Idrive head scratcher

[850tgul]

Hi All. Posed this question in the audio forum, but not much traction there. I just picked up my '09 128i coupe over the weekend and I'm loving it. SG/Coral, 6 speed, loaded. Was a member of sister site zpost a few years back when I had my z4m.

One issue I'm having is trying to play my iphone audio through the aux port under the arm rest. The car has idrive/navigation and the aux port but no USB port (other than in the glovebox). Previous owner left me the y cable but I'm honestly not sure how they used it without no USB next to the aux port.

Anyway I can't get any of my devices; iPhone 5s,4s, or Ipod to play audio over the speakers through the aux port under the arm rest.
Should be straight forward, no? Plug in and set the idrive to aux front. Do that and I get nothing. Checked the volume settings and they are all fine. Tried searching but most solutions revert back to the y cable and aux/USB solution.

Is it rare to have iDrive/navigation but no usb under the arm rest? I was able to pair the phone with Bluetooth if that makes a difference though I didn't see a way to stream audio. Radio stations go in and out, lose reception frequently, volume jumps up and down even though I have the speed sensitive setting all the way down.

Any input would be appreciated, I'm scratching my head over this one.

Thx

[Mach1er]

Don't know specifically if you should have a USB port, but it looks like there's a retrofit kit available for your car.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...25&hg=65&fg=95

P/N 65412152324, probably

[850tgul]

Thanks for the info Mach1er. Still, not sure why the aux port doesn't seem to be working. It appears the cig lighter next to it is also not functioning. Checked the fuse, #8 I believe, and it was fine. Truly stumped here.

[e36addict]

Are you trying to use the Y-cable but without the USB plugged in? That's what i'm getting out of this... If so that won't work. If you can't just just use an old school aux port to aux port type cable i'm not sure what your problem is..

[rocketpop]

That's odd to me. There should be a USB port if you are trying to use the BMW Y cable.
Should look like this:



If you don't have the USB port, then you will just have to use an old school audio cable from the headphone port to the AUX port. You won't be able to control it through the I-Drive.

[850tgul]

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify. I am not attempting to use the Y cable. I am using a male to male 3.5mm cable from my iPhone to the aux port, setting the idrive to “aux (front)” and I get nothing, nada, zilch through the speakers. I myself was confused because the previous owner left a Y cable in the car, but I for the life of me don’t know what they used it for since there is no usb under the armrest.
I understand that with just the male to male aux cord I won’t be able to control the audio from the car, which is fine for now. I’m just trying to get some audio through the speakers. Cord I’m using is fine, tried it in 3 other cars. Tried using an iPhone 5s, 4s, and iPod, all with no luck.

The cigarette lighter next to my aux port under the armrest is also not working. I went right to the fuse box as I believe they both run off the same fuse, #8, but the fuse was fine. So I’m guessing there is either something fried or loose internally causing both the aux and cig lighter to be out.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by 850tgul

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify. I am not attempting to use the Y cable. I am using a male to male 3.5mm cable from my iPhone to the aux port, setting the idrive to “aux (front)” and I get nothing, nada, zilch through the speakers. I myself was confused because the previous owner left a Y cable in the car, but I for the life of me don’t know what they used it for since there is no usb under the armrest.
I understand that with just the male to male aux cord I won’t be able to control the audio from the car, which is fine for now. I’m just trying to get some audio through the speakers. Cord I’m using is fine, tried it in 3 other cars. Tried using an iPhone 5s, 4s, and iPod, all with no luck.

The cigarette lighter next to my aux port under the armrest is also not working. I went right to the fuse box as I believe they both run off the same fuse, #8, but the fuse was fine. So I’m guessing there is either something fried or loose internally causing both the aux and cig lighter to be out.

If that power outlet near the aux port isn't working, there is some sort of break in the wiring -or it could be using a different fuse, although I think it may be something of a physical wiring break. There may be a connector plug somewhere between the AUX port and the head unit, and that power outlet might be on a different fuse. Good thing is that you can get a USB adapter for the power outlet (if you can get it working) and use that for the USB part of the Y cable.

My wife's 2011 128i convertible has the Y cable and the USB/AUX port. She has an older iPod that seems to work fine, so it's probably a connector that has come loose somewhere under the center console. Should be easy enough to remove some of the panels to check for that.

[MightyMouseTech]

Previous owner may have hacked/spliced into the aux cable to install the ipod connector? Maybe the center console was pulled out at some point and the connector was not reinstalled?

With a used car, anything is possible.

[850tgul]

Thanks for the input guys. Plan of attack is to pull the aux/cig module from under the arm rest and trace the connection.

[850tgul]

Solved. Connectors/plugs were loose inside center console. Thx