Best snap-in adapter for newer iphones (E89)

L

ld2x07

Member
Hi all,

I recently picked up a lovely 2010 Z4 30i, very much in love. :thumbsup:

However it seems I'm a complete idiot because i can't get my iphone 5 music or podcasts working through either the USB or aux ports. I'm surprised how little i've been able to find on this - do I need to get a snap in adapter? Can someone please recommend one?? :|
 
ld2x07 said:
Hi all,

I recently picked up a lovely 2010 Z4 30i, very much in love. :thumbsup:

However it seems I'm a complete idiot because i can't get my iphone 5 music or podcasts working through either the USB or aux ports. I'm surprised how little i've been able to find on this - do I need to get a snap in adapter? Can someone please recommend one?? :|
Click to expand...
Yes
Go to your Dealer with the VIN and they will tell you what is available to suit the installed set up in car .It differs by age and function of factory fitted options
Good news is the Snap ins are available for the iPhone 5x form factor ,no such luck yet for the iPhone 6
 
Hey and welcome, I know the snap in adaptors can be expensive, I just recently bought a splitter cable that connects to the usb slot and aux port under the arm rest. This lets me use the steering wheel controls and listen to the music on my phone perectly fine.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=131416072707&view=all&tid=1049947908003
 
Just use the Y cable as while the snap in is a more glam option it's very expensive for the media adaptor and it's only plus is it extends the antenna over the y cable option.
 
Hi all,

Thanks for the replies.

To be honest I'd actually prefer a cable so I can continue to mount my iphone on the dash for GPS (assuming its long enough).

So this Y Cable - I've been looking online (amazon/ebay) and there don't seem to be any high rated ones for iphone 5. Does anyone have one they'd suggest?

And I'm assuming from mentions of Spotify online that it includes app audio? My main reason for getting a solution is to listen to my podcasts..
 
Hi.

I'd go with personal recommendations from people here that use the cables and which ones they have. When I first purchased my 35i (4.5 years ago) I tried the cables (purchased from eBay) and they didn't work very well. At the time I was using the old bulky 30 pin connectors (iPhone 4) and it kept working loose, I would imagine that the lightning connector on the 5 is much better though.

Eventually (after almost 2 years of BMW development) I purchased the iPhone 5 Cradle for my then 5S. Had to replace it after 3 months as it started to fail (dealer did not want to swap it out) and the new one worked for several months but failing too. But as it started to fail I was selling the car and had upgraded to an iPhone 6 so I didn't bother sorting that out.

Right now… I'd just use the cables if you can. Much cheaper, much easier.
 
i bought the Y Cable from the dealer and touch wood after 16 months it works perfectly. It is a lot more expensive at about £50 but you get what you pay for, the cheap ones have bad reviews for a reason. I just leave my old ipod touch plugged in permanently as with an iPhone i no longer need the touch. the Y cable is definitely not long enough to stretch from arm rest to the dash.

If you want podcasts and Spotify, you may be better off with a long AUX cable - you will lose some of the steering wheel functionality of being able to change tracks but not sure if podcasts and Spotify will work on the Y cable and the AUX will stretch further.

Forgot to mention, when i got mine BMW hadn't made a Y cable with the lightining adaptor so unless that has changed, you'll need an adaptor.
 
I have an AUX cable at the moment and neither music nor apps work with it. Unless there is some secret handshake I'm supposed to know.

I think I may need to bite the bullet and go into the dealership.. :|
 
Both should work to come through the speakers with an aux cable, just change the function to aux on the head unit and press play on your phone. You might have a faulty cable or a problem somewhere in the car if it's not working. Dealer should be able to help
 
I've had my BMW Y Cable since Feb 2009 and it still works a treat. I've just added the 30 pin to lightning adaptor. I am forever hopeful that they do bring the snap in adapter for the 6 out so I can get that in. I gave up waiting on the one for the 5 last time. Took far, far too long to come to market.
 
mattstav said:
Both should work to come through the speakers with an aux cable, just change the function to aux on the head unit and press play on your phone. You might have a faulty cable or a problem somewhere in the car if it's not working. Dealer should be able to help
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Idiot that I am I didn't know about the AUX setting in the headset. Though in my defence my last car didn't need to be told :poke:

AUX cable alone works like a charm - crystal clear on both music and podcast audio! Very happy
 
Angie4m said:
I've had my BMW Y Cable since Feb 2009 and it still works a treat. I've just added the 30 pin to lightning adaptor. I am forever hopeful that they do bring the snap in adapter for the 6 out so I can get that in. I gave up waiting on the one for the 5 last time. Took far, far too long to come to market.
Click to expand...


Are the adapters worth it?

I just bluetooth mine and it seems to work ok - £90 seems a lot to pay for a charger :D
 
ronk said:
Angie4m said:
I've had my BMW Y Cable since Feb 2009 and it still works a treat. I've just added the 30 pin to lightning adaptor. I am forever hopeful that they do bring the snap in adapter for the 6 out so I can get that in. I gave up waiting on the one for the 5 last time. Took far, far too long to come to market.
Click to expand...


Are the adapters worth it?

I just bluetooth mine and it seems to work ok - £90 seems a lot to pay for a charger :D
Click to expand...

I quite like them. Probably don't really need one but using the snap in cradles use the cars Ariel to boots the singnal. Good if your in a not so great reception area. If you don't change your phone too often then great or of your my folks you get my cast off phones and cradles but if you change every couple of years then no, especially since it takes too long to release them.
 
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