USB/HD multiple/subsequent import merge?

[RedRockin]

Here is one I haven't seen posted.

Day of delivery (M.Y. 2010) I downloaded (Imported) about 4 GBs of music from a USB stick to the HD. Today, I added another Gig of music. iDrive shows (under Music Collection) it as "USB 1" and "USB 2" and will permit Random play in whichever one is selected. I had assumed it would all dump together so that it would add to "USB 1" and permit Random play across ALL tracks. Tried renaming "USB 2" as "USB 1" but now I have "USB 1" and "USB 1"

Anyone have any idea of how to merge all of it - short of deleting all and reloading from a single USB stick? I don't have a large enough stick but I had assumed I could just load in chunks. If I have to get a larger stick and reload I will, but I am hoping there may be a way to merge it all together (especially as I will likely want to load more as I go thru my music collection).

Perhaps there is a way to create a "Play list" and dump ALL of the songs into it? Any other ideas?

T.I.A.

BTW 6FL vs glovebox USB port update -> glovebox USB does not seem to offer the option to play. Methinks I goofed in reading the iDrive options when playing off the console USB port. I had seen "Store" listed at the top of the music list and assumed this was the "import" option. As it turns out, my computer puts a file on the stick which the idrive somehow reads as "Store". I have no idea why this is happening because I put all songs (multiple albums) into he stick's root level with no files (idrive still reads all songs id3 tags and lists albums, artists, songs, genre for various searches and play options). so, after much wrestling with why idrive would not download/import from console USB port, I switched to glovebox USB and it did not register in iDrive as an external device. One click on options revealed the "Import" command and clicking on that began the download from the glovebox USB port. So, it would seem the dealer may have been correct when he told me that we have to "Import" from the glovebox. On day of delivery, he plugged in my stick and started the download. I was in a bit of info overload from going over my first BMW so I did not pay too close attention knowing I would be able to figure it out. Bottom line, I am happy (well, not SO happy) to admit that my previous posts appear to be incorrect and it looks like the glovebox USB port is, for some reason, solely for "importing" and the center console USB port is solely for playing/listening directly from a stick or other usb device.

so, this also appears to really negate the value of the HD for music storing. Those that have 6FL could easily have a 16 GB (or larger) USB stick and just plug it into the Center console. iDrive would read it the same as it does for the HD (with Random Play, etc.). This would actually make it much easier to edit the collection as all we'd have to do is pull the stick and plug into a computer to edit. On the HD, there is really no way to edit and if these subsequent additions will just create new folders then there may be no other way to merge the music.

I guess if there is no easy to merge, I will just buy a 16 GB stick and use the console port from now on. This would make it much easier to add/delete music as I go along.

[jammit]

I'm having the same problems.

The worst thing is that there appears to be little documentation from BMW on how the music file import works. The system for example doesn't appear to recognise playlists on USB imports.

It would save everyone alot of time if BMW documented how this works. For the new HD system the car manual in this respect is useless - is anyone else frustrated?

[DWill]

I put all my music on the hard drive. But I had the issue any time I add new music I add it the USB drive inuse for the car. Then delete all the music on the car HD then import again; really dumb system.

Worse yet, there are ransom skips in the music. Kind of the early days of CD changers in the trunk. Add to that the 6FL is pretty much useless with my iPhone plays music great although with degraded sound quaility, but it won't charge my phone most of the time.

You're solution using a USB drive and the center console port seems to be the best compromise. BMW clearly misses with this one, simple as it is.

I'm hoping there's a fix in a future software update.

[RedRockin]

Originally Posted by DWill

You're solution using a USB drive and the center console port seems to be the best compromise.

I'm hoping there's a fix in a future software update.

I too hope for some sort of update. But, with the night to "sleep on it" I am now rethinking the idea of leaving the USB stick plugged into the console. While common sense indicates this SHOULD be an easy and obvious solution, we have all read about the many battery issues on the X5. I carry a battery jumper (ES5000) as insurance! With the frequency that the vehicle "wakes up" to perform various systems checks, leaving an electronic device plugged in - even something as innocuous as a USB stick - could result in additional drain. While, knock on wood - as I knock on my head, my X has been stable (so far), I have experienced a bunch of bizarre one-time electrical quirks: iDrive saying "no disc inserted" while playing a disk, window buttons not working then fine 30 minutes later and ever since, all vehicle lights staying on for over 3 hours after entering from passenger side to program garage opener - and then going off after opening driver door (dealer service could not replicate), iDrive telling me to connect bluetooth phone while I was using the phone thru the car's bluetooth connection, lock/unlock/alarm beep tones sounding like they had laryngitis for one evening then fine ever since... I am now thinking leaving a USB stick connected full time may not be such a good idea. I did leave one connected for several weeks (to keep some music completely separate from HD and now realize I can just separately import it) with no problems but it just doesn't feel like a wise idea. I think I will just buy a larger stick. I'll keep a master file of "X5 music" on my computer and edit from there. When I want to add/change the car's music. I'll just delete the HD master and reload from the edited stick. Yea, it is a bit of a nuisance but if there is any chance it will help keep my X5 happy, it's probably worth the additional effort.

[pete540]

I have left a usb stick plugged in the center console since I have had mine, now about six months with no ill effects.