Good news for iPod owners re: icelink - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

Mark · 05-20-2005, 05:17 PM

According to Tom, the icelink guy:

""unofficial" ETA for the 5/6/7 series (which the e90 will be using as well) is this summer"

for those that don't know about it, Icelink is a little system for the ipod that connects it to the car and allows you to fully control the ipod from the cars controls as well as view the Id3v2 tags on the cars radio display. cool stuff ! altho the e90 has the aux input so you can simply plug in the ipod and it will work with a stock car, the icelink is nice because it powers the unit and lets you control it from the steering buttons and all that jazz.

www.densionusa.com

there have been some bugs with it in the past, but hopefully they will be ironed out when the e90 version comes out !

Armen52 · 05-20-2005, 05:46 PM

WOW. Did you check the price for all the new Bimmers (e.g. E90, E60...) with fiber optic systems? $400!!! For playlist controls?

That's a very rich luxury in my book.

YYdoodle · 05-21-2005, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armen52

WOW. Did you check the price for all the new Bimmers (e.g. E90, E60...) with fiber optic systems? $400!!! For playlist controls?

That's a very rich luxury in my book.

Yea but I think a lot of people will pay this amount to have integrated controls. May not be worth it for someone who doesn't use IPOD in their cars much but for an owner who uses it exclusively for music in their car it'll be worth it. Thx for the link Mark.

fusionnv · 05-21-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armen52

WOW. Did you check the price for all the new Bimmers (e.g. E90, E60...) with fiber optic systems? $400!!! For playlist controls?

That's a very rich luxury in my book.

I going the cheaper route, belkin auto kit charger and then using the griffin remote. I going to have to mod the remote controller by dyeing it black to match my interior but I think it be all right. I going to give up the names on the dash to save a little of pocket $$.

AudiA4 · 05-21-2005, 12:31 AM

This isn't the same thing, but I had contemplated getting an iPod until I realized the Logic 7 system supports mp3 discs, which when burned with ID3v1 tags displays artists, song titles, etc. and IS CONTROLLED by the car. Granted, it's 800MB per disc (12 hours) versus 5GB or so, but if I can break my whole music collection down to 6-8 discs, this works for me.

Nathan · 05-21-2005, 12:34 AM

I look at it this way; i didn't fork up the $700 for the CD Changer, so if i can get all the functionality with icelink in the iDrive, i'll do it. Need to see how much it is to get it installed first though.

I will probably opt to get the holder placed under my seat or somewhere out of sight. I don't want my U2 iPOD stolen!

Until it comes out, i'll stick to the AUX input, it sounded great when i tested it a few weeks ago.

fusionnv · 05-21-2005, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiA4

This isn't the same thing, but I had contemplated getting an iPod until I realized the Logic 7 system supports mp3 discs, which when burned with ID3v1 tags displays artists, song titles, etc. and IS CONTROLLED by the car. Granted, it's 800MB per disc (12 hours) versus 5GB or so, but if I can break my whole music collection down to 6-8 discs, this works for me.

I have a 20 gig ipod. Do you know how much of it I use? 1.2 gigs. I have friends with 30+ gig ipods. Do you know how much they use, maybe 4 gigs. They admitted to me that gee that is way too much space and they put songs on it sometimes just because they have space for it. I think if you can have more than 5 hrs of music that you truely like, for a normal person that pretty much will be enough.

Nathan · 05-21-2005, 01:26 AM

That's interesting, because i only have 1GB left out of 20GB. I bascially spent 6 months importing about 350 CDs that's i've had since 1988. I actually need a bigger iPOD, but it can wait.

I've starting doing playlists only, but its still a lot of music. Since i spend about 12-20 hours on the road a week, i like access to my whole collection.

So i guess it just depends on needs. I can't imagine not having my iPOD today. I used to burn CD after CD of custom mixes every week, all that is done with now.

voltron1011 · 05-21-2005, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiA4

This isn't the same thing, but I had contemplated getting an iPod until I realized the Logic 7 system supports mp3 discs, which when burned with ID3v1 tags displays artists, song titles, etc. and IS CONTROLLED by the car. Granted, it's 800MB per disc (12 hours) versus 5GB or so, but if I can break my whole music collection down to 6-8 discs, this works for me.

The only thing that sucks about having MP3's on CDs is navigation. I have about 130 songs per disc (+/- 30) and it is an absolute bear trying to get to the artists/songs/folders that I like. That is why the Ipod is so great because it has such an intuitive interface. I will just order an Ipod cradle for my car and use aux port input. Even if they do get it work through the cars controls you still don't have as much power as with the Ipods menus. Now, what they NEED to do is incorporate Ipods menus into Idrive.

ldpantoja · 05-21-2005, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltron1011

The only thing that sucks about having MP3's on CDs is navigation. I have about 130 songs per disc (+/- 30) and it is an absolute bear trying to get to the artists/songs/folders that I like. That is why the Ipod is so great because it has such an intuitive interface. I will just order an Ipod cradle for my car and use aux port input. Even if they do get it work through the cars controls you still don't have as much power as with the Ipods menus. Now, what they NEED to do is incorporate Ipods menus into Idrive.

That is a good idea. Incorporate Ipod menu into Idrive. But I don't know if you noticed but half the people here already hate idrive. Still, that's a good idea!!!!

Armen52 · 05-21-2005, 05:19 AM

I have about 200GB of music although only about 60 of it that I listen to on any regular basis.

That said, I've been mostly happy with a 6-disc CD changer in my trunk and just rotating some favorites on CD in my current car. I am sure I will be happy with being able to put an MP3 CD in the stereo which holds about 6 audio CD's worth of music.

ldpantoja · 05-21-2005, 10:01 AM

I really don't care too much for it. unlike a lot of people here. I put my MP3 Player on Shuffle. nad I have about 22 Gigs on music on my player. I never listen to the same thing twice!!!

CC 330i · 05-26-2005, 02:16 AM

I think Apple should design the next head unit for BMW. Maybe they should do the next Idrive too! Wouldn't that be great?! Has anyone ever used a PHATBOX? It connects to the CD CHANGER wiring and basically is a hard drive for your music (non-portable Ipod basically). I don't know if they have them for BMW though.

05-20-2005, 05:17 PM	#1
Mark Administrator Drives: 1M Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NY / Philly / Boston Posts: 4,008 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 1 Series M ... [4.05]	Good news for iPod owners re: icelink According to Tom, the icelink guy: ""unofficial" ETA for the 5/6/7 series (which the e90 will be using as well) is this summer" for those that don't know about it, Icelink is a little system for the ipod that connects it to the car and allows you to fully control the ipod from the cars controls as well as view the Id3v2 tags on the cars radio display. cool stuff ! altho the e90 has the aux input so you can simply plug in the ipod and it will work with a stock car, the icelink is nice because it powers the unit and lets you control it from the steering buttons and all that jazz. www.densionusa.com there have been some bugs with it in the past, but hopefully they will be ironed out when the e90 version comes out ! __________________ The new beast. BMW M5.
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05-20-2005, 05:46 PM	#2
Armen52 Captain Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 674 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	WOW. Did you check the price for all the new Bimmers (e.g. E90, E60...) with fiber optic systems? $400!!! For playlist controls? That's a very rich luxury in my book.

05-21-2005, 12:31 AM	#5
AudiA4 Private First Class Drives: '06 330i 6M, Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR USA Posts: 128 iTrader: (0)	This isn't the same thing, but I had contemplated getting an iPod until I realized the Logic 7 system supports mp3 discs, which when burned with ID3v1 tags displays artists, song titles, etc. and IS CONTROLLED by the car. Granted, it's 800MB per disc (12 hours) versus 5GB or so, but if I can break my whole music collection down to 6-8 discs, this works for me.

05-21-2005, 12:34 AM	#6
Nathan First Lieutenant Drives: 2010 X5 3.0 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Windy City Posts: 370 iTrader: (0)	I look at it this way; i didn't fork up the $700 for the CD Changer, so if i can get all the functionality with icelink in the iDrive, i'll do it. Need to see how much it is to get it installed first though. I will probably opt to get the holder placed under my seat or somewhere out of sight. I don't want my U2 iPOD stolen! Until it comes out, i'll stick to the AUX input, it sounded great when i tested it a few weeks ago.

05-21-2005, 01:26 AM	#8
Nathan First Lieutenant Drives: 2010 X5 3.0 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Windy City Posts: 370 iTrader: (0)	That's interesting, because i only have 1GB left out of 20GB. I bascially spent 6 months importing about 350 CDs that's i've had since 1988. I actually need a bigger iPOD, but it can wait. I've starting doing playlists only, but its still a lot of music. Since i spend about 12-20 hours on the road a week, i like access to my whole collection. So i guess it just depends on needs. I can't imagine not having my iPOD today. I used to burn CD after CD of custom mixes every week, all that is done with now.

05-21-2005, 05:19 AM	#11
Armen52 Captain Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 674 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I have about 200GB of music although only about 60 of it that I listen to on any regular basis. That said, I've been mostly happy with a 6-disc CD changer in my trunk and just rotating some favorites on CD in my current car. I am sure I will be happy with being able to put an MP3 CD in the stereo which holds about 6 audio CD's worth of music.

05-21-2005, 10:01 AM	#12
ldpantoja Lieutenant Drives: 330i (E90) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 585 iTrader: (0)	I really don't care too much for it. unlike a lot of people here. I put my MP3 Player on Shuffle. nad I have about 22 Gigs on music on my player. I never listen to the same thing twice!!!

05-26-2005, 02:16 AM	#13
CC 330i Captain Drives: 330i SG/Blk/Alum Join Date: May 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 714 iTrader: (0)	I think Apple should design the next head unit for BMW. Maybe they should do the next Idrive too! Wouldn't that be great?! Has anyone ever used a PHATBOX? It connects to the CD CHANGER wiring and basically is a hard drive for your music (non-portable Ipod basically). I don't know if they have them for BMW though.