6FL iPod/USB & Smartphone Integration - Best option EVER..

[RedRockin]

Originally Posted by PasPar2

Red, got a white on black 50 with prem/tech/sport etc but no usb option... unplugged the 8gb usb stick from the 07, plugged it into the 2011 and imported. Took a bit to import but let me set up my bt phone in the meantime. I then removed the usb stick and put it in the car junk drawer for backup

I still have a my old usb<-> ipod adapter from bmw from the 07... I never used it bc the sounds quality was crap and I dont like to ipod anyhow (unlike my wife)

Well congrats again and hope you love your new ride! I have about 4.5 GB loaded and it takes about 25 minutes to fully download so I would think an 8GB stick (holds just under that amount) would take about 45 minutes. The dealer told me if you shut the vehicle off during download it will automatically resume the download when next you start the vehicle. I have re-loaded and shut down during download, it did not resume so I had to delete the first partial and start over - this is how I have such a clear focus on the download time. I have added more music so I have to re-do it again. This is one more little glitch in the system; you cannot add music to an existing download folder as a subsequent download will create another (new) folder and there is no way to combine the two. I don't plan to add more any time soon so I should be good after this next delete and download. If I wanted to continually add/edit my collection, I would not bother with the download and just leave the files on the USB stick plugged in and play directly off that. The stick is easily editable on a computer but to change the car's HD file, you have to delate and re-download. Unless, of course, you don't mind having multiple files (can be a good thing for keeping different music collections separate).

[bimmer_buachaill]

Originally Posted by RedRockin

This is one more little glitch in the system; you cannot add music to an existing download folder as a subsequent download will create another (new) folder and there is no way to combine the two.

Wow, that blows from a usability perspective but interface usability hasn't been BMW's strong suit recently. Hopefully they can build a better file/disk management utility with a software upgrade. Ideally, they'd let a computer mount the 8GB remotely as a drive and just allow us to control the contents via a laptop.

Any chance you can throw in some snapshots of the UI or send a pointer to the 2011 X5 manual? Would be interesting to see the UI ahead of time.

[PasPar2]

the interface is crap. I added songs to my usb stick and imported it and everything doubled. I need to clobber the collection on the internal drive then reimport...

[RedRockin]

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.