iPod my BMW

[grahame]

Hi - I stumbled across this community today - glad to find you.

I've been looking for awhile to iPod my BMW. I know the BMW dealers in Australia, UK and US all are able to do this for the E46 3 series, and that the E90 comes all ready to rocknroll, but PML tells me they don't support the software.

At the moment, I'm connecting said iPod using a tape connector but it's all a bit ugly and cumbersome. Has anyone found a place in Singapore that does the proper connection in the glovebox, disconnecting the CD changer?

thanks! grahame

 

[saifywaify]

Re: iPod my BMW

hi,

which model are you driving?

saify.

 

[grahame]

Re: iPod my BMW

Hi - just an E46 3 series.
grahame

 

[saifywaify]

Re: iPod my BMW

hi,

there are quite a few choices for you. you could buy the original bmw/apple wires adapters and install them at pml.

if they do not stock this, then it's better if you go online and purchase a dension ice>link system. you could then get any regular local audio specialist to install it for you.

www.dension.com
www.ipodyourbmw.com

to my knowledge, both these options would require you to disconnect your current cd changer.

do let us know how it sounds and feels once it's installed.

on my car, i'm using a kensington digital fm transmitter. it charges the ipod and transmits the same time. the clarity is best described as satisfactory. a direct line-in would undoubtedly be a better sound.

saify.

 

[grahame]

Re: iPod my BMW

Thanks! I've used the FM transmitters before and experienced too much interference from buildings etc. Although it's not so pretty, I have found the tape player converter is pretty good quality.

 

[DoggieHowser]

Re: iPod my BMW

Thanks! I've used the FM transmitters before and experienced too much interference from buildings etc. Although it's not so pretty, I have found the tape player converter is pretty good quality.

I have found FM transmitters to be kinda iffy.

In my friend's car, which uses an internal antenna mounted on the front windscreen (flat type), it works great. But in mine with an external antenna, there is just too much interference that it is too distracting.

I recently installed an Alpine 9855 on my jipun car as well as the ipod connecting kit. Because I already had an Alpine CD/MP3 changer, I needed to get an extra multiplexer so I can switch between the changer and the ipod.

IMHO, the Alpine's user interface is inadequate when navigating big ipod songlists. I doubt the BMW head unit would fare much better.

The ideal solution could be to find a way of getting an AUX input on yr Bimmer (I'd expect there to be one for something like GPS navigation) and using that to connect to the ipod's audio out. One alternative could be to get the universal dock (includes stereo line out... which should sound better than the mini stereo amplified jack on the ipod itself)

 

[ex3]

Re: iPod my BMW

I've been using the Icelink Plus from Dension for a few months now:

Like it a lot:
- Song & Artist info displayed on the original head unit (BMW Business CD)
- Navigate the iPod via the buttons on head unit or Steering wheels (not just skipping tracks!)
- switch the control back to the iPod's click wheel if I want to (or when wife the DJ in the house!)
- support as many playlist as there are on your iPod; play by Artist or Album;
- "Album Play" feature is cool - while playing in shuffle / mode, hit Album Play and it plays the whole Album with the current track!
- easy installation; charges iPod autmatically when engine starts; no visable cables; very clean look
- exellent sound quality

Not so good:
- a bit slow in responds, I believe this is due to the high bit rate for my songs and it takes time to preload them
- the iPod Video screen has a much higher screen resolution than the Icelink was intended for, therefore if you use the iPod to navigate the Icelink's menu the text are pretty small (not a problem if you choose to display the text on the headunit or use the iPod for full control)
- needs to disconnect the CD Changer (which is a good thing for me, free up the little storage space. The headunit still plays a single CD if I really need to, so far never happened!)

Why not BMW's iPod interface?
- limited to 5 playlist only and nothing else!
- don't want to deal with PML Part and Services department anymore

Hope this helps.

 

[xuexun]

Re: iPod my BMW

I think PML should carry the iPod stuff... someone on the forum have theirs done there... but after installation, the CSA dont even know how to operate it properly.

Maybe the salesperson u approach dont know their stuff also... Think got to ask them to wake up their idea and check with another one~

 

[asagi]

Re: iPod my BMW

Hi,

I am really interested to find a way to play MP3 songs in my E60.

Can anyone share how it should be done with the iPod by sending some pics?

Besides PML, any recommendation on who should i go to?

Any assistance is greatly appreciate

 

[saifywaify]

Re: iPod my BMW

asagi,

as far as i know, neither bmw nor dension provides a direct line-in for ipods for the e60. this must be due to complications with the idrive system.

your best bet would be to stick with a digital fm transmitter which can be bought for about $100 from the apple centre at wheelock.

however, if you have more money to spend, why not invest in a mobycar system? if i'm not wrong, they've fitted one to an e60 before.

www.mobycar.com

cheers,

saify.

 

[KT]

Re: iPod my BMW

as far as I know, PML could install "aux-in" for E60 owners. You could then plug this to your iPod. I do not know how much it costs .. all I have seen is a friend's E60 with it and he is putting in a carputer to play itunes on it.