[MG]

Does anyone know where i can purchase the IPOD USB Y CABLE (It plugs into my aux and usb port in my arm rest, not sure what the official the name of the cable of is) without paying $100+ for it from the dealership? The cable did not come with my car (i understand it doesn't in Canada).

Thanks

[japac1]

Originally Posted by MG

Does anyone know where i can purchase the IPOD USB Y CABLE (It plugs into my aux and usb port in my arm rest, not sure what the official the name of the cable of is) without paying $100+ for it from the dealership? The cable did not come with my car (i understand it doesn't in Canada).

Thanks

It doesn't come with the car in Canada? That's crazy. That's the only way to fully integrate the ipod with your system. My car wasn't delivered with it, until I had to explain what it was to the dealer, but that was over a year ago, when it was a rather new feature. I would question whether or not it should've been delivered with your car.

[Winston1961]

In Holland you also have to buy the Y cable. It isn't felivered with the car.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by japac1

It doesn't come with the car in Canada? That's crazy. That's the only way to fully integrate the ipod with your system. My car wasn't delivered with it, until I had to explain what it was to the dealer, but that was over a year ago, when it was a rather new feature. I would question whether or not it should've been delivered with your car.

US is apparently the only place where it IS included (and the price for the option is higher to allow for that). Without it you can still use any device that presents the MP3's as a USB hard drive (which includes the iPod, although you lose some functionality).

[BDMBimmer]

I believe you can get it for around $50 from a US dealership, it's crazy the pricing difference.

[Winston1961]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Without it you can still use any device that presents the MP3's as a USB hard drive (which includes the iPod, although you lose some functionality).

But you gain much quality when using the Ipod as external hard drive

[phattbam]

MG you got PM

[krote345]

Ridiculously expensive for a cable but they have one here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=170259322609

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by Winston1961

But you gain much quality when using the Ipod as external hard drive

Some people certainly believe that the end result of transmitting the analog audio from the iPod vs having the head unit decode the digital data results in some degradation and that you can hear the difference. Personally, I don't buy it. Even if there was a very minor increase in quality (and that's all it could possibly be), I wouldn't put up with the loss of functionality for it.

[krote345]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Some people certainly believe that the end result of transmitting the analog audio from the iPod vs having the head unit decode the digital data results in some degradation and that you can hear the difference. Personally, I don't buy it. Even if there was a very minor increase in quality (and that's all it could possibly be), I wouldn't put up with the loss of functionality for it.

Agreed. The interface through the head unit is priceless. It's also great that it charges your ipod while driving. Anytime you take it out for use on foot, it's fully charged and ready to go.

[Winston1961]

Originally Posted by krote345

Agreed. The interface through the head unit is priceless. It's also great that it charges your ipod while driving. Anytime you take it out for use on foot, it's fully charged and ready to go.

For me it is very clear that the sound quality is much better when using the Ipod as an external harddrive, using WMA lossless (and not Mp3) en playing the files with the Individual High end audio system from BMW.

[GregE92]

Can someone tell me what functionality gets lost with the basic USB cable?
(I'm still awaiting delivery.)

Will I not be able to browse via library (Artist/Album/Song) if I don't have the Y cable? Is that it?
I thought 6FL can automatically index ID3's from ANY storage??

[Winston1961]

Originally Posted by GregE92

Can someone tell me what functionality gets lost with the basic USB cable?
(I'm still awaiting delivery.)

Will I not be able to browse via library (Artist/Album/Song) if I don't have the Y cable? Is that it?
I thought 6FL can automatically index ID3's from ANY storage??

There are 2 ways you can use the Ipod with the 6FL option.

1. With the Y cable delivered by BMW.
In this way the Ipod is doing the job (plays the file and sent it through the aux to the HIFI system of the car. You can handle the Ipod through the iDrive system of the car.
In my opinion the soundquality is not very good in this way.

2. With the original USB cable which came with your Ipod and which you use to conect your Ipod to your computer.
When you use it this way, the Ipod is used as an external harddrive. The files must be WAV, WMA or Mp3 on the Ipod (the ipod itself can't play these files). The car can't play AAC files (the format Ipod use for audio). Playlist you use have to be M3u (very easy to make with the program MediaMonkey).
When you use WMA lossless in this way the soundquality is tremendous.
6FL can automatically index ID3 tags, when you have a lot of songs it takes a lot of time (the first time). When using the Y cable this proces is much faster.

[GregE92]

Thanks for the info.
I'll be better off with a plain WD drive then (as suggested in another thread).

[phattbam]

glad you go the Y cable MG. lemme know how it turns out.

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by BDMBimmer

I believe you can get it for around $50 from a US dealership, it's crazy the pricing difference.

I was quoted $67 in Virginia this week. Rather absurd if you ask me.

[phattbam]

that sure is absurd. I'm glad I was able to help a fellow e90post member out with a partial discount.