Connecting Android phones via USB? Works?

stevegaas · 06-14-2011, 04:36 PM

I'm new to the android phone and I just picked one up (the samsung infuse which I think is really cool) but I noticed that when I plug it into the USB port on the car nothing happens. It charges, but the audio system does not see an external device connected via USB.

Is there a special way to get android devices to play audio via the USB interface like iphones/ipods do so well? Is there a trick to it with BMW's?

Yes, it does play via bluetooth, but then I have to look to the phone to control tracks and settings. I would rather do it the way I'm used to via the idrive controller and my old iphone.

Thanks.

onebadmofo · 06-14-2011, 05:04 PM

With android phones you need to "mount" the SD card. Check your notifications for "USB Connection Type"

stevegaas · 06-14-2011, 05:09 PM

So, I did click the button on the phone's display that asked if I wanted to connect as mass storage or media player. I chose mass storage, thinking it would present the car with a usb-drive like it does to my pc. This didn't seem to work. The USB external device via idrive was always grayed out. Never came back to life.

P.s., I also tried the other option android presented me with, but no joy. I don't think my phone has a directory structure that the BMW is happy with.

GiovanniE90 · 06-21-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onebadmofo

With android phones you need to "mount" the SD card. Check your notifications for "USB Connection Type"

How would you "Mount" the SD card. ?

stevegaas · 06-21-2011, 12:36 PM

When you plug your android phone into a USB port on a computer (or car) it will prompt you (the amdroid device) to connect as mass storage like a USB drive or not. Clicking the mass storage option mounts your phone's storage media.

My phone has two drives presented when you do this, though. The media is stored on the second one. My idrive system only sees the first drive and not the media one. So I have to go back to using an iPod for media sharing in my car.

rollinstone157 · 06-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Have you tried mounting it as a media player? BMWs support the MTP protocol, which should allow it to read your phone properly. I'll try it in my car with my Thunderbolt and get back to you.

GiovanniE90 · 06-21-2011, 04:41 PM

Thank you Guys, ill let you know if it works.

GiovanniE90 · 06-22-2011, 11:59 AM

the usb flash drive workend "exporting songs from it" and also from the CD "exporting cd's worked as well" but the phone didnt work ?? idk why

benmctee · 12-04-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

Have you tried mounting it as a media player? BMWs support the MTP protocol, which should allow it to read your phone properly. I'll try it in my car with my Thunderbolt and get back to you.

Any word on getting this to work? I'm trying to get an Android device (LG Revolution) to recognize in a 2008 non iDrive with USB, with no luck so far.

jmkworld · 12-27-2011, 10:51 AM

any update on this, i have a droid charge with a drive, logic seven and iPod adapter but want to use my droid!

ironlion27 · 12-27-2011, 12:31 PM

Hey guys.

How you get around this funkiness is by un-mounting then re-mounting your SD Card. I know it's a little funky but I've been doing this in my 2008 335I for a few months now and it seems to be the most efficient and fail proof option.

Connect via USB. Drag down your notifications and select USB Connection. Hit 'Charge only' and ok.
Give the phone a few seconds (>10) to just charge on the USB connection.
Drag down your notifications bar (still connected, if you unplug you have to start from beginning) and select USB Connection. Hit 'Mass Storage Device' and ok.

As long as you don't get a call or a text in the 15 seconds this process takes, the SD Card will remount itself and you should be good to go.

Let me know how if it works?

luv135i · 12-29-2011, 12:21 PM

I could never get my wifes samsung infuse to work for music. Changed to mass storage still wont work. Oh well. I dont know of any success stories

Aaronexx · 06-01-2018, 08:33 AM

Bringing this back to life.. did this work for anyone?

I swear there is no option for Mass Storage when I plug my Galaxy S8 into iDrive via USB.

ptpending · 06-01-2018, 09:38 AM

the problem is that USB port in glovebox do not support USB playback, only USB import or export to internal harddrive
to use USB playback you need to have usb/aux in armrest, wires and module supporting this function

techwhiz · 06-01-2018, 07:48 PM

USB Mass Storage was removed from Android.
Old phones worked, new ones do not.
Only newer BMWs support the current protocol.

Aaronexx · 06-06-2018, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techwhiz

USB Mass Storage was removed from Android.
Old phones worked, new ones do not.
Only newer BMWs support the current protocol.

Thanks, another thing i'm going to have to retrofit.

:

06-14-2011, 04:36 PM	#1
stevegaas Private 10 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Connecting Android phones via USB? Works? I'm new to the android phone and I just picked one up (the samsung infuse which I think is really cool) but I noticed that when I plug it into the USB port on the car nothing happens. It charges, but the audio system does not see an external device connected via USB. Is there a special way to get android devices to play audio via the USB interface like iphones/ipods do so well? Is there a trick to it with BMW's? Yes, it does play via bluetooth, but then I have to look to the phone to control tracks and settings. I would rather do it the way I'm used to via the idrive controller and my old iphone. Thanks.
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06-14-2011, 05:04 PM	#2
onebadmofo Colonel 353 Rep 2,394 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (14)	With android phones you need to "mount" the SD card. Check your notifications for "USB Connection Type"
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06-14-2011, 05:09 PM	#3
stevegaas Private 10 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	So, I did click the button on the phone's display that asked if I wanted to connect as mass storage or media player. I chose mass storage, thinking it would present the car with a usb-drive like it does to my pc. This didn't seem to work. The USB external device via idrive was always grayed out. Never came back to life. P.s., I also tried the other option android presented me with, but no joy. I don't think my phone has a directory structure that the BMW is happy with.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2011, 12:36 PM	#5
stevegaas Private 10 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Coupe Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	When you plug your android phone into a USB port on a computer (or car) it will prompt you (the amdroid device) to connect as mass storage like a USB drive or not. Clicking the mass storage option mounts your phone's storage media. My phone has two drives presented when you do this, though. The media is stored on the second one. My idrive system only sees the first drive and not the media one. So I have to go back to using an iPod for media sharing in my car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2011, 12:47 PM	#6
rollinstone157 Brotographer 91 Rep 1,742 Posts Drives: F30 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Have you tried mounting it as a media player? BMWs support the MTP protocol, which should allow it to read your phone properly. I'll try it in my car with my Thunderbolt and get back to you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2011, 04:41 PM	#7
GiovanniE90 Private 38 Rep 82 Posts Drives: E 90 335"IS" & X5 3.0 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Queens, Ny iTrader: (0)	Thank you Guys, ill let you know if it works.
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06-22-2011, 11:59 AM	#8
GiovanniE90 Private 38 Rep 82 Posts Drives: E 90 335"IS" & X5 3.0 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Queens, Ny iTrader: (0)	the usb flash drive workend "exporting songs from it" and also from the CD "exporting cd's worked as well" but the phone didnt work ?? idk why
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-27-2011, 10:51 AM	#10
jmkworld Captain 54 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 2013 x3 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (3)	any update on this, i have a droid charge with a drive, logic seven and iPod adapter but want to use my droid!
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12-27-2011, 12:31 PM	#11
ironlion27 New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2009 335I Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	I Gots a Fix Hey guys. How you get around this funkiness is by un-mounting then re-mounting your SD Card. I know it's a little funky but I've been doing this in my 2008 335I for a few months now and it seems to be the most efficient and fail proof option. Connect via USB. Drag down your notifications and select USB Connection. Hit 'Charge only' and ok. Give the phone a few seconds (>10) to just charge on the USB connection. Drag down your notifications bar (still connected, if you unplug you have to start from beginning) and select USB Connection. Hit 'Mass Storage Device' and ok. As long as you don't get a call or a text in the 15 seconds this process takes, the SD Card will remount itself and you should be good to go. Let me know how if it works?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-29-2011, 12:21 PM	#12
luv135i Major 60 Rep 1,073 Posts Drives: White Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	I could never get my wifes samsung infuse to work for music. Changed to mass storage still wont work. Oh well. I dont know of any success stories
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-01-2018, 08:33 AM	#13
Aaronexx Private 2 Rep 65 Posts Drives: E92 335d Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	Bringing this back to life.. did this work for anyone? I swear there is no option for Mass Storage when I plug my Galaxy S8 into iDrive via USB. __________________ Previous: E90 320D
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06-01-2018, 09:38 AM	#14
ptpending Colonel 535 Rep 2,934 Posts Drives: e81 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Poland iTrader: (1)	the problem is that USB port in glovebox do not support USB playback, only USB import or export to internal harddrive to use USB playback you need to have usb/aux in armrest, wires and module supporting this function __________________ E81 2007 130i 6cylinder Montego blue Retrofits: Harman Kardon, High-beam assistant, Removable tow hitch. Auto-dim folding exterior mirrors. Lumbar support. Perfomance Brakes.
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06-01-2018, 07:48 PM	#15
techwhiz Colonel 454 Rep 2,973 Posts Drives: e90 335i Sedan - Arctic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bay Area, Ca iTrader: (4)	USB Mass Storage was removed from Android. Old phones worked, new ones do not. Only newer BMWs support the current protocol. __________________ Arctic Metallic\CF Splitters, Spoiler, Mirror Covers\LED Tails\LSD\Tinted\Coded\Apex Square SM10-19"\LED Angel Eyes\Gloss Black Grill\Integrated V1 & Galaxy Tab\M-Performance Brakes\Cobb Tuned\xHP Flash\Resonator Removed and -> is your friend.
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