected to the aux socket in the arm rest and a usb charger plugged in the lighter socket , (£1.99 ebay) but as mentioned you cant acces the tracks through the i drive.

[furtive]

I've got a 2003 (53) E60 530i and my dealer added an AUX socket in the glovebox to connect my iPod to. It appears as AUX on iDrive, doesn't show any track details on the iDrive screen and I can't control the iPod via iDrive.

IIRC the facelifted cars can have full iPod control (but you have to lose your CD changer I think)

[Li'l Pugs]

BMW want £195 plus fitting and programming and you lose the use of the CD changer (if you have one). In total........are you sitting down?


£600

And Audi for the same thing to their professional SatNav TV system?

£195


BMW = Robbing bar stewards

(Priced up both and the wife's Audi is the only one we had done)

[furtive]

If you have the AUX port in the glovebox like what I've got, you can keep your CD changer

[jam101]

Ok well they have the socket in the arm rest but I was looking more for something that will allow track listings to be shown? The software install is the expensive part then?

[dibbly_dobbler]

jam101 said:

Ok well they have the socket in the arm rest but I was looking more for something that will allow track listings to be shown? The software install is the expensive part then?

If you have an MP3 CD player you can store about 10 albums on 1 disc - the track names will come up and you can scroll through using the steering wheel controls. Works quite well and no faffing with cables. You can convert to MP3 format in iTunes (just right-click) then insert a blank CD (not Audio !) and burn - it's easy

[furtive]

You can also use DVD's and fit even more MP3's on them but you have to remove the satnav dvd to use it as they don't work in the autochanger (in my car at least)