I just picked up my new 2008 328Xi yesterday. It is equiped with the "iPod and USB adapter" ($400). The audio manual notes that you connect your iPod with the "BMW cable adapter for Apple iPod"

Is the iPod cable noted above supposed to come with the car? I only got a USB cable in the glovebox (along with a BMW flashlight). The manual referrs to both the USB cable and the iPod cable. I tried using my iPod cable that is supplied with the iPod but it does not recognize the iPod. Instead it recognizes the USB device. Functionality also seems limited using that cable. There does not seem to be much documentation on this option both in the manual or online.

If anyone could shed some light here it would be greatly appreciated.
Btw...I've had the car 24hours and can't wait to wake up in the morning and drive it again!!!

The brochures and instruction manual is not very clear in terms of explaining the function of the USB audio option.

The USB cable that came with the car is merely an extension cable for USB Flash Drives. The USB audio gives you the option of playing music stored in a USB flash drive. To use it all you have to do is copy the MP3 files into a USB flash drive and plug it into the USB socket in the center console. Your sound system should recognize the flash drive and plays the MP3 files stored inside.

In order for the ipod to work with your car, you will need the Y cable ($110 CND). One end of the cable plugs into the Line In and USB port, and the other end of the cable plugs into your i-doc connector of your ipod. The USB is used to control and charge the ipod and the sound is coming out from the line out of the ipod to the line in of your BMW.

When you plug the USB cable that came with the ipod, the ipod behaves like an external HD and the BMW sound system won't recognize external HD. I have tested that already.

The BMW Rep in Canada told me that they have discontinued the flashlight, and my car never came with one even though the manual say so.

In the U.S., when you order the option package, it's supposed to come with the cable. Go back to the dealer and ask them for the cable. Don't let them charge you for it.

I picked up our 335I Monday and it came with a combo cable that had a USB and the IPOD cable. Also did they tell you there is a slot for a memory chip too that you can slip in with tunes on it.

Brian

Here's a picture. I paid 60something CAN $ for mine but I hear it is free in the US although some dealers seem to forget to give it out.

Thanks for the input so far. I know something was up when there was no iPod icon on the radio screen when I plugged it in.

I left my salesguy a voicemail this morning. Hope he tends to it quickly since I have not been asked by BMW how my buying experience was. I have confidence that he will, he's been very helpful so far.

I'll keep you updated.
Thanks again.

So that cable alone isn't the $400 it's the USB port AND the IPOD adapter cable that is MSRP $400?

Thanks for the input so far. I know something was up when there was no iPod icon on the radio screen when I plugged it in.

I left my salesguy a voicemail this morning. Hope he tends to it quickly since I have not been asked by BMW how my buying experience was. I have confidence that he will, he's been very helpful so far.

I'll keep you updated.
Thanks again.
My sales guy had no idea about the cable neither did anyone here when I asked back in May (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=758092). I had to call him again and insist that the manual mentioned some sort of Y cable, then he looked and found some info about it. It seemed I was the 1st one to pickup that cable or something. The option was new starting March production cars, so I am not surprised they were still clueless in April, but hopefully they are better informed now.

Thanks for the input so far. I know something was up when there was no iPod icon on the radio screen when I plugged it in.

I left my salesguy a voicemail this morning. Hope he tends to it quickly since I have not been asked by BMW how my buying experience was. I have confidence that he will, he's been very helpful so far.

I'll keep you updated.
Thanks again.

The other posters here are 100% correct. In the US, the cable comes free with the 6FL option. In Canada, it is an extra cost as Mryakan mentioned. The BMW document that shows the cable and tells how it is supposed to be provided can be found here:

http://www.longdecember.com/6fl_info.pdf

So that cable alone isn't the $400 it's the USB port AND the IPOD adapter cable that is MSRP $400?

Correct, the $400 6FL option includes the addition of the USB jack in the center armrest (alongside the default AUX jack), the software necessary to interface with the iPod (and other USB based media players) and in the USA, the iPod Y-Cable.

I picked up our 335I Monday and it came with a combo cable that had a USB and the IPOD cable. Also did they tell you there is a slot for a memory chip too that you can slip in with tunes on it.

Brian

A slot for a memory card (i.e. SD card) ??? where?

A slot for a memory card (i.e. SD card) ??? where?
I am not aware of that, all I know is you can stick any USB storage device into the USB port (well almost any FAT32 formatted one I believe, there may be restrictions) and you can browse it and play any MP3 files on that device.

Got my adapter cable from the dealer! Works like a charm...totally seamless integration, just like I was choosing songs directly from my iPod including playlists, genre, etc...
Thanks to all that contributed.

This is a great post! I had the same issue as my car never came with the Y cable either! Thanks for the picture as well!!


You ROCK!!! :buttrock

mmm to revive an older thread. we just got our 535i yesterday (we're in Canada) and i thought the 6FL was ready to go for the iPod. so we really do need this y-cable. sigh... it sucks that it is an extra for CDNs. d'oh

anyone try this out with an iPhone???

mmm to revive an older thread. we just got our 535i yesterday (we're in Canada) and i thought the 6FL was ready to go for the iPod. so we really do need this y-cable. sigh... it sucks that it is an extra for CDNs. d'oh

anyone try this out with an iPhone???

Chances are you will have to order the cable. Last time I checked it's ~ $120.00 CND.

If you are lucky, you can find someone here who won't mind selling it or find it on e-bay.

Chances are you will have to order the cable. Last time I checked it's ~ $120.00 CND.

If you are lucky, you can find someone here who won't mind selling it or find it on e-bay.
:nono I got it for like 60$!! :shifty

:nono I got it for like 60$!! :shifty

When did you get it? I checked the price at my local BMW center and the price is $120 (Oct 13, 2007)

When did you get it? I checked the price at my local BMW center and the price is $120 (Oct 13, 2007)
My dealer (Otto's BMW) last May. Call em, 613-725-3048. The prices could have changed, but I'd be surprised if it went up by that much.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9662283 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9662283&postcount=2)

So since the Y adapter uses the line in (aux) in the car to get the sound from the ipod... does that means that the sound then from the ipod is analog? The older version of the ipod adapter where it is in the glove box doesn't use the line in (aux) which I'm assuming produces the digital sound.

Am I correct on this?

So since the Y adapter uses the line in (aux) in the car to get the sound from the ipod... does that means that the sound then from the ipod is analog? The older version of the ipod adapter where it is in the glove box doesn't use the line in (aux) which I'm assuming produces the digital sound.

Am I correct on this?


Partially.

Yes, the Y-Cable included with the 6FL Factory iPod option connects to the iPod with a dock connector, and terminates in a 3.5mm Stereo Audio connection and a USB connection. The 3.5mm plugs into the AUX connector and provides Analog audio. The USB transmits the song data.

The dealer installed kit that goes in the glove box does the same, just "behind the scenes" and with slightly different (better) software. It still transmits the audio in analog format pulling it off the dock connector from the iPod.

Partially.

Yes, the Y-Cable included with the 6FL Factory iPod option connects to the iPod with a dock connector, and terminates in a 3.5mm Stereo Audio connection and a USB connection. The 3.5mm plugs into the AUX connector and provides Analog audio. The USB transmits the song data.

The dealer installed kit that goes in the glove box does the same, just "behind the scenes" and with slightly different (better) software. It still transmits the audio in analog format pulling it off the dock connector from the iPod.

What makes the dealer installed software slightly better. I'm curious cause that is what I have. I had it installed just a couple of weeks ago. Does the USB version display the song title on the lower left hand corner? Because mine doesn't while someone that I know that has a 7series does.

Thanks.

What makes the dealer installed software slightly better. I'm curious cause that is what I have. I had it installed just a couple of weeks ago. Does the USB version display the song title on the lower left hand corner? Because mine doesn't while someone that I know that has a 7series does.

Thanks.

Sorry, re-reading my post I put that caveat on the wrong option. The factory installed option (6FL) has the better software as compared to the dealer installed option.

Is it just me or does the factory-installed ipod interface stink? Besides only seeing 2 lines of data at a time (for non-nav vehicles), it is sooooo slow to scroll through and if I'm in the A's, there is no easy way to get to the Z's without scrolling through all letters in between! I hate it! I wish I could just use the ipod's own interface, but it gets disabled when connected to the car and the cable is too short.

Is it just me or does the factory-installed ipod interface stink? Besides only seeing 2 lines of data at a time (for non-nav vehicles), it is sooooo slow to scroll through and if I'm in the A's, there is no easy way to get to the Z's without scrolling through all letters in between! I hate it! I wish I could just use the ipod's own interface, but it gets disabled when connected to the car and the cable is too short.
How do you want them to fit more than 2 lines in that display :confused. As for scrolling, it is not as slow as the dealer installed option before this was offered, but it can be slow if you have lots of songs. The way I get around it is by creating playlists. You can even create smart playlists like "A-D", "E-H", etc... to make finding your songs alphabetically easier.

I bought my BMW120i 4 months ago. I connected the cable which comes with iPod through USB connection. It took a long time to transfer the information (about 50 minutes for 6000 songs) before you can play. It did not recognise Playlists. Scrolling for a particular album or artist or genre was very slow. Today I contacted BMW dealer and Service Advisor told me that I should useCable adapter for Apple iPod available from BMW. He told me it will work and also it will recognise Playlists. I spent 120 Australian dollars for that and am happy to say that it worked. It takes about 2 minutes before it starts playing. Scrolling to select is quick. Now I am very happy that it works very nicely as it should.

Here's a picture. I paid 60something CAN $ for mine but I hear it is free in the US although some dealers seem to forget to give it out.

thats pretty sweet. Doesnt that set-up serve the same purpose as a normal aux cable that would plug into the top of the iPOD?

I dont have the iPOD option. So just plan to use a 6 inch Aux cable.

So US dealers give that piece out for free, huh?

thats pretty sweet. Doesnt that set-up serve the same purpose as a normal aux cable that would plug into the top of the iPOD?

Nope, this one allows you to access playlists, artists lists, songs lists, and it displays track information all through your radio controls. The audio is still transmitted though through the aux connector.

I bought my BMW120i 4 months ago. I connected the cable which comes with iPod through USB connection. It took a long time to transfer the information (about 50 minutes for 6000 songs) before you can play. It did not recognise Playlists. Scrolling for a particular album or artist or genre was very slow. Today I contacted BMW dealer and Service Advisor told me that I should useCable adapter for Apple iPod available from BMW. He told me it will work and also it will recognise Playlists. I spent 120 Australian dollars for that and am happy to say that it worked. It takes about 2 minutes before it starts playing. Scrolling to select is quick. Now I am very happy that it works very nicely as it should.

Sounds like you're talking about the Y-Cable that comes free in the USA. So now we've confirmed that both Canada and Australia make you pay separately for the Y-Cable cable, maybe it's only the USA that gets it for free? Seems silly since the option really doesn't work (well) without it.

Sounds like you're talking about the Y-Cable that comes free in the USA. So now we've confirmed that both Canada and Australia make you pay separately for the Y-Cable cable, maybe it's only the USA that gets it for free? Seems silly since the option really doesn't work (well) without it.
Works with non iPods, it is called USB-integration here so it is not advertised as an iPod specific option. We get screwed on many things, including the scheduled maintenance which here doesn't include wear and tear items like brake pads and wiper blades. Not sure if Australia is the same, but I do think the US market gets special treatment due to its more competitive nature.

I purchased my 2008 335xi sedan with the ipod option, so it came with the y-cable plugged into the storage area between the front seats. I have two issues with the system... and they are my only complaints about the car, which is otherwise superb:

1. The sound of the songs recorded on the ipod, when played through the car's speakers, is inferior both to the sound I get through the car's radio (and I did not order any fancy radio option), and to the sound I get when I listen to the ipod through earbuds or through my home stereo system. The iPod sounds "fuzzy" through the car radio, whereas FM broadcast songs sound just fine, and the iPod sounds fine both through earbuds and through my home stereo system.

2. Less significant, but still annoying, I leave the ipod plugged into the y-cable all the time, and yet I cannot create or scroll through playlists. The car allows me to switch from one song to another on a "shuffle"-type basis, but not to select a particular song.

Am I doing something wrong, or do I have a defective setup?

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

You can't create playlists, you need to do that in iTunes, but you should be able to access them.

Yeah, something doesn't sound quite right. The point of the 6FL option is integration. You should be able to navigate the iPod and select whatever song you want to play. If you don't have iDrive though, you'll have to deal with doing all this on the 2-line display on the radio instead of seeing the menu structure better on the NAV screen.

And regarding the audio, the y-cable accesses the line-out port on the iPod so the sound *should* be better than using the earbuds or anything connected to the headphone out. Remember that since line-out is not amplified, you will probably experience the fact that you need to turn the radio volume up when you switch to iPod. But, it should not sound worse than FM radio.

was just wondering if the usb slot can charge other items like bluetooth usb headset?

thanks!
btw..whats the stock sound system does the '08 3 series come with?