iPhone 3G snap in adaptor vs iDrive??

JZ69 · 01-19-2009, 12:04 PM

Hi all,
just collected a 2009 330d M Sport LCI with new iDrive. I also got the new iPhone 3g Snap in adaptor for the armrest.

I have watched the video on Youtube of the american guy demonstrating the iPhone Music through this snap in adaptor, but I can't get mine to work.

The car connects through the snap in adaptor as my iPhones name comes up on the idrive display, but under CD/Multimedia, it doesn't register in the 'External' devices where it is meant to. The phone bit works perfectly,but the music doesn't.

Does anybody have any idea what I am doing wrong?

Cheers,

JZ

greyt · 01-19-2009, 12:14 PM

The snapin module supports charging and "external aerial only". There is no music support.

I recently upgraded my 2G snapin to the 3G snapin cradle recently. I managed to destroy the 2G one and was disappointed to see that the aerial is built into the unit - there is no connection to the external car aerial - bit of a con really.

swanseahammer · 01-20-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyt

The snapin module supports charging and "external aerial only". There is no music support.

I recently upgraded my 2G snapin to the 3G snapin cradle recently. I managed to destroy the 2G one and was disappointed to see that the aerial is built into the unit - there is no connection to the external car aerial - bit of a con really.

I've not got iDrive or 6FL.

If I get the snapin, will I be able to chrge my 3G iPhone and at the same time connect it to the AUX input to play music.

TIA.

yatesey · 01-20-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swanseahammer

I've not got iDrive or 6FL.

If I get the snapin, will I be able to chrge my 3G iPhone and at the same time connect it to the AUX input to play music.

TIA.

I agree w greyT.......sorry no music thru the snap-in!

Y

swanseahammer · 01-20-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yatesey

I agree w greyT.......sorry no music thru the snap-in!

Y

What about through the headphone socket of the iPhone to the AUX input on the car while the snapin is connected - or does the snapin block access to the headphone socket.

MEGA · 01-20-2009, 06:24 AM

I'd suggest a Kensington LiquidAUX kit. I just bought one as its £35 for iPhone charging and AUX (via dock so high quality) sitting in the armrest. Bluetooth phone prep in the car and its a full and complete solution. You don't get track info on the screen, but the wireless remote means you can just put a playlist on, then flick through tracks, shuffle etc as you wish. Better than the snap-in which the dealer actually recommended wasn't worth my money.

pickigar · 01-20-2009, 01:08 PM

Anyone have the part number handy for the 3G iphone adapter - been waiting for this to come out and was not aware it had??

Thanks

Gary

greyt · 01-20-2009, 03:11 PM

Part number is 84.21.2.151.038

search on Ebay, Costwold BMW sell them on there and are quick to ship and are a good price.

marriedblonde · 01-21-2009, 05:52 PM

I've just decided that after saying I wont get myself an iPhone to get an Iphone...

If I have the snap in cradle does this overwrite the Bluetooth? Or does the craddle do nothing more than provide pwer and the external ariel so I would still need to pair it via bluetooth?

What I will want to do is sometimes hop in the car and not use the craddle and at other times use the craddle.

J.

webby318dEMS · 01-21-2009, 06:00 PM

I looked at a iphone 3G adaptor on ebay being sold by a BMW/Mini dealer.

I emailed to ask if when connected it uses the external car aerial, they emailed back to say that it doesnt but uses the aerial on the iphone!

Sounds like an expensive way of charging an iphone to me!

Carrera RSR · 01-21-2009, 07:00 PM

I have not needed a cradle for the last year of iPhone ownership. I have only ran out of battery power less than five times. Fortunately I have 6fl to connect to in emergencies. My 60gb iPod usually is connected for music. iPhone usually stays in pocket for Bluetooth phone connections. As said the iPhone cradle is an absurd waste of money for a phone charger

MEGA · 01-22-2009, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

I have not needed a cradle for the last year of iPhone ownership. I have only ran out of battery power less than five times. Fortunately I have 6fl to connect to in emergencies. My 60gb iPod usually is connected for music. iPhone usually stays in pocket for Bluetooth phone connections. As said the iPhone cradle is an absurd waste of money for a phone charger

Exactly what I do. Easilly seems the most logical.. imo.. Unless you wanted to rip out the HU and stick in an Alpine solution..

oscarguitar · 01-22-2009, 09:46 AM

I don't have an iphone but my current (old) nokia does not have an aerial out socket. The cradle has a foil in it that picks up the signal from the phone and connects to the external aerial on the car. Definately get a better signal from using the cradle, so it must work to some extent. The iphone cradle may be the same?

yatesey · 01-22-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marriedblonde

I've just decided that after saying I wont get myself an iPhone to get an Iphone...

If I have the snap in cradle does this overwrite the Bluetooth? Or does the craddle do nothing more than provide pwer and the external ariel so I would still need to pair it via bluetooth?

What I will want to do is sometimes hop in the car and not use the craddle and at other times use the craddle.

J.

MB.....no the cradle doesnt overide the bluetooth...u still have to pair the phone as normal bluetooth!

..the boys are right..in the end its an expensive charger....i dont get any better reception in or out of the cradle!..i do have a prob with the mic tho..sound a little tinny to plp i call ....but we think its a duff mic...iv a E93...so the mic is sat in the steering column to add to the problems!...dealer looking at it next week...

...u dont half get some funny looks when ur seen shouting at the speedo!...but then i wud in a 320 wudnt I....lol

Y

JZ69 · 01-22-2009, 12:17 PM

I totally disagree with the views on the 3G Charger/snapin cradle.

I get far better reception when the phone is plugged in. You can see the signal bars on iDrive increase as it uses the sharkfin.

SO despite not having 6NF, I dowloaded all my music into th hard drive (13gb) and just plug in the phone. Its a great secure way of maximising call quality and also charging. I got it chucked into the deal and I am glad I did. If I drive on the continent, I will prob plug iPhone into the USB with the Y lead to get full iPod music interaction (inc Genius playlists) on iDrive.

SO far, I am blown away by how good the 2009 iDrive is and how it handles my music on the internal hardrive.

The rest if the car isn't bad either.....

JZ

Carrera RSR · 01-22-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JZ69

I totally disagree with the views on the 3G Charger/snapin cradle.

I get far better reception when the phone is plugged in. You can see the signal bars on iDrive increase as it uses the sharkfin.

SO despite not having 6NF, I dowloaded all my music into th hard drive (13gb) and just plug in the phone. Its a great secure way of maximising call quality and also charging. I got it chucked into the deal and I am glad I did. If I drive on the continent, I will prob plug iPhone into the USB with the Y lead to get full iPod music interaction (inc Genius playlists) on iDrive.

SO far, I am blown away by how good the 2009 iDrive is and how it handles my music on the internal hardrive.

The rest if the car isn't bad either.....

JZ

It's great you got it thrown in with the car, but at £60 for the 2g version and £90 for the 3g version they are still way overpriced for a charger. Still not sure there is any addition to the ariel strength via 'foil' to the shark fin?!

marriedblonde · 01-22-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yatesey

MB.....no the cradle doesnt overide the bluetooth...u still have to pair the phone as normal bluetooth!

..the boys are right..in the end its an expensive charger....i dont get any better reception in or out of the cradle!..i do have a prob with the mic tho..sound a little tinny to plp i call ....but we think its a duff mic...iv a E93...so the mic is sat in the steering column to add to the problems!...dealer looking at it next week...

...u dont half get some funny looks when ur seen shouting at the speedo!...but then i wud in a 320 wudnt I....lol

Y

Thank you, I'll give it a go without the cradle!

J.

yatesey · 01-23-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JZ69

I get far better reception when the phone is plugged in. You can see the signal bars on iDrive increase as it uses the sharkfin.

JZ

JZ....good for u... it might have something to do with ur 2009 idrive...compared to our 08 and 07 versions

.....iv seen cpl of vids of it and def looks an umprovement on old version (inc the harddrive bit)........too much of a hardware difference for an upgrade i bet!...anyone know?

def no diff in the signal bars on mine....e93 tho!.....so no sharkfin!...mmmm?

tisme · 01-31-2009, 06:11 PM

I also have the 6NF but have no idea what it does.

I use the 3G iPhone in my pocket and use bluetooth and it is fine. I plug a 16GB memory stick in the 6FL for music I have not loaded into the hard drive.

For chargingtheiPhone, I use a cigar lighter charger when I need to, which is not often.

moetazthabet · 02-25-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyt

Part number is 84.21.2.151.038

search on Ebay, Costwold BMW sell them on there and are quick to ship and are a good price.

Hi Greyt,

Couldn't find the snap in for the 3G on ebay .. you wouldn't happen to have the item number by any chance.

Thanks in advance.

emmasatchi · 02-25-2009, 05:22 PM

I have the snap in adapter and find that with the phone connected to it the reception is much better, not for me in the car as that is pretty good and clear anyway but have found that it makes a big difference to what the other person is hearing. Worth the money in my opinion.

I did some digging around on the music side of this a while back as I also wished to play music. Turns out that there are 2 versions of the snap in adaptor, one part number ending 038 and another I think from memory ended 042? May have the exact number somewhere, will post if I come across it.

One charges only and connects to the shark fin and the other one that does does same but allows music transfer also however I believe that you have to have the usb socket in the glove box to make it possible. I don't have that so have no experience in getting it to work.

Something to do with the technology in the box that is connected to the usb transfering the data between Iphone and Idrive system. This info came from a BMW dealer in Munich who was apparently very knowledgeable about the product. Relations in Munich did the asking so can't be more technical than that i'm afraid.

Carrera RSR · 02-25-2009, 05:41 PM

I believe there are two cradles available. One for 2.5G iphone and one for the newer 3G version. Neither allow for music connection to the radio or iDrive as the headphone socket and dock connector are blocked by the cradle. Only way to transfer music to the radio is via the 3.5mm AUX input or the 6FL USB interface. You cannot use the cradle and AUX/USB at the same time. Period.

01-19-2009, 12:04 PM	#1
JZ69 Private 9 Rep 79 Posts Drives: M3 E90 DCT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London iTrader: (0)	iPhone 3G snap in adaptor vs iDrive?? Hi all, just collected a 2009 330d M Sport LCI with new iDrive. I also got the new iPhone 3g Snap in adaptor for the armrest. I have watched the video on Youtube of the american guy demonstrating the iPhone Music through this snap in adaptor, but I can't get mine to work. The car connects through the snap in adaptor as my iPhones name comes up on the idrive display, but under CD/Multimedia, it doesn't register in the 'External' devices where it is meant to. The phone bit works perfectly,but the music doesn't. Does anybody have any idea what I am doing wrong? Cheers, JZ
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01-19-2009, 12:14 PM	#2
greyt Private First Class 42 Rep 130 Posts Drives: X3 & iX3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tewkesbury U.K. and Florida USA iTrader: (0)	The snapin module supports charging and "external aerial only". There is no music support. I recently upgraded my 2G snapin to the 3G snapin cradle recently. I managed to destroy the 2G one and was disappointed to see that the aerial is built into the unit - there is no connection to the external car aerial - bit of a con really.
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01-20-2009, 06:24 AM	#6
MEGA Dieseasal 209 Rep 6,881 Posts Drives: LCI E92 335d M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Harrow, London iTrader: (2)	I'd suggest a Kensington LiquidAUX kit. I just bought one as its £35 for iPhone charging and AUX (via dock so high quality) sitting in the armrest. Bluetooth phone prep in the car and its a full and complete solution. You don't get track info on the screen, but the wireless remote means you can just put a playlist on, then flick through tracks, shuffle etc as you wish. Better than the snap-in which the dealer actually recommended wasn't worth my money.
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01-20-2009, 01:08 PM	#7
pickigar Private 10 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2017 530d Msport Xdrive Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South iTrader: (0)	Anyone have the part number handy for the 3G iphone adapter - been waiting for this to come out and was not aware it had?? Thanks Gary
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01-20-2009, 03:11 PM	#8
greyt Private First Class 42 Rep 130 Posts Drives: X3 & iX3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tewkesbury U.K. and Florida USA iTrader: (0)	Part number is 84.21.2.151.038 search on Ebay, Costwold BMW sell them on there and are quick to ship and are a good price.
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01-21-2009, 05:52 PM	#9
marriedblonde Lieutenant 11 Rep 434 Posts Drives: e92 330 sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sunny south coast iTrader: (0)	I've just decided that after saying I wont get myself an iPhone to get an Iphone... If I have the snap in cradle does this overwrite the Bluetooth? Or does the craddle do nothing more than provide pwer and the external ariel so I would still need to pair it via bluetooth? What I will want to do is sometimes hop in the car and not use the craddle and at other times use the craddle. J.
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01-21-2009, 06:00 PM	#10
webby318dEMS Spider powered! 16 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 318d Edition M Sport saloon Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kent iTrader: (0)	I looked at a iphone 3G adaptor on ebay being sold by a BMW/Mini dealer. I emailed to ask if when connected it uses the external car aerial, they emailed back to say that it doesnt but uses the aerial on the iphone! Sounds like an expensive way of charging an iphone to me! __________________
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01-21-2009, 07:00 PM	#11
Carrera RSR Colonel 75 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Location: Location: iTrader: (1)	I have not needed a cradle for the last year of iPhone ownership. I have only ran out of battery power less than five times. Fortunately I have 6fl to connect to in emergencies. My 60gb iPod usually is connected for music. iPhone usually stays in pocket for Bluetooth phone connections. As said the iPhone cradle is an absurd waste of money for a phone charger
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01-22-2009, 09:46 AM	#13
oscarguitar Private 2 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 335d SE Black Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	External Aerial I don't have an iphone but my current (old) nokia does not have an aerial out socket. The cradle has a foil in it that picks up the signal from the phone and connects to the external aerial on the car. Definately get a better signal from using the cradle, so it must work to some extent. The iphone cradle may be the same?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-22-2009, 12:17 PM	#15
JZ69 Private 9 Rep 79 Posts Drives: M3 E90 DCT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I totally disagree with the views on the 3G Charger/snapin cradle. I get far better reception when the phone is plugged in. You can see the signal bars on iDrive increase as it uses the sharkfin. SO despite not having 6NF, I dowloaded all my music into th hard drive (13gb) and just plug in the phone. Its a great secure way of maximising call quality and also charging. I got it chucked into the deal and I am glad I did. If I drive on the continent, I will prob plug iPhone into the USB with the Y lead to get full iPod music interaction (inc Genius playlists) on iDrive. SO far, I am blown away by how good the 2009 iDrive is and how it handles my music on the internal hardrive. The rest if the car isn't bad either..... JZ
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01-31-2009, 06:11 PM	#19
tisme Captain 74 Rep 741 Posts Drives: F80 M3 in Sakhir Orange Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 model year 330 ... [0.00]	I also have the 6NF but have no idea what it does. I use the 3G iPhone in my pocket and use bluetooth and it is fine. I plug a 16GB memory stick in the 6FL for music I have not loaded into the hard drive. For chargingtheiPhone, I use a cigar lighter charger when I need to, which is not often. __________________ F80 M3 Sakhir Orange with DCT and TV collected 21 June 2014.
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02-25-2009, 05:22 PM	#21
emmasatchi Enlisted Member 5 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 330D M Sport 09 Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (0)	I have the snap in adapter and find that with the phone connected to it the reception is much better, not for me in the car as that is pretty good and clear anyway but have found that it makes a big difference to what the other person is hearing. Worth the money in my opinion. I did some digging around on the music side of this a while back as I also wished to play music. Turns out that there are 2 versions of the snap in adaptor, one part number ending 038 and another I think from memory ended 042? May have the exact number somewhere, will post if I come across it. One charges only and connects to the shark fin and the other one that does does same but allows music transfer also however I believe that you have to have the usb socket in the glove box to make it possible. I don't have that so have no experience in getting it to work. Something to do with the technology in the box that is connected to the usb transfering the data between Iphone and Idrive system. This info came from a BMW dealer in Munich who was apparently very knowledgeable about the product. Relations in Munich did the asking so can't be more technical than that i'm afraid.
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02-25-2009, 05:41 PM	#22
Carrera RSR Colonel 75 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Location: Location: iTrader: (1)	I believe there are two cradles available. One for 2.5G iphone and one for the newer 3G version. Neither allow for music connection to the radio or iDrive as the headphone socket and dock connector are blocked by the cradle. Only way to transfer music to the radio is via the 3.5mm AUX input or the 6FL USB interface. You cannot use the cradle and AUX/USB at the same time. Period.
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