bb, I have 2010 but I am sure the 2011 manual is avail on-line. Got mine on-line before ordering. check out bmwusa.com

Also, keep in mind that my comments are based on 2010 model and I have not even seen a 2011. But, while I have not been researching, I haven't seen any indications that the iDrive system has changed between 2010 and 2011. Additionally, while I may be compu-friendly, I am no techie. Please take my comments with THAT into consideration. The system is not really "smart". If you plug a stick into the glove USB port (one used for download), the system does not prompt you to download. You have to go into iDrive options (about 3 menu layers) to find the "Import" option. Each successive "import" creates a new file "USB 1, USB 2, etc" So, after doing something similar PasPar2 (added a few CDs to a blank stick and "imported" - assuming it would just add to the existing folder or at least give me the option of adding or separating) and seeing new file "USB 2", I tried to rename "USB 2" to "USB 1" thinking the files might merge. They didn't, just left me with two separate files "USB 1" Also, as PasPar2 pointed out, the system is not smart enough to compare the HD file to what is on a stick. As PasPar2 pointed out, you get an entire second version.

However, if we choose to look for the silver lining in the cloud, it can be found. While I do prefer to have a music collection that I can hit random play across all songs, and I do, I also have other music that I want completely separate. I had been keeping that separate music on a separate stick and plugging it into the console USB whenever I wanted to listen to it. With these separate HD folders, I have now "imported" it to the HD and have it in a separate file accessible within iDrive. Ultimately, one could create multiple "import" files (and rename each - it DOES allow you to rename each). So you could import audio books, variety of music styles, etc and keep all separate.

As I said in an earlier post, you CAN have basically unlimited music that is all controllable thru the iDrive and steering wheel controls (just use larger sticks and leave the music ON the sticks - iDrive does play directly from sticks with no UI difference other than the chosen source. Huge capacity sticks get pretty pricey but a few 16 GBs should be able to handle more than most people's collections. This way, you can just pull the stick and edit on your computer and then throw it back in the car.