Music from iPhone 3GS

bahn_burner · 03-08-2012, 01:19 PM

I recently picked up a new 2011 328i Sport 6MT. The car has the 6FL option. I had a couple of Qs about the iPhone/IPOD integration - I've been trying to play music stored on the phone.

1. I've tried plugging in the original (white) cable that came with the phone into the USB slot, but the iPhone is not recognized. This is supposed to work, right? Or does it work only with an actual iPOD (not iPhone) or iPhone 4.

As per this link, its supposed to work:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/07/14/se...es-in-the-u-s/

2. Dealer also supplied me with a Y-cable. This works but the quality is terrible. Lots of static and garbled audio, especially when driving. Expected?

Thanks!

Note: This is a X-post. I've posted on the General forum as well. Didn't know an audio forum existed.

GenePoole · 03-08-2012, 03:56 PM

My understanding is that an iPod/iPhone has no provisions for digital audio output so all audio has to go through an analog stage, then the cheap 1/8 inch plug, then another analog stage in the car so there's a lot of room to pick up static along the way. I just use a cheap thumb drive and moved all my music to WAV/MP3's

afsar · 03-09-2012, 04:39 AM

If you have combox installed (which I believe is, just double check) you can enable digital music play (no analogue lines involved) by coding it for digital. If you know coding you can change USB1 to digital in COMBOX trace file.

You can ask someone who knows coding he can do it for you if you are not confident. I can provide full details if required.

jphughan · 03-09-2012, 01:51 PM

Using the normal white cable is only supported on 2011.5 models, i.e. 9/2010 production or later, which is when Combox was introduced. Prior to that, you need the Y cable. Audio through the cradle should work though. Make sure you have the Music cradle rather than Basic though. 9/2010 onward also added album art and Bluetooth streaming.

On cars that already come with Combox, USB1 is enabled for digital by default, no need to do anything special, contrary to the above post. If you don't have Combox, you don't have hardware support for digital audio, so that change would be ineffective. Now if I could just figure out why my Combox-equipped car's USB2 connection (cradle) is configured for analog by default....

F31Bimmerman · 03-09-2012, 05:03 PM

head over to realoem [dot] com and type in the last 7 digits of your VIN, it will tell what was the manufacture date for your car. You will then be able to tell if you have the combox or not.

03-08-2012, 01:19 PM	#1
bahn_burner New Member 4 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 328i //JB//ZSP//6MT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Music from iPhone 3GS I recently picked up a new 2011 328i Sport 6MT. The car has the 6FL option. I had a couple of Qs about the iPhone/IPOD integration - I've been trying to play music stored on the phone. 1. I've tried plugging in the original (white) cable that came with the phone into the USB slot, but the iPhone is not recognized. This is supposed to work, right? Or does it work only with an actual iPOD (not iPhone) or iPhone 4. As per this link, its supposed to work: http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/07/14/se...es-in-the-u-s/ 2. Dealer also supplied me with a Y-cable. This works but the quality is terrible. Lots of static and garbled audio, especially when driving. Expected? Thanks! Note: This is a X-post. I've posted on the General forum as well. Didn't know an audio forum existed.
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03-08-2012, 03:56 PM	#2
GenePoole Lieutenant 46 Rep 541 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 328i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brighton, IL iTrader: (0)	My understanding is that an iPod/iPhone has no provisions for digital audio output so all audio has to go through an analog stage, then the cheap 1/8 inch plug, then another analog stage in the car so there's a lot of room to pick up static along the way. I just use a cheap thumb drive and moved all my music to WAV/MP3's
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03-09-2012, 04:39 AM	#3
afsar Lieutenant 38 Rep 405 Posts Drives: BMW X5 xDrive40d Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: London iTrader: (2)	If you have combox installed (which I believe is, just double check) you can enable digital music play (no analogue lines involved) by coding it for digital. If you know coding you can change USB1 to digital in COMBOX trace file. You can ask someone who knows coding he can do it for you if you are not confident. I can provide full details if required. __________________ 650i F12 - HUD, 6WA, SLI, Logic 7, Dynamic and Adaptive Drive, Comfort Access, Soft-close, top-view, Previous X5 40d M Sports and 535d LCI
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03-09-2012, 01:51 PM	#4
jphughan Brigadier General 594 Rep 4,488 Posts Drives: '16 Cayman GT4 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Using the normal white cable is only supported on 2011.5 models, i.e. 9/2010 production or later, which is when Combox was introduced. Prior to that, you need the Y cable. Audio through the cradle should work though. Make sure you have the Music cradle rather than Basic though. 9/2010 onward also added album art and Bluetooth streaming. On cars that already come with Combox, USB1 is enabled for digital by default, no need to do anything special, contrary to the above post. If you don't have Combox, you don't have hardware support for digital audio, so that change would be ineffective. Now if I could just figure out why my Combox-equipped car's USB2 connection (cradle) is configured for analog by default.... __________________ '16 Cayman GT4 (delivery pics, comparison to E92 M3 write-up) Gone but not forgotten: '11.75 M3 E92 Le Mans \| Black Nov w/ Alum \| 6MT (owned 5/2011 - 11/2015) Last edited by jphughan; 03-09-2012 at 02:08 PM..
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03-09-2012, 05:03 PM	#5
F31Bimmerman Private First Class 16 Rep 188 Posts Drives: MY2014 328d xDrive touring Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	head over to realoem [dot] com and type in the last 7 digits of your VIN, it will tell what was the manufacture date for your car. You will then be able to tell if you have the combox or not.
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