Palmetto X5
01-30-2006, 06:03 PM
Posted this in the electronics forum too, but because I have an X5, thought it might be helpful here, as well.
Restore the functionality of your clickwheel, etc., and use your ipod as YOU like in your BMW with the factory kit!
I have to credit my boss for this (he's a podder as well), but I was showing him my new ipod/BMW adapter in my '02 X5 (no NAV, no DSP) fresh from the dealer last week, and complaining about the ridiculous 5 playlist/entire ipod playback constraints with the new BWM adapter. He was as incredulous as I that they would do this (obviously done for safety concerns), because it renders the ipod little more than a larger-capacity CD Changer and eviscerates the spontaneity we all love about having complete acces to your music library.
Anyway, we were driving and he started messing with the ipod, and all of a sudden, the main screen came up, with all menus, etc., and the clickwheel functions fully restored! I asked him what the hell he did, and we stopped and worked to replicate the process. After about 5 minutes of trial and error, we figured out the following procedure to circumvent the BMW protocol and allow you to use the ipod fully, with the benefits of hard-wire connection and charging:
For my 60GB video ipod, you simply press and hold the play/pause portion of the clickwheel, plug in the cord to the base of the ipod, wait for the screen to go dark (while still holding down play/pause), and then press the menu button. Viola! Your ipod now exits the "BMW/Mini" screen and works as normal. We had the radio on, but not on the AUX/CD changer function while we did this.
Don't ask me why this works, and I have no idea if it will work with your particular ipod/car, etc., but I hope so. If not for this discovery I was going to return the BMW adapter to be removed and try an Ice-link or wait for a better alternative to come along. For the record, the white Apple pin connector cord is a problem, as it's not insulated/grounded properly to avoid some electronic noise as mentioned above.
My set-up: 2002 BMW X5, no NAV, no DSP; 60GB video ipod; BWM ipod adapter. Good luck!
Restore the functionality of your clickwheel, etc., and use your ipod as YOU like in your BMW with the factory kit!
I have to credit my boss for this (he's a podder as well), but I was showing him my new ipod/BMW adapter in my '02 X5 (no NAV, no DSP) fresh from the dealer last week, and complaining about the ridiculous 5 playlist/entire ipod playback constraints with the new BWM adapter. He was as incredulous as I that they would do this (obviously done for safety concerns), because it renders the ipod little more than a larger-capacity CD Changer and eviscerates the spontaneity we all love about having complete acces to your music library.
Anyway, we were driving and he started messing with the ipod, and all of a sudden, the main screen came up, with all menus, etc., and the clickwheel functions fully restored! I asked him what the hell he did, and we stopped and worked to replicate the process. After about 5 minutes of trial and error, we figured out the following procedure to circumvent the BMW protocol and allow you to use the ipod fully, with the benefits of hard-wire connection and charging:
For my 60GB video ipod, you simply press and hold the play/pause portion of the clickwheel, plug in the cord to the base of the ipod, wait for the screen to go dark (while still holding down play/pause), and then press the menu button. Viola! Your ipod now exits the "BMW/Mini" screen and works as normal. We had the radio on, but not on the AUX/CD changer function while we did this.
Don't ask me why this works, and I have no idea if it will work with your particular ipod/car, etc., but I hope so. If not for this discovery I was going to return the BMW adapter to be removed and try an Ice-link or wait for a better alternative to come along. For the record, the white Apple pin connector cord is a problem, as it's not insulated/grounded properly to avoid some electronic noise as mentioned above.
My set-up: 2002 BMW X5, no NAV, no DSP; 60GB video ipod; BWM ipod adapter. Good luck!