[djjasper]

Is this the thing to get:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581PA12...0#overview-tab

Plugged into the aux in the center console my iPod sounds terrible. White noise, crackling when the cord is moved, and it is pretty quiet.

Other suggestions/solutions?

[ctuna]

Buy a 3 dollar mini stereo jack cable (as it sounds like you may have a bad cable).
Or order a mini stereo cable online.
That what goes into the AUx Jack.
If its still intermittent the plug may be bad.
The Input on the AUX is noted not to be very high quality and its an analog
input and the limited ability of most BMW stereo systems makes it sound worse.
It sounds a lot better with an aftermarket stereo system.

[montr]

I use this cable with a 12V to USB power adapter. The sound is great. The sound is line level, not the headphone jack output.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Car-AU...item415f0c9e9b

[djjasper]

Originally Posted by montr

I use this cable with a 12V to USB power adapter. The sound is great. The sound is line level, not the headphone jack output.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Car-AU...item415f0c9e9b

Ahah- I see. Is this likely to be on the rack at Target or Sears?

[montr]

I do not know about Target or Sears. Here are other (more expensive) source:
http://www.frys.com/product/6497612?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16855996357
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA0U007V2841
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0332253

[ctuna]

On your Input Device and the Aux Input may improve things after the cable
problem is solved.

[montr]

Originally Posted by ctuna

On your Input Device and the Aux Input may improve things after the cable
problem is solved.

The cable that I have shown for Ipod and Iphone is a line output level. Unlike the headphone output, the level is fixed and un-equalized. If I remember correctly, there is an Aux input level on the BMW radio. The default setting match the sound level of radio.

[ctuna]

As far as I know the only analog output from any ipod or smartphone is the
headphone out jack. The preamp out in these small devices must be limited
compared to say the headphone output or preamp output on any home entertainment system. So are you saying there is another preamp inside the cable that buffers and amplifies the output of the source device?

[montr]

I do not know the internal operation of the iphone but the audio output on the docking connector (bottom of phone) is fixed level. The headphone output (top of phone) is variable level. The BMW iphone cable adapter is using the AUX output. The cable is passive, no amplifier there.
http://www.amazon.com/BMW-Ipod-Adapt.../dp/B003UB3U44

Here is the pinout of dock connector:
http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml

[ctuna]

I don't have an ipod so that explains it . Is the output from the line level better than the headphone output would be my next question ?

[montr]

Originally Posted by ctuna

I don't have an ipod so that explains it . Is the output from the line level better than the headphone output would be my next question ?

I do not know. I have not made any measurements on either output. I have the equipment to do measurement, I may have to do this one day just for curiosity.

The main difference is that the headphone level is variable level and can be equalized. The equalization for the headphone jack is under: Settings --> Music. My understanding is that equalization for headphone is bypassed for line out.

[djjasper]

Originally Posted by montr

I use this cable with a 12V to USB power adapter. The sound is great. The sound is line level, not the headphone jack output.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Car-AU...item415f0c9e9b

Hey- good info. I just rented one of these from Best Buy. It was labeled as being for Kenwood stereos but it works fine and sounds great. So now I'm ordering the one from eBay.

[Alexm007]

Before I got the OEM iPod interface I used these three items, which worked well.

The line-out cable allows you to use the higher quality line-out signal to plug into your AUX port in the center console, while charging from the 12V outlet (with or without USB adapter, depending). Also, by putting the ijet adapter between the ipod and the special cable, you can keep the ipod stashed in the console and flip through songs, pause, stop, etc. using the small remote control that takes up very little space in the center oddments tray.


1. iPod cable with Line-Out and USB Power:

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Connect...3960501&sr=1-5


2. 12V to USB Power Adapter

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/car-cig...k-dc-12v-40470


3. iJet Remote iPod Controller

http://www.theistore.com/ijet-rf-rem...dock-connector


Getting the real OEM iPod interface is nice and all, you can see the track name, album, artist, etc. but don't be fooled into thinking it is the perfect solution. With a very very full ipod, I think the interface gets maxed-out and doesn't display all items. I believe this is a known bug, and you should know about it before dropping several hundred bucks.