[MerciZizou]

Pardon my ignorance

What's the difference between fitting an ipod interface or a usb interface?

I have a 2008 335i sedan (built date 11/2007) with just audio aux in center armrest.

Car has professional navigation/I drive. 7logic system , voice control/Bluetooth and satellite radio and preparation for CD changer (no CD changer installed).

So I know I have the MOST unit but not the MULF High (MULF2).

What would be my easiest most cost effective choice:

A) install iPod retrofit kit
B) install 6fl retrofit kit.

I want these to be as close as OEM as possible (steering wheel controls, song I'd etc)

Thanks in advance for all help and input.

[davejerome]

Hi MerciZizou,

Did you ever find out the answer to this? I am in the UK and I have the options for both which have very different prices but I have no idea what the difference is.

I saw an 09 coupe the other with iDrive Professional and Enhanced Bluetooth but no USB in the armrest so had a look at the options that I could try and get the dealer to maybe work with me on.

USB / iPod:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owner...ludGVyZmFjZSJ9


USB Audio:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owner...ludGVyZmFjZSJ9

Thanks

[ctuna]

The earlier version of ipod use the aux for the audio input .
And its a crappy input , from my understanding all it does
is use the digital portions for control of the ipod , and display the song selection. I would get something
that inputs music digitally no matter what you do. The other options
are the Dension gateway 500 products and mobridge.
The new Dension gateway 500s or mobridge will give digital music streaming as well.

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by ctuna

The earlier version of ipod use the aux for the audio input .
And its a crappy input , from my understanding all it does
is use the digital portions for control of the ipod , and display the song selection. I would get something
that inputs music digitally no matter what you do. The other options
are the Dension gateway 500 products and mobridge.
The new Dension gateway 500s or mobridge will give digital music streaming as well.

I think the version you are referring to is the 6FL option. The ipod option as asked about by the Op, is fully digital as far as I can tell. It connects via the iPod dock cable into the module and then via the MOST optical bus into the radio.

[ctuna]

To get 6fl you need a mulf 2 module
and I think mulf hi so if you have a TCU you are looking at some
major bucks for a couple of oem modules to get it to go
fully digital I have read or least that's my understanding.

Look in the bluetooth sticky for details.

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by ctuna

To get 6fl you need a mulf 2 module
and I think mulf hi so if you have a TCU you are looking at some
major bucks for a couple of oem modules to get it to go
fully digital I have read or least that's my understanding.

Look in the bluetooth sticky for details.

Yeah I know, I just did finish the USB/Bluetooth retrofit with the MULF2. I was just commenting on your description where the audio goes through the Aux and the control of the iPod goes through the usb, that is the 6FL. There is also an iPod specific adapter that BMW sells that connects directly to the MOST bus, this method is completely digital.

[ctuna]

So stand alone 6fl goes through the aux for ipod?
And do you need the combo box for digital ipod?
Does usb music go through all versions or do you need
the combo box for that to?
There were earlier version of ipod integration for the older models that used aux for audio and digital
for ipod control I believe but this is not to be confused with 6fl.

[MerciZizou]

Ctuna, sorry i didn't reply earlier.

I ended up waiting a bit and was fortunate enough to get a hold of a donor CIC head unit and display so i just upgraded my whole idrive system including replacing the TCU with a Combox. That gives me both the new idrive/nav system and the capacity for usb audio (6fl) through the armrest and ipod audio/video out through the combox as well as connected drive (6nr).

[ctuna]

I am trying to get clear answers.
To clear out the path and to get my view in line with solid facts.
Anyway somebody can answer the questions in sequence?
So what is required for digital ipod input and or usb input? And which of the older OEM solutions are not all digital.

[Technic]

OEM iPod adapter = dealer-installed accessory = mimic the OEM CD Changer = MOST for control/display/audio

OEM iPod/USB adapter = 6FL = MULF-HI = OEM HU with built-in USB = uses USB for control/display, AUX for audio (only applicable to iPod)/uses USB for control/display/audio (any USB device)

OEM iPod/USB adapter = 6VC = Combox = uses USB for control/display/audio

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by Technic

OEM iPod adapter = dealer-installed accessory = mimic the OEM CD Changer = MOST for control/display/audio

OEM iPod/USB adapter = 6FL = MULF-HI = OEM HU with built-in USB = uses USB for control/display, AUX for audio (only applicable to iPod)/uses USB for control/display/audio (any USB device)

OEM iPod/USB adapter = 6VC = Combox = uses USB for control/display/audio

Thanks Technic, this should be stickied at the top. Also, I assume 6VC is only relevant for those with iDrive.

[ctuna]

So its only the iPod through the new radio that uses the aux
for audio. But that same setup will play usb sticks for music.
The older cheaper iPod adapters mimic the cd player as and input
for iPods digitally but don't do usb.

[davejerome]

Thanks for the replies with this, so for confirmation are you guys saying that the expensive one:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owner...ludGVyZmFjZSJ9

is basically a retrofit of 6FL (which is what I am after) and that the cheaper one:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owner...ludGVyZmFjZSJ9

is one of the old style systems that replicates a CD Changer?


Surely however they are both digital as both descriptions say that they are compatible with USB memory sticks.

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by davejerome

Thanks for the replies with this, so for confirmation are you guys saying that the expensive one:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owner...ludGVyZmFjZSJ9

is basically a retrofit of 6FL (which is what I am after) and that the cheaper one:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owner...ludGVyZmFjZSJ9

is one of the old style systems that replicates a CD Changer?


Surely however they are both digital as both descriptions say that they are compatible with USB memory sticks.

Yes, the first is the one that I retrofitted on my car. And yes, it allows you to play ipod through Aux, but controls the ipod via the USB. This requires the BMW Y-Cable.

The second option mimics a CD changer I believe, but this option is only ipod, not usb.

[Phoenix.liu]

Originally Posted by Technic

OEM iPod adapter = dealer-installed accessory = mimic the OEM CD Changer = MOST for control/display/audio

OEM iPod/USB adapter = 6FL = MULF-HI = OEM HU with built-in USB = uses USB for control/display, AUX for audio (only applicable to iPod)/uses USB for control/display/audio (any USB device)

OEM iPod/USB adapter = 6VC = Combox = uses USB for control/display/audio

Hi Technic,

So can you find the sound quality difference between these 3 solutions?

[ctuna]

Aux has been noted to be kind of low fi.

And you can try it just run a mini stereo jack cable from
your source device into it and select aux.