[findtom]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Okay... maybe. But sounds like they are going to rape us for about $500 installed. I could hire a cellist to play in the back seat for that!

I doubt you could even fit a cello in the back seat of the E90.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by JSpira

The quality is excellent (and I am very critical of sound quality, as I am a pianist and spend a lot of time listening to music). The connection is analog because that´s how Apple does the output - BMW didn´t have a choice in that.

Regarding an A B comparison, I plan to do that tomorrow. I don´t foresee much difference however.

I'd be curious to know how it compares to using the AUX connection in the armrest. Maybe it's the plug I used... but it doesn't even come close to the cd as a sound source (bitrate aside).

I'll probably get it just because I miss being able to use the steering wheel controls. Although it does kill me (as has been said already) that it will cost more than the ipod did.

[hkj]

Excellent! I've been waiting for this iPod interface for ages. Now it's finally (almost) available.

Looks good from the photos. I agree it would have been nice for the menu to say playlist/album/genre etc instead of CD1/2/3. But that's minor.

Can't wait to get this installed on my car. Look forward to your full report JSpira.

-hkj

[JSpira]

As the product matures, I´m sure it will say Playlist/Album etc. But for now, this is relatively minor.

More testing today.

Stay tuned.

[bsjd00]

Originally Posted by findtom

I'd be curious to know how it compares to using the AUX connection in the armrest. Maybe it's the plug I used... but it doesn't even come close to the cd as a sound source (bitrate aside).

I'll probably get it just because I miss being able to use the steering wheel controls. Although it does kill me (as has been said already) that it will cost more than the ipod did.

Findtom, did you use the headphone port on the iPod, or the dock connector on the bottom?

[Straz M3]

Will this be standard in my new 335?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Straz 335

Will this be standard in my new 335?

No, why would it?

[hkj]

JSpira, one thing if you can check out for me during your test: does it pause the music during voice commands/nav voice instructions/incoming phone calls?

I remember it did for CD music, which is sort of a nice touch.


-hkj

[NoMods]

JSpira - do you have pics of the connector in your glovebox? Or even better a pic of the unit itself? Thanks!

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by hkj

JSpira, one thing if you can check out for me during your test: does it pause the music during voice commands/nav voice instructions/incoming phone calls?

I remember it did for CD music, which is sort of a nice touch.


-hkj

I second that request. I remember having that question before....

[Asiann]

Here is another option from Peripheral and Crutchfield. Don't know how well it works. From what I read you can control it from your factory stereo and steering wheel and it charges at the same time. You can read more from the Crutchfield web site. Here is a pic of the accessory.

Attachment 28352

[brian32e]

Originally Posted by Asiann

Here is another option from Peripheral and Crutchfield. Don't know how well it works. From what I read you can control it from your factory stereo and steering wheel and it charges at the same time. You can read more from the Crutchfield web site. Here is a pic of the accessory.

Attachment 28352

The one I see on the crutchfield site only works with Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, or Sony head units.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iSuVjB5...rch=peripheral

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Asiann

Here is another option from Peripheral and Crutchfield. Don't know how well it works. From what I read you can control it from your factory stereo and steering wheel and it charges at the same time. You can read more from the Crutchfield web site. Here is a pic of the accessory.

It´s not "another option" - it´s not an option at all. There are no other devices that connect the iPod to the 3er.

Please be careful with such posts as they could mislead people.

[simnew]

Just to reassure you guys on here so concerned about sound quality.
If you don't have the BMW/Apple IPOD solution installed then you will get the best sound quality from the dock connector - not from the headphone output.
So don't buy a solution that connects to the headphones and expect it to be that good.

Secondly, the first IPOD kit available (for non IDrive cars) is excellent - and the sound quality is better than from CD simply because you can use equalisation from the IPOD to improve the sound profile. So if you use AAC or lossless or even hi bitrate MP3 - the sound will be good or subjectively better than the CD source even if technically it is still inferior.

The controls I have which are being updated with the MOST kit, are very good and allow almost everything to be done from the steering wheel. The display shows genre, artist, etc and shuffle and of of course all the details. It shuts off the iPOD when you turn the ignition off - the only thing it doesn't do well is remember where you were last time.... but I need to play aorund with it a bit more to see if there is a way around this. Its a great addition to the car and a must foro iPOD owners.

[bsjd00]

Simnew, how do the equalization capabilities of the iPod allow for a better sound profile than the equalizer of the car itself, specifically Logic 7?

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by simnew

Secondly, the first IPOD kit available (for non IDrive cars) is excellent - and the sound quality is better than from CD simply because you can use equalisation from the IPOD to improve the sound profile. So if you use AAC or lossless or even hi bitrate MP3 - the sound will be good or subjectively better than the CD source even if technically it is still inferior.

The controls I have which are being updated with the MOST kit, are very good and allow almost everything to be done from the steering wheel. The display shows genre, artist, etc and shuffle and of of course all the details. It shuts off the iPOD when you turn the ignition off - the only thing it doesn't do well is remember where you were last time.... but I need to play aorund with it a bit more to see if there is a way around this. Its a great addition to the car and a must foro iPOD owners.

So as not to confuse anyone, let me explain what simnew is referring to. Outside of the U.S., BMW made an analog iPod Interface available for certain E90s that do not require a MOST connection and do not have navigation. It is essentially a kludge, as it requires the buttons on the steering wheel to be replaced with dedicated buttons for the kit - plus it requires the placement of a screen near the air vent since the kit doesn't communicate with the car, and hence cannot display information on the MID or iDrive displays. Once the buttons are replaced, they are useless for anything else and only can be used for the iPod since they are directly wired to the controller.

It is not a question of this kit being updated (further clarifying what sim said about the controls "being updated with the MOST kit").

This was an interim solution and nothing from this kit is being reused in the new offering.

Other than the fact that it allowed an iPod to transfer its sound to the car (although not via a fibre optic connection), it bears no resemblance to the new MOST kit.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by bsjd00

Simnew, how do the equalization capabilities of the iPod allow for a better sound profile than the equalizer of the car itself, specifically Logic 7?

Equalization is switched off when the iPod is connected to the Interface.

[AComp]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Equalization is switched off when the iPod is connected to the Interface.

JSpira,

Just to make sure I understand...you're saying that with the new iPod interface that you're testing, that the Logic 7's EQ is disabled when using the iPod?

(Please excuse if I sound like a blockhead. I'm tired, and my brain is fuzzy.)

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by hkj

JSpira, one thing if you can check out for me during your test: does it pause the music during voice commands/nav voice instructions/incoming phone calls?

No pause, just silenced but it continues playing and you can see the time tick on on an individual track.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by jfecteau

Couple quick things you could test for me? When the car turns off it turns the iPod off right?

I also listen to audio books on my iPod all the time so I have single tracks on the iPod that are 8+ hours. If you are listening to a track and you turn off the car or pause the track and turn the car off when you come back to that track does it save where you left off like the iPod does normally? I would hate to have to seek through 8 hours to find where I left off. Thanks for the info on this I cant wait for it.

It seems that, if you don´t disconnect the iPod, it goes back to where you were. I tried this several times but we´ll see what happens on my overnight test.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by AComp

JSpira,

Just to make sure I understand...you're saying that with the new iPod interface that you're testing, that the Logic 7's EQ is disabled when using the iPod?

(Please excuse if I sound like a blockhead. I'm tired, and my brain is fuzzy.)

No worries but it´s the iPod´s equal. that is turned off.

[330m]

Does anyone have a link for more details?

I've spent 30 mins on google with no luck.