iPod advice and tricks?

[5Xwen]

I have the iPodyourBMW cable installed in my X5. Now I'm looking for some advice or tricks on how to get the most out of it.

As you know, this cable defeats the controls on the iPod. Lets say you jump in your X5 and have the desire to listen to some Allman Brothers. Do you:

1. Have a rought idea where all your tracks are located, so you can stumble around and find them by switching tracks on the steering wheel?

2. Take the time and trouble to put music in BMW playlists beforehand that you feel you may want to listen to that day?

3. Know of any tricks or ideas to make this easier?

4. Forget about ever using this cable except to charge your iPod. Spend more money to install Icelink or aux?

Thanks for your help.

[jwalsh22]

The icelink is much easier to use, and if desired, it can function under the iPod's user interface, or under the radio based user interface. Let me explain - under apple UI you can use all the controls on the iPod as if you were still listening through head phones, under this system the steering wheel controls still function to move between tracks and adjust volume. If you want, you can choose five of your playlists to have on the presets, and because the icelink functions as the the CD changer (assuming you don't already have one) you select the playlist by selecting the cd. If you use the iPod like this, you don't have to have it within reach to control it. Rather than naming five playlist based on what you think you might want to listen to, you can select five playlists on the iPod, on the go, whenever you want, or forget it all together and select songs and playlists using the iPod controls. On top of all this, you can apparently change out the iPod adapter for a plain old auxilary input in all of about 20 seconds. I installed the trunk version which plugs into the CD changer adapter, and it took all of about 5 minutes from start to finish, including tucking the cord beneath the carpet! A radio mounted version is also available. The icelink is just easier to use and much more flexible than the iPod your BMW attachment. The customer service is GREAT should any questions arise. To make a long story short: GET THE ICELINK!!!!
Oh, and the icelink also charges the iPod.

Hope I helped.
Joe

[JCL]

I use the IceLink, so I agree with the poster above, but since you have the BMW kit, there are some tips...

1) Set up playlists, 1-whatever, 2-whatever, etc. It doesn't take long. I sort by genre, but whatever system you pick will help sort the tracks

2) It really isn't a data storage and retrieval system, it is a data storage system. It is easier to let it play in random than it is to search for a single track. Recognizing the limitations up front reduces frustrations. Mine charges perfectly, it is out of sight, it sounds great, but I have stopped looking for specific tracks, it is too distracting. Skipping ahead or repeating a track, or changing to one of 5 predefined playlists, is as much as I do.

3) On the Icelink, I have unplugged it, found a track I want, and then plugged it back in. Not sure if that works on the BMW kit, or even if it works all the time on the IceLink, but it is one way to find a specific track. Give it a try.