[flier-x]

Can anybody give me a rundown on how the interface on the stereo head unit works. I don't have iDrive. nobody at BMW can give me a good description of how this works with no iDrive. They emailed me the PDF of the manual but that doesn't really tell me much.

I want to know... Can I pick albums, playlists, artists, etc... by name? The manual makes it look like i'll just see "Track 1" "track 2" etc...

Is it really that bad, or is it just that the manual stinks?

Thanks
Flier-x

[adrian1480]

it is a bit clumsy to describe. why not simply go to a dealership, take your iPod and ask them to show you how the iPod functionality works? I'd recommend it.

[iPodAddict]

Originally Posted by flier-x

Can anybody give me a rundown on how the interface on the stereo head unit works. I don't have iDrive. nobody at BMW can give me a good description of how this works with no iDrive. They emailed me the PDF of the manual but that doesn't really tell me much.

I want to know... Can I pick albums, playlists, artists, etc... by name? The manual makes it look like i'll just see "Track 1" "track 2" etc...

Is it really that bad, or is it just that the manual stinks?

Thanks
Flier-x

I have one major gripe about the ipod interface on the stock head-unit without iDrive is that you cannot quick-select the beginning letter.

For example, I have an 80Gb iPod video... it's got about 60Gb of music on it.

If I wanted to listen to something by Tiesto at that given moment, I'd be scrolling down at least 9 zillion artists starting from "2Pac" then it goes "Axxxxxx" "Bxxxxxx" "Cxxxxxx" and it goes through ALL the artists until I can get to "Txxxxxxxx". By the time I get to tiesto, I've probably been driving with NO focus on the road for at least 45 minutes.

I dont know if the iDrive helps with this or not, I just wished you could quick select the initial letter like in the bluetooth for calling people when scrolling through your phone book

[flier-x]

>>it is a bit clumsy to describe. why not simply go to a dealership, take your >>iPod and ask them to show you how the iPod functionality works? I'd >>recommend it.

You'd think that any dealer would be able to do this. I've asked all the local dealers. None seem to have these installed in any vehicles onsite. Nobody in service or parts was helpful. All they could do was show me the crappy instruction manual which goes into tons of detail about iDrive, but not non-iDrive.

I'm hesitant to spend upwards of $600 to get this installed without more information.

Thanks

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by iPodAddict

I have one major gripe about the ipod interface on the stock head-unit without iDrive is that you cannot quick-select the beginning letter.

For example, I have an 80Gb iPod video... it's got about 60Gb of music on it.

If I wanted to listen to something by Tiesto at that given moment, I'd be scrolling down at least 9 zillion artists starting from "2Pac" then it goes "Axxxxxx" "Bxxxxxx" "Cxxxxxx" and it goes through ALL the artists until I can get to "Txxxxxxxx". By the time I get to tiesto, I've probably been driving with NO focus on the road for at least 45 minutes.

I dont know if the iDrive helps with this or not, I just wished you could quick select the initial letter like in the bluetooth for calling people when scrolling through your phone book

Unfortunately, it does not. You have no ablility to select a letter or position in the list with iDrive either.... and I feel your pain! What's worse, is that if you must suddenly use two hands on the wheel for a minute, the scrolling function "times out" and you have to start all over again!! Imagine that you were trying to get to ZZ Top and had made it as far as Yes... AAAAAHHHH

I adore 6FL, but this is one area that nees serious improvement.

[jct0518]

Originally Posted by iPodAddict

I have one major gripe about the ipod interface on the stock head-unit without iDrive is that you cannot quick-select the beginning letter.

For example, I have an 80Gb iPod video... it's got about 60Gb of music on it.

If I wanted to listen to something by Tiesto at that given moment, I'd be scrolling down at least 9 zillion artists starting from "2Pac" then it goes "Axxxxxx" "Bxxxxxx" "Cxxxxxx" and it goes through ALL the artists until I can get to "Txxxxxxxx". By the time I get to tiesto, I've probably been driving with NO focus on the road for at least 45 minutes.

I dont know if the iDrive helps with this or not, I just wished you could quick select the initial letter like in the bluetooth for calling people when scrolling through your phone book

I had the same problem with my Hard drive but I changed the genre of each song to the first letter of the artist..this way there is only one a,b,c...

I have the ipod option from factory in my non idrive car and yes you can select playlists, artists, songs, genre like if you where selecting radio stations...its pretty simple to use and gives you all the information an idrive would. song names are displayed including the artist album ect..there is one thing though, i believe the dealer installed option is kinda different from the factory one search on this forum..

[flier-x]

So, can I understand from the previous post that when I select the "CD" for artist, genre, album, etc... I am then given a list of the artists, genres, albums, etc... by name, and then if I select one of those I see the songs in that category by name?

Anybody have any pictures of this?

[jct0518]

I can take some pictures of my interface with the Hard Drive if you want..but im not sure if the dealer installed option is the same..