Frustrated (idrive + ipod)

[lcrain]

Since I have owned my car, the ipod connection through my usb to the idrive has been fickle at best. I have an ipod that I just leave in my car at all times, it stays charged and is always connected through the usb (this is a year old ipod classic). Sometimes it would say "not connected" and I would be tiffed, then the next time I turned the car on or if I unplugged it and plugged it back in it would start to work again.

The past month or so it has said "not connected" and I cannot get it to work. Any other trouble shooting options or is this just something I should get used to with my car?

I am quite frustrated that my finely engineered BMW cannot read a usb hookup to an ipod. I cannot possibly live with my am radio and bluetooth iphone music connection (sarcasm).

[Dackelone]

Are you using a BMW Y cable? Some of the Chinese cables don't work properly.

[lcrain]

I use the regular apple usb cable...does the BMW cable work better?

[bueller]

With a 1M you just need a USB cable, have you tried different cables? The Y cable had an iPod / iPhone connector on one end, a USB and mini Stereo cable that plugged in to the AUX in and USB under the arm rest. 2011 and after cars only need the USB cable.

If you have tried other cables, the USB connector in your car might be defective.

[mikead_99]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Are you using a BMW Y cable? Some of the Chinese cables don't work properly.

haha, just a little irony. My oem cable failed recently (the small guage conductors in the cable flexed under the armrest over years just won't hold up, not a BMW issue, but really just a limitation of the cable type), I replaced it with a $15 Amazon cable and have no issues. I don't think I would expect either to last indefinitely, but at least the visible portion of the cheap cable is of comparable quality to the $100 oem cable.

[Dynamic1]

Originally Posted by mikead_99

haha, just a little irony. My oem cable failed recently (the small guage conductors in the cable flexed under the armrest over years just won't hold up, not a BMW issue, but really just a limitation of the cable type), I replaced it with a $15 Amazon cable and have no issues. I don't think I would expect either to last indefinitely, but at least the visible portion of the cheap cable is of comparable quality to the $100 oem cable.

I'm interested that you were able to use a non BMW cable. I tried replacing my Y cable with 2 separate cables (one usb, one aux/headphone since I couldn't find a Y cable locally) and my car wouldn't read anything. Which cable did you use exactly?

[mikead_99]

Originally Posted by Dynamic1

I'm interested that you were able to use a non BMW cable. I tried replacing my Y cable with 2 separate cables (one usb, one aux/headphone since I couldn't find a Y cable locally) and my car wouldn't read anything. Which cable did you use exactly?

Here is the cable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o02_s00_i00

I will point out though, right after I got it I got the iPhone 5. Tried a generic lightning adapter with it and all it would do was charge the phone, not read it. Using the Apple adapter with it and all is well again. The cable linked truly is comparable in build quality with the oem imo.

[Dynamic1]

Thanks Mikead_99! I'm on my second BMW adapter cable now, fortunately the dealership back in Germany was really cool and didn't charge me for it... but I'm definitely getting one of these next.