E89 USB cable - playing/uploading audio files

[Loxford]

I've read conflicting views regarding this topic.
I plug my iphone 6 into the USB socket only (armrest), the phone pings as it starts charging, meanwhile I get a message saying incompatible cable. That's using a standard Apple USB cable.

1. OK, I presume that means it is not standard USB and I have to purchase a BMW USB cable? Is that right?
Yet it is charging!
So I'll buy a BMW cable.....

2. I've read some posts stating that the armrest USB is only for charging (hence the AUX socket for audio).
That can't be right as I'm getting an incompatible message while it's charging.
That suggests it is a data input which is sensing that my cable is incompatible.

Alternatively, some have suggested (and the manual) simply plugging in a memory stick with audio files and uploading them. There is no instructions for this so it just does it?

I presume I still need a BMW cable for the memory stick to AUX socket.

G

 

[enuff_zed]

Probably not related to your problem, but I have found that the armrest USB only gives a low output.
Wifey was using Waze on her phone and it couldn't charge as quick as her phone was draining it.
Now got an adaptor plugged into the 12v output under the ashtray lid and it charges much better. I'm told this gives 2.5A as opposed to 0.5A from the armrest??

 

[Anonymous]

Hello, depends what options your E89 came with.

As a basic option it should charge.albeit slowly a phone.

If you have options it then may offer you USB phone connection for music and/or phone, with msuic art and tarck selection via steering wheel /idrive

It may also offer 3.5mm jack for ipod mode audio only no track selection

 

[Loxford]

I'm not clear about all options on my car as not bought new.
I do have both the AUX and USB socket in the armrest.
The USB has to be more than just for charging as I doubt if it would grumble about an incompatible cable as it is only intended as a charge point (and it performs that function).
I don't have built in Sat Nav so I use the iphone for that purpose, plugged into the ciggy lighter below the dash.
I like the idea of uploading a bunch of audio files to the car but until I get a cable that it'll accept I can't know if this is possible on my version.
The radio display does show USB as one of the options to select.

 

[FunkyGBrown]

Car usb is normally only used for playing music from a usb stick. My F56 Mini Cooper had a usb but the charging was so slow on it that it was rendered useless.

 

[Anonymous]

If you tap the VIN into a BMW VIN decoder it will give you the definitive spec..

Once you have that you know then what options are available..

The full USB version gives iPod playback type functionality on a iPhone or a plug in usb stick and iPhone support via USB

 

[Loxford]

Thx Pb.

Yes I do have USB.
I thought as much.
That prompts the next questions.
I don’t want my iPhone plugged in at the armrest while driving, it’s my Sat Nav.

I believe I can transfer audio files to the car from a USB stick.
As the standard Apple cable is rejected as incompatible, does that mean a standard USB stick will get the same reaction? Therefore do I need to obtain some kind of adaptor for that?

The best solution, with the appropriate BMW adaptor for the iPhone (lightning for my iPhone 6) can I upload files from the iPhone to the car? Thus not requiring to leave it connected to play the audio on the phone itself?

I suspect a little intentional profiteering by not accepting standard USB!

Regards

 

[enzed4]

I have a 3.5mm audio socket and a 12V socket (cigarette lighter style) in my armrest. I'm guessing this is 'standard' if you don't have USB audio specced?

 

[Loxford]

I do have the USB.
It seems to be all about buying BMW cables as my Apple cables are rejected as incompatible.

I either need an adaptor to connect a memory stick if I can upload audio files to the car or another one for my iphone but only if the latter will upload because I don't want to use my iphone for playback.

 

[Anonymous]

Thx Pb.

Yes I do have USB.
I thought as much.
That prompts the next questions.
I don’t want my iPhone plugged in at the armrest while driving, it’s my Sat Nav.

I believe I can transfer audio files to the car from a USB stick.
As the standard Apple cable is rejected as incompatible, does that mean a standard USB stick will get the same reaction? Therefore do I need to obtain some kind of adaptor for that?

The best solution, with the appropriate BMW adaptor for the iPhone (lightning for my iPhone 6) can I upload files from the iPhone to the car? Thus not requiring to leave it connected to play the audio on the phone itself?

I suspect a little intentional profiteering by not accepting standard USB!

Regards

Generally you don’t want to transfer them onto the internal hard disk if you have one...you haven’t done the VIN check yet?

The reasons are the bmw encoding algorithm is poor quality and there is not that much space..


Best is to play them direct from a plug in usb stick if you have the right version..I use WMP to create hi quality lossy version from my master database of lossless encoded music..

There is a max number of devices that the system recognises after which it can get its knickers in a twist..again without the VIN check may be shooting in the dark..

If you use your phone as a navigator then power it off a usb cigarette adapter in the ash try..if you have it...did I mention VIN check ? Is best

Then Bluetooth but again VIN check first ...

I have used out if interest 5 different iPhone usb cables and they all work fine...

 

[Loxford]

Yes I have done the VIN check. I do have the USB option.
I've tried several Apple USB/Lightning cables from my iphone 6. They all register 'incompatible'.

I do use the ciggy lighter in the ash tray for the iphone/Sat Nav.

Do you plug a USB memory stick directly into the USB socket? No adaptor?

G

 

[Anonymous]

Yes I have done the VIN check. I do have the USB option.
I've tried several Apple USB/Lightning cables from my iphone 6. They all register 'incompatible'.

I do use the ciggy lighter in the ash tray for the iphone/Sat Nav.

Do you plug a USB memory stick directly into the USB socket? No adaptor?

G

Weird yes the usb stick in fat 32 format with avfile structure written by say windows media player with mp3 wma files works well...

You can album art and with a bit of fiddling playlists

 

[Loxford]

I'll get a stick, load it with files.
Hope my MAC format doesn't cause a problem, but I shouldn't be getting 'incompatible cable' message with my iphone.
Will report back........Many thx.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes I have done the VIN check. I do have the USB option.
I've tried several Apple USB/Lightning cables from my iphone 6. They all register 'incompatible'.

I do use the ciggy lighter in the ash tray for the iphone/Sat Nav.

Do you plug a USB memory stick directly into the USB socket? No adaptor?

G

By the way have you tried other iphones / other phones..I have an issue of iphone playback through the clip in holder where audio plays only throuh the phone not the car speaker system..but either another phone or using a cable is fine.. :headbang:

 

[ihadablackdog]

I think the ability to upload music to the car only applies if you have navigation cos that has the hard disk to store maps and I think 12gb is reserved for music.

I have that but don’t bother. I have the usb and aux in the centre console but just plug a small thumb drive into it with songs copied right out of my iTunes folder.

Also use a Mac, format to fat32. Might take a while for music search to work as it needs to index it first but you should be able to play something while that’s happening in the back ground.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the ability to upload music to the car only applies if you have navigation cos that has the hard disk to store maps and I think 12gb is reserved for music.

I have that but don’t bother. I have the usb and aux in the centre console but just plug a small thumb drive into it with songs copied right out of my iTunes folder.

Also use a Mac, format to fat32. Might take a while for music search to work as it needs to index it first but you should be able to play something while that’s happening in the back ground.

I believe you are correct that no idrive no on board hard disk...I use a 32gb USB stick with 5000 tracks in circa 300kbps wma format and works well including playlists and artwork...the playlists need a bit if frigging with file name paths ..

 

[Loxford]

Thx Guys.
I have sussed it.
I bought a tiny memory stick, less than an inch long. So small that it can be left there without much chance of catching it or snapping it off.

They may be other ways but I found that I could organise mp3s into playlists, by drag dropping them from iTunes into separate folders and naming them.
For instance a whole CD could sit in one folder. The titled folder shows in “list”, select the folder title and the tracks within are displayed and scrollable.
You do have to use the radio knobs to select a folder, then a track but once it’s playing the steering wheel controls will run up and down the tracks.
I can’t imagine ever using the CD player again.
G