Here is a pic of my setup. Sorry the flash kinda killed the resolution.

http://just.razzi.me/photos/982818/19b8856.jpg

Input through the ash tray.

http://just.razzi.me/photos/982819/19b8856.jpg

And a bonus shot. I really need to replace that steering wheel emblem.

http://just.razzi.me/photos/982820/19b8856.jpg

^ That looks like a perfect spot for AUX!

Putting AUX in the glove box is too far to reach - ashtray i really convenient

I have an earlier X 2000/08 (title as a 2001) build date and instead of mode at the right of the display, my shows CD. So I guess if you have CD on the right, you won't be able to use the Aux cable.

http://just.razzi.me/photos/982818/19b8856.jpg

Thats a nice flash drive. I have the first revision model of grom usb. That version in my oppinion has a few flaws. 1. if usb and aux audio are playing you will hear both. eventhough it has a software switch. the new revisions have a hardware switch. so when you actually hit usb you hear only usb. you click on AUx you hear only aux.
I have 320gb wd passport drive connected to mine. Had to format it to FAT to make it usable on multiple car platforms. Random play crashes after you exceed i think 1000 or 100000 songs.. cant remember. I also had a few issues with flac but the firmware update fixed it.. It is much louder and now i have 2 aux inputs in my x5. 1 for the grom - wd movie player and normal aux in from the rear seat entainment - Satelite dish.

I have already made six folders on the flash drive to correspond with the six discs buttons on the MID. Been dragging song files into each folder. I allocated one folder for the wife songs collection and one folder for the kids songs collection. The other four folders will be filled with songs base on genre. Been listening to songs on my laptop with the flash drive and they are comparable in sound quality to CDs.

These are the formats and bitrates supported by the GROM
MP3 layer 1,2,3 bitrate up to 320Kbps
WMA (no DRM) bitrate up to 384Kbps
AAC/MP4/iTunes+ (no DRM). Bitrate up to 384Kbps
OGG/Vorbis bitrate up to 384Kbps

Yep, that's the exact same setup I have in my 2002 4.6is, but I'm willing to bet you a six pack of your favorite beer that he upgraded the Business CD to a 2004 or newer build date unit. It's easy to check, just pull the radio head unit and then the CD player, it will have a sticker on the top with the build date, mine is May 2002. I went out and hooked up my BMW AUX cable the last time we chatted and mine will not show AUX Mode.

Good info ,but I think for MD and me ,at our age,we would be lucky to hear at any bitrate at all.(no offense MD:))..pardon!What did you say!:rofl::rofl:

I realize this is an old thread that popped back up today but i am wondering--

I have the original radio with DSP. I installed a Dice Media-bridge shortly after it was introduced a few years ago. With the media-bridge I have Aux, bluetooth, USB and Sirius which I can scroll through and view on navigation screen I use the existing radio controls including pre-sets for Sirius and my iPhone works hands free through the radio. The station I am on displays on the nav screen as does the name of the the song, plus some other lessor features. Why not go the Dice route, what am I missing? FYI-it is now an Audiovox product.

Have you compared the price of the two systems?

No, I didn't consider price of each individual option. If that is as far as one is interested in upgrading, sure, your approach and others were good ones. My perception of the cumulative posts was that the end goal was moving toward upgrading to current available features, as the posts mentioned aux and hands free phone and potentially replacing the radio. If that is where you will end up seems to me it would be easier, I suppose it could still be more expensive. to bite the bullet from the get go with the bridge so there would be one device handling everything while utilizing the existing components. I am not in any way even implying anyone took the wrong approach or wasted time or money.