[black-s]

Hi folks,

After taking delivery of my new MCS and reading the manual (yes, i had to resort to it!)- i still can't figure out how to get my ipod to play via USB. (Picked the Bluetooth, USB audio option).

i have a video ipod 30G- plugged in the USB lead that came with it (ie. that you normally plug into computer) and nothing is happening. Bought a 3.5mm to 3.5mm aux lead and it works fine via the AUX socket however i want the facility to use the MFSW to skip tracks etc and the AUX doesn't allow this.

Can someone point me in the direction of what cable i need to use the USB socket please. A link would be even better!

Cheers.

[Interludio44]

To do that, you need to buy the iPod kit that MINI make.
The part costs £195 and fitting can cost as much, if not more!

[Washy]

I have the USB and bluetooth option and tio get it to work properly you need a special cable from BMW shown in the picture. As with anything BMW it is not cheap at £40.

the normal ipod dock to USB cable should work too although it will not play andy songs purchased from I tunes...

[black-s]

Thanks Washy- just the info i needed.

So if I buy the cable shown will it play songs purchased from itunes or will i still need to stick to DRM-free ones? As i am new to macs and the ipod my ipod as yet only has my cd collection on it, i haven't started buying tracks yet.

I thought after spending £23k that i'd be good to go- obviously not!

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by black-s (original)

Thanks Washy- just the info i needed.

So if I buy the cable shown will it play songs purchased from itunes or will i still need to stick to DRM-free ones? As i am new to macs and the ipod my ipod as yet only has my cd collection on it, i haven't started buying tracks yet.

I thought after spending £23k that i'd be good to go- obviously not!

The cable allows you to play everything. The track playing in my picture above was purchased from i tunes...

I think the dealers should point out that you will need the cable if you want to use an ipod...

Would be interesting to hear if anyone has got it working with a meory stick etc...

[black-s]

Thanks for that- very apt track as well Washy!

I'm picking up the cable and a snap in adaptor for my phone from my dealer when i pass by on Thursday... after spending £40 on Autoglym and Meguiars beauty products for it I now vow to spend no more!!! lol!

[marmite]

>Would be interesting to hear if anyone has got it working with a meory stick etc...

Yes, I've tried that - it works fine. I've also tried an iRiver mp3 player via usb that worked fine too - i.e. both showed folders/tracks on head unit.

I haven't decided what I want yet, choices are, I want a reasonable size to keep large music collection on, so choices are:

1) large memory stick, 16GB for £95
2) portable hard drive, can get 120GB for ~ £60
3) Nice new mp3 player - Apple iPod touch 16GB is very nice, I quite like iRiver Clix2 too.

choices, choices!

in someways I think choice 2) is best for me, as _probably_ I would like to leave whole music collection in car, always available semi-permantently and it's cheapest/biggest solution.

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by marmite (original)

>Would be interesting to hear if anyone has got it working with a meory stick etc...

Yes, I've tried that - it works fine. I've also tried an iRiver mp3 player via usb that worked fine too - i.e. both showed folders/tracks on head unit.

I haven't decided what I want yet, choices are, I want a reasonable size to keep large music collection on, so choices are:

1) large memory stick, 16GB for £95
2) portable hard drive, can get 120GB for ~ £60
3) Nice new mp3 player - Apple iPod touch 16GB is very nice, I quite like iRiver Clix2 too.

choices, choices!

in someways I think choice 2) is best for me, as _probably_ I would like to leave whole music collection in car, always available semi-permantently and it's cheapest/biggest solution.

I have got it working witha memory stick too now....currently I have an 8gb Nano on mine and will probably stick with that TBH...

[yorkslad]

Quote: Originally Posted by Washy (original)

I have the USB and bluetooth option and tio get it to work properly you need a special cable from BMW shown in the picture. As with anything BMW it is not cheap at £40.

Just ordered my new mini Dooper yesterday but thought the £395 ipod adapter was taking the mick, more expensive than the iPod!

With the BMW cable, can you play all songs from iPod even those from iTunes store? Is there a part number and where does it plug in?

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by yorkslad (original)

Just ordered my new mini Dooper yesterday but thought the £395 ipod adapter was taking the mick, more expensive than the iPod!

With the BMW cable, can you play all songs from iPod even those from iTunes store? Is there a part number and where does it plug in?

You will need the buetooth/USB option on the car, which then positions the usb connection next to the aux 2.5mm jack socket under the dash...

with the BMW cable it will allow you rto play DRM protected songs..

[marmite]

Quote: Originally Posted by Washy (original)

You will need the buetooth/USB option on the car, which then positions the usb connection next to the aux 2.5mm jack socket under the dash...

Washy, can you tell me more about your iPod Nano experience?

I've never owned an iPod (yes can you beleive it, I am the one!) .. I've read that iPod's have unique representation of genre etc. in their file layout, which looks odd if you're using something other than iPod to view, e.g. the MINI head unit via USB.
I know what a memory stick of usb hard drive look like, I see exactly what I put on it, i.e. folders, files and am presented with ID3 tags info etc..

What does your Nano look like on your the MINI display?


Also, I'm confused, on the special ipod adapter lead, what is the 2.5mm audio jack used for?

Thanks.

[Stiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by marmite (original)

I haven't decided what I want yet, choices are, I want a reasonable size to keep large music collection on, so choices are:

1) large memory stick, 16GB for £95
2) portable hard drive, can get 120GB for ~ £60
3) Nice new mp3 player - Apple iPod touch 16GB is very nice, I quite like iRiver Clix2 too.

choices, choices!

in someways I think choice 2) is best for me.

Would there be enough power to drive a hard disk? memory sticks can run from the power of 1 USB socket, but a hard disk normally has a double headed USB cable and uses the power from 2 sockets. Sorry to get so techie!

[yorkslad]

Quote: Originally Posted by Washy (original)

You will need the buetooth/USB option on the car, which then positions the usb connection next to the aux 2.5mm jack socket under the dash...

with the BMW cable it will allow you rto play DRM protected songs..

Thanks Washy, you've just saved me £300+ squids.... I so cant wait to get my new car now. Is there a part number for mini or is it just a generic bmw cable?

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by marmite (original)

Washy, can you tell me more about your iPod Nano experience?

I've never owned an iPod (yes can you beleive it, I am the one!) .. I've read that iPod's have unique representation of genre etc. in their file layout, which looks odd if you're using something other than iPod to view, e.g. the MINI head unit via USB.
I know what a memory stick of usb hard drive look like, I see exactly what I put on it, i.e. folders, files and am presented with ID3 tags info etc..

What does your Nano look like on your the MINI display?


Also, I'm confused, on the special ipod adapter lead, what is the 2.5mm audio jack used for?

Thanks.

Should be 3.5mm it uses both the usb and the 3.5 mm jack. I understand that is how it getrs round the DRM protection problem. I will take some piccies of the ipod menus on the sat nav screen for you when I get the car back from the dealer later... In essence though the screen works in the same way as the ipd itself giving you access to all songs, playlists, artists, genire,albums etc...

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by yorkslad (original)

Thanks Washy, you've just saved me £300+ squids.... I so cant wait to get my new car now. Is there a part number for mini or is it just a generic bmw cable?

I will fish out the invoice for the cable and get you the part number..

[The Tangman]

Hi,

I am waiting delivery of my MCS (killing me!!) I have gone for the USB/Bluetooth option but not the sat nav, if I was to connect my iPod through the USB port will that display tracks and titles on the standard radio display as it does with phone contacts?

Thanks
Chris

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Tangman (original)

Hi,

I am waiting delivery of my MCS (killing me!!) I have gone for the USB/Bluetooth option but not the sat nav, if I was to connect my iPod through the USB port will that display tracks and titles on the standard radio display as it does with phone contacts?

Thanks
Chris

Yes it will....

[marmite]

Quote: Originally Posted by Washy (original)

Should be 3.5mm it uses both the usb and the 3.5 mm jack. I understand that is how it getrs round the DRM protection problem. I will take some piccies of the ipod menus on the sat nav screen for you when I get the car back from the dealer later... In essence though the screen works in the same way as the ipd itself giving you access to all songs, playlists, artists, genire,albums etc...

Ok, thanks I did wonder if 3.5mm...

That's interesting, I'm sure quality is fine, but it's the ipod decoding then and not the car audio system - so quality could be different. I wonder if there any other implications. Perhaps there are some advantages?
+ Does your ipod screen reflect what's playing ? (I'd likely have it permanently hidden, but curious)
+ If you select a track on the ipod does is play and reflect info on car display and vice versa?

[Washy]

Not an expert, but I think the car stereo does the decoding as when you select a playlist you get a message saying retriving data from device...

[marmite]

Quote: Originally Posted by Stiggy (original)

Would there be enough power to drive a hard disk? memory sticks can run from the power of 1 USB socket, but a hard disk normally has a double headed USB cable and uses the power from 2 sockets. Sorry to get so techie!

Well all I can say is:

1) I've tried it with an iRiver with a 20GB hard drive in it - it worked fine - and iRiver player said 'charging'

2) There are plenty of USB powered hard drives out there that have single headed leads.
e.g. : Western Digital Passport Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 Ext 160gb 2.5in 12.0ms 5400rpm Black WDXMS1600TE
(sorry can't paste link)

It says 5v 1A - so I think should be fine. Not sure what amp. requirement of iRiver was but, probably similar.. must admit don't know the exact usb spec or limits..

On a side note, I have a very old USB/firewire portable, which definetely wasn't powered by USB, I got a long power cable and powered it and plugged usb to car - that worked, but obviously I need an infinetely long tangle free power cable running from my house to destination(s) for that to be viable