iPod Compatible with E70?
 

I want to purchase an E70 but the iPod compatibility is very important for me. What kind of integration do they have?

take a look here:
http://www.xoutpost.com/search.php?f=72

There are two options available the newer 6FL is the best option.

I'm getting the dealer instaled version of the 6FL this week for about $600.00 (not sure what it's called?) I will let you know what I think of it when I pick up the X next Monday when I get back from Costa Rica. If you order your X5, it's available from the factory as an option.

I was about to get this option but the dealer could not be sure exactly how it would operate with idrive. would be very interested to know if it was the same as the factory fit.

its not the same!!!!

That's not what they told me! According to the dealer, it should be the same... We shall see.

The dealer is totally misinformed. The 6FL option can not be retrofitted to the X5. Your option will use the CD changer menus to select playlists...it works but not nearly as elegant as the 6FL option. Its also mounted in the glove box (instead of center console) and does not use the USB host connection.

It's amazing that the dealers are still so misinformed about this.

I saw a demo and the cd changer was not used. (I don't have it anyway) They are calling it a kit. :dunno:
From what I saw, it looked liked it performed like the 6FL??? It's all a mystery!

btw- looks like they finally have a website for the Ipod options. This is what the dealer will install:
http://www.bmwusa.com/BMW2003/Templa...ACHEHINT=Guest

you sure it wasnt a demo of the 6FL?

I have done alot of research on this as I wanted the 6FL and was very dissapointed that it cant be retrofitted. The 6FL option is not available in existing vehicles and the only other option I am aware of is the one I described...unless he is installing one of the newer third party options.

I don't know? :dunno: It looks similar... and if it is.... that's fine, what other options do I have? Thanks for the info.

3.0 Powerful enough?
 

For owners of the 3.0, I live in New York and there is alot of stop and go traffic so I realize the 3.0 is probably a better option than the 4.8 but I do also like power when needed, does the 3.0 have sufficient power or does it feel very underpowered?

Why not do a test drive and decide for yourself. :thumbup: Any answer you get may be a subjective conclusion based on someone elses needs. You know the old saying right? What's good for the goose may not be good for the gander. ;)

On the site you suggested to check out the option of factory or dealer fitted, it shows for both factory fit and dealer fit that it is played via the cd menu. Please look I dont think I misunderstood.

Yup, and you said the dealer is charging you $600 for this? You can probably talk them down to $300. It is just a cable...
I have this dealer option and I posted a mini review of it in another thread.
Mine was free so I can't complain. The way I see it though, some after market company should be able to come up with something like the factory installed option eventually.

I burned 4.9GB of MP3s onto CD and put them in the CD changer. Cost me about $1 for the CDs.

I know......I am a luddite.

My 60Gig Ipod equals about 75 MP3 CDs....I'll take the Ipod option!
(I get your point though)

obviously this is wrong...the 6FL option is different.

Here are some pics of the 6FL option from another thread:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...&highlight=6FL

and more here:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...&highlight=6FL

someone posted on this thread a nice review w/ photos too. Trust me, the 6FL option is way better, I have personally played with both.

Sorry both your links refer to an E92 and they are both plugged into the AUX. The dealer fit for the X5 is in the glovebox and connected via the radio and can only be done if no cd shuttle is installed. Dealer told me the software needs to be upgraded for this install.

Actually if you read the entire thread you will see that I was showing the Factory 6FL option which is the same for the X5 as the E92. My earlier post showed the dealer option which is not as nice. I was showing him the difference in the two options as his dealer told him he was installing somthing as good as the 6FL which is not possible yet.

Please check these LINKS out and tell me what you think.

See these seem to be the same, one factory the other dealer options for ipod are the same the dealer one cannot use other mp3, the one is in the centre console the dealer fitted in the glovebox.

1. http://www.bmwusa.com/BMW2003/Templa...ACHEHINT=Guest

2. http://www.bmwusa.com/BMW2003/Templa...ACHEHINT=Guest

SORRY you need to first put in the year and model then try both options, factory or dealer fitted to see that they ultimatly have the same functions for ipod. The links are not going there automatically. PLEASE advise if this changes your view.:rolleyes:

look at my earlier post with the same link...yes this is a mistake. This site has not been updated with 6FL option.

So there is no confusion:
There are currentlly THREE OPTIONS:
1. Dealer Installed option (which is similar to the link you posted above). It uses the Idrives CD Changer screen to control the Ipod..it does NOT use the CD changer, only that portion of the IDrive

2. 6FL Option which is installed at the FACTORY ONLY. This uses the new USB port installed inside the center console and adds new menus to the IDrive. It offers far better control of the IPod and also allows other USB Audio devices.

3. Ipod connection to AUX Port- This does not offer any control of the ipod, but it is inexpensive and if you use the correct cable it is a very high quality connection. This is the cable I am currently using:
http://www.powermax.com/product/Cabl...PHPSESSID=68c9

DO NOT use the 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable from the Ipods headphone port- The quality sucks.

There are no other options available currently from BMW, there are several 3rd party options coming very soon.

You probably right, I think I will wait a while, using the aUX with a charger pluged in the back, great sound but not perfect. Other than these minor issues the car is really awsome. And I have no other issues. The 3.0d goes like a bomb.

Got my e70 today with 6FL option AND the extra Ipod specific cable. I had the RUBBISH dealer fir Ipod connection on my m6 which removed the cd changer. It didnt put up whole words, was slow and didnt pause the ipod when you turned off the music...
The 6fl option (with cable) is AWSOME! All the functions of the Ipod, full names (and extra details if required), its quick and the quality is great...although I do encode all my stuff at 720kbps so it should sound good....
I just plugged in the IPOD it read it and hey presto it worked. From what I can work out from the manual the reason this is faster than the dealer fit is that the 6fl stores the details of whats stored on the IPOD in memory....and can store details of 20,000 tracks from 4 different ipods....
Alsos theres no guess work, its very clear and like the ipod menu. The dealer fit sometimes left a little guess work as to were to find menus....
Hope this helps...

I had an E mail from Denison Tech saying the Gateway 500 was now compatible with the E70 and will be available in the next couple of weeks.

It turns out my ipod kit from the dealer is CD based and X5FX is correct.
I like the interface so far... but it's no 6fl. My biggest gripe is that it can't perform the shuffle option.(1 folder, but not the entire library):rolleyes:

So please correct me if i'm wrong but the 6fl is a factory installed option only and cannot be done by the dealer post production. There is also another option which is dealer installed which can be put in post production.

Is the dealer installed option an oem part? if so does anyone have the part number? I spoke with my dealer and he has no idea of what i'm talking about. i figure it is easier just to tell him to order the part.

Thanks,

Matt

i installed the dealer option yesterday its the same part i used to have on my 645 i just removed it and installed it on the x5, but u need to remove the 6cd changer

Thats the old kit, the new kit does not require removing the changer, it just uses the changer software to operate the Ipod.

that would be the factory option which you cannot have in the middle east so far so the one i installed is the only way

I got the ipod as an option on my X5 4.8 and it works great with the idrive. It is located in the armrest console with the USB slot and a head phone jack which is connected to the ipod with the hardware provided with the option that came with the car. It sounds great especially with premium sound package.

You have the 6FL option...too bad we cant add this after the fact.

has anyone ACTUALLY USED the Gateway 500??

I'm taking delivery of '08 3.0si a week from Tuesday at the Performance Center. When ordering I asked my dealer about the USB and iPod connection and what he would recommend. Her is his e-mail reply.

the difference on the I pod is that the USB cable allows you to adjust your play list’s and everything from the steering wheel or I drive as well as charges your I Pod! With just the Auxiliary you have to do everything by actually using the I pod and it does not charge your Ipod. Hope this helps you I will plug in your order on Monday and Email it to you J

do you know if song names appear on the idrive screen??

It is my understanding that it does with the USB.

i meant with just the aux input and NO 6FL...

with just the aux, you wont get anything on the idrive.

Yes I have ipod usb adapter. $400 option . Names appear on screen.

If you are an IPod junky, this is an absolut must! You just put the IPod in your center consol and forget about it. Playlists, Podcasts etc are all listed and easily accessed from the IDrive. It IS great.

We just picked our new diesel up on Monday. We have the ipod option from the factory. I didn't buy the BMW cable yet, but plugged in the one I use at home on my computer to sync and charge the ipod.

The car picks up the IPOD and will play songs, but I can't select playlists, genre, etc. They appear grayed out and don't do anything when I click on them.

Songs play from the Directory\ipod control\music\ff01\wd25

It will show the normal song title while playing but goes back and forth between that and wd25.

Do I need to order the BMW cable or is their a way for this to work with my current IPOD cable?

Thanks.

You need to buy the cable to get the full functionality.

I thought that would be the case. Thanks for the quick response.

I have a '08 E70 with the iPod jack and it works fine. My only issue is that if you store a bunch of "stuff" in the compartment it will, occaisonally, disrupt the plug-in contacts. Overall, I'm very pleased.

Which MP3 players do not work when connected to the "ipod" jack?

The vehicle is a 2009 E70,

My mum wants a top notch ipod that will only be hidden away in the car. I am suggesting a cheap generic mp3 player with a large storage capacity.

The question is how cheap is too cheap for the mp3 not to work with the bmw mp3 integration system?

Any ideas? Experiences?

I am thinking anything with a digital display should work. ie. an ipod shuffle may not work.

If you ordered the iPod adapter, the Y cable should be part of the package. You don't need to pay for it. It connects at one end to the iPod and at the other end there is a USB jack and a standard 3mm audio both of which need to be plugged into the center compartment before you can use your iPod as if it were an integrated CD or internal source.