[yohanesaw]

My car has only one plug AUX. Can I use it without buying $400 Ipod adapter? If yes, then what's the difference with using Ipod adapter?

Thanks

[X5FX]

Yes you can, you need a cable.
The ipod adapter allows control from the idrive or radio...w/o the adapter you simply use the ipod to control your music.

The best cable connects to the bottom dock connector. Do not use a cable that attaches to the headphone out.
The correct cable looks like this:

so your saying if we already have the aux input in the middle, all we need is the ipod adapter and we have complete control of the ipod on the idrive? where can i buy this adapter at?

[X5FX]

http://www.amazon.com/Tom-iPod-Conne.../dp/B000FEKEN4

http://www.powermax.com/product/Cabl...03559f9cd17e59

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...=218&sku=35508

http://www.superwarehouse.com/Cables...5508/p/1492128

thanks a lot!

do you think i would be able to just walk in to a electronics store (best buy, circuit city, etc.) and they would have it? or is this something thats hard to find in stores?

[jmonier]

WAIT A SECOND!!! None of the cables listed allow control of the iPod from iDrive. You can only control volume and select it as a source. Everything else has to be done at the iPod.

The only option to do this that I'm sure of is the BMW dealer installed iPod interface. $320 plus 2 hrs labor (could easily approach $600 and some dealers quote a lot more).

I've heard that there's a Denision (Gateway?) interface that is now compatible with E9x but it's not clear at this point.

[Rewted]

and if you do not have idrive, do the songs display on the stereo console and controlled via the steering wheel?

[Daya]

Originally Posted by that guy nico

so your saying if we already have the aux input in the middle, all we need is the ipod adapter and we have complete control of the ipod on the idrive? where can i buy this adapter at?

No. if you simple have the aux in cable, you can play audio from the iPod, but you cannot control the iPod through iDrive, nor will it charge automatically.

you need either the dealer installed option or factory installed 6FL option to have control of your iPod through iDrive.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

and if you do not have idrive, do the songs display on the stereo console and controlled via the steering wheel?

Yes, with the 6FL or dealer installed iPod interface only. The limitation is that it's a 1 or 2 line display only.

[purplewidow]

the diff is when you use the ipod adapter it is using the digital port on the bottom which dramatically improves sound vs just using the auxiliary jack....also you can view everything on the idrive if you have it with the adapter!!
________
Body science

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by purplewidow

the diff is when you use the ipod adapter it is using the digital port on the bottom which dramatically improves sound vs just using the auxiliary jack....also you can view everything on the idrive if you have it with the adapter!!

Not true. Sound is the analog Line Out and with the 6FL it actually uses the AUX input. The quality is very good however.

The exception to this is if the iPod is used in USB Mass Storage mode with 6FL. For that case, the iPod is read as a hard drive and MP3 conversion to analog occurs in the iDrive/radio. That doesn't really improve sound quality and comes with it's own set of problems.

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Yes, with the 6FL or dealer installed iPod interface only. The limitation is that it's a 1 or 2 line display only.

Yeah, I'm fine with 1 line display. The must haves are control via steering wheel and charging. In my 2003 BMW, I had an IceLink Plus ($50) that allowed all this. They do not have an IceLink plus solution for 2007+ models yet.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by jmonier

WAIT A SECOND!!! None of the cables listed allow control of the iPod from iDrive. You can only control volume and select it as a source. Everything else has to be done at the iPod.

The only option to do this that I'm sure of is the BMW dealer installed iPod interface. $320 plus 2 hrs labor (could easily approach $600 and some dealers quote a lot more).

I've heard that there's a Denision (Gateway?) interface that is now compatible with E9x but it's not clear at this point.

What did you expect for $20...did you read this thread?

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

Yeah, I'm fine with 1 line display. The must haves are control via steering wheel and charging. In my 2003 BMW, I had an IceLink Plus ($50) that allowed all this. They do not have an IceLink plus solution for 2007+ models yet.

Of course you can't control everything from the steering wheel (probably just volume, source selection and maybe skip forward/back). You will have to go to the buttons on the radio for many things.

Originally Posted by X5FX

Yes you can, you need a cable.
The ipod adapter allows control from the idrive or radio...w/o the adapter you simply use the ipod to control your music.

The best cable connects to the bottom dock connector. Do not use a cable that attaches to the headphone out.
The correct cable looks like this:

Originally Posted by Daya

No. if you simple have the aux in cable, you can play audio from the iPod, but you cannot control the iPod through iDrive, nor will it charge automatically.

you need either the dealer installed option or factory installed 6FL option to have control of your iPod through iDrive.

???????????????

[X5FX]

You have a case of people not reading before posting. The original question was can I play my ipod with out the $400 ipod option using only the aux port.

YES YOU CAN.
Read my answer in post 2...OF COURSE THIS $20 CABLE WONT ALLOW CONTROL, otherwise why would they sell a $400 option.

The $20 cable gives you excellent sound quality equal to the 6FL or Dealer installed options W/O control or charging. You need to use your Ipod to control your music.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by X5FX

What did you expect for $20...did you read this thread?

I read it and you apparently didn't. The post directly above your's asked for an adapter which would allow COMPLETE control of the iPod from iDrive. It was clear from that poster's following post that he thought that's what your answer referred to. I was trying to make sure that he wasn't disappointed.

If you were not responding to the post directly above you should make that clear (generally by quoting the post you were responding to) so there would be no confusion.

Originally Posted by jmonier

I read it and you apparently didn't. The post directly above your's asked for an adapter which would allow COMPLETE control of the iPod from iDrive.

that's what i thought the original poster meant too.

well coming to a conclusion, the ipod cannot be controlled from the idrive unless you have the dealer installed option or the 6FL. the cables X5FX posted just give better sound. lots of confusion.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by jmonier

The exception to this is if the iPod is used in USB Mass Storage mode with 6FL.

It's not. 6FL uses the analog input for audio.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by jmonier

I read it and you apparently didn't. The post directly above your's asked for an adapter which would allow COMPLETE control of the iPod from iDrive. It was clear from that poster's following post that he thought that's what your answer referred to. I was trying to make sure that he wasn't disappointed.

If you were not responding to the post directly above you should make that clear (generally by quoting the post you were responding to) so there would be no confusion.

Sorry, I see what you mean....but to be clear your post is directly below this:

>>thanks a lot! do you think i would be able to just walk in to a electronics store (best buy, circuit city, etc.) and they would have it? or is this something thats hard to find in stores?<<


so since you didnt quote...I assumed you were responding to the original question.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

It's not. 6FL uses the analog input for audio.

Not when you use the standard iPod USB cable (no 1/8 plug). That's the case where the the iPod has to have USB Mass Storage enabled and the iDrive/radio handles it as a hard drive.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Not when you use the standard iPod USB cable (no 1/8 plug). That's the case where the the iPod has to have USB Mass Storage enabled and the iDrive/radio handles it as a hard drive.

Why would you want to do that?
The point of the 6FL is to emulate the Ipod on the IDrive.

as far as audio quality goes you are splitting hairs. I have switched back and forth between a CD and my Ipod (using the $20 cable linked above w/ 1/8") and I cannot hear the difference between the two.