New idrive ipod interface....
 

Does anyone know if the new idrive option has better ipod/mp3 play options like being able to serach A thru Z for Artist , Song etc ... ? Be great if it diaplyed album art as well but I guess that's never going to happen.....Also does new idrive introduce source tone control where each source remembers the bass / treble or Equalizer settings ?

First question: yes. The new iDrive (2010+ in X5) with ipod option is great. I had it on my 2009 335xi. You can search by anything (artist, song, album, playlist, etc...). I have the "older" iDrive in my 2008 535i now. I'm really looking forward to having the new iDrive in my 2010 X5d... can't wait.

I don't have an answer to your last question.

I have the '09 diesel with the current IDrive Ipod adapter and can scroll A-Z for everything except album and genre(with I never use on the Ipod anyway due to mostly having only 2 genres, rock and country). My only wish would be to be able to scroll letter by letter like on the I-Pod itself instead of having to scroll through the entire playlist. Maybe this is what you're talking about? Not a big deal for me as I usually put it on random anyway, just a wishlist.

I have an October 2011 production X5 that I picked up recently and the album art function and search via letter etc works well. The only caveat is that you have to use the regular iPod cable that you use on your computer (USB/Ipod), don't use the BMW y cable or album art would not be supported.

My '11 X5 works great with iPod/iPhone through consol USB jack (while charging device and displaying cover art!).

The only thing I have NOT found it able to do is "random shuffle" -- am I missing something?

Hit the option button and a Random checkbox should be listed. It is on mine.

TIon, Thanks very much for the head's up ~ I'll check that out (it's been driving me crazy!)

No Problem :)

I think you have to be in a playlist or playing something in the multimedia area to see this, but it does work on my 2011 X5.