[jungmins]

I just bought a used 2007 328xi sedan..but it doesn't have 6cd changer..
I thought all the bmw has the 6cd changer, aren't they?
Please let me know!!!

[Slalom]

No the 6 CD changer is an option - can be dealer installed.

[pits200]

Not being an ass, but do people really still listen to cds in their car?

[Funk365]

I listen to CD's because it seems to be the only format that plays seamlessly. Perhaps some other people can weigh in on this. As an example, if you are trying to listen to a DJ set or other "continuously mixed" album where one songs flows seamlessly to the next. On CD it works great. If using MP3's on a USB key it adds a small gap between the songs. I don't know if this also happens using an ipod or other MP3 player but would be interested to hear if this happens to anyone else. That gap it inserts drives me nuts and as such I stick with my CD's.

[Slwdrvr]

For me whenever I play music from my USB, at the end of the song till the beginning of the upcoming song, there's an at least 2 second gap of silence for me. But when I listen to music off my iPod (aux cable), the ending and starting has 0s gap. So if you guys have those continuous tracks, i would suggest to play it off a CD or your MP3. Just my 2c from what I've experienced so far. Although I wouldn't mind a 6CD changer in my car either.

[07E92TT]

not many come equipped with a 6CD already installed.

[Funk365]

Originally Posted by Slwdrvr

For me whenever I play music from my USB, at the end of the song till the beginning of the upcoming song, there's an at least 2 second gap of silence for me. But when I listen to music off my iPod (aux cable), the ending and starting has 0s gap. So if you guys have those continuous tracks, i would suggest to play it off a CD or your MP3. Just my 2c from what I've experienced so far. Although I wouldn't mind a 6CD changer in my car either.

Interesting.... thank you.... too bad BMW can't engineer that seemingly simple task into their system.

[98005xi]

I also listen to a lot of DJ mixes - so I know what you're talking about. Here's my 2cents:

#1 cent: I use my iPod only for all my in-car music cuz it holds the most amount of music. Although there's a 0sec gap gap between tracks, it's an ever-so-only-slightly-noticeable gap. You can tell it's there, but it's not distracting. I'm OK with it.

If you really need ZERO gap, just rip the CD in its entirety (not track-by-track) and you'll have one continuous song (and mp3 after conversion). I do this often, but I do like seeing individual song info as I'm playing a mix set as opposed to a single title like 'DJ BlitzHead EuroTrance Ibiza 2020."

#2 cent: By using a CD changer, you're really limiting your music selection to 6 discs. That's just not enough variety for me and then you have to go thru the expense of buying/installing the changer. I just think it's easier to use an ipod - no burning/swapping CDs.

I'm interested in what you guys ultimately decide to do. Gonna sub to this thread. I haven't tried plugging in a USB stick yet, but I might try it now that you mention it. Wanna see what the difference is.

-alex

Originally Posted by Funk365

I listen to CD's because it seems to be the only format that plays seamlessly. Perhaps some other people can weigh in on this. As an example, if you are trying to listen to a DJ set or other "continuously mixed" album where one songs flows seamlessly to the next. On CD it works great. If using MP3's on a USB key it adds a small gap between the songs. I don't know if this also happens using an ipod or other MP3 player but would be interested to hear if this happens to anyone else. That gap it inserts drives me nuts and as such I stick with my CD's.

Originally Posted by Slwdrvr

For me whenever I play music from my USB, at the end of the song till the beginning of the upcoming song, there's an at least 2 second gap of silence for me. But when I listen to music off my iPod (aux cable), the ending and starting has 0s gap. So if you guys have those continuous tracks, i would suggest to play it off a CD or your MP3. Just my 2c from what I've experienced so far. Although I wouldn't mind a 6CD changer in my car either.

[Bimmerforlife]

They use to come pre-wired so installing the 6 changer in trunk was more easily done but now I don't think they even come pre-wired so it is more of a job for a tech to put it in so they charge you more.

I use to have a brochure about what yr they stopped pre-wiring the E90 for CD changer but I can't find it at the moment.

[Funk365]

Originally Posted by 98005xi

I also listen to a lot of DJ mixes - so I know what you're talking about.

THANK YOU! LOL Before I ordered my new one I made the SA go and try it with me because I swear one of the loaners I drove added the gap even to CD's. Which would be completely unacceptable to me so it was critical that I tested it to make sure. I think initially he must have thought I was a little crazy because when I demonstrated how it is supposed to sound he says "hmmmpf I've never heard one like that before"

I will attest to the convenience factor of MP3's but not really an iPod fan and I suspect that there is a good chance using an other MP3 player I would lose the functionality of steering wheel controls. Can anyone confirm this? iPod people..... do your steering wheel controls work for track selection?

[Slwdrvr]

Originally Posted by 98005xi

I also listen to a lot of DJ mixes - so I know what you're talking about. Here's my 2cents:

#1 cent: I use my iPod only for all my in-car music cuz it holds the most amount of music. Although there's a 0sec gap gap between tracks, it's an ever-so-only-slightly-noticeable gap. You can tell it's there, but it's not distracting. I'm OK with it.

If you really need ZERO gap, just rip the CD in its entirety (not track-by-track) and you'll have one continuous song (and mp3 after conversion). I do this often, but I do like seeing individual song info as I'm playing a mix set as opposed to a single title like 'DJ BlitzHead EuroTrance Ibiza 2020."

#2 cent: By using a CD changer, you're really limiting your music selection to 6 discs. That's just not enough variety for me and then you have to go thru the expense of buying/installing the changer. I just think it's easier to use an ipod - no burning/swapping CDs.

I'm interested in what you guys ultimately decide to do. Gonna sub to this thread. I haven't tried plugging in a USB stick yet, but I might try it now that you mention it. Wanna see what the difference is.

-alex

I'm ultimately limiting myself down music player wise, to just my iPod. To me, it's more convienent and a lot of my continuous tracks, they already have a few seconds of the next coming track at the end of the current track, so the gap really has no difference to me at all. I really wish iPod had the feature to crossfade tracks. So at the end of the day, it's all user preference and what they prefer.

[VP Electricity]

Originally Posted by pits200

Not being an ass, but do people really still listen to cds in their car?

Not being an ass, but what kind of dumb question is that? Yes, we do

[98005xi]

Originally Posted by Slwdrvr

I'm ultimately limiting myself down music player wise, to just my iPod. To me, it's more convienent and a lot of my continuous tracks, they already have a few seconds of the next coming track at the end of the current track, so the gap really has no difference to me at all. I really wish iPod had the feature to crossfade tracks. So at the end of the day, it's all user preference and what they prefer.

I'm just like you, only using an iPod in the car, but I sincerely don't think it's limiting in the least bit. In fact, for pure flexibility (assuming you already have an iPod), it gives me the greatest variety and control over my music. Crossfading would indeed be a cool feature, especially if I'm playing through my 'Slow & Easy Listening' playlists like one of the mellow radio stations. I don't think it would sound as good if I'm running thru Rap or Dance (giving me nightmares of terrible wedding/beginner DJs ).

Sorry, if I'm thread-jacking, but this just got me thinking...

The biggest caveat (I just don't have time to really compare now that I'm a dad) might be music quality. Is there some test to confirm the actual QUALITY of the music being produced by the system using an iPod compared to say, the CD player? Assuming all things being equal, the material on the CD is sourced from 41k masters and music on iPod is also either 320k mp3 or actual wav files, can the difference be heard?

Does anyone really care that much about this? I try my best to keep most of my mp3s at least 192k, if not 320k. Ultimately, some of the stuff I get is only 128k. Just curious....ignore me if I'm rambling....

[98005xi]

Originally Posted by Funk365

THANK YOU! LOL Before I ordered my new one I made the SA go and try it with me because I swear one of the loaners I drove added the gap even to CD's. Which would be completely unacceptable to me so it was critical that I tested it to make sure. I think initially he must have thought I was a little crazy because when I demonstrated how it is supposed to sound he says "hmmmpf I've never heard one like that before"

I will attest to the convenience factor of MP3's but not really an iPod fan and I suspect that there is a good chance using an other MP3 player I would lose the functionality of steering wheel controls. Can anyone confirm this? iPod people..... do your steering wheel controls work for track selection?

I primarily use the steering wheel controls to move from track to track. If I'm changing playlists, I use the iDrive wheel/knob. Hope this helps.

FWIW, I'm currently using a 1st gen iPod Touch 32gig. I've considered craigslisting a much older used hdd-based iPod and using that instead - since I can get larger storage capacities that way.

Also, come to think of it, the track gaps sound different in our 2008 528 iDrive using the iPod and/or mp3 CD. I wonder if different versions of iDrive systems behave/treat the 0sec gaps differently? Anyone have time to test this out? I'll try and see if I can test this, but don't hold your breath. Someone in Canada told me that his 2011 e90 has a different/updated version of iDrive than our 2010 e90. Go figure....

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

Not being an ass, but what kind of dumb question is that? Yes, we do

+1

I still keep a CD in the deck, but it's rare that I select it as a source. It's out of pure convenience when I forget to put the iPod back after returning from a trip or dealer service. I SERIOUSLY hate the local radio stations up here in Seattle. Shoot....if the CD player is empty, why not make use of it?!?!?!?!

[Slwdrvr]

Originally Posted by 98005xi

I'm just like you, only using an iPod in the car, but I sincerely don't think it's limiting in the least bit. In fact, for pure flexibility (assuming you already have an iPod), it gives me the greatest variety and control over my music. Crossfading would indeed be a cool feature, especially if I'm playing through my 'Slow & Easy Listening' playlists like one of the mellow radio stations. I don't think it would sound as good if I'm running thru Rap or Dance (giving me nightmares of terrible wedding/beginner DJs ).

Sorry, if I'm thread-jacking, but this just got me thinking...

The biggest caveat (I just don't have time to really compare now that I'm a dad) might be music quality. Is there some test to confirm the actual QUALITY of the music being produced by the system using an iPod compared to say, the CD player? Assuming all things being equal, the material on the CD is sourced from 41k masters and music on iPod is also either 320k mp3 or actual wav files, can the difference be heard?

Does anyone really care that much about this? I try my best to keep most of my mp3s at least 192k, if not 320k. Ultimately, some of the stuff I get is only 128k. Just curious....ignore me if I'm rambling....

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think the CD plays better than iPod connected with an AUX cable. I carpool with my friend to school, and we switch drivers every week. Sometimes he would play music from his CD or from his USB/AUX connected iPod (no idea why they're both connected at the same time). I realized that the quality of the CD is much better than the iPod. But it could probably be his headunit or his speakers, I don't know. He just has upgraded headunit, and OEM honda speakers. I dunno, maybe this might help a little. Time to find time-off my hands and sit in the car listening to music, just for distinction.

[ctuna]

Seems like a stupid question but you could put a lot of 320 mp3's on single disk.
I mean the iAre dash unit. I have heard going through the AUX Input doesn't produce very good results is this dependent on the device you use to feed it?

Is anybody using Kenwood KOS-A300 CarPortal that can give a review on it yet.