USB Audio Interface vs glovebox iPod connection

S

Screamer

Member
 Flintshire
Hi all,

Was wondering if anyone could tell me more about the USB Audio Interface and iPod connection options on the Z4 (I've just put my name down for a pre-owned without either and so am deciding whether it's worth the extra for the USB), specifically, beyond allowing the connection of USB storage and allowing certain phones to play music, are there any other benefits or features to the USB Interface? I'm only really likely to plug my iPod Touch in, but am aware that features like a USB socket sometimes mean you can do more than just play music through it..! In addition, can anyone tell me if the functionality differs between the two options in terms of controlling the iPod? I'd hate to go with the glovebox iPod-only connection to find that it only allows playback of a few playlists or something, when the USB gives me full control and searching facilities!

Thanks!
 
Assuming you have the hard drive, you need the USB in the glove box to connect to the hard drive and transfer music to the car. I have all of my IPOD music on the hard drive. Alternatively, you need the usb in the armrest, and the IPOD lead from BMW, to connect an IPOD to the car and contol the music from the Idrive.
 
USB connection and mini jack under the arm rest means you can connect the iPod/IPhone to both using a Y connector. This enables you to play and control the iPod on the nav screen and use the multi function buttons on the steering wheel (this is the USB connection) and the mini jack supplies the sound.

If it's only the mini jack under the arm rest (as I have) you can plug the iPod/iPhone into that but it just plays over the sound system and you have to control it using the iPod controls. The USB connection in the glove box is for data transfer only and it wont play an iPod from there.

I have the nav system that comes with the hard drive so I don't use my iPod as I have my music on the hard drive instead.
 
Thanks Mike,

Yeah, I've got nav and so will have the USB in the glovebox, but that's not what I'm referring to; on the accessories page of the BMW site, there's an iPod-only connector available in there (£180 - http://accessories.bmw.co.uk/internet_bmw/servlet/navigateDetails.do?language=en&nscId=1100&localePath=/UK/en&ts=1274345034470&from=2&fromList=true&nav=16&absoluteNav=2), as well as the armrest USB. I don't think the standard glovebox USB will be much use as I've got way over 12gb of music and would ideally like to take the lot with me. Don't fancy re-transferring everything whenever I decide I want new music in the car, either.

Thanks again!
 
Breaker: Y connector you mentioned above, is it the iPod adapter cable (from £42.95)?

Can I store various albums on the USB stick and select tracks from different folders by using buttons on steering wheels/professional radio (my car has no sat nav)?
 
Not sure waht the IPOD connector is in the link (link does not take me to it). But I can confirm that as ksher, says that the usb in the armrest with the bmw lead (circa £40) works fine.
 
You can see the connector in this vid, about a 1/4 into the vid.

http://cnettv.cnet.com/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive-35i/9742-1_53-50075352.html
 
Breaker said:
You can see the connector in this vid, about a 1/4 into the vid.

http://cnettv.cnet.com/2009-bmw-z4-sdri ... 75352.html
Click to expand...

Video didn't work. Is it the Y connector you said earlier? If I can select and play tracks with steering wheel's buttons directly from USB stick, I don't need iPod anymore. My car will also have blueotooth phone audio interface, but it needs compatible mobile phone and cradle.
iPodadaptercable.jpg
 
D'oh! Sorry about that, can't seem to find a way to get the link working, but here's their pic: http://accessories.bmw.co.uk/internet_bmw/servlet/image.do?imageId=3062971&imageVersion=1

£180 sounds very attractive compared with the £350 my dealer told me for the USB Interface, plus the £40 ish for the cable..!
 
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