iPod Your BMW/MINI Officially Announced

Matt Jun 21st, 2004 Link

Excellent! i can hardly wait.

dan Jun 21st, 2004 Link

This is great! Really looking to get one of these for a MINI that I don't even own yet. Does this work if you don't have the MFSW though?

sbgobig Jun 21st, 2004 Link

How much for the adaptor and install? I will be buying an I-pod mini now that this is an option.

Jason Bingham Jun 21st, 2004 Link

I think I am going to pass on this item. I do not like the idea that I have to preselect songs and make playlists ahead of time.

I like my setup with the auxillary input, Belkin Auto Kit powersupply w/ dock connector, and ProClipUSA downtube bracket mount and iPod holder.

I like having the ability to select any song at anytime, my song preferences change rather frequently, sometimes from stoplight to stoplight. For those who always listen to the same albums or songs this may be the thing for you.

wen Jun 21st, 2004 Link

will the display show the title of tracks?

Sean Bartnik Jun 21st, 2004 Link

It says that you can make BMW playlists or listen to your entire library, so it sounds like you would still have the ability to pick any song any time.

The downside for me is that it only works with 3rd-gen iPods or iPod mini so I can't use my 2nd-gen iPod with this system. Oh well, aux input works well enough for me for now.

Gabe Jun 21st, 2004 Link

My understanding is if it's in library mode you can skip through all your tracks. Of course if you have 30-40 gigs on the iPod it's a little difficult to use this feature.

ANTSMINI Jun 21st, 2004 Link

I wonder how to long before I can get this installed at my dealer. I wonder if they have to pull my existing aux jack out? Also I know if I call and ask about this now they will think Im talking about the already existing MP3 aux jack.

Todd Jun 21st, 2004 Link

According to the BMW site, the adapter will be in demo cars at dealers starting July 1. It doesn't say if they'll be for sale then too but you can probably guess that they'll be available sometime in July.

alden Jun 21st, 2004 Link

I see BMWs and an MCS on the apple site. I see all the compaitble BMWs on the BMW site. But no mention of the ipod link on the MINI site. I wonder why that is? or did i miss it? I like the whole concept but is it as seemless as they make it sound? I guess I'll have to try it out at the dealership in July.

josh Jun 21st, 2004 Link

From the bmwusa.com site:

“Once you've transferred your BMW playlists to your iPod, just plug it into the iPod connector in your glovebox, select the 'CD' mode and a playlist from your stereo control buttons.”

Does this mean the CD player is gone?

josh Jun 21st, 2004 Link

From the BMW press release:

“The BMW iPod Adapter is available for the MSRP of $149.00 (US) plus installation cost, and will be officially available for customers to purchase at BMW centers as of July 12, 2004 for 2002, 2003 and 2004 BMW models: X3, X5, Z4 and 3 Series. The Mini Cooper Adapters will be available later this summer. “

julie Jun 21st, 2004 Link

josh:

no. cd player is still present.

csa Jun 21st, 2004 Link

two things. its fair to assume that the steering wheel controls will control the ipod?

also will the audio lin in adapter be obsolete?

three, actually will it charge the ipod?

Jenn Tanzer Jun 21st, 2004 Link

After searching through all the info I could find on apple's site, BMW's site, and here, it looks as though you can't search your iPod with the HU the way you can on the iPod itself; you either have to make a 'BMW playlist' or forward through songs you don't want to hear at the moment. I wonder what makes a 'BMW playlist' different from any other type of playlist?

I'll stick with my aux port and keep my iPod sitting nicely under the e-brake, thanks very much. :-)

Gabe Jun 21st, 2004 Link

its fair to assume that the steering wheel controls will control the ipod?

YES

also will the audio lin in adapter be obsolete?

NO – It will still be available for the time being.

will it charge the ipod?

YES

Tom Sizemore Jun 21st, 2004 Link

Aaarrrrggghhh! (Sound of knashing teeth) Of course, my 18 month old 2nd generation iPod, one of the last of the pre-dock iPods, will not work with the new setup. It's either laying out big bucks to replace my perfectly good 2G iPod, Helllooo Denison, or stick with my tried and true AUX Input. But I sooo wanted to use my MFSW… Apple strikes again!

squishy Jun 21st, 2004 Link

it's funny on the BMW site they have a section for “See and Hear”. but the “See” portion simply has the stereo head unit displaying “Track 1″, “Track 2″ instead of actual song information. i realize that would have been asking a lot for a retrofit but it would be nice.

by the time i'm ready for a new MINI it will be done right!

Dave Carroll Jun 21st, 2004 Link

Hey, we're early adopters! I have a 1G iPod. You know, with the mechanical wheel. It's like the model-T of iPods. You crank it up in the morning. Well, here's my story. I've had no luck with multiple attempts at professional installation of a Dension Ice-Link. The so-called “Classic” is just doomed to not work on anything but a trusty AUX jack. Oh, yeah. I'm an early adopter! I have a 2002 MCS. So that means, yep, the AUX adapter isn't available on 2002 MINIs. Right. So, what's my plan to achieve a harmony between our age's greatest fetish products, iPod and MCS? Well, contrary to popular opinion, I am a huge fan of the glovebox implementation. Here in NYC, you best be not leaving your white candy bar in the cup holder. I was intent on getting my Ice-Link installed that way, all secure in the glovebox, but it didn't work out. So I'll think about instead, leaving an iPod mini in there, you know, for the MINI. Pickup an iPod mini for my MINI. You can only play 5 playlists worth of music reasonably anyway with the new adapator's crippled visual interface. Track numbers only! No text display support! How dissapointing from two brands that claim to own product perfection, and usually do. Yeah, it's great that it's even offered by OEM, and there is third-party competition, ye-haw, Dension. But no one has delivered on the holy grail promise. I see my top 40 stations pumping along in scrolling text on the OEM head unit. Why no scrolling text for song name support on the OEM partnership of partnerships? That is a sadly missed feature. It's part of what makes an iPod an iPod. Well, at least we have MFSW support. It still reminds of the Bluetooth handsfree kit I've plunked down for. Here we have a killer accessory, rushed to market, missing crucial implementation aesthetics that don't fully live up to Bluetooth's potential, like this doesn't fully live up to the iPod's potential, lacking a full dashboard display integration (like Volvo and others). Ah, but to be the early adopter. Off to Gizmodo to see what's next to fuss about…

ANTSMINI Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Wow read this…

link

$235 for installation! Jesus! And doesnt work with NAV systems. Seems like this might be another awesome idea that got botched.

Malcolm Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Its Great think that Apple BMW Launched… But it seem like it's not that great for people who own one of the 1st iPods that came out. I was really looking forward to connect my iPod to my mini…. but now i'm really :-(((((((((((

anyway what do u guys think…

Chris Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

@ANTSMINI are you sure? Hopefully not…

gizmodo: “any car with optional built-in Navigation system”

This means: also cars with NAV, or nor?

Chris Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

oh wait, I should read texts more thoroughly, sorry… cars with NAV won't work.

what a bummer!

Gabe Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

We actually covered that Gizmodo story last Thursday: Apple/BMW Join Venture Confirmed.

I would say that $235 at least sounds about right. Having done a similar install when I put in my ICE-Link I can vouch that it does take some time.

Jim Garrison Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

I hope that you can just buy the kit. I would rather do the install myself than pay someone $200+ to install it for me.

Gabe Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Yes – if it has a part # you can always just buy it over the counter at a dealership.

RB Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

“Apple strikes again”? HUH? I think non Apple people are lucky to even have the ipod! I like our proprietary status and wish Jobs had never allowed this to happen.

Old ipod users…all things must pass, get a grip. Your battery will be dead soon anyway…RB

Mike Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Don't you think there would be some way to hack up a way to use the connector with NAV? I mean, if it's just a matter of the aux audio wiring, why can't we just set up a switch which will switch the wiring control from the nav to the ipod, or better yet, blend the two so that we can still hear both at the same time?

Tom Sizemore Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

RB, As I type this on my Powerbook G4 in a room containing three other Macs, I can assure you that I am a veteran Apple user going back to the Apple II C days. It's just that Apple has a knack for introducing a completely new generation of hardware very shortly after I buy the existing one. It happened when I bought my beige PowerMac G3: one month later the completely new B&W G3's came out. My iPod was state of the art for a whole month and a half. Most annoying was Apple coming out with a GREATLY uprated Powerbook G4 literally within one week of my PB G4 500 purchase.

Don't tell me that they can't make the older iPod work. Denison does it. It's just Apple wants you to go out an buy a new one.

As for the battery issue, they do sell replacements that you can replace yourself you know. I'm not going to trash a $500 piece of hardware just because of a weak or dead battery. If anyone is going to throw away their dead iPods, PLEASE send them to me ;-)

Matt Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

It's not just Apple who does this, Tom. Every good tech company refreshes its product line on a frequent basis. I don't understand this must-have-the-latest-and-greatest mentality. What happened to “good enough?” Maybe that sounds Amish. But it lets me worry about more important things, like getting my work done.

Let's think this through for a second. I think it's safe to assume that Apple and BMW want to sell as many of these as possible. Naturally, the best way to do this would be to make it as backward-compatible as possible. The simplest explanation for the kit not supporting older iPods is that it would make it too expensive.

Of course, if you want to be cynical, you could go the other way and see it as a ploy to get people to buy new iPods.

Or maybe it's a little of both.

RB Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Tom/Matt…

Good points all…

I started with the classic, myself. My point, we have no control..at all…So whinning is only therapeutic for ones soul…so rave on…RB

chip Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

bah… great idea, good execution, poor pricing. $150+ just to not have to reach over and push the buttons on mipod? no thanks!

Philip Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Alright… We all have iPods. We all have Minis. We want to listen to our iPod in the Mini. It's supposed to be very pleasant.

Options:

1- AUX Cable: (+) cheap, works with all iPods, put it where you want it (-) no MFSW support, no battery charging

2- ICE-Link: (+) MFSW support (2G & 3G iPod), battery charging, slip in dock (3G) (-) expensive, no selectable playlists

3- Apple-BMW (+) MFSW support (3G iPod), playlists, battery charging, dealer supported (-) expensive, no dock, works with 3G iPod only, not yet available

What we (at least me) really want: MFSW support, battery charging, dock, full interface integration: (play, pause, [auto-]stop, fwd, rwd, scroll, select, radio displays song titles and options (altough I'd be fine with looking at my iPod on a holder in the center console area)

… my guess is it'll all come. But we'll probably have to wait another 6 months.

Evan Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

As to why it won't work with the Nav or the CD changer and even satelite radio- I believe there's only one plug on the back of the OEM head unit to accept an accessory, so you have to choose what you plug into it. I saw this from install instructions for the aux plug I believe. Let me know if I'm wrong.

It's kind of a cool thing, but does suck that there's no more info than track number displayed on the unit- especially since you get all the info for the radio stations and satelite radio… heck we don't even get the the track time displayed.

ANTSMINI Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

I dont understand though..I have NAV and the dealer was able to put the AUX jack in, why not this? It runs off the same port I think..

Jim Garrison Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

I am going to install it like the ICE-Link. Put the iPod in the cupholder and run the wire from underneath the radio. The connecter looks just like the new IceLink anyway and its cheaper.

SL Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

I am planning to get a Mini Cooper '05. Which one would you recommend? An Ice Link or this iPod adapter?

James Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

I still can't believe that it won't display song titles!!!

The point is to make things simpler, not to muddle up where you're looking. As it stands right now, you can control your iPod with the MFSW, but you still have to take your eyes off the road to look at your small iPod display…wherever that may be!

Gabe Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Actually BMW's thinking here is that you will know what's on those 5 playlists – especially since your iPod will be in the glove box. With this system you won't have to ever do anything more than use the buttons on the radio or the MFSW.

Yes it leaves something to be desired but and it may not the ultimate solution – but it's version 1.0. There will be improvement in the years to come.

Nick Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

Why wouldn't BMW have the iPod adapter in all of their vehicles, like the M3, 6 series, 7 series, 5 series…?

Gabe Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

It does work in the M3. However the 5, 6, and 7 series use a very different system. I'd expect something eventually for those cars that's even cooler – possibly using the built-in LCD screen.

Gabe Jun 22nd, 2004 Link

It does work in the M3. However the 5, 6, and 7 series use a very different electrical system. I'd expect something eventually for those cars that's even cooler – possibly using the built-in LCD screen and iDrive.

Chris Jun 23rd, 2004 Link

Hmmm, maybe we can convince Ian to make his doohickey here…http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive/000406.shtml

lots cheaper and if you don't get track info anyway, what the heck!

nfo Jun 23rd, 2004 Link

what happened to the mini on the apple homepage? hehehe

bigpod Jun 29th, 2004 Link

ipodyourvw.de

Jeff Aug 31st, 2004 Link

Does anyone know why this only works with 2002 and up? Does anyone know if it's in the works for 2001 3-series?

Gabe Aug 31st, 2004 Link

It will not. I have a 2000 3 series and I'm in the same boat unfortunately.

Jeff Sep 2nd, 2004 Link

Thanks Gabe. From reading your other comments, you seem to have extensive knowledge of BMW's. This isn't ipod related, but I just picked up a 2001 330CI, and the owner's manual says I can disable the auto lock feature that locks all doors 1 minute after I start driving. It also says I can make the alarm chirp to confirm it's locked/armed (right now it is silent). It doesn't say how exactly to do this. Do you know?

Gabe Sep 2nd, 2004 Link

I believe you have to have all of that programmed by the dealer actually.

MINImania Oct 1st, 2004 Link

Well…i better thank my lucky stars that my MINI is the 2004 model…phew….but it costs USD150 to get the ipod adapter….Well…another marketing gimmick and us being all sucked into it….sigh

Sandbagger Oct 23rd, 2004 Link

A couple of things with the installation…

1) A software upgrade is done at the install for the integration

2) It does not include track info…yet. A future code release with have this functionality.

3) It won't work with NAV or CD changers because of conflicts on the BMW bus in the auto. Only the newest cars have the new BMW bus infrastructure.

4) Although people are disappointed with inability to retro-fit older BMWs and iPods, the software doesn't have the capability for the functionality. Apple would be opening a huge can of worms trying to support all platforms.

I test drove a car with the functionality and my iPod mini. I didn't bother me that I only saw “Track 1″, but I can see why people would want this. This is coming soon, or so I was told.

All song movement can be done thru the steering wheel, like on a CD. Very nice and sound quality was fantastic.

I have mine on order.

Good Luck!

Harper Nov 17th, 2004 Link

I have an early 2002 320i and have been told by BMW Australia that the adaptor will suit 09 month 2002 onwards.

What is the difference with that model. a wiring diagram should be able to put this question to rest, but how do you get one?

Doc Brian D Dec 24th, 2004 Link

Just purchased a New 325i with the new ipod adapter and it works great. The sound quality is awesome but would really like to see the tracks dispayed. Does anyone know when this will be available? I also am a little botheres by the fact you have to leave it your glove box. Does anyone know of an extension cord so I can mount my i pod next to the dash and also any good i pod holders to mount it by my dash?

thanks…

thanared Jan 17th, 2005 Link

can anyone that owns a 4th gen ipod let me know if they have used in in the bmw 325i 2004. I have one and it just aint workin

email thanared@yahoo,.c0m

Gabe Jan 17th, 2005 Link

yes they work… I used one in a friends 3 series.

Domac Jan 22nd, 2005 Link

Can this Ice Link be installed in BMW X5 2001 with Tape player/Navigation and wireing in the left side of the trunk for cd changer.I want to plug it in the cd changer wireing that is in the trunk and leave the ipod right there in the trunk.I should be able to use the MFSW to change the tracks. It seems to me it should be piece of cake ????

lio Feb 24th, 2005 Link

Somebody had the kit retail part num for using in a BMW serie 5?

JB Mar 8th, 2005 Link

It is scandalous that we can’t see the track names on the head unit display whilst using the iPod adapter. An absolute tragedy. Shame on MINI for teasing us. I expect a remedy immediately or all hope is lost.

JW Mar 14th, 2005 Link

anyone knows if this adapter works on 2001 bmw 540i?

tomster Apr 12th, 2005 Link

i got an 2004 X5 with Navigation and casseste and no cd box. want to install ipod but told there is no adaptor for this. please help.

steven May 20th, 2005 Link

Can you use the ipod adapter on the Ipod Shuffle?

Gabe May 20th, 2005 Link

Unfortuantely no. You can however use the AUX port.

joon May 22nd, 2005 Link

just got my ipod linked to my X3 with BMW interface kit..it works great and I can still listen to my CDs from factory single deck. I gues I just need to download more songs to my ipod.. I don’t know why some of you keep complaining about not being able to see the song titles on the audio display.. it’s not like our CD changers did..only thing negative is now my CD changer is useless..i strongly recommend this kit, took about couple hours and cost me about USD200 including the labour charge. sound quality awesome too.