Ipod integration question.

[track_warrior]

Guys my car did not inculde an integration cable for the ipod so i could control it with the idrive. So i had my dealer install the ipod integration kit they charged me $550 with labor and the outcome is gay!!

I cant see my playlists and the only way to play music is through the i drive thinking the ipod is a cd?? wtf bmw even my wifes audi has a better ipod integration system. Is this normal or did the dealer install something wrong or a different version? Please help cause there is no shuffle feature etc i cant see my playlists i can just see the list of all the songs on my ipod which are 15000 so imagine scrolling though there to find the right song!! I guess my main question is what is the best way to integrate your ipod with this car, did i get screwed over with the 550??

My car is equipped with nav and i drive, please help.

[osteome]

I am not sure how the dealer-installed system works, but it sound pretty lame. The factory installed operation is a lot better.

Perhaps the after market has a better a solution? I am sure one of the vendors will chime in.

[track_warrior]

Hopefully someone chimes in, im going to the dealer tomorrow and i dont know if i should ask for my money back or ask them to fix it. Its ridiculous i cant see my playlists and my ipod shows up in the screen as a cd. Is this normal guys?? Is bmw's ipod integration that lame.

[Maseroche]

Something is wrong with your install it seems. I also got a BMW ipod integration kit installed and my all my playlists show and I can choose which one I want to play.

[track_warrior]

Originally Posted by Maseroche

Something is wrong with your install it seems. I also got a BMW ipod integration kit installed and my all my playlists show and I can choose which one I want to play.

Thats what i thought, do you have a part number for your integration kit? maybe they gave me an outdated one. Does your ipod show up as a cd as well??

[Maseroche]

My ipod does show up as a cd thus rendering the CD changer useless. I was aware of that before agreeing to the install and wasn't surprised in the least. Regrettably, I don't have the invoice as it was done as part of deal when I got the car.

[MNm3]

That is very odd. Your iDrive should be able to bring all of that up.

What Model Year do you have? 09 and later?

[TexasE90]

Any resolution to this? I am trying to find details of the part numbers as well as how functional the dealer install module is. Would be a waste to do this if there isn't control of playlists through iDrive. I have a 2010 with gen 2 iDrive but no USB + Aux in the center console (only Aux)

[edu09]

I ordered my new 2011 M3 CV with all the available extras including the ipod integration and I can access all my music through the screen, the ipod is shown as an auxiliary device and the cd is a separate choice, I think your dealer messed it up, you should claim them to fix this issue

[424D57]

Did the dealer option ipod connection on my 07 E92 335 without idrive; ipod showed up as the cd changer but I could see playlists. The interface was a little confusing to use at first (and definately quite clunky compared to the native idrive + ipod integration) but workable. basically each *disc* in the *changer* is a different type of listing for the ipod. If memory serves it was something like-

disc1 = songs alphabetically
disc2 = artists alphabetically
disc3 = playlists alphabetically
disc4 = etc etc. (I don't remember past D3 cause I never used it).

I would suggest a look through the menu system with this in mind and see if you can access your playlists. I don't think the dealer install ipod option will show up like the real ipod integration; when I tried to get it on my 335 I was told it wasn't possible to add the actual ipod integration option because the controller was missing/not wired up. The dealer part hooks directly to the network and identifies as the cd changer.

-424D57

[TexasE90]

Thanks 424D57. I am having trouble finding examples on the boards of owners that added the interface at the dealer. Mine is a 2010 with Gen 2 iDrive and Nav Professional, so really trying to figure out what is involved in the dealer install and how it works. I think the option has changed some since your model year, but having trouble finding concrete examples of it. Going to try and talk to the dealer soon and see if they know, but I am not holding my breath...

[TexasE90]

Haven't made much progress after a couple conversations with dealers. They are telling me that there is no iPod adapter available for install in my 2010 M3 (gen 2 iDrive; professional nav). What's infuriating is that you can search on bmwusa.com under 2010 335i sedan and at least the iPod Interface Adapter (glovebox, PN 65 11 0 439 429; link). This does NOT come up when searching under 2010 M3 sedan. Does anyone know if the audio components are actually different between the two cars?

Also found on this site (link) which lists OEM (supposedly) part numbers for iPod retrofit kit. This was when searching by VIN.

Anyone have ideas?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by TexasE90

Haven't made much progress after a couple conversations with dealers. They are telling me that there is no iPod adapter available for install in my 2010 M3 (gen 2 iDrive; professional nav). What's infuriating is that you can search on bmwusa.com under 2010 335i sedan and at least the iPod Interface Adapter (glovebox, PN 65 11 0 439 429; link). This does NOT come up when searching under 2010 M3 sedan. Does anyone know if the audio components are actually different between the two cars?

Also found on this site (link) which lists OEM (supposedly) part numbers for iPod retrofit kit. This was when searching by VIN.

Anyone have ideas?

FYI, that OEM iPod retrofit is not the USB/iPod adapter. So $550+ for a mediocre iPod adapter is not that good an idea.

There is an OEM USB/iPod adapter retrofit available but only in Europe. It has never been offered in the USA at any dealer but it can be ordered thru eBay seller RoverActive, though. It also requires coding that cannot be done at any dealer but at an Autologic shop near you.

The other possibility is the Combox retrofit, which several aftermarket vendors have done. It requires updating the MY2009-on iDrive to the MY2011.5 firmware first and then wiring the Combox into the existing TCU/Assist harness. That will provide a much wider USB/iPod feature list than it is currently offered. And it could be even cheaper when all there is it's done than the OEM USB/iPod adapter retrofit.

Right now I'm having my 2009 CIC updated to the MY2011.5 just to test this Combox retrofit. Will post a full DIY in detail once completed.

[TexasE90]

Originally Posted by Technic

FYI, that OEM iPod retrofit is not the USB/iPod adapter. So $550+ for a mediocre iPod adapter is not that good an idea.

...It also requires coding that cannot be done at any dealer but at an Autologic shop near you.

...The other possibility is the Combox retrofit, which several aftermarket vendors have done...

Right now I'm having my 2009 CIC updated to the MY2011.5 just to test this Combox retrofit. Will post a full DIY in detail once completed.

Thanks for the info. I have no experience with Autologic and how to find a shop, but sounds like that could be an alternative.

For the Combox retrofit, will definitely be interested to hear about your experience. Sounds like the basic premise is updating the firmware on your CIC so that it knows how to communicate with the USB+iPod module. Is that right?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by TexasE90

Thanks for the info. I have no experience with Autologic and how to find a shop, but sounds like that could be an alternative.

For the Combox retrofit, will definitely be interested to hear about your experience. Sounds like the basic premise is updating the firmware on your CIC so that it knows how to communicate with the USB+iPod module. Is that right?

The firmware update is to allow the CIC to communicate with the new Combox. I already have the USB/iPod adapter and the Assist/Bluetooth from factory, my idea is to replace those two modules with the Combox and have a much better intergration and features.

The suggestion of the Combox retrofit is because it is in a way simpler and possibly cheaper to implement than the OEM USB/iPod retrofit while providing another whole level of iPod integration not possible in this "old" version. So if you are considering the OEM USB/iPod retrofit then you should also consider the Combox as well.

[TexasE90]

Originally Posted by Technic

The suggestion of the Combox retrofit is because it is in a way simpler and possibly cheaper to implement than the OEM USB/iPod retrofit while providing another whole level of iPod integration not possible in this "old" version.

I like the way that sounds!

Will be anxious to hear how it turns out for you. Appreciate all your help

[Greg_M.3]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I recently purchased a 2011 M3 (6/10 build) with iDrive and nav, but no ipod/USB. I am also looking at a very good option for the ipod adapter. Any other news on this whats going on? Is it possible to get the new combox/2011.5 idrive update? Are any of the aftermarket possibilities worth it? Thanks guys

[aus]

Why nit just get the monibridge? Isn't that suppose to provide iPod integration?

[dcan]

Originally Posted by TexasE90

What's infuriating is that you can search on bmwusa.com under 2010 335i sedan and at least the iPod Interface Adapter (glovebox, PN 65 11 0 439 429; link). This does NOT come up when searching under 2010 M3 sedan. Does anyone know if the audio components are actually different between the two cars?

Quote from the page you have linked:
"This device cannot be used in conjucntion with the 6-disc CD Changer."

This means, that the adapter in question is the very basic, iPod-only adapter which emulates the CDC only, which I wouldn't recommend (I'd take a MULF2HI or a CBX for proper iPod integration, but they are also more expensive).

Your options of retrofitting would greatly depend on which control units are already present in your car. If you have no BT and no USB, there's an easy way to put a MULF2HI behind the glove compartment. If you already have BT, you can simply upgrade the MULF2 to a MULF2HI or CBX, and pull an USB/AUX wire from the car trunk to the armrest (and coding, of course).



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