MP3 CD & iDRIVE - Please Help! - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

matlough · 04-27-2007, 06:31 PM

I have a 2007 March Production E90 with iDRIVE - I cannot seem to get mp3 cd's to work with my iDrive!

I have tried various options for burning - iTunes, Nero, Windows Desktop, but I cannot seem to get it to work.
The iDRIVE CD player sees all the tracks etc., but will not play them!

Please help!! I'm wasting so many blank cd's!

nyc3r · 04-27-2007, 06:49 PM

Just burn it as regular data. Check the volume too. Not sure what else to do.

Kimo · 04-27-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matlough

I have a 2007 March Production E90 with iDRIVE - I cannot seem to get mp3 cd's to work with my iDrive!

I have tried various options for burning - iTunes, Nero, Windows Desktop, but I cannot seem to get it to work.
The iDRIVE CD player sees all the tracks etc., but will not play them!

Please help!! I'm wasting so many blank cd's!

Have you verified that they play in other standalone, i.e. not your PC, MP3 players?

Josh49 · 04-27-2007, 11:44 PM

The biggest problem which fixed things for me after half a year was that the ripping sampling rate had to be 44 or smaller. A lot of my stuff was sampled at 48 and that is why it wasn't working.. Try that out for starters..

LEDZEP · 04-28-2007, 08:31 AM

I've never had a problem with mine... try Josh's suggestion. Weird.

Josh49 · 04-28-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I've never had a problem with mine... try Josh's suggestion. Weird.

This drove me nuts. Absolutely nuts. I tried every brand of cd, burn rate, buring software in the world. But the problem wasn't the burning. It was how the songs were ripped to mp3. Now I rip all the cd's I buy at 44, no problems whatsoever... For half a year I had the car I pretty much gave up on mp3's.. Now it's awesome!! One cd lasts such a long time now..

matlough · 04-28-2007, 08:55 AM

What do you guys use to burn?

And what settings?

nyc3r · 04-28-2007, 09:06 AM

use ANY software, just burn them as data. picked up the car with my own mp3 cd and it worked great since day 1.

only down side is that sometimes it's a bit picky about the mp3s so each cd may have a few track that'll play but no sound. mix up your mp3 file type a bit and try.

LEDZEP · 04-28-2007, 09:19 AM

I generally burn mine directly from iTunes. Never had any problem.

iatacs19 · 04-28-2007, 10:50 AM

Make sure the session is closed when you burn it too. Some programs call it finalize disc so you can't write anymore to it.

yester · 04-28-2007, 11:40 AM

I just burn in Nero as a data CD and it works fine.
You can also burn a data mp3 DVD, but you can't navigate then.

zenmaster · 04-28-2007, 04:52 PM

Anyone know if it's possible to replace the CD player with a DVD player?

Ninjaneer · 04-28-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I've never had a problem with mine... try Josh's suggestion. Weird.

+1

I went through a couple of cds too when I was testing a certain set of my files and they'd display but not play. In the end I tried some other songs and they worked fine, and upon comparing them the only noticeable difference was the bitrate being lower on the first set of files.

So try some other files and see if you can get those to work, then go back to the first set and compare / re-encode. Or try your existing cds in someone else's player to see if they work at all.

sapperelite · 07-14-2007, 07:05 AM

Ledzep can you walk me through how you do it on ITunes? I tried to do it and only ended up with a couple bad CD's. I was also told that we could play music from a DVD in the IDrive. Is this true? I burned a few hours of music for myself, put it in the DVD player and got nothing. I havean 07 March build so I assume it has the latest (26) version. Thanks,

Weaselboy · 07-14-2007, 11:38 AM

Go to this screen in iTunes preferences and set to burn as MP3. Then select what songs you want and burn. Works fine for me every time.

zenmaster · 07-14-2007, 02:53 PM

I wrote these instructions awhile back. However, still no official specs from BMW (or anyone) on the supported MP3 formats for iDrive/CCC playback. Weird.

MB330 · 07-15-2007, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matlough

I have a 2007 March Production E90 with iDRIVE - I cannot seem to get mp3 cd's to work with my iDrive!

I have tried various options for burning - iTunes, Nero, Windows Desktop, but I cannot seem to get it to work.
The iDRIVE CD player sees all the tracks etc., but will not play them!

Please help!! I'm wasting so many blank cd's!

I found, that lowest speed I use to record CD - get more chance to this CD played in my car. I use lowest speed possible with my CD burner.

sapperelite · 07-15-2007, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Go to this screen in iTunes preferences and set to burn as MP3. Then select what songs you want and burn. Works fine for me every time.

Sorry, I am asking this question twice. Is there a way to burn the songs I've bought off ITunes to MP3? ITunes is telling me no...

Weaselboy · 07-15-2007, 11:03 AM

You need to convert the songs to MP3 first, then you can burn an MP3 CD.

Below from iTunes help.

===========
To convert a song's file format:

1. Choose iTunes > Preferences, then click the Advanced button at the top of the window and click Importing.

2. From the Import Using pop-up menu, choose the encoding format that you want to convert the song to, then click OK to save the settings.

3. Select one or more songs in your library, then choose Advanced > Convert Selection to MP3, Convert Selection to AAC, Convert Selection to Apple Lossless, Convert Selection to AIFF, or Convert Selection to WAV. (The menu item changes to show what's selected in your Importing preferences.)
============

04-27-2007, 06:31 PM	#1
matlough First Lieutenant Drives: 335i Saloon Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hampshire - UK Posts: 335 iTrader: (0)	MP3 CD & iDRIVE - Please Help! I have a 2007 March Production E90 with iDRIVE - I cannot seem to get mp3 cd's to work with my iDrive! I have tried various options for burning - iTunes, Nero, Windows Desktop, but I cannot seem to get it to work. The iDRIVE CD player sees all the tracks etc., but will not play them! Please help!! I'm wasting so many blank cd's! __________________ Sparkling Graphite 335i E90 with Evolve Re-map M Sport Suspension - Sports Seats - Lumbar Support - Sports Steering Wheel - Xenons - Pro Nav - BT - Voice Control - Radial Spoke Style 160.

04-27-2007, 06:49 PM	#2
nyc3r Colonel Drives: E90 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,264 iTrader: (16)	Just burn it as regular data. Check the volume too. Not sure what else to do. __________________ FS: LUX 3 angel, D1S, H11, H7 Bulbs

04-27-2007, 11:44 PM	#4
Josh49 Major General Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 6,700 iTrader: (33)	The biggest problem which fixed things for me after half a year was that the ripping sampling rate had to be 44 or smaller. A lot of my stuff was sampled at 48 and that is why it wasn't working.. Try that out for starters.. __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.

04-28-2007, 08:31 AM	#5
LEDZEP Lieutenant General Drives: E90 & E91 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 Posts: 11,205 iTrader: (0) View LEDZEP's Garage	I've never had a problem with mine... try Josh's suggestion. Weird. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious

04-28-2007, 08:55 AM	#7
matlough First Lieutenant Drives: 335i Saloon Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hampshire - UK Posts: 335 iTrader: (0)	What do you guys use to burn? And what settings? __________________ Sparkling Graphite 335i E90 with Evolve Re-map M Sport Suspension - Sports Seats - Lumbar Support - Sports Steering Wheel - Xenons - Pro Nav - BT - Voice Control - Radial Spoke Style 160.

04-28-2007, 09:06 AM	#8
nyc3r Colonel Drives: E90 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,264 iTrader: (16)	use ANY software, just burn them as data. picked up the car with my own mp3 cd and it worked great since day 1. only down side is that sometimes it's a bit picky about the mp3s so each cd may have a few track that'll play but no sound. mix up your mp3 file type a bit and try. __________________ FS: LUX 3 angel, D1S, H11, H7 Bulbs

04-28-2007, 09:19 AM	#9
LEDZEP Lieutenant General Drives: E90 & E91 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 Posts: 11,205 iTrader: (0) View LEDZEP's Garage	I generally burn mine directly from iTunes. Never had any problem. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious

04-28-2007, 10:50 AM	#10
iatacs19 Major General Drives: crazy Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 5,189 iTrader: (5) View iatacs19's Garage	Make sure the session is closed when you burn it too. Some programs call it finalize disc so you can't write anymore to it.

04-28-2007, 11:40 AM	#11
yester Private First Class Drives: E91 335i M-Touring Join Date: May 2006 Location: NL Posts: 111 iTrader: (0) View yester's Garage	I just burn in Nero as a data CD and it works fine. You can also burn a data mp3 DVD, but you can't navigate then. __________________ http://http://www.e90post.com/forums...t=51131&page=4 - E91 335i touring M, sportpack, tiag, tinted, 18" - Mini Cooper chilli, silver, tinted

04-28-2007, 04:52 PM	#12
zenmaster Major Drives: 335i E90 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,439 iTrader: (0)	Anyone know if it's possible to replace the CD player with a DVD player?

07-14-2007, 07:05 AM	#14
sapperelite Second Lieutenant Drives: 07 335XI, 03 Wrangler Sport Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 219 iTrader: (0)	Ledzep can you walk me through how you do it on ITunes? I tried to do it and only ended up with a couple bad CD's. I was also told that we could play music from a DVD in the IDrive. Is this true? I burned a few hours of music for myself, put it in the DVD player and got nothing. I havean 07 March build so I assume it has the latest (26) version. Thanks,

07-14-2007, 11:38 AM	#15
Weaselboy Lieutenant Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SoCal USA Posts: 487 iTrader: (0)	Go to this screen in iTunes preferences and set to burn as MP3. Then select what songs you want and burn. Works fine for me every time.

07-14-2007, 02:53 PM	#16
zenmaster Major Drives: 335i E90 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,439 iTrader: (0)	I wrote these instructions awhile back. However, still no official specs from BMW (or anyone) on the supported MP3 formats for iDrive/CCC playback. Weird.

07-15-2007, 11:03 AM	#19
Weaselboy Lieutenant Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SoCal USA Posts: 487 iTrader: (0)	You need to convert the songs to MP3 first, then you can burn an MP3 CD. Below from iTunes help. =========== To convert a song's file format: 1. Choose iTunes > Preferences, then click the Advanced button at the top of the window and click Importing. 2. From the Import Using pop-up menu, choose the encoding format that you want to convert the song to, then click OK to save the settings. 3. Select one or more songs in your library, then choose Advanced > Convert Selection to MP3, Convert Selection to AAC, Convert Selection to Apple Lossless, Convert Selection to AIFF, or Convert Selection to WAV. (The menu item changes to show what's selected in your Importing preferences.) ============