[talktalk]

Are any of you familiar with the differences between the $150 (dealer installed) iPod cable and the $400 (factory installed) iPod input? My family has a 328xi sedan on order, and we're trying to decide between the two. The car will not have iDrive. Which of the two do you recommend?

[anowlan]

The expensive cable is worth it. The standard head unit (non-I-drive) is then able to understand the playlists, artists and albums on your ipod, and lets you sort and select them from the ipod tucked away in the glovebox. It's one of my favorite features, and is worth it in terms of safety and convenience.

[JackMac]

Cracks me up. You need a $400 cable to connect a $250 iPod to a $45,000 car.

6FL (factory option) is the better choice.

My Nov '05 build gets by with a $29 Belkin cable into the Aux input.

[E90Boy]

Can you show a picture of the cable?


Also one of the member got a regular usb hard drive to work with the i-drive and it's the same as the ipod only cheaper and holds more music. I would also like to know if the dealer installed one on cars w/o the i-drive will work w/ the hard drive.

[E90Boy]

Sometimes cheaper is better.

[E92_335]

No. the factory ipod adap. is definetely worth it because like mentioned, you can see all the playlists and everything on the screen and it is tucked away safely and you can pause, go to the next song and do everything with your steering wheel..

GET IT!

[Leesi]

Btw, what do you mean by iPod cable that cost $150? I only know there are two iPod connector: $400 iPod Adapter or $20 AUX input.

[talktalk]

Originally Posted by Leesi

Btw, what do you mean by iPod cable that cost $150? I only know there are two iPod connector: $400 iPod Adapter or $20 AUX input.

http://www.bmwusa.com/BMW2003/Templa...ACHEHINT=Guest

[jmonier]

If there really is a $150 dealer installed option it is only for E46. For E9x the dealer installed option is ~$320 plus installation. The page is confusing (and maybe downright wrong when you select 2007) but it says "Starting at $149.95" with emphasis on the "Starting".

All of them are much more than just a cable, by the way.

[tintivilus]

Does BMW support the use of the traditional/old dealer-installed MOST-bus iPod adapter in post-March-2007 E9xs, or are they 6FL-or-nothing?

I'm sure it'd work in theory, but 6FL-supporting head units obviously have some differences from the older ones and I've never heard for sure if you could code them for the old adapter.

Either way, you should take 6FL if you want an iPod adapter, or live with the aux input if you don't. 6FL is substantially nicer than the old adapter and priced in the same league; my iPod adapter was $555 installed.

[BMXtreme]

Originally Posted by E92_335

No. the factory ipod adap. is definetely worth it because like mentioned, you can see all the playlists and everything on the screen and it is tucked away safely and you can pause, go to the next song and do everything with your steering wheel..

GET IT!

But without i-drive, you don't wanna keep staring at your radio while driving to see what song to play rite? as we know..the BMW radio is stupidly place so low.

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by BMXtreme

But without i-drive, you don't wanna keep staring at your radio while driving to see what song to play rite? as we know..the BMW radio is stupidly place so low.

I don't really care *that* much about the display -- having the forward/back buttons on the steering wheel alone was worth it. When i'm in the E46 with an ipod on aux-in I keep hitting "next" on the steering wheel and wondering why it doesn't work.

my biggest complaints about the dealer-installed adapter are:

- doesn't remember your screen when you turn off the car (that is, it returns to the "main screen" instead of staying on the track or list view)
- jumps to one-level-down when you pick a main menu (eg "albums" jumps into the first album instead of to the album list)
- shuffle is retarded
- stupid CD-Changer menu option and "disk numbers" instead of top-level iPod menu

None of these are deal-breakers for me, and I know for sure #4 is fixed by 6FL, and #2 might be. Maybe someone with 6FL can chime in with more up-to-date information?

[crzytrg]

Wow, give me a second. I just order my new 328i Coupe with and iPod adapter that cost me $400. Do I need to buy also the freaking cable for $150? I am confused...

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by crzytrg

Wow, give me a second. I just order my new 328i Coupe with and iPod adapter that cost me $400. Do I need to buy also the freaking cable for $150? I am confused...

No, in the US the iPod Y-cable is included with the 6FL option (although it's supplied by the dealer separately and sometimes you have to remind them to give it to you).

The $150 is for a separate dealer installed iPod adapter (and for the E9x the price is more like $320 plus installation).

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

I don't really care *that* much about the display -- having the forward/back buttons on the steering wheel alone was worth it. When i'm in the E46 with an ipod on aux-in I keep hitting "next" on the steering wheel and wondering why it doesn't work.

my biggest complaints about the dealer-installed adapter are:

- doesn't remember your screen when you turn off the car (that is, it returns to the "main screen" instead of staying on the track or list view)
- jumps to one-level-down when you pick a main menu (eg "albums" jumps into the first album instead of to the album list)
- shuffle is retarded
- stupid CD-Changer menu option and "disk numbers" instead of top-level iPod menu

None of these are deal-breakers for me, and I know for sure #4 is fixed by 6FL, and #2 might be. Maybe someone with 6FL can chime in with more up-to-date information?

They're all fixed by 6FL although some people have had a problem with shuffle. Shuffle works fine for me although figuring it out is not always obvious.

[pcoles78]

I dont understand what you people are talking about ipod input, factory cables, etc. . . Maybe it's just the terms you're using that's confusing me.

I ordered the Ipod/USB intergration and I paid $350 to add it as an option. The dealer said I need to buy a $60 cable from him to connect my ipod.

Are you guys talking about something else?

[gloster]

Originally Posted by pcoles78

I dont understand what you people are talking about ipod input, factory cables, etc. . . Maybe it's just the terms you're using that's confusing me.

I ordered the Ipod/USB intergration and I paid $350 to add it as an option. The dealer said I need to buy a $60 cable from him to connect my ipod.

Are you guys talking about something else?

Your dealer is ripping you off. The option you bought (6FL) has a list price of $400. I assume you bargained and he gave it to you for $350. THE CABLE IS INCLUDED WITH THE OPTION. Sounds like he's making up some money by charging you for the included cable.

[klumzie]

ok this is from my knowledge so dont quote me on this. When I ordered my car my Co-Workers told me that all the new production 3 series come with the USB jack and aux jack inside the center console so I wouldnt have to buy the ipod kit. So I opted out from buying the factory option, and I just went to pick up my car yesterday and realize that I DONT HAVE THE USB JACK, so I talked to my order co-worker that has a 328 and he told me that he ordered the car with the IPOD option. So I'm guessing the factory option gives you USB and Aux jack in the center console as suppose to the old ipod style where it comes out of the glovebox. Alot more convenient. so that's what your paying for

[MINNOW]

Originally Posted by gloster

Your dealer is ripping you off. The option you bought (6FL) has a list price of $400. I assume you bargained and he gave it to you for $350. THE CABLE IS INCLUDED WITH THE OPTION. Sounds like he's making up some money by charging you for the included cable.

In Canada the 6FL is $350, but the cable is not included.
Doesn't make much sense.

[T i h o r]

Originally Posted by JackMac

"Cracks me up. You need a $400 cable to connect a $250 iPod to a $45,000 car."

I love this quote!

[NoKids]

Originally Posted by MINNOW

In Canada the 6FL is $350, but the cable is not included.
Doesn't make much sense.

I think you are right. And it makes zero sense.

[gloster]

Originally Posted by MINNOW

In Canada the 6FL is $350, but the cable is not included.
Doesn't make much sense.

Oops! Thanks; I didn't notice the poster was Canadian.

It is interesting how they package it differently.

There are a number of people on this forum who would like the Canadian pricing since they use thumb drives or portable hard drives with the USB interface and have no need for the iPod cable.