Quick review of the BMW MOST iPod interface

[PersonaNonGrata]

I was lucky enough to receive BMW's latest iPod interface, the MOST iPod interface. I finally got it to the dealer for installation. Why didn't I DIY it like I did with my iPodYourBMW kit in the X5? The MOST adapter sometimes requires the software in the iDrive computer to be updated and I can't do that. Ultimately the software did need to be updated and that took over 300 minutes of download time! I guess the BMW computers were attached with string. The benefit of updating the software is that I think it has sped up the performance of my iDrive computer. It's still early since I got it installed but so far, I notice it being much faster. For example, when I'd back out of my garage I would be buckled up, backed out, and ready to go forward before the damn iDrive computer would get out of the boot screen. Seriously! If I waited a little longer the PDC screen would finally appear just as I already backed up 30 or 40 feet. Now, it is much, much faster.

My observations about the interface

It is not perfect but it is the best option for the E90's... for now. Having the previous BMW offering, the iPodYourBMW kit, I can compare the two. Obviously the MOST interface is much improved and when paired with iDrive's navigation screen you can see the song information that is so sorely missed in the previous kit. Like the iPodYourBMW kit, this interface mimics a 6 disc CD changer. Each CD (1-6) number is assigned to various functions on the iPod. The steering wheel buttons control track and volume. The iDrive knob is the way to control the iPod. There is no need to create playlists in order for it to work like was required with the iPodYourBMW kit. You can pretty much access your music as if you were using your iPod. (See below.)

There are some quirks I have noticed after the couple of days of use. One is that it sometimes jumps right into an album or song even though you just wanted to view the catagory that album or song is in. Another is that when in random mode of the entire iPod's contents, my preferred method in the iPodYourBMW kit, if you advance songs you go to the next song in order rather than to another randomly selected song. For example if you are listening to "Song 1" of an entire album you have on your iPod and you are listening to songs in random mode and you want to skip "Song 1" it will go to "Song 2" from that album. It's frustrating. It does take some time to load up the contents of your iPod. I'm using a 30GB video with about 12GB filled. If you have lots of artists on your iPod and you want to select an artist to listen to, I hope you don't like many artists with names that start with "Z" because you have to scroll A-Z. There is no quick way to select an artist; not even a way to select the first letter. I think the various quirks will force me to create more playlists. That is the easiest way I think.

While the MOST interface isn't perfect, it's a big improvement and at least gives you a way to see the song titles and artist names. Until the come up with a way to create an interface that operates exactly as the iPod does, with the directory and options structures the same, there will always be some shortcomings. It definitely beats using the auxilliary input and a 12V cord in the center console!

Here are some pics.

"CD 1" lists your playlists created on your iPod. This shows a playlist named "BMW 1" and it's contents.



This shows "CD 2" which is the category assigned to show songs by artist name.



This shows "CD 3" which is the category assigned to show by album titles.



This shows "CD 4" which is assigned to show by genres.



"CD 5" is assigned to show by Podcasts and "CD 6" accesses your entire iPod library. (No pics of these. Sorry.)

Where is the iPod???




There it is! It occurred to me that I don't want to leave my iPod in my glovebox and I don't want to take it out every time I park the car. I wanted to hide it somehow. Yes I'm being a little paranoid but I also had the day off and felt like tinkering. It's difficult to get at the iPod should I want to take it out. I don't really take it anywhere with me except when I travel so I don't mind it staying in the car. I will likely take it out in the summer when the extreme heat will kill the iPod's battery.



There is a pretty big space behind the cover that conceals the fuse box. There is a wiring harness and the fuse panel back there. The iPod sits on a shelf and does not obstruct anything. I put it in an old Arkon cellphone/PDA/iPod clamp mount and laid some non-slip matting underneath to make sure the iPod doesn't fly around. In case you're wondering, the iPod is in an aluminum case that protects the click wheel while still allowing you use it. It's made by Pods Plus.




The screen:



Thanks again to the guys and gals who got me the kit.