[gr8sho]

Sounds like a training video is in order. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess one doesn't exist.

[Lagger]

Installation scheduled for Thursday (Aug 31st). I'll give you an update after the install!

[obLu]

Then I'm out, but frankly I don't understand why they need to exclude the gen 3

I'm not sure that Gen 3 has external control interface support (I think that's what it's called) ... which is what you're seeing when you plug in the bmw adapter and see the roundel on the screen of the ipod. I've read a bit about it, but I'm no expert ... from what I gather the communication in external control mode is two way, the interface isn't just reading data off the ipod, it's acting as the interface to the itunes.db file located on the ipod.

I've seen a couple of other interfaces, like the ice-link, do it this way too. But I have no idea if they support gen 3 or not.

I'm assuming that gen 3 has a dock connector?

[gr8sho]

Originally Posted by obLu

I'm not sure that Gen 3 has external control interface support (I think that's what it's called) ... which is what you're seeing when you plug in the bmw adapter and see the roundel on the screen of the ipod. I've read a bit about it, but I'm no expert ... from what I gather the communication in external control mode is two way, the interface isn't just reading data off the ipod, it's acting as the interface to the itunes.db file located on the ipod.

I've seen a couple of other interfaces, like the ice-link, do it this way too. But I have no idea if they support gen 3 or not.

I'm assuming that gen 3 has a dock connector?

Yes, it has the dock connector. I've also seen the Pioneer logo on my iPod when I connected it to my son's setup in his SHO. This was one of the original iPod adapters setup for the Pioneer head-unit's using their IP-bus.
BTW, I have received an email from BMW customer relations saying that the ipodyourbmw website is correct.

[obLu]

I've also seen the Pioneer logo on my iPod when I connected it to my son's setup in his SHO

I've got a friend that has a 3G ... as soon as I get mine installed (won't be for awhile) I'll test it out to make sure it works.

[PIPPOBAUDO]

I purchased yesterday in Miami Breman BMW its Usd 299 NOT installed ( at least the version for the 650I w/cd changer, which by the way needs to be unpluged) I am waiting for them to install it ( sept 13!!!!)
will post on the results

[Urban Sophist]

After having it sit at my dealer for 5 days, I finally picked up my 330 today with the iPod adapter installed. I ended up getting them to not charge me any labor and paid just $300 for the adapter. Given that my car was only about a week old, I requested no less than four times that they not wash the exterior (it's metallic black) because I don't trust that they will not put swirl marks into it. Nevertheless, the car was washed and said swirl marks are all over. They provided me with a free detailing at a local place that I know is very good at fixing these things. Oh well -- could've been worse.

They claimed to have gotten all of the issues resolved after having opened a "puma ticket" (which I take is some sort of internal BMW query for problem cases, not entirely sure). So far everything seems to be working well (after having played with it for 45 mins) except for one thing:

When I select "CD1," for example, to bring up all of my playlists, not all of them will fit onto the display at once. In other words, I have about 15 playlists and only 5 or so are visible on the display at a time. To see the others, I have to turn the iDrive knob clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll, similar to scrolling with the iPod's clickwheel. The problem is that scrolling to the "next page" (i.e., to see the other playlists or songs that aren't visible) causes resistance in the iDrive knob. In other non-iPod functions involving use of the knob, you have "down arrows" or "up arrows" to indicate that there is more information on the screen that requires scrolling in order to see. When you scroll up or down, the knob moves freely; when you reach the end, the knob is not supposed to move any further in that direction. With the iPod, the knob becomes more resistant and "stutters" as I scroll to see the next playlist or song. Therefore, within a "page" I can scroll freely to pick whatever I want, but to go to the equivalent of "page up" or "page down," it generates resistance. This makes scrolling through a 100-song playlist tedious because I'm exerting extra pressure to get it to go down the list all of the way, encountering moderate resistance and "stuttering" in the knob's feedback as i go along. This is kind of difficult to explain but easy to understand if you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I don't know if this is a feature meant to prevent you from "over scrolling" or if it's a programming or other error. If anyone else has the adapter installed, please let me know if you're experiencing the same thing.

Thanks.

[T7R_Sky]

Does anyone have to Ipod Adapter installed in their car w/ no Idrive? is it any harder to navigate through since you dont have the knob and the LCD?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Urban Sophist

After having it sit at my dealer for 5 days, I finally picked up my 330 today with the iPod adapter installed. I ended up getting them to not charge me any labor and paid just $300 for the adapter. Given that my car was only about a week old, I requested no less than four times that they not wash the exterior (it's metallic black) because I don't trust that they will not put swirl marks into it. Nevertheless, the car was washed and said swirl marks are all over. They provided me with a free detailing at a local place that I know is very good at fixing these things. Oh well -- could've been worse.

They claimed to have gotten all of the issues resolved after having opened a "puma ticket" (which I take is some sort of internal BMW query for problem cases, not entirely sure). So far everything seems to be working well (after having played with it for 45 mins) except for one thing:

When I select "CD1," for example, to bring up all of my playlists, not all of them will fit onto the display at once. In other words, I have about 15 playlists and only 5 or so are visible on the display at a time. To see the others, I have to turn the iDrive knob clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll, similar to scrolling with the iPod's clickwheel. The problem is that scrolling to the "next page" (i.e., to see the other playlists or songs that aren't visible) causes resistance in the iDrive knob. In other non-iPod functions involving use of the knob, you have "down arrows" or "up arrows" to indicate that there is more information on the screen that requires scrolling in order to see. When you scroll up or down, the knob moves freely; when you reach the end, the knob is not supposed to move any further in that direction. With the iPod, the knob becomes more resistant and "stutters" as I scroll to see the next playlist or song. Therefore, within a "page" I can scroll freely to pick whatever I want, but to go to the equivalent of "page up" or "page down," it generates resistance. This makes scrolling through a 100-song playlist tedious because I'm exerting extra pressure to get it to go down the list all of the way, encountering moderate resistance and "stuttering" in the knob's feedback as i go along. This is kind of difficult to explain but easy to understand if you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I don't know if this is a feature meant to prevent you from "over scrolling" or if it's a programming or other error. If anyone else has the adapter installed, please let me know if you're experiencing the same thing.

Thanks.

Resistance from the haptic controller is normal and occurs elsewhere (phone) as well although the iPod lists are longer than other lists. BMW knows this needs to be corrected. How and when remain to be seen.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

Does anyone have to Ipod Adapter installed in their car w/ no Idrive? is it any harder to navigate through since you dont have the knob and the LCD?

I have used it and it is harder to navigate because there is less information visible. That notwithstanding, not a problem.

[Urban Sophist]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Resistance from the haptic controller is normal and occurs elsewhere (phone) as well although the iPod lists are longer than other lists. BMW knows this needs to be corrected. How and when remain to be seen.

Thanks JSpira -- glad to hear that this isn't due to an install/programming error.

Now I just have to get rid of those damn swril marks.....

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Urban Sophist

Thanks JSpira -- glad to hear that this isn't due to an install/programming error..

Ja, I have had several conversations about this with BMW. The funny thing is that on the 5er with M-ASK (i.e. NOT with CCC), the iDrive controller doesn't have any resistance, but of course no CCC either.

That gives me a thought, I'll ask the folks who designed the haptic controller over at immersion.

[FrankoQ]

Another question if I may. (hope this hasn't been asked before)
from the wheel controls where you can switch from CD -> AM ->FM
I currently cannot switch to AUX. I have to do that thru the idrive
menus.
With all these software updates for the new ipod interface, has that been resolved?

[Pedal2Floor]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Ja, I have had several conversations about this with BMW. The funny thing is that on the 5er with M-ASK (i.e. NOT with CCC), the iDrive controller doesn't have any resistance, but of course no CCC either.

That gives me a thought, I'll ask the folks who designed the haptic controller over at immersion.

JSpira

Any conversation with BMW that indicate that the iPod interface will become a factory installed option? On the MB boards, it seems that may be the case in the future.

[sango]

hi all
can cars with nav professional also installed ipod??

[SCA]

Originally Posted by sango

hi allcan cars with nav professional also installed ipod??

Th search function is quite useful. iPod Interface bulletin below.


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...71&postcount=1

[drfluid]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Another question if I may. (hope this hasn't been asked before)
from the wheel controls where you can switch from CD -> AM ->FM
I currently cannot switch to AUX. I have to do that thru the idrive
menus.
With all these software updates for the new ipod interface, has that been resolved?

I tried that, but it didn't work.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Pedal2Floor

JSpira

Any conversation with BMW that indicate that the iPod interface will become a factory installed option? On the MB boards, it seems that may be the case in the future.

Using history as a guide, I think this is something that will happen in the not too distant future.

[collinp]

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

Does anyone have to Ipod Adapter installed in their car w/ no Idrive? is it any harder to navigate through since you dont have the knob and the LCD?

I just got it installed in mine today, so I've only used it briefly. The two line display isn't that bad, but scrolling through long lists of songs with the little tuning nob can be a chore. Luckily the folder navigation can speed you through things to a certain extent. I imagine I will get better at that over time. I will also probably end up paying more attention to playlist and genre maintenance for the car iPod to help ease navigation.

Despite what the manual says, I do not have a little up arrow on my display when I'm in a folder. The only way to get out of a folder is to scroll backwards from the first song. This took me quite a while to figure out. It seems that on a big playlist it's actually faster to back out to the main "CD" selection menu and then back into a playlist than to scroll back through the whole playlist. The little up arrow documented in the manual would have helped with this. Anybody know if the up arrow feature was dropped after the manual went to press or if my dealer did something wrong in programming? Everything else is working precisely as documented.

I was also a little surprised to find that choosing a "CD" from the main menu starts playing the first song of the first playlist. You then have to back up to choose a playlist. I sort of expected that after choosing a "CD" you would get to choose a playlist and then it would start playing the first song of that playlist. In short you are going to be hearing the first song of the first playlist quite a lot. Note that I'm using playlist loosely. The album, artist, genre modes act the same way.

And of course just like on iDrive cars the adapter has bootlegged the changer input, so one chooses CD changer to select the iPod and you need to remember that CD 4 really means browse by artist. Considering the limited display on the non iDrive cars this isn't so bad. It's also kind of nice to have direct buttons that jump you right to a particular "CD", so score a minor win for the non-iDrive cars.

The sound fidelity is excellent; much better than through the AUX. Lossless compressed tracks sound as good as the original CD, even MP3s sound better than through the AUX in.

Overall I'm sure the iPod interface is much smoother and cooler on the iDrive cars. This is the first time in over a year of ownership that I've felt like perhaps I should have gotten iDrive. On the other hand I bought a pre-Sept car so I may have had no iPod adapter at all if I had gotten iDrive. Anyway, I'm happy with my new toy. For me this was a no brainer upgrade to get a 60GB jukebox wired into my car.

- Collin

[CPTHALL]

How was the installation? Any issues?

[collinp]

Originally Posted by CPTHALL

How was the installation? Any issues?

I was supposedly the first 3 series install SF BMW had done and their 2nd iPod MOST install overall. He told me to expect them to keep it overnight. They were true to their word. I brought it in Wed AM and got it back Thurs PM. I asked my SA how it went and he said pretty smooth but they took their time to make sure they were following the instructions precisely since this was new to them. He said the physical install was done by Wed PM, but most of the day Thurs was doing the software updates and addressing a few other unrelated issues I had complained about. I did not get a deal on the installation however. The final total including all parts and labor was around $600. I probably could have pushed for a discount given that I was the guinea pig but didn't. They charged me for 3 hours labor. I feel this is relatively fair. I know the instructions say 1 hour, but so does the changer install and that does not require a full dash disassembly. My SA said it probably took them 8-10 hours to do the install, but he expected they would be down to about half that time once they had cut their teeth a bit. I've been with this SA for a while now and he's been pretty straight with me, so I take him at his word. Once I got the car back the interface worked as expected. I don't have the little up arrows as I mentioned in my previous post, but I suspect that was a late software change. They also forgot to give me the manual, but that's not a big deal. I'm sure I can swing by and grab one next week.

- Collin

[hkj]

collinp: Congrats on your iPod adapter installation. And thanks for volunteer to be one of the first customer to have it installed.

I'll give SF BMW a call tomorrow to see what's up..

-hkj