BMW’s Next Gen iPod Integration Debuts

Sections: New Product | Official News Apr 13th, 2006 19 Comments

BMW has lifted the curtains on the next generation iPod integration that it has quietly been promising almost since the first adapter launched two years ago. The new version uses BMW’s new generation of audio systems to allow not only ID3 tags but actual navigation of the iPod’s interface itself. This is a huge improvement over the previous version which only allows for navigation to specific playlists, from song to song, and volume control. So why are we covering this on MotoringFile? Simple; the next MINI will be equipped with almost identical systems and will be compatible with this new generation of iPod adapters.

Here’s BMW full press release on the new adapter:

BMW today announced the debut of a new BMW Interface for iPod that will enable seamless integration of the iPod for the newest generation of BMW models. With the new BMW Interface for iPod this means that seamless iPod connectivity will be available for every current BMW model.

The new BMW Interface for iPod will be available for owners of the new BMW 3 Series Sedans and Sports Wagons as well as the 5, 6, and 7 Series. It will also be available for the new M5 Sedan and M6 Coupe. It will enable audiophiles to bring their entire music collections with them, plug directly and effortlessly into a superior sound system while maintaining uncompromised control over their driving experience. Since the new Interface is compatible with SIRIUS satellite radio as well as the recently introduced HD Radio, owners will be able to enjoy a broad selection of high fidelity broadcast music sources as well. The original BMW iPod Adapter will continue to be available for 2002 and later BMW models: X3, X5, Z4, and previous generation 3 Series.

The original BMW iPod Adapter was the world’s first seamless integration between iPod and a vehicle audio system. The new Interface will also allow users to incorporate their iPods directly into their car’s sound system, but with the newly available capability to sort their music according to their own playlists, as well as by artist, album, genre, podcast, and finally, a random selection of 500 songs from the user library. Artist, album, and song title will appear in the Display Monitor.

The seamless integration of iPod makes it effortless for drivers to control their music through their existing audio system and the multifunction steering wheel. The new BMW Interface for iPod enables drivers to easily access their entire music library, shuffle songs, skip between tracks and adjust volume — all of this with no loss of sound quality or driving control.

The new Interface is compatible with all iPods with a dock connector, including the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod. The BMW iPod Interfaces integrate the iPod through a direct connection in the BMW glovebox, providing outstanding sound quality and constant power to the iPod all while your iPod remains protected and out of view.

The new BMW iPod Interface will be available for customers to purchase at BMW centers beginning in July 2006. Pricing has not been determined.

Features and operation may vary depending on vehicle model and option content. Consumers should check with their BMW centers for specific application restrictions or log onto www.ipodyourbmw.com. Installation is performed by authorized BMW centers only. iPod players are sold separately. Please visit www.ipodyourbmw.com for additional information.

Written By: Gabe

http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew

so are we sure there is no chance this will work with current minis? looking at it i would tend to think not, but one never knows…
RHT3

Again: more non-driving-related information for drivers already distracted enough to cause regular accidents by using simple cel phones. ID3 tag reading and iPod navigation while driving is unsafe.
http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew

not to disagree with you rht3 – but it would be nice for the passenger to be able to use…
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

RHT3 – how is this different from turning from one radio station to the other? The whole idea of this adapter is that you can use the radio interface to control your ipod. I see this as no different than going from AM to FM and finding a channel.
Teresa

I disagree RHT3. Interfacing the ipod will make it much safer to use while driving. It will be about as dangerous as changing a station on the radio while driving & frankly that’s pretty easy. My radio already displays song tags for some radio stations & so far no wrecks ; )
Ted

I watched a guy narrowly miss T-boning a guard rail, while searching his ipod for a song. He was looking down at his ipod, it lite up his face in the car at night; while at the same time not realizing he was in a merging lane to exit the highway. A look of sudden panic, freezing and then over reacting to save his life. (I’m sure the only thing that saved him was the fact that he leaned to the right to give his car more mass to avoid the guard rail. This probably happens once a night in all fifty states. Sometimes with results not as fortunate as this chap. The fellow was probably doing 70MPH.

My opinion, more info & distractions is less fun and safety in motoring. I’m sure Michael Schumacher doesn’t play with ipod controls during an F1 race. He needs all of his brain to not only compete but stay alive.

To make it safer today, make it all voice activated. Please no visual distractions for the drivers. Its already too crazy out there on the roadways. Lexus has it already???
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Ted – that’s kind of my point. The BMW solution allows you to put the iPod in the gloveebox and use your radio interface. There’s no holding the iPod, no dropping thee iPod, and no iPod distractions.

And yes… voice commands would be nice.
Aaron

Well, it will still be better than fiddling with the ipod’s scroll wheel. The fact is that people will be using their ipods in their cars, either through a cassette player, through an adaptor, or through the local FM transmitter system. So having a better interface that at least keeps their eyes closer to the road than they would be if handling the ipod itself is a good thing.

Would be cool if this system could be used in the current MINI’s (especially since I just ordered mine with the ipod adaptor), but…I guess I’ll have one more hting to look forward to when I get my second MINI in 2010.
http://www.wezensky.com dickdavid

…no iPod distractions

I like the idea of this specifically to see what’s playing and NOT navigating.

Unlike flipping from station to station, the iPod interface is a little more involved. When you’re finding that specific song played by that band that’s buried on that best-of album in the compilation library, you tend to refocus your attention to the task at hand. I’ve been caught doing this when I had my AUX input, and almost joined the curb rash nation. I know it’s not dealing with the scroll wheel, but it does involve the same lateral thinking which, in my opinion, is distracting.

Now that I have my current MINI iPod adapter, the ‘specific’ nav option is removed and I’m left with jumping between a few playlists and forward and backwards which is simple and less distracting. The only problem I have is not knowing some of the newer songs/artists that I’m listening to.
duncan

ted how do you know it was an ipod? could have been a cell phone, blackberry, palm pilot, portable television, they all have backlit screens. i certainly hope you weren’t driving when you observed that near miss ;)

–

proper use of tagging, playlists and smart playlists in itunes should minimize if not eliminate the need to fiddle with your iPod while driving. it will never accommodate the “i want a particular song” syndrome, but it will suffice for general purposes.

i have smart playlists set up like this:

1) any song rated 3+ 2) any song rated 3+ that has not been played in 6 months 3) any song added in the last 3 months

this gives me access to all my favorite music, access to stuff i haven’t heard in a while and then new stuff that i’ve added. the final two playlists i use to add specific music in a specific order for the obvious reasons.
Aqualung

Over on MINI2, in the NY/New England forum, Che just totaled his MC40…because as he admits, he was distracted, looking down at his iPod — clipped a tree and rolled….I have watched BMW’s iDrive efforts w/ a cynical eye, the “ultimate driving machine” takes an inordinate amount of time w/ eyes and attention focused away from the driving task to simply change the radio station, change the air mix from floor to vents, etc.
Tom

Gabe,

I do like how the pictures open when you click on them.

Nice touch!

Thanks for the info…Tom
petsounds

I agree with others in saying this is unsafe. Navigating the myriad menus of the iPod interface, whether or not you are using the BMW’s radio controls, is a much more complex task than finding another radio station. I can’t imagine a control setup, even on your steering wheel, that would allow you to navigate through the iPod menus without removing your eyes from the road.

BMW is too evolutionary here, and considering how performance-minded they claim to be, it is surprising.

There are two solutions: either have a HUD on the windshield which would overlay the iPod menus, or make iPod navigation completely voice-activated. The latter would be less distracting and it would also expediate navigation (“Play all songs by Wolf Parade”).
LTZMTOR

My thought is…. You can’t legislate intelligence. Stupid people do stupid things. Any worse than when we used to search for that disk, 8 track or cassette under the seat…I think not.

Doesn’t the new 6 series have HUD’s?
Shamus

I hate bonehead drivers as much as the next guy…but if they’re going to do dumb things anyway, at least someone is trying to minimize them!

Look at it as a very positive, partial solution!!! ;)
http://www.Focaljet.com Thameth

Still no clear indication if this will be backwards compatible at all? Really a shame, but i guess there is still the IceLink Plus.

Would rather have a factory kit though.
Mike

Gabe: Do you like the IceLink Plus better than the current factory iPod hook up? Are there any other after market iPod hook-ups you would recommend?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Gabe: Do you like the IceLink Plus better than the current factory iPod hook up? Are there any other after market iPod hook-ups you would recommend?

Yes. There are a few out there but I would have to recommend the Ice-Link Plus at this point.
BB

I would like my iPOD to be wirelssly hooked up to my X3 (of course without losing quality) may be over bluetooth (for which the iPOD would need another hook up, shame@iPOD!), the way my phone works with it.

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