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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > AUDIO/VIDEO + BLUETOOTH + Electronics/Alarm/Software > *Official* 6FL iPod/USB Thread



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      02-09-2007, 12:08 AM   #23
jmonier
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Quote:
Originally Posted by texasturner View Post
Just curious I have this option on order as well but it is not showing up on the owners circle tracking? Is anyone having luck seeing the option on the order tracking website?
It's not showing up for anybody. The reason may be that there's no price for it in the ordering system yet.
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      02-09-2007, 05:29 AM   #24
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Correct. My CA told me that the price is still blocked for this. He said other March '07 additions show prices but not the 6FL yet. My hunch is that it will be $150-$300, and I'm hoping on the lower side.
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      02-09-2007, 09:34 AM   #25
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I would GUESS $250-300 based on the Canadian price of $350.
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      02-09-2007, 10:12 AM   #26
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My question/hope is this....Does anybody know if there is improved functionality on the factory installed version? Specifically, the current version has these limitations:
1. I understand that in the current version (dealer installed), there is a limit to the number of songs that will display. I think the cutoff was somewhere around 200 songs, maybe 500.
2. Using the I-drive wheel to scroll through song/artist/etc. lists is notoriously slow and does not have the scroll acceleration feature that the ipod clickwheel has. Will the new version allow this?
3. When the ipod is in random shuffle mode, it only procedes to the next 'random' song if the current song is allowed to play to the end and the next song comes naturally. If you choose to skip to the next song, the random selection is negated and instead the next sequential song from the list will be selected.

I see these as major drawbacks because these features add tremendously to the functionality of the ipod since a lot of its mojo comes from its abilities to browse and search complete lists quickly and efficiently, and its ability to play as a random song selected jukebox (with the ability to skip at will).

Anybody know of any info on this?
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      02-09-2007, 10:32 AM   #27
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smotpoker - Good questions! Until BMW gives someone a peek at the new system, I imagine these will remain a mystery. Since it is only about 20 days away from production, I would think some information and pricing would be forthcoming. I have it on my order but still don't know the price.

I think the first advantage will be that unlike the dealer installed option, it will not use the CD changer connection and will actually show "Albums, Playlists, Artists, etc." instead of CD1,CD2,...

There may still be some limitations to the number of songs in the library... but honestly, I find that very cumbersome even on the iPod. I tend to keep a dozen or so playlists and then just change them around as moods change. Even being able to select Playlists and Albums from the iDrive screen would be a huge convinience to me.

Let's hope that Mr. Spira is getting his hands on some information soon - although he may be sworn to secrecy for awhile and we'll have to respect that.
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      02-09-2007, 12:04 PM   #28
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Check JSpira's post earlier in this thread:

"One of the devices that can be connected is the iPod. Control is by digital means via USB to-serial cable using the proprietary Apple protocol. The monitor uses the iPod database and maps the functions of the iPod"

If it truly maps ALL the iPod functions then it'll be great. But that remains to be seen.
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      02-09-2007, 03:46 PM   #29
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where is the jack located - armrest, glove box?
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      02-09-2007, 04:15 PM   #30
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USB jack (factory option) is in the armrest.
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      02-09-2007, 05:11 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmonier View Post
USB jack (factory option) is in the armrest.
Do we really know this? That would be nice actually.
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      02-09-2007, 06:31 PM   #32
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http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...d=1#post673091

(top post)
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      02-09-2007, 11:02 PM   #33
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Here are some pictures:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...99#post8659599

The interesting thing is that (for the IPod) the audio apparently goes through the Aux jack and the USB just controls the iPod playback.
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      02-10-2007, 08:26 AM   #34
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jmonier - thanks! Awsome information. I can't help but wonder why BMW didn't make that iPod connection unit with "L" connectors, considering the low clearance when the console cover is closed.
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      02-10-2007, 05:17 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmonier View Post
Here are some pictures:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...99#post8659599

The interesting thing is that (for the IPod) the audio apparently goes through the Aux jack and the USB just controls the iPod playback.
I seriously hope the audio doesn't go through the AUX. If it does, I'd rather get the dealer installed ipod interface since the audio is transferred through the digital port.
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      02-10-2007, 05:32 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff View Post
I seriously hope the audio doesn't go through the AUX. If it does, I'd rather get the dealer installed ipod interface since the audio is transferred through the digital port.
I believe that the dealer installed interface (and the 6FL iPod/USB) uses the line out analog audio available at the dock connector. This is perfectly good quality.

People have found that using the headphone out to the AUX gives poor quality (since it's designed for driving headphones). When they use a special cable that taps the line out in the dock connector to the AUX then it sounds fine.

That said, if you use a USB hard drive with the iPod/USB interface then I believe that the BMW radio reads the hard drive just like it would read an MP3 CD and there would be no analog transfer through the interface. (Note that this option is not available with the dealer installed interface.)
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      02-10-2007, 06:29 PM   #37
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Here's another thought, can you lock the armrest? If not, then this could be an easy steal for a thief.
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      02-10-2007, 07:57 PM   #38
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It sounds from this forum that the dealer installed iPod Interface option has been superseded compltely by the new factory installed USB interface option? If not, can anyone point out the differences?
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      02-10-2007, 07:59 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff View Post
I seriously hope the audio doesn't go through the AUX. If it does, I'd rather get the dealer installed ipod interface since the audio is transferred through the digital port.
The difference is using the iPod connection rather than the 1/8" headphone connection. I noticed a significant difference when I switched the connection at the iPod and still using the AUX jack. The sound quality should be pretty decent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff View Post
Here's another thought, can you lock the armrest? If not, then this could be an easy steal for a thief.
You can't lock the armrest, but if they break into your car to begin with, I'm sure the glove box won't pose much more challenge. It still keeps it out of sight - so they would have to know it is there in the first place.
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      02-10-2007, 08:24 PM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff View Post
I seriously hope the audio doesn't go through the AUX. If it does, .
This is what I was told 6-8 weeks ago.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff View Post
I'd rather get the dealer installed ipod interface since the audio is transferred through the digital port.
No, it doesn´t, there IS no digital interface for the audio
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      02-10-2007, 10:58 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW3FXD View Post
It sounds from this forum that the dealer installed iPod Interface option has been superseded compltely by the new factory installed USB interface option? If not, can anyone point out the differences?
It hasn't been superceded. The factory interface basically adds the capability to read USB hard drives and allows the CD changer to coexist. But, it can't be added by the dealer so the dealer installed unit will still be available for cars that don't have the factory option.

It does seem that the factory option will do everything that the dealer installed will do and more but the exact details of operation are not yet known so there might be details in which the new unit falls short.
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      02-11-2007, 05:54 AM   #42
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I've emailed my dealer in the UK as my car is currently on order with the iPod interface rather than the USB and I might want to switch. He has passed on this to the UK BMW Product Manager so hopefully I'll know exactly what the deal is soon. Will post what ever he comes back with here.
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      02-13-2007, 11:59 AM   #43
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iPod Info from Dealer as promised

This is on option 6FL I received from my UK Dealer today - copied out of an offical BMW PDF Document...

BMW Group VZ-42
December, 20th 2006

Announcement: Compatible Apple iPod Devices and MP3Player
With the new option „USB-Audio-Interface“ (option 6FL) the following mp3
players can be connected to the vehicle and operated via the control
elements in the vehicle from March 07:
• Apple: iPod devices of the 4th (with Click Wheel) and 5th generation (iPod
Video), as well as iPod devices with colour display (including iPod
photo).
• Apple: iPod nano of the 1st und 2nd generation.
• Apple: iPod mini of the 1st und 2nd generation
• Creative: Nomad MuVo TX SE.
• Maxfield: G-Flash.
• Philips: SA177.
• Teac: MP-500-1G-BT.
• TrekStor: i.Beat organix and i.Beat vision.
For further information please refer to the upcoming release of the Product
Information USB that is expected to be provided in the Marketing Portal in
January 2007.

Relevant Documents:
ProductInformationUSB_News
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      02-13-2007, 01:28 PM   #44
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Great info! Thanks for posting it!!
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