[rteichman]

First let me start with Bluetooth. If you don't have the BMW bluetooth I would highly recommend getting the Parrot SLIM MiniKit. You can find it for under $99 at places like BestBuy. It mounts on the visor and pairs easily with the iPhone. What's great about this is that it syncs the iPhone contact book automatically and unlike most of these units (especially in this price range) will voice dial the iPhone WITHOUT TRAINING! I was amazed by how well it worked. I bought it for my Mini Cooper which had an iPod interface in the glove compartment so if I wanted to use the phone as an iPod I could not reach it to make calls. With this device, I just pressed the green button and in a british accent a voice asked "who do you want to call" I would say any name as it appeared in my phone book and it would look it up and ask which number I wanted to dial (home, office, mobile, etc. based on what numbers were stored). I would say the desired location and it dialed. Never failed, never had it select the wrong person. When a call came in it announced the caller's name. I actually liked it better than the built-in Bluetooth that comes with the BMW!

For those of you who only have the AUX input in the armrest (like me) I highly recommend the Kennsingto "LiquidAux" product. The Apple store actually sells it for less than most places at $60. It plugs into the power adapter in the arm rest and then there is a short cable that plugs into the AUX jack. The length of the cable makes me think it was designed for this car! Next there is a small remote control fob that is designed to attach to the steering wheel, but I think that looks tacky. I just used some velcro to attach it to the console. When I get in the car I connect the iPhone to the adapter and place it in the armrest. Should I want to listen to music I select a play list from the iPhone (typically I already have one selected before hand) and then I use the remote for start/stop/next/previous track. It's not the best solution, but for $60 you can't beat it.

[JTBurn]

FYI -

The Kennsington "LiquidAux" is only $45 with free shipping below:

http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Liq.../dp/B0011UK2HE

[jcamber]

Originally Posted by rteichman

For those of you who only have the AUX input in the armrest (like me) I highly recommend the Kennsingto "LiquidAux" product.

I'm looking at buying a liquidaux but have read very bad reports on the remote. Have you experienced issues with it? I've had other remotes before (i.e. Griffin airclick, Timex watch w/remote) and never had any problems. I was wondering what makes the Kensington so crappy...

thanks!

[ansch]

one question.. most of the cigarette lighter plugs are too long to fit under the arm rest in the e90. Does the Kensingtion plug fit and arm rest closes properly?

[SocalMike]

I use the Kensington.. Plug etc fits neatly in the center console. Plug is like it was made for the console. Ditto on the remote--not on the steering wheel, I have just the postage stamp side piece of the remote velcro mounted level on top of a hidden dowel rod tucked into and leveled with the front the drivers door pull--looks like it is a part of the window button assembly.

[ansch]

and no humming/ buzzing noise as reported on some of those reviews?

[amlebede]

A lot of portable aftermarket navigation systems have good built-in bluetooth phone systems.

[jcamber]

Originally Posted by SocalMike

I use the Kensington.. Plug etc fits neatly in the center console. Plug is like it was made for the console. Ditto on the remote--not on the steering wheel, I have just the postage stamp side piece of the remote velcro mounted level on top of a hidden dowel rod tucked into and leveled with the front the drivers door pull--looks like it is a part of the window button assembly.

Mike, I can't picture this even if I tried. Any chance you can post a pic of what you did?? I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

[drivecar]

I tried the LiquidAux and it fits and works, but sound quality is worse than a good FM station. A physical cable to the same phone gives much better fidelity.

[cbetlyon]

my quality is amazing. i find that the dock connector actually puts out a higher quality audio compared to a 3.5 to 3.5 headphone cable to the aux.

[skh]

Originally Posted by drivecar

I tried the LiquidAux and it fits and works, but sound quality is worse than a good FM station. A physical cable to the same phone gives much better fidelity.

Are you referring to the Liquid FM? That's a similar product but uses an FM modulator rather an aux input, which gives lower sound fidelity. If you actually are using the LiquidAux (which connects via the aux port, not FM) it's strange that the quality would be bad. Should be as good as any direct line in. A defective unit maybe?

[Dwill335i]

I have a Liquidaux, and it's got a lot of limitations.

First, the vehicle I'm using it in has an ungrounded outlet, so you have to get a separate ground loop isolator to keep from hearing variable buzzing from the engine. I haven't used it in my E92 since I have 6FL, so I don't know if it will have the same problem (seems to be car specific). However, the other problems should occur regardless of what vehicle the Liquidaux is used in.

The second issue is that it will drain the ipod battery if it's left plugged in with the car off. Although turning off the ignition makes it pause, for some reason the ipod doesn't go to sleep properly. The only way around this is to unplug the ipod when you leave the car, which is annoying.

Finally, the remote doesn't work quite right with my new 4th gen Nano. Most times, I have to press the play/pause button multiple times before it will affect the ipod. Also, pressing and holding the FF/rewind button should make it move forward or back in the current song. Instead it skips songs, which should be the behavior when you momentarily the button. The remote works fine, however, with my old ipod Mini.

I'd only recommend the Liquidaux under the following conditions:

1. Your power socket doesn't have a ground issue or you don't mind getting a separate ground loop isolator.
2. You don't mind unplugging you ipod whenever you leave the car and plugging it back in when you get back.
3. You have the right kind of ipod that works with the remote.

[drivecar]

Originally Posted by skh

Are you referring to the Liquid FM? That's a similar product but uses an FM modulator rather an aux input, which gives lower sound fidelity. If you actually are using the LiquidAux (which connects via the aux port, not FM) it's strange that the quality would be bad. Should be as good as any direct line in. A defective unit maybe?

It was a different one. I tried the stereo bluetooth ad2p with a phone that supports bluetooth stereo. It did work, but the sound quality was not clean and crisp for music. It was OK for audio podcasts, but it isn't good enough for music. When I plugged a physical cable into the headphone jack, the same music sounded more like CD.

[taratorko]

I'd suggest this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13234

It's the same as the highly praised mediagate i-kit, but for much cheaper. Never had interference problems in Montreal.

[VP Electricity]

FM transmitters are the devil's work.