[gsr]

Had the 335d now for nearly 2 months and like it. Came from a CSL so not the same type of grin factor but as a daily use car, the 335d is smooth and effortless!!!

I can't seem to access any playlists on my I-pod when connected through the USB input. The screen shows no data available but there are playlists in the I-pod.

One thing I have noticed is that podcasts can be accessed only through the artists function ie. BBC Radio 2 (don't laugh!!!) but cannot find anything to access playlists.

Any tips would be appreciated.

[doughboy]

Welcome to the forum....

Only M3U format playlists can be read by BMW system, is this what you are using?

Podcasts are just an MP3 (etc) file like any other tune so if the right tag data is present the car should read it like any other track.

You need to see what the ID3 tags are for those podcasts, perhaps only the artist field has data in it?

[ed335d]

A very basic question - are you using the BMW 'Y' lead to connect the iPod?

[gsr]

Originally Posted by ed335d

A very basic question - are you using the BMW 'Y' lead to connect the iPod?

I'm using the white USB cable that comes with the I-pod.

[Bungle009]

Then you need a Y Cable. £35 from your dealer.

[gsr]

Originally Posted by Bungle009

Then you need a Y Cable. £35 from your dealer.

Based on what doughboy said about m3u format, will this cable enable this format?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by gsr

Based on what doughboy said about m3u format, will this cable enable this format?

With the BMW cable you will have fill playlist functionality.

If you can't be bothered going to the dealer, you can buy direct from dealers on ebay. E.g:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bmw-Mini-ipod-...item27af6522b4

[gsr]

Thanks guys for your help

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by gsr

Based on what doughboy said about m3u format, will this cable enable this format?

Not 100% sure, but any playlists I create in iTunes are viewable with the Y lead

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Bungle009

Then you need a Y Cable. £35 from your dealer.

You don't need a Y cable, but it has some benefits for file access, but a lower sound quality as the ipod is a poor analogue device.

Thats an option really designed for cars without HDD nav, so the Ipod is controlled by the car and the ipod does the audio conversion to analogue and the car just amplifies it.

Using the single standard ipod USB lead means the cars is using the ipod like a dumb memory stick and the car is retreiving the data, performing the better quality conversion to analogue (ipod output is fairly poor) and amplifying it.

The downside of the second method is you need to know where the playlists are stored on the ipod to find them - are in they in the root folder or elsewhere?

When using a memory stick for example the playlists need to be in the root folder i believe for the car to find / use them.