USB Memory Stick

[moonshine]

Found this on babybmw.net:

http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7586

Looks like the full searching from USB stick only works after the stick has been in the car for a while, whilst it indexes it. So will leave it in for a while.

yip, the car takes a while to catalogue the usb the first time. it remembers 4 usbs before replacing index 1 with 6, 2 with 6 etc

 

[sdc-911]

Picked up our Z4 yesterday and used the recommended iTunesExport tool to transfer a group of play lists and associated audio files from our iTunes library onto a USB drive.

http://www.ericdaugherty.com/dev/itunesexport/

The USB drive I used for this was a Corsair 32GB Flash Voyager GTR USB Flash Drive. (Incidentally, I did also try a larger 64GB low power 2.5" SSD drive, but the system indicated that this wasn't supported when I tried to select it.)

The settings I used in iTunesExport were as below

Everything works really well, with the play lists, artists, album details all available for search and selection.

One point to note is that it takes the iDrive system a minute or so to read and index the files on the USB drive, I first of all thought that the process didn't work, but after a couple of minutes all the selection and search features were available.

Great system, much better than the Command system that we had in our 2008 CLS.

Steve.

 

[MikeS]

Thanks for the replies. kevinmarkwhite, moonshine, I have just transferred my files to the USB stick in the way you mention so will put it in the car tomorrow and see what happens.

sdc-911, I wonder what the advantage of this £2.99 app is?

 

[sdc-911]

Mike,

There are no charges to download and use the app, there's an option to donate to the project if you want to.

 

[MikeS]

So transferred my music file from iTunes to the USB stick and put it in the car. Waited a little while and it reads it all fine Sees all of the files exactly as I see them on the stick and plays in the correct order - result :lol:

sdc-911, Interesting. When I follow the link - http://www.ericdaugherty.com/dev/itunesexport/ above and then click on the 'check it out' link that takes me to the mac store it is £2.99.......................

However, as my music is now working fine all is well - still wonder what the advantage of the iTunes export app is?

 

[Alwilb]

I'm expecting to pick my Z4 up next week. Been waiting the fairly typical 3 months so very keen to get my hands on it!

I've put together a USB stick of music ready for the car. I used the itunesexport program on the settings that were kindly screen shotted above. So the USB stick has a good bit of music on (8gb ish) and about 5 or 6 playlists.

I had a car out on loan today to check out the hill assist thingy and thought I may as well use the opportunity to test the USB out. I plugged it in, it wasn't recognised for a few minutes, it was then found but nothing played. Reselecting the USB stick would have it say that no stick was found. It didn't have iDrive so just using the stereo to control everything.

The dealer could only sort out a 2009 28i so it wasn't the latest model.

Does anyone have any ideas what went wrong?

 

[bluespit]

Mine is a little fussy on the quality of the memory stick. I have a couple of sandisks and they work fine (8gb), I also have a cheapo 8gb from eBay that the car won't recognise

My two penneth - stick with better brands and you'll be ok

 

[Alwilb]

This is the stick I'm using - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hewlett-Packard-16GB-V165-USB/dp/B00495WS98/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1340490143&sr=1-1. I would have hoped that would be alright.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm using a 32GB SanDisk Cruzer Fit which I purchased on Amazon for £14.99.

Works with the iDrive system and takes up hardly any space in the centre console

 

[alzieboy]

Have bought from these , always been good

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/

 

[Anonymous]

I'm using a 32GB SanDisk Cruzer Fit which I purchased on Amazon for £14.99.

Works with the iDrive system and takes up hardly any space in the centre console

I got this one as well, although I think my was £19 from flee bay.

 

[Allattar]

Ive not seen a problem with the memory stick, but occassionally I get it to crash the radio on some music files.

As far as I can tell its stuff I encoded with variable bit rate .wma

edit: and reading the above link, I bet its when the bit rate jumps higher than 256.

Anything from Amazon works fine though.

 

[Anonymous]

Using 320 kbps with VBR to encode to AAC with iTunes, not had any issues so far with being able to play tracks copied onto the iDrive USB drive.

 

[Alwilb]

Picked the car up earlier and the same USB stick is working perfectly, playlists and all, so I would guess the one the USb port I had in the demo car was either broken or the newer stereos are more compatible.