[blackie]

Great review... thanks for the info

[SCA]

Originally Posted by JSpira

And the car will need coding and probably a sw upgrade (the question of who pays for the sw upgrade will be interesting - since the sw upgrade is required to add a new function and not to provide something that is missing or fix something that is broken, well... you get the picture).

And there is the bad news. In two ways...1. My car is perfectly fine the way it is, I'd be worried that sw ver. 21 would change something in a negative way (i.e. dbw throttle response). 2. The amount BMW will charge for the upgrade if it is indeed passed on to the consumer will be rather expensive.

[KL2DC]

CCC is the 'OS' for i-drive cars and M-ASK is the 'OS' for non-i-drive cars...I forgot what they stand for. This is based on JSpira's recent post on timed venitlation feature in i-drive cars....

In other words, this i-pod integration kit applies for both i-drive and non-drive e9x cars...

Also OEM alarm needs activation but not S/W update. I guess installing this kit is a good excuse for them to give you the s/w update.

[txusa03]

NICE, what is the MOST bus? What does MOST stnd for? Thanks.

[KL2DC]

I don't know the specifics but MOST is the fibre-optic network i.e. wiring infrastructure on and through which major components in the e90 communicate...that's the gist of it, but I'd wait for a more intelligent answer from those more qualified

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by cosmosblau

Will a unit be available for non-iDrive e90's?

Yes, there is another Jspira thread elsewhere that showes it working with the non-Idrive head unit.

[DieselConvert]

I would be interested to know how the audio signal path could be digital end-to-end as the iPod does not have a digital PCM output in its dock connector (http://ipodlinux.org/index.php/Dock_Connector).

It is my understanding that the only way to achieve this would be via the USB/Firewire interface in the connector which would require that the file containing the track on the iPod be loaded into the interface module and decoded from whatever format in which it is encoded on the iPod hard disk such as AAC,MP3 to standard 16-bit PCM (same as CD digital output) there. This would require that the interface unit replicate the majority of the iPod functionality and audio algorithms.

It would be far simpler, though clearly there would be a loss of quality, for the interface to pass the analogue audio signal through an ADC as is done today using the existing Aux In connector. In this case, the value add of the interface unit would therefore simply be the integration of the control functions for the iPod with the BMW audio controls.

Hats off to them if they have gone down the all-digital route!

[carjon]

Shouldn't really have to worry about the software upgrade because at the rate they are coming there will be one you will have to get anyway to fix something else.
My "fear" is that the cost of the parts will be "reasonable" but the dealer install charge will be outrageous. But we will see.

[bsjd00]

Originally Posted by DieselConvert

I would be interested to know how the audio signal path could be digital end-to-end as the iPod does not have a digital PCM output in its dock connector...

You raise a good point, and one I also discussed with member Tierfreund. Chances are, we shoud all prepare for having to deal with an analog signal still. So we'd all be paying a lot of money for steering wheel controls and track display, but I have a feeling a lot of us (myself included) will still spring for the kit.

[LEDZEP]

Jonathan, you didn't mention the non iDrive cars... other than the pretty graphics.. any difference? Also, unlike the previous iterrations of iPod adapters in BMWs - will this one let you select the playlists in the iPod, or do you have to build specific ones for the car?

[bsjd00]

Ledzep, check out the video here: http://www.ipodyourbmw.com/ipodPop.html.

(Click on "New iPod Interface Coming Soon" and then "Watch Video")

There is a shot of the non i-Drive car using the adapter. Also, the guy in the video says that you do not need to create playlists just for the car.

[Lost Rider]

Thanks for the info, I can't wait to get it installed.
I haven't really used the aux-in because I think it sounds like crap, and don't like having to look down at my ipod while driving. This is great news!

[Hunter399]

July...In time for my birthday!

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by bsjd00

Ledzep, check out the video here: http://www.ipodyourbmw.com/ipodPop.html.

(Click on "New iPod Interface Coming Soon" and then "Watch Video")

There is a shot of the non i-Drive car using the adapter. Also, the guy in the video says that you do not need to create playlists just for the car.

Thanks! That stuff wasn't there yesterday... they got it up quick. I'm governing my exhuberance over this though... because I have a hunch that they are going to RAPE us on the price. We'll see.

[bsjd00]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Thanks for the info, I can't wait to get it installed.
I haven't really used the aux-in because I think it sounds like crap, and don't like having to look down at my ipod while driving. This is great news!

I hate to say this, but the BMW solution will apparently not sound any better than an iPod hooked up through the dock connector (not headphone jack) into the auxillary input. Both solutions will suffer from the same digital-to-analog conversion. (There is a small chance that BMW's solution will be true digital, but most of us are now convinced it will not be.) Then again, just about everyone will tell you that if you encode your music files at a high bitrate, the iPod will sound just fine. It's the source file that counts most.

And as you said, you'll still have the benefit of steering wheel controls and track name display, but it will definitely come at a hefty price.

[wantmye90]

I wonder if BMW is monitoring this thread to see what our price tolerance will be? Everybody start complaining! More than $150 is just WAY too much!

[cosmosblau]

You know what- without iDrive, I couldn't imagine navigating an iPod with just the radio. The Harman/ Hardon unit would be a better move (and cheaper) than BMW's retrofitting.

I might as well as stick with the rig I have:

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by wantmye90

I wonder if BMW is monitoring this thread to see what our price tolerance will be? Everybody start complaining! More than $150 is just WAY too much!

Price of the unit isn´t really the entire picture. Installation will be at least an hour if not more.

Then if you need your PROGMAN version upgraded, that will be an additional cost as it´s not covered by warranty. Perhaps BMW will figure out a way to bundle the PROGMAN upgrade with installation costs but it´s still several hours no matter how you slice it.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by cosmosblau

You know what- without iDrive, I couldn't imagine navigating an iPod with just the radio. The Harman/ Hardon unit would be a better move (and cheaper) than BMW's retrofitting.

I might as well as stick with the rig I have:

Actually, it shouldn´t be that bad. My E39 had a MID and I had a Dension ice:Link with the BMW firmware. That permitted full navigation and info display. As easy as iDrive, no. But nonetheless, it worked really well.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Jonathan, you didn't mention the non iDrive cars... other than the pretty graphics.. any difference? Also, unlike the previous iterrations of iPod adapters in BMWs - will this one let you select the playlists in the iPod, or do you have to build specific ones for the car?

M-ASK cars will be fine. It should work similar to how my iceLink worked in my E39 with the MID.

And no, you don´t need to create special playlists.

[Lost Rider]

Originally Posted by bsjd00

I hate to say this, but the BMW solution will apparently not sound any better than an iPod hooked up through the dock connector (not headphone jack) into the auxillary input. Both solutions will suffer from the same digital-to-analog conversion. (There is a small chance that BMW's solution will be true digital, but most of us are now convinced it will not be.) Then again, just about everyone will tell you that if you encode your music files at a high bitrate, the iPod will sound just fine. It's the source file that counts most.

And as you said, you'll still have the benefit of steering wheel controls and track name display, but it will definitely come at a hefty price.

Maybe I should check my settings then, it hasn't sounded good like in my e46 with the Dension unit.
Maybe I have some weird EQ going on my iPod.