No sound from lightning connection

cannyjock · 12-13-2019, 02:44 PM

I feel like I've tried everything!

e90 M3, 2011 version with CIC, combox, USB Audio interface, mobile phone business, individual audio.

The one thing I can't get working is sound over a lightning cable. I have an ipod touch, tried Apple music and Spotify. I can control everything via iDrive, but I get no sound. The iPod thinks it's docked (which effectively it is) and works in a normal dock or with lightning headphones, so I think the device is OK. I can play back music in any other way - via a USB stick in the same USB socket the iPod is plugged into, bluetooth, hard drive, cd etc.

Any ideas? I've done a lot of searching but can't find the answer. I should be able to get sound (digitally) via the lightning cable alone, without plugging anything into the AUX port as far as I'm aware.

Ali-E90 · 12-18-2019, 05:07 PM

I always thought you need a Y cable for audio from iphone. USB alone may not cut it.
Given the symptoms, I'd wager that's the issue.

ctuna · 12-18-2019, 07:25 PM

I think the only way you get sound is to have and actual flash drive
with recorded music or have something that emulates a flash drive.

As was said before the aux has to be plugged in for all the early systems.

There are apps on the internet that make the android phones look like a usb drive for music playback
I thought apple phone's would do that but I don't own any apple products.

cannyjock · 12-19-2019, 03:09 AM

My understanding is that it should work over lightning cable alone in a 2011 (UK car). Thanks though I'll keep checking.

cannyjock · 12-30-2019, 04:54 AM

Ok, interestingly I've found a way to solve this. On my combox, I swapped the cable from USB 2 (blue plug) to USB 1 (black plug) and it magically starts working! I'm not completely sure why this is, given that I could play mp3 files from a USB stick successfully, but I assume the 2 ports have different settings for analog or digital audio. I also assume that the 2 ports allow both the USB and snap-in adapter to connect, I did think I had the snap-in hooked up but maybe I don't? Any, this seems to work for now - I have full control of music on the iPod touch, album art, Spotify, and music plays using just the lightning cable plugged into the armrest USB.

12-13-2019, 02:44 PM	#1
cannyjock Private 42 Rep 81 Posts Drives: BMW e90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: London iTrader: (0)	No sound from lightning connection - solved (sort of) I feel like I've tried everything! e90 M3, 2011 version with CIC, combox, USB Audio interface, mobile phone business, individual audio. The one thing I can't get working is sound over a lightning cable. I have an ipod touch, tried Apple music and Spotify. I can control everything via iDrive, but I get no sound. The iPod thinks it's docked (which effectively it is) and works in a normal dock or with lightning headphones, so I think the device is OK. I can play back music in any other way - via a USB stick in the same USB socket the iPod is plugged into, bluetooth, hard drive, cd etc. Any ideas? I've done a lot of searching but can't find the answer. I should be able to get sound (digitally) via the lightning cable alone, without plugging anything into the AUX port as far as I'm aware. Last edited by cannyjock; 12-30-2019 at 04:50 AM.. Reason: Title - solved
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12-18-2019, 05:07 PM	#2
Ali-E90 Colonel 379 Rep 2,365 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 323i (Cdn) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [8.00] 2007 BMW 323i [8.50]	I always thought you need a Y cable for audio from iphone. USB alone may not cut it. Given the symptoms, I'd wager that's the issue. __________________ Check out my Mod Thread Here
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12-18-2019, 07:25 PM	#3
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	I think the only way you get sound is to have and actual flash drive with recorded music or have something that emulates a flash drive. As was said before the aux has to be plugged in for all the early systems. There are apps on the internet that make the android phones look like a usb drive for music playback I thought apple phone's would do that but I don't own any apple products. Last edited by ctuna; 12-18-2019 at 07:38 PM..
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12-19-2019, 03:09 AM	#4
cannyjock Private 42 Rep 81 Posts Drives: BMW e90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: London iTrader: (0)	My understanding is that it should work over lightning cable alone in a 2011 (UK car). Thanks though I'll keep checking.
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12-30-2019, 04:54 AM	#5
cannyjock Private 42 Rep 81 Posts Drives: BMW e90 M3 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Ok, interestingly I've found a way to solve this. On my combox, I swapped the cable from USB 2 (blue plug) to USB 1 (black plug) and it magically starts working! I'm not completely sure why this is, given that I could play mp3 files from a USB stick successfully, but I assume the 2 ports have different settings for analog or digital audio. I also assume that the 2 ports allow both the USB and snap-in adapter to connect, I did think I had the snap-in hooked up but maybe I don't? Any, this seems to work for now - I have full control of music on the iPod touch, album art, Spotify, and music plays using just the lightning cable plugged into the armrest USB.
	Appreciate 0 Quote