16gb 3000 SONGS
 

Just picked up a new micro flash drive for my GROM USB audio. It's 16gb and as you can see it smaller than a nickle. Don't need to burn any more CD just drag and drop songs into the flash drive.

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/p...psb0815def.jpg

For us low tech Luddites here, where does that Grom gizmo, or the thumb drive plug into?
I have an '01, low tech, no NAV, and 'Biz CD' radio.

3000 songs?! I don't have enough time left on the planet to listen to 3,000 tunes...;>)

They must be quite compressed? I am a CD sound fan, fwiw.
Thanks, mD

:popcorn:

In for the educational benefits; would love to know how to do this with mine without losing an arm or leg.

It allows you to load a flash drive with songs instead of using the rear CD changer, it allows you to use an ipod either by bluetooth or by hardwire (bluetooth module required and Ipod cable required). It allow you to pair a bluetooth phone with your audio system, even if your X is too old to upgrade to a factory bluetooth system.

With the 16gb micro flash drive I can load close to 3000 mp3 songs. If you have a cd you can get 15-20 songs per cd so the 6 cd changer can hold 90 to 120 songs (Older CD changer won't play MP3 format). Compare that with 3000 songs that the flash drive can hold.

If a picture is worth a 1000 words what is a video worth?

Video of the Grom in action:

BMW X5 2006 GROM-USB2 iPod iPhone Bluetooth Android Interface Adapter Usage instructions - YouTube

Thanks for the video link; I've been reading up on it a bit just now... BMW Mini 98-06 GROM USB Bluetooth Android iPod adapter - behind the radio

That's pretty slick! You say it installs in place of the rear CD changer; mine only has the Business CD and radio, and it makes me wonder if they are all wired for the changer. Anybody know? Where is the connector located?

It plugs into where the CD changer in the rear would go. You will have to remove the CD changer or at least remove the connectors to the CD changer so that you can plug in the GROM. If you have DSP like myself, you will need to buy the DSP converter. If you have the standard non DSP audio system you should be able to install it in under 10 minutes two connectors the 3-pins power connector and the 6-pins audio connector (basically plug and play).

The thumb drive plugs directly into the USB port on the GROM. You can also plug in an external hard drive into the USB slot, but with the bouncing of the truck I prefer to use the flash drive.

3000 songs for 16gb is most likely at a bitrate of around 192kbps. Nowadays that's kind of the minimum for most people with the slightest musical ear; anything below that and the diminished quality quickly becomes apparent. If you were to take those songs in a lossless .wav you'd be lucky to fit around 300 songs for 16gb. For most people though, 320Kbps and lossless is very difficult to discern.

Connectors are located in the rear left hand side of the cubby. If you don't have DSP you should find a 3-pins and a 6-pins connector. If you have DSP you will only have a 3-pins connector not unless you have a later E53. Becareful if you have DSP with only a 3-pins connector because there is an identical 3-pins connector for the phone which is NOT Compatible and may damage the GROM if you use it since the ground and power wires are in the wrong locations.

Grew up on vinyls and later cassette tapes, so with my age and my taste in music (60's, 70's, 80's) my ears are not going to be able to tell the difference between 192kbps vs. 320Kbps. :rofl:

Finally something that works for those of us stuck with the cursed DSP system! There was a thread started a few days ago about the unit in the link below also.

CP600BMW - inovative MP3 player CD-changer replacement

In russian "Grom" means Thunder.

Just a fact

Saw that thread, it just a player so there is no way to integrate your bluetooth cellphone to make it a hand free device. The city that I live in issue tickets for driver that they seen holding a cellphone while driving.

It seems to be that the aux input directly into the head unit would be a cheaper/easier way to play MP3 files.

iPhone -> Aux cable -> head unit

Easy, cheap, and effective.

Either way, thanks for sharing your experience with the Grom.

The earlier model radios (like my 2002 non-nav 4.6is) do not have the AUX input function in the menu. Only the 2004 and up models have it, so you just can't install the aux cable and play music.

Just finished checking out their website, probably gonna pull the trigger on this! Since I have DSP I'll need the DSP converter also, the site says it can be used with other aftermarket installs, maybe I can finally get that Hualingan or Dynavin to work with my DSP!

All the DSP converter does is it gives you the 6-pins connector that is not in the DSP audio. You don't need to buy a GROM, you just need the DSP converter that converts analog signal to digital signal. The DSP converter will still needs to be wired into the truck to receive power. You can get a DSP converter from BAVSOUNDS that they use for their products. If you go with a new headunit you will still have to run wires/cables from the back to the front.

The navigation unit will be a future purchase down the road, right now I just want to listen to my MP3s so I'll need the GROM. Also the Grom DSP converter is cheaper (on Ebay) than the BSW unit.

Ya know what? I need english support for this site.
CP600BMW - inovative MP3 player CD-changer replacement
Secondly: Is this being sold in the USA?

Uhhhhhh...just click on the British flag in the upper right hand corner.

Uhhhhhhh.... Maybe i'm missing something but that didn't work for the KBMW AdaptersKabel or the Kabelsatz options
and doesn't answer the question as to weather the device is sold and supported in the US.......:dunno:

If you have a GOOG toolbar in your browser stack, hit 'translate': it does a decent job of readable English. I could not find a section on 'US support', but I didn't study every link on the site. GL, mD

Mine is a 2002 non-nav DSP and I am running the headphone jack w/ aux function, I believe it is wired right to the back of the head unit.

Wow, thats great edparks, I have the same setup as you, 2002 non-nav with DSP, I've researched this to death. After reading several threads on the subject it seems the 2003 and earlier models don't have the AUX mode in their firmware. I bought the BMW AUX input cable but couldn't get it to work, one possible work around is to buy a build date 2004 or newer Business CD player that will have the necessary firmware installed. Did you install your cable or is it possible the previous owner did the aforementioned upgrade for you?

The previous owner did. I will reach out and see how he did it.

He says you need to disconnect the rear CD changer, and substitute that for the AUX connector.

Ok, I think I get what he's saying, so when I select CD Changer, in reality I'll be selecting the AUX input, I'll give it a try.

Right. Unplug the CD changer input from the back of the head unit, connect aux cable. My unit even displays "aux" on the display.

That's an option for sure but if they serve an American market then
it should be in english. Also If I decide to purchase it I don't expect
to to send it back to never never land for repairs.

It looks like a great option and i might consider it if wasn't for these drawbacks.

That was my next question, in order for it to display AUX, I'm pretty sure he had to upgrade the Business CD to a 2004 or newer unit, the older units simply don't have the AUX mode in the firmware, can you find out?

thanks!:thumbup:

But they don't serve an American market. I only determined that by seeing that it isn't one of the shipping options.

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.

want to resurrect this thread as there was a lot of good info on here and a lot of people seem to have a lot of experience on the topic.

After reading this, i decided to get GROM module for my car, but i am not sure if i need to buy a DSP converter. My car came with DSP but no CD Changer. I looked inside the cover in the back where the DSP module is located and found 3 cables - two 3pin and one 6pin... from reading all the posts it sounded like early e53s came with only two 3 pin connector and no 6 pin and therefore needed the DSP converter. Am I right? Do i still need a DSP converter if I have a 6pin connector?
Can someone shed some light on the subject please?

Both Grom and Audiovox mediabridge specify you will need a convertor if you have DSP. If you are sure your X came with DSP it would seem you need one. With something like this I would call the maker and get their technical input specific to your 06 X5.

I suggest you call both Grom and Audiovox and ask how their offering compares to the other as well as ask about price difference before finalizing your decision. This thread is incomplete as far as a point by point comparison.

I talked to Grom today and i was told that if i have a DSP i would only have a 3 pin connector and a coax wire... and if i didn't have DSP i would have 3pin and 6 pin connectors...I went back to look at my car and i have an unattached 3 pin and a 6 pin connectors in the back and i know for sure my car has a DSP... so i am not sure what's going on here.
I am only interested in playing music from a USB stick while mounting my unit in the trunk and the Grom seemed to fit the bill, hence the reason why i went with it...
I've ordered just the Grom unit so i'll see if it works by itselft... if it doesn't i'll order their DSP converter

I think if you have the 6 pin connector you can connect the Grom to the 6 pins connector. Later car with the DSP and 6 pins connector were really analog system, not true Digital system.

I'll post on here once i get the unit and see if it works with the DSP converter

Any idea why later cars have an analog system rather than digital? isn't it going backwards? I would think digital system should provide a better sound than an analog one?

It's cheaper to build one type of car then have different options. Example if a buyer wanted a silver X5 the dealer would have to stock a silver X5 with Nav, A silver X5 with Nav and DSP, A silver X5 with Business cd, a silver X5 with business CD and DSP, and some early car had cassette instead of CD. So you would have cassette with and without Nav and DSP.

ukrcan,
For what its worth, the GROM worked perfectly on my '08 MCoupe without the DSP adapter. That car have DSP, but it also have both the 3 & 6 pin connectors (I believed the E85/E86 Z4 have similar audio systems to our E53 X5 & E83 X3).

I love the unit thus far. My only complain is the MP3 tag display on the NAV screen is horrible - only displaying 10 characters. I'm trying to get them (GROM) to see if they can display the MP3 tags on the full screen, similar to what the OE CD player would if you were to play an MP3 disc.

Sounds like you've done a good job doing your homework!

Is this about the analog or digital question or what?

ok,
so i've got the unit, plugged it in using 3 and 6 pin adaptors and it didn't work...:confused:

I've looked at the manual for the DSP conversion kit and it states: "your x5 can have either 3 & 6 pin connectors or 3 pin and coaxial cable connected to CD Changer. if you car has 3 pin and coaxial than you have a digital dsp and will require the kit." If i am reading it right, i have an analog DSP module and don't need the kit. However when i plug in the device, my stereo recognizes that i have music on the USB stick but there is no sound coming from the speakers.

There are instructions on how to determine whether or not you have digital or analog DSP but only if you have a CD changer (which my car didn't come with).
How can i find out if i have a digital or analog DSP?

Look at the amp in the left cubby hole at the back do you see a Coaxial connector (It is a round connector and very tiny). If you do you have the digital dsp and will need to get the dsp converter.

See the round connector in this photo.

http://www.bimmernav.com/images/dsp1a.jpg

ok that makes sense!
Thanks for your help. I got confused by having a 6 pin connector i thought i wouldn't need to get the DSP converter...
Where would i get the coaxial cable to be used with adaptor? realoem did not show any parts for it...

Here's a link to Grom website for the installation instruction.

http://www.gromaudio.com/docs/bmw_dsp_kit_manual.pdf

For the DSP converter's power cable I connected that to the power side of the three pin connector, that way I wouldn't have to locate or splice into the BMW car harness.

Thanks for the link. Thats the one i was planning to use... My problem is that my car didnt come with the CD changer so i dont have a coaxial cable that connects cd changer to DSP amp, and i need that cable to coonect dsp adaptor to the amp... If you look at the diagram in the manual, they refer to it as DSP cable... And thats the cable i need to get from somewhere...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

looks like Grom Audio will send me a dsp cable for free with the kit :D

Glad to hear that GROM is taking care of you. From my experience, they do have great after-sale support :thumbup: Now...if I can only get them to properly display MP3 texts on the NAV screen :(

Yeah they seem to be pretty good with their support so far...
As for the text, it would suck if it didn't display properly if i had the NAV... but I don't - so i only get the messages on a crappy MID display and i could care less what mp3 text gets displayed as it gets cut off anyways... so as long as i have some tunes pumping through my speakers i am a happy camper!:thumbup:

I know there's a more elegant way to display texts on the NAV screen than just the chopped 10 characters that it currently does since the OE CD player can utilized the entire NAV screen as shown below. I'm trying to get GROM to do the same and they've indicated that they would look into it.

nice!
Hopefully they can resolve that for ya!:thumbup:

DSP kit did the trick for me...
Thanks for all the help everyone!
Now its time to start building my playlists:D

Did you also get the Bluetooth adapter? Not only can you receive and send cell phone calls, but if you have songs on your phone or subscribe to a service you can stream the songs to the X.

So let me get this straight...

I have an '01 X5 with the standard Business CD and no CD changer (but of course the wiring is there in the left rear cubby). I can just plug the GROM unit into the CD changer ports and instantly be able to plug in a flash drive to it and play music that way? How do you control things like playlist switching (or can you)? Also, I don't have a "mode" button like what's shown in the GROM video posted earlier in this thread. I assume you could just press the "CD" button, but then I would also assume that the in-dash CD player becomes inoperable.

No I didn't... my car came with factory handsfree and i was afraid two systems would interfere with each other...I normally don't store a lot of music on my iPhone anyways so it was not a big deal for me...


If you do not have a DSP than it's a direct connection. You can control up to 6 playlists with your car stereo. You CD will continue to work... for earlier model years you will need to use the same button you currently use to switch between audio sources, i can't remember what its called. do a search on youtube for "grom audio x5" you will be able to see a short demo as to how it works

I made six folders on my jump drive to correspond with the six buttons that would be used to control the six cd in the changer. The selection is the same as for the cd changer you will use the button on the MID to select the folder and the forward and back to go between the tracks. You can also use the steering wheel control to control the forward and backward and the volume.

The in dash CD player operates as before with the Grom installed, you just need to select it or insert a CD into it.

one thing i noticed about the unit is that if the music is playing and i answer a phone call the music does not stop playing like it does with a CD player...

UKran are you running there newest firmware. When you refer to the music stopping when a call comes in. Are you saying the music is still playing in the background on your call. Or is the music just not pausing and so if you was on a 10 minute call you missed like 2 or 3 songs. Finally I thought Groms random play crashes at 2000 songs.
I had my unit for over 2 years. I've killed 2 external harddrives. Did you buy there bluetooth adapter. I chose the aux input. I like having the 2 aux inputs in my bmw instead of 1. Even though I devoted my aux 2 to a bluetooth streaming module.

Not sure if i have the latest firmware - will have to check on that... no i don't have grom BT module i have one from the factory in the car. The music doesn't pause, so when i am done with a call, i've missed a couple of songs...will need to talk to Grom tech support about that...

I'm nott trying to promote it but if you have factory bluetooth and you can give up an aux input try the ilive bluetooth streaming adapter. I posted in the audio forum about it. I started using my music on my 16gb mem card on my phone. It works together with factory bluetooth. If a call comes in it pauses the music and factory bluetooth takes over. Hang up music comes back on. My only gripe the cheap module cannot control your music like next track or display your songs on the business radio or nav display. I'm still looking for a module that will and is under 30 bucks. I got groms ipod adapter but don't use it. Imight try and convert that to another aux input via the ipod to aux adapter they sell. I only bought ipod plug to stay up with the times. I was thinking about a spec dock though to make it look clean. I will say groms module has superior audio quality so I use the aux on that for bluetooth streaming.

I think having music stream via bluetooth is a great idea, however in my case i wanted to control my music using car stereo, and i don't keep my music on my phone as it's full of other junk, that's why i went a different route...:thumbup: