2007 ipod integration kit limitations / missing features - Page 2

mcw331 · 7th February 2007, 14:01

He is confusing the new interface with the old adapter that worked on the last 3 series and others. On the old system you would set up 5 playlists (not albums) named BMW1 BMW2 ...

with the new interface you can (and should) make as many playlist as you will use and you can name them whatever you want. These playlist are the easiest way to call up your music and will hold 100's of songs each (maybe only 255 but I haven't verified that yet). my playlists tend to have 30-50 songs and I have about 20 playlists.

As stated above despite it's limitations I believe it is a lot better than just having a 6-disk changer. And sound quality does seem better than playing the ipod through the Aux.

andrewsherman · 7th February 2007, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by drossel

it could be highly possible that i heard wrong, and/or the person i was talking to didn't know what he was talking about.

You were taliking to someone at the dealership right? Then, the answer is obvious as most of them couldn't find a fortune in a fortune cookie.

I have the interface installed in my '07 and here are my answeres to the questions -- based on reality and not the never-never-world some dealership employees live in.

having to put all songs into 5 albums
--Wrong: I have over 50 playlists. Since this does make it a bit of a PITA to scroll through them, I start my 6 or 7 favorites with a "*" (e,g,. *Classic Rock or *Alternative) so they show up at the top ot the list of Playlists.
names of songs not showing up on idrive
--Wrong again. If the name shows up on your iPod it will show up on your iDrive screen. If you haven't downloaded the song info onto your iPod then the screen will be blank as well. After all it is a car, not Nostradamus.
255 album limit
--I think this refers to the 255 song limit per playlist. Although this may limit how many will names will be displayed when you scroll on the screen (I don't know, I have never had the patience or need to scroll down so far), it does not limit how many songs can be included (and will play) in any given playlist. Many of my playlists have over 300 songs.
no shuffle
--This is correct. There is a "Random" feature, but it only selects the next song randomly and then plays in order from there. I sort my songs randomly on iTunes before downloading them and then I start at a random point in the playlist. It is not ideal, but if your playlists have enough songs, it will suffice.

Sorry for the negativity towards the dealers (okay, not really sorry -- maybe kinda sorta sorry at best), but it really gets my goat when these guys speak out of school. If I had relied solely on them and hadn't gotten so much information from the members on this board, my enjoyment
of the beast would have been significantly diminished.

Bunker37 · 7th February 2007, 17:56

Yep, your SA should be fired for giving you these anwers.
V23.x killed the IPod, but thena patch was created so V23.2 could handle the IPod again. Then in december the SW moved up to V24 and now we are up to V24.2

I see over 1000 songs in my playlists. No problems there.

As for the shuffle. You can select a random track in a playlist and it will only select a next random song after the current song ends by itself. If you press the prev or next button, the next following track will be played in stead of a new random one. Also random sometimes doesn't work for some reason or picks a track very nearby the current one. Sometimes though it does work and keeps on working. Not sure if it works in all selections CD1 through CD6. I know CD1 dows work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewsherman

no shuffle
--This is correct. There is a "Random" feature, but it only selects the next song randomly and then plays in order from there. I sort my songs randomly on iTunes before downloading them and then I start at a random point in the playlist. It is not ideal, but if your playlists have enough songs, it will suffice.

MEnthusiast · 7th February 2007, 18:22

If you were ordering a new BMW today and had the choice of CD changer or ipod adaptor would you get the ipod adaptor? Just thinking ahead in my case. If the ipod is left in the car, will it lose its charge/ will it continue to draw power? I know myself and I know I would end up leaving the ipod in the house/ car too often so I would have to get a separate car ipod.

Bunker37 · 7th February 2007, 18:45

The IPod recharges until the car goes into sleep mode. So it will stay charged all of the time and your battery won't be drained.
Definately the IPod over the CD-Player!!!

MEnthusiast · 7th February 2007, 19:33

Thanks! Now I just have to decide if I am still going to be an M5 driver or will I go for the X5 in the next vehicle.

drossel · 7th February 2007, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewsherman

Sorry for the negativity towards the dealers (okay, not really sorry -- maybe kinda sorta sorry at best), but it really gets my goat when these guys speak out of school. If I had relied solely on them and hadn't gotten so much information from the members on this board, my enjoyment
of the beast would have been significantly diminished.

thank you!

i agree with you completely. it's unacceptable that i have to take time out of my day to search for basic information that the dealers should be able to provide. i am sure i wasn't the first to inquire about this issue. i cannot, for the life of me, fathom why they didn't supply me with the correct info. anyhow, thanks for clearing things up.

also, has anyone attempted to DIY the kit? i have no idea what it involves, but if it's not too complicated i'd like to give it a try. i have basic mechanical skills (e.g., can change oil, brakes, etc).

rodman31 · 7th February 2007, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEnthusiast

If you were ordering a new BMW today and had the choice of CD changer or ipod adaptor would you get the ipod adaptor? Just thinking ahead in my case. If the ipod is left in the car, will it lose its charge/ will it continue to draw power? I know myself and I know I would end up leaving the ipod in the house/ car too often so I would have to get a separate car ipod.

Hey Jerry!!!
Haven't seen you around these parts lately!!! I have seen you over at Ferrarichat, still looking to get the F430???!!! I almost had a sale on a F360, but they wouldn't come up on trade for the M5, so I will wait!

I bought a seperate IPod for the M5 and I had the kit installed not to long ago and everything works fine. I have never had my software upgraded either.
Check www.apple.com, got to the "store" folder at top of the page. When the "store" opens, scroll down and on the right side you will see a red "sale" tag, click this and it will take you to refurbished Apple products to include IPods. You can get an extra one for half the cost!!!!!!!

Robert

andrewsherman · 7th February 2007, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEnthusiast

If you were ordering a new BMW today and had the choice of CD changer or ipod adaptor would you get the ipod adaptor? Just thinking ahead in my case. If the ipod is left in the car, will it lose its charge/ will it continue to draw power? I know myself and I know I would end up leaving the ipod in the house/ car too often so I would have to get a separate car ipod.

It definitely makes sense to get a second (or third) iPod dedicated to the car. Mine stays in the glove box unless I am updating it.