IUsing a classic iPod in a G29 Z4

Nick_in_Suffolk · Post by **Nick_in_Suffolk** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 9:54 am

My wife will collect a new (to her) Z4 in 2 weeks, trading in a E89 that she has owned for 39k miles and nearly 7 years.

We were able to connect a classic iPod in the 'old' Z, via a USB B port. The newer Z appears to have only USB C ports; I think the one next to the wireless charging pad is designed to connect a hard drive. Has anybody successfully integrated an old iPod into a G89? I have yet to find a 30pin to USB C cable and the adapters look a bit bulky

sars · Post by **sars** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:18 am

Music playback is via the cars wireless network and not through the USB-C port in the armrest, however I haven't tried installing USB flash drive into the front storage with music on it yet to see if I can detect it, I'll give it a go later.

ori · Post by **ori** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 2:39 pm

There is a usb c in the centre arm rest and a normal usb in the front compartment. I believe you can connect an iPod fine. Why would you want to though when all your music is in your phone and you can use CarPlay or android auto?

rdm05z4 · Post by **rdm05z4** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:23 pm

ori wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 2:39 pm There is a usb c in the centre arm rest and a normal usb in the front compartment. I believe you can connect an iPod fine. Why would you want to though when all your music is in your phone and you can use CarPlay or android auto?

Ori while I agree with your comment for most people. Their are still a few of us that may have a older phone 1. Doesn't have the storage for all the music we have. 2. Possible don't use carplay etc. 3. Have music that is no longer available to download or in my case many concerts recorded back in the day when there was actually DJ's on the radio and stations would broadcast full concerts from groups. (yes am that old). Don't get me wrong technology has come a long way. And for those who chose to use it carplay, pandora, sirisxm etc great enjoy!!! Not trying to disrespect thos that do. I am just I guess old fashion and set in my ways. Nick I hope you find an answer to your issue. I have a 05 so it was easy to install a USB (not c) cable.

BeeEmm · Post by **BeeEmm** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:37 pm

You can get Apple 30 pin to USB C cables just Google the bold text.

. Here is one sale: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203539987206 ... liEALw_wcB

baljemmett · Post by **baljemmett** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:40 pm

sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:18 am Music playback is via the cars wireless network and not through the USB-C port in the armrest, however I haven't tried installing USB flash drive into the front storage with music on it yet to see if I can detect it, I'll give it a go later.

Yes, that does work - I have the same USB(-A) drive that I had in my 1-series and 2-series plugged into mine and it shows up without complaint. No album art, though, which is weird; not sure what changed there.

sars · Post by **sars** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm

baljemmett wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:40 pm
sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:18 am Music playback is via the cars wireless network and not through the USB-C port in the armrest, however I haven't tried installing USB flash drive into the front storage with music on it yet to see if I can detect it, I'll give it a go later.
Yes, that does work - I have the same USB(-A) drive that I had in my 1-series and 2-series plugged into mine and it shows up without complaint. No album art, though, which is weird; not sure what changed there.

I've just copied 14 GB of music (MP3) onto a USB memory stick and tried it in the front USB, it does indeed work and I've also got album artwork

q96169we · Post by **q96169we** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:01 pm

sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm
baljemmett wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:40 pm
sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:18 am Music playback is via the cars wireless network and not through the USB-C port in the armrest, however I haven't tried installing USB flash drive into the front storage with music on it yet to see if I can detect it, I'll give it a go later.
Yes, that does work - I have the same USB(-A) drive that I had in my 1-series and 2-series plugged into mine and it shows up without complaint. No album art, though, which is weird; not sure what changed there.
I've just copied 14 GB of music (MP3) onto a USB memory stick and tried it in the front USB, it does indeed work and I've also got album artwork

Sars, Do you know that you can transfer all the music from the USB stick to the car's own memory and in the future, you don't need the USB stick any more? The car has about 30GB internal storage space.

Also, I think Play using old iPod is different compared to USB memory stick. Apple is Apple who always requires an extra layer of their own protocol for everything. I think, if you can play music via lightning to USB-A cable, then the 30 pin to USB-A cable should be able to play music as well.

baljemmett · Post by **baljemmett** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:21 pm

sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm I've also got album artwork

Well that's annoying! I wonder why yours works and mine doesn't? I'd chalked it up to iDrive 7 being a bit pickier about something that wasn't a problem in iDrive 5, but haven't had a chance to dig into it yet; would you mind sharing an example file so I can experiment with one that's known to work?

baljemmett · Post by **baljemmett** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:28 pm

q96169we wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:01 pm Sars, Do you know that you can transfer all the music from the USB stick to the car's own memory and in the future, you don't need the USB stick any more? The car has about 30GB internal storage space.

This feature appears to have been removed at some point - no mention of it in either the menus or handbook of mine, built at the tail end of last year.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:35 pm

sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm
baljemmett wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:40 pm
sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:18 am Music playback is via the cars wireless network and not through the USB-C port in the armrest, however I haven't tried installing USB flash drive into the front storage with music on it yet to see if I can detect it, I'll give it a go later.
Yes, that does work - I have the same USB(-A) drive that I had in my 1-series and 2-series plugged into mine and it shows up without complaint. No album art, though, which is weird; not sure what changed there.
I've just copied 14 GB of music (MP3) onto a USB memory stick and tried it in the front USB, it does indeed work and I've also got album artwork

I gave Argyll Andy a FAT32 USB 32GB with 6,400 tunes in WMA format last year..works well with most artwork, the missing ones are due to an issue in how WMP encodes artwork..he must be getting bored with Max Bygrave's greatest hits and Mantovani..

Argyll Andy · Post by **Argyll Andy** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:39 pm

baljemmett wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:21 pm
sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm I've also got album artwork
Well that's annoying! I wonder why yours works and mine doesn't? I'd chalked it up to iDrive 7 being a bit pickier about something that wasn't a problem in iDrive 5, but haven't had a chance to dig into it yet; would you mind sharing an example file so I can experiment with one that's known to work?

I have a usb drive with music in the slot beside the wireless charger and it shows all artwork too

EDIT: it’s the one Peter has just mentioned, works perfectly

Argyll Andy · Post by **Argyll Andy** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:42 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:35 pm
sars wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:52 pm
baljemmett wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 3:40 pm Yes, that does work - I have the same USB(-A) drive that I had in my 1-series and 2-series plugged into mine and it shows up without complaint. No album art, though, which is weird; not sure what changed there.
I've just copied 14 GB of music (MP3) onto a USB memory stick and tried it in the front USB, it does indeed work and I've also got album artwork
I gave Argyll Andy a FAT32 USB 32GB with 6,400 tunes in WMA format last year..works well with most artwork, the missing ones are due to an issue in how WMP encodes artwork..he must be getting bored with Max Bygrave's greatest hits and Mantovani..

I must’ve hit on some favourites as I’ve not come across those yet

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:42 pm

Of course this is the problem for me and why I will probably never be able to buy a post 2018 car as I like to listen to my old CDs. Without taking my eyes from the road to listen again to my favourite track. Yes I know I am from the dark ages as my wife keeps telling me.

sars · Post by **sars** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:48 pm

q96169we, I had wondered if there was a SSD at the heart of i7, however the MP3 quality is pretty poor compared to AAC over wireless CarPlay and I've found that source quality is important in getting adequate sound out of the BMW system. This only became evident when I swapped from Spotify back to Apple Music
baljemmett, Make sure you have album thumbnails in your Artist/album folder

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