[Eat.Sleep.Race]

I bought an aux cable, and wanted to know if this is the best way to listen to music on my iphone thru the car? It sounds kind of distorted and im tired of trying to tweak the sound on the car, aux volume and iphone vloume, will all of this be corrected if i just plug in the USB to iphone cable in my center console and do audio, USB?? Its driving me nuts.

[NormE91]

How are you connecting it now, just with the aux cable? Mine sounds pretty good just through aux, so maybe try another cable.

If you've got the USB and aux in your center console you could try connecting with the BMW Y cable. I don't know if the sound would be any different though, as I'm 99.9% sure the sound still comes through the aux jack and the USB connection just provides a data connection to the stereo.

[335iAP]

Make sure to control the volume from the car, not the device. Don't max out the volume. I find it sounds best with the iPod itself at about 60% volume, and distorts above that. Play with the EQ settings too and see what sounds best.

[Miller335]

In the audio world Aux is a no no.

[BenTrovato]

Here's my advice... When I connect my iPhone through the AUX cable, it doesn't sound 100% crystal clear. However, when I use the Blackberry Stereo Gateway (or whatever you want) that plugs into the AUX jack in the center console and then connect my iPhone via bluetooth through that device, the sound is just as good as anything. So that's the method I use nowadays.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by 335iAP

Make sure to control the volume from the car, not the device. Don't max out the volume. I find it sounds best with the iPod itself at about 60% volume, and distorts above that. Play with the EQ settings too and see what sounds best.

Yea thats what im trying to fine tune i suppose, so 60% on phone, the rest on radio, and i have the AUX volume option on my radio do you have this feature? If so is it all the way up, or in the middle etc..

Its not too horrible with the aux cord but my 09 VW jetta sounds perfect with the same aux cord, phone etc..

[CruzS4e92]

Originally Posted by BenTrovato

Here's my advice... When I connect my iPhone through the AUX cable, it doesn't sound 100% crystal clear. However, when I use the Blackberry Stereo Gateway (or whatever you want) that plugs into the AUX jack in the center console and then connect my iPhone via bluetooth through that device, the sound is just as good as anything. So that's the method I use nowadays.

it sounds better through the BB Gateway? I've been on the fence about picking up one of those since other reviews say the wired connection is best. hmmm.

I'd imagine you don't get track info displayed and steering wheel button functionality, just sound streaming over BT?

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by CruzS4e92

it sounds better through the BB Gateway? I've been on the fence about picking up one of those since other reviews say the wired connection is best. hmmm.

I'd imagine you don't get track info displayed and steering wheel button functionality, just sound streaming over BT?

that route sounds like alot of work, and no it wont display the info, because its not the music device that is connected.

[Antetokounmpo]

I switch my aux-vol to 1 on the radio and the quality is excellent. Anything higher than 1 and it'll distort and sound terrible.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by bk335

I switch my aux-vol to 1 on the radio and the quality is excellent. Anything higher than 1 and it'll distort and sound terrible.

ok gotcha, wil do that!

[TRMFAM]

I tried BT and Aux both and really could not tell much of a difference. I did not like my phone in the center console or running the wire out so I just use the BlueTooth. All functions still work with the BT interface...song data display, steering wheel button for next / previous songs, etc.

Oh and to my ignorrance or lack of reading the manual, the USB port in the glove box is NOT for music! LOL! I liked the idea of using it instead so I could hide the cord but no worky. Read manual NOT for music or charging anything...only for HDD data load.

[M0.92]

I use the Kensington anti-noise aux cable and it works quite well. The trick for me has been to actually bring the volume on my iphone up to one pin below full, and then control the rest on the car unit. I guess there is conflicting opinions regarding this. The trick which did it for me was to turn down the aux volume on the car unit.

Here is a thread talking about it:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398504

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by TRMFAM

I tried BT and Aux both and really could not tell much of a difference. I did not like my phone in the center console or running the wire out so I just use the BlueTooth. All functions still work with the BT interface...song data display, steering wheel button for next / previous songs, etc.

Oh and to my ignorrance or lack of reading the manual, the USB port in the glove box is NOT for music! LOL! I liked the idea of using it instead so I could hide the cord but no worky. Read manual NOT for music or charging anything...only for HDD data load.

I will try BT, and also turning the aux volume down on the unit with the aux cord and see which one produces better results.

Thanks everyone!

[Crusader]

Lci might be different, but I just use the center console usb and get excellent sound. No aux, just usb. Car recognizes ipod/phone fine. Only problem is there's not enough juice to keep device charged.

[BenTrovato]

Originally Posted by CruzS4e92

it sounds better through the BB Gateway? I've been on the fence about picking up one of those since other reviews say the wired connection is best. hmmm.

I'd imagine you don't get track info displayed and steering wheel button functionality, just sound streaming over BT?

I know.. everyone said cable is better. I spent a year playing with different wires. The blackberry stereo gateway has been awesome, sounds crystal clear or at least so much better than the aux cable for me. Yes, you lose the steering wheel functionality.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by Crusader

Lci might be different, but I just use the center console usb and get excellent sound. No aux, just usb. Car recognizes ipod/phone fine. Only problem is there's not enough juice to keep device charged.

Ill try each way, it just pissed me off and figured everyone that has a 335i would probably know the tricks! LOL

[jpope42]

I don't use my iPhone, but I found that turning down the aux vol when I connect my iPod to the aux and USB with the y cable works well. iPod is always charged and steering wheel controls plus decent (but not fantastic) sound is a solution that is cost effective and works for me!