2007 ipod integration kit limitations / missing features

drossel · 7th February 2007, 05:03

i know this topic has been beaten to death, but i've already searched so please bare with me.

i went to the dealer today and inquired about an ipod kit for my 07 M5. the service adviser i spoke to told me that the software version out right now (i believe v23.2) has severe limitations, including:

having to put all songs into 5 albums
names of songs not showing up on idrive
255 album limit
no shuffle
etc.

from what i've been able to gather from the older threads, you do lose some of the functions through the idrive. however, some lost functions don't match up with what i was told. 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.

i was also told that there would be a software update (i'm guessing v24) available in july. with BMW's track record thus far, i won't hold my breath.

so for those of you who've gotten the ipod integration kit, can you please confirm some of the missing features? i just want to see if i can live with these annoyances, or if i should just wait for a 100% compatible kit.

TIA

glowrider · 7th February 2007, 05:12

Have no clue about the ipod adpter, but I would never trust a word out of any BMW employee's mouth.

drossel · 7th February 2007, 06:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowrider

Have no clue about the ipod adpter, but I would never trust a word out of any BMW employee's mouth.

this is off topic, but i visited your site david, and i think your portfolio is great.

bodaddy · 7th February 2007, 07:21

according to another post, song names are displayed through i-drive. He also confirmed this with photos:

Ipod Kit on MY 2007 - Final Chapter (?)

Post #29 shows the pictures of the I-drive display and ipod interface. Mine is being installed today, so I can personally confirm tomorrow. The link to the post should resolve this though.

Falb · 7th February 2007, 07:30

The parts guy at the dealer went so far as to say that he would not sell me the ipod kit. I made him sell it anyway. Installed that night and have had no problems. I have only used it to select individual songs and a few playlists but it works well. I have not tried shuffle.

I would recommend installing it and worry about the SW version later.

mcvaughan · 7th February 2007, 07:40

Just had my car in for the recall work, and was subsequently upgraded to the latest software 24.02). No problems with my iPod adapter afterwards, but yes, there are shortcomings regarding the interface, but there is a shuffle-type of randomization. I have noticed that it sometimes doesn't work after restarting the car; almost like you have to tell it to randomize again. But even with all its issues, I believe it sure beats swapping out discs in a changer.

drossel · 7th February 2007, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodaddy

according to another post, song names are displayed through i-drive. He also confirmed this with photos:

Ipod Kit on MY 2007 - Final Chapter (?)

Post #29 shows the pictures of the I-drive display and ipod interface. Mine is being installed today, so I can personally confirm tomorrow. The link to the post should resolve this though.

so it can display the names of songs. so what i was told wasn't true. go figure.

i wonder if it will scroll through the full name if it's longer than the display?

the only real concern i have is having to organize all my songs into 5 albums. if this is true, it would be a huge inconvenience since i have well over 1000 songs.

please confirm the features after your install. thanks

drossel · 7th February 2007, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcvaughan

Just had my car in for the recall work, and was subsequently upgraded to the latest software 24.02). No problems with my iPod adapter afterwards, but yes, there are shortcomings regarding the interface, but there is a shuffle-type of randomization. I have noticed that it sometimes doesn't work after restarting the car; almost like you have to tell it to randomize again. But even with all its issues, I believe it sure beats swapping out discs in a changer.

awesome, another houstonian! where did you get this work done, if you don't mind me asking? if you say advantage bmw, i'm going to go and slap the SA i spoke today. that idiot told me it wouldn't work with idrive.

mcvaughan · 7th February 2007, 07:54

Momentum West is where I have my work done since I live out in the Katy area. My office is on the other side of the freeway from the dealer, so that makes things easier.

Michael_s · 7th February 2007, 12:03

That guy is an idiot. The songs 100% show up on the Idrive. My brothers 645 (2005) works fine so now that we are in 2007 model years, Im sure BMW has not moved back in technology..... as a suggestion I would not take your car there to do the installation. It sounds like that dealer is a moron.