[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Hmm, that's not quite correct, it may be in some instances but when hooked up USB the head unit reads the files and decodes them, doing a digital to analogue conversion.

If you use the aux input you are relying on the quality of the MP3 player, which in the case of the ipod is not very good, even from the line level.

That is why Alpine made such a big thing about hooking up usb as did Wadia with their dock.

I think the USB connector is far better than the aux, you need decent high bitrate files and anything less than L7 system probably won't show the differences though, but the decoding of the files seems pretty good with the factory usb option.

Thanks

[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by GarryF

With voice what else are you expecting? bluetooth gives some basic voice input, allows you to store numbers to names etc. I think full voice control is a factory option no one buys

for AUX you say it's rubbish, you mean sound quality or the control?. if it's sound quality then the reason is your using the headphone out of the ipod instead of the dock connector, get a belkin cable that charges and provides sounds from ipod dock, sounds much better.

The usb option will provide no better sound that aux.

If you want to control the ipod there is a retrofit option I think, speak to the dealer, from what I recall there are limitations with it

Do you know that name of the cable, and can I get it in a shop or is it just online? I'd llike to get it this weekend. I guess it just goes out of the bottom of the ipod and connects into the AUX?

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by MrMajic

Thanks. The manual lists a load of commands for voice, like navigation etc., but is this an option then?

It's the sound and the control that I'm not keen on, but if the belkin lead sorts out the sound that would be better. Do you still need to control via the ipod or does it bring the idrive into play?

Thanks for you help.

When you initiate the voice control, say 'option' (I think) and it should list what you can do with it. It'll keep you occupied for about 3 miunutes, then you'll never use it again.

[GarryF]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Hmm, that's not quite correct, it may be in some instances but when hooked up USB the head unit reads the files and decodes them, doing a digital to analogue conversion.

If you use the aux input you are relying on the quality of the MP3 player, which in the case of the ipod is not very good, even from the line level.

That is why Alpine made such a big thing about hooking up usb as did Wadia with their dock.

I think the USB connector is far better than the aux, you need decent high bitrate files and anything less than L7 system probably won't show the differences though, but the decoding of the files seems pretty good with the factory usb option.

True if you use a usb stick/drive etc the car does the conversion, I did some tests and couldn't tell the difference myself but ymmv. I also found very erratic performance with 60GB of music getting it indexed, playlisted etc and crawled back to the ipod Was a year ago so things might be better and usb sticks are ok?

But to clarify if you use an ipod then you get a cable that comes out of the dock, the usb part carries out control and the line out goes via analogue, identical to what a non USB car would use, so if you wish to use an ipod in the car the sound will be the same whether or not it has usb?

All the usb does is allow you to control the ipod from steeringwheel, idrive etc.

[GarryF]

Originally Posted by MrMajic

Do you know that name of the cable, and can I get it in a shop or is it just online? I'd llike to get it this weekend. I guess it just goes out of the bottom of the ipod and connects into the AUX?

I expect you can get it in currys/comet, dunno though, there's a few differnce people make them, this is the belkin one
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Auto-Ch.../dp/B00009KAPX

[illingworth22]

Five pages already.....you have made an impact on the lads Lisa!

Welcome on board.

P.S. I didn't get the USB and am regretting it now oh I nearly forgot check out this http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288748 the NI coast road run...

[illingworth22]

Originally Posted by booforty

When's the first Northern Ireland Meet? Count me in

Now you have not read the official N.I. Meet rules.... Rule 379.01.9.098 only people allowed to participate on the official N.I. Meets are
a) persons with the surname Illingworth living in Dublin
2) persons called Lisa living in N.I.
Anyone else not allowed to partake!

Did I say welcome to the forum Lisa? Just kidding we all met up a few months ago for the first meet and we were all a little apprehensive (well I felt like a real car geek). But after a few cups of coffee we were like a group of friends who had known each other for years!

[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by ed335d

When you initiate the voice control, say 'option' (I think) and it should list what you can do with it. It'll keep you occupied for about 3 miunutes, then you'll never use it again.

Thanks - the car won't recpgnise anything other than "Dial number" or the other 'phone options. Should it do more, or is "full" voice an option?

[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by GarryF

I expect you can get it in currys/comet, dunno though, there's a few differnce people make them, this is the belkin one
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Auto-Ch.../dp/B00009KAPX

Thanks, I'm just weighing up whether this cable (about a tenner) is worth getting over the £300 or so glove box dock from BMW. The advantage being that the iDrive will control the ipod with the glove box cable and track names are displayed, I belive.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by MrMajic

Thanks - the car won't recpgnise anything other than "Dial number" or the other 'phone options. Should it do more, or is "full" voice an option?

The 'voice control' should allow you to make various commands having depressed the button on the steering wheel ranging from telephone, navigation, radio and air con. Admittedly I only ever used this function for mainly telephone CD/radio useage and the sat. nav. but point is, it did work. Have a read of the link below and also read through the 'related topics' shown on the right hand side of the 'page'. HTH.

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...ol_system.html

[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

The 'voice control' should allow you to make various commands having depressed the button on the steering wheel ranging from telephone, navigation, radio and air con. Admittedly I only ever used this function for mainly telephone CD/radio useage and the sat. nav. but point is, it did work. Have a read of the link below and also read through the 'related topics' shown on the right hand side of the 'page'. HTH.

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...ol_system.html

Thanks, I'll try mine again, but no joy so far! I'll ask at the dealers next time.

[GarryF]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

The 'voice control' should allow you to make various commands having depressed the button on the steering wheel ranging from telephone, navigation, radio and air con. Admittedly I only ever used this function for mainly telephone CD/radio useage and the sat. nav. but point is, it did work. Have a read of the link below and also read through the 'related topics' shown on the right hand side of the 'page'. HTH.

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...ol_system.html

Seems a lot of variation on this

On my last E60 I had no nav but BT and got phone only voice control

320D at work has BT but no nav and phone only voice control

My M3 has voice control, but you can't store names like the systems above, it does speech recognision which kinda works.

1 year old X5 I've been in with pro nav etc, didn't have voice control specified but does have BT and has ZERO voice control, button is dead on the steering wheel

I'd bet with business nav you get the same as the 320D above, voice control of BT functions only

[ed335d]

Originally Posted by illingworth22

Five pages already.....you have made an impact on the lads Lisa!

Welcome on board.

P.S. I didn't get the USB and am regretting it now oh I nearly forgot check out this http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288748 the NI coast road run...

Welcome? Have you seen how old the original post is!

[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by GarryF

Seems a lot of variation on this

On my last E60 I had no nav but BT and got phone only voice control

320D at work has BT but no nav and phone only voice control

My M3 has voice control, but you can't store names like the systems above, it does speech recognision which kinda works.

1 year old X5 I've been in with pro nav etc, didn't have voice control specified but does have BT and has ZERO voice control, button is dead on the steering wheel

I'd bet with business nav you get the same as the 320D above, voice control of BT functions only

Hmm, I'll check that dealers, but it's looking that way. Thanks.

[PeteJ]

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to the forum, sounds like you've worked out most of the 'guys' around here.

Good choice on the 320d E90. The spec sounds great and its good you got the USB option. I've got the convert in the 320D and I get 52MPG with some speed on top so early 50's should be achievable.

I take it that this is a company car and so mods are out of the question? If not however, I would recommend the sunglasses mod which converts the cig bin into a sunglasses holder and if you ever want a little more punch, get a remap.

I'm sure you'll love it!

Pete (For the record also under 30!!! )

[- Paul -]

LOL - I remember this thread from ages ago.

"Lisa's" last activity 02-16-2009 04:29 PM

[PeteJ]

Originally Posted by - Paul -

LOL - I remember this thread from ages ago.

"Lisa's" last activity 02-16-2009 04:29 PM

Must be Carlos not washing again...

[MrMajic]

Originally Posted by MrMajic

Hmm, I'll check that dealers, but it's looking that way. Thanks.

Thanks for the advice all. BWM customer services confirmed that I need to say "Help" to get the voice options - and it turns out that the ones available to me are just phone related.

[MrMajic]

By the way, does anyone have an original brochure for the 320D M Edition M Sport touring? I'd love a copy if possible?

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by MrMajic

By the way, does anyone have an original brochure for the 320D M Edition M Sport touring? I'd love a copy if possible?

There wasn't a brochure for it, just an additional price list to complement the standard brochure. You can buy my copy next August when I sell the car. It will cost around £16k and come with a free M Sport Edition Touring

[MrMajic]

lol, I hope mine hasn't halved in value after 2 year. Thanks anyway.