My recommendation for a USB flash drive/iPod replacement

[GeriFix]

If you want a bit more storage space, this might be a viable option:
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10984

It is a 60GB USB powered hard drive with a rotational speed of 3400rpm. In Australia it costs about AUD$170, which compares well with the 32GB Corsair Voyager (AUD$370) ie: less than 1/4 of the cost per GB.

I have one on order and will post report once I've installed it, but I am reasonably confident it will work after reading this:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?show...dpost&p=517162

[Nucking Futs!]

Originally Posted by Xcellere

Thanks for posting that Nucking! No one should pass up the deal on the 8GB, that's really a steal.

You're welcome.

Originally Posted by GeriFix

If you want a bit more storage space, this might be a viable option:
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10984

It is a 60GB USB powered hard drive with a rotational speed of 3400rpm. In Australia it costs about AUD$170, which compares well with the 32GB Corsair Voyager (AUD$370) ie: less than 1/4 of the cost per GB.

I have one on order and will post report once I've installed it, but I am reasonably confident it will work after reading this:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?show...dpost&p=517162

The lowest price I saw online for that Lacie 60gb (in the U.S.) was $130 USD (amazon).

[rvacha]

Originally Posted by GeriFix

If you want a bit more storage space, this might be a viable option:
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10984

It is a 60GB USB powered hard drive with a rotational speed of 3400rpm. In Australia it costs about AUD$170, which compares well with the 32GB Corsair Voyager (AUD$370) ie: less than 1/4 of the cost per GB.

I have one on order and will post report once I've installed it, but I am reasonably confident it will work after reading this:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?show...dpost&p=517162

I saw your post on e90post - looks like you'll be a guinea pig here. The Lacie has a 3400 RPM drive, and it seems to me the odds that it works well are quite high. I look forward to hearing the outcome of your test. Also, if it happens to work for you, would you mind trying it with the LONGEST USB cable you own? I figure that if it still works there's lots of margin in this HDD solution

Thanks!

[hensta]

I read through all the posts but still wonder. Since portable drives work with the USB adapter, will my MP3 player also work?

I have a Creative Zen 20GB MP3 player but no iPOD.

[rvacha]

If the player presents itself as a mass storage device on your PC (it has a drive letter, you can browse folders, see files, etc) then you have a chance. If it doesn't look like a mass storage device game over.

[the_stranger]

Originally Posted by Champagne

I use the exact same flash memory, but the 16gb version. Works superb! I would really recommend this to all Bimmer guys who has the USB adapter.

Haven't figured out on how to use the "playlist" though... Haven't even tried yet so.. :P I guess the .m3u files has to be in the root of the flash drive?

How is the speed of the 16 GB when you connect it to your car. Does it take longer than an ipod to load the lists, albums and so on?

[eclipsisNA]

Originally Posted by the_stranger

How is the speed of the 16 GB when you connect it to your car. Does it take longer than an ipod to load the lists, albums and so on?

It's instantaneous.

[the_stranger]

Originally Posted by Xcellere

It's instantaneous.

I am thinking of buying this drive and I read some reviews saying it is slow. Since you are saying its faster than the ipod in your car, I think I will get it. I will only use it in my car, the rest wont matter for me. It is not that expensive either. Its about $ 90.

[GeriFix]

Originally Posted by rvacha

I saw your post on e90post - looks like you'll be a guinea pig here. The Lacie has a 3400 RPM drive, and it seems to me the odds that it works well are quite high. I look forward to hearing the outcome of your test. Also, if it happens to work for you, would you mind trying it with the LONGEST USB cable you own? I figure that if it still works there's lots of margin in this HDD solution

Thanks!

OK. I am happy to report that the LaCie Little Disk (60 GB) works with the USB Audio Interface

In fact it works as well and as quickly as the Transcend JetFlash 8 GB flash drive I have been using to date. This is with about 20 GB of tracks. That is, there is no noticable slowing with a larger directory structure and different memory technology.

Is even boots up straight away when connected via a 3 metre USB extension cable.

The USB flash drive was good, but it was starting to get a little restrictive, size wise. With this new drive I now have some room to expand my listening options.

Apologies to Xcellere if this looks like a but I've been aching to use this smilie

[rvacha]

Excellent!!! Thanks for trying a long cable, that seals the deal for me.

[MFL101]

If all of my music is purchased from Itunes I can't do the USB thing right?

[GarryF]

Originally Posted by MFL101

If all of my music is purchased from Itunes I can't do the USB thing right?

Correct, itunes is a rip off, buy CDs and rip em!!!

[rvacha]

Originally Posted by the_stranger

I am thinking of buying this drive and I read some reviews saying it is slow. Since you are saying its faster than the ipod in your car, I think I will get it. I will only use it in my car, the rest wont matter for me. It is not that expensive either. Its about $ 90.

As a hard drive its very, very slow since it runs at 3600RPM instead of 5400 or 7200RPM. For use with 6FL however, this is your best friend. BMW does not recommend hard drives because they mostly don't work. USB is limited to 500mA and it is possible that the BMW implementation does not quite support that. When the hard drive spins up it draws a lot of power, usually causing the 6FL port to blow chunks. The LaCie unit takes less power spinning up and keeps the 6FL USB port happy.

I have the LaCie unit. It works great and as X said it is just as fast as a flash drive

[rvacha]

Sorry, but a little thread jacking...

Since I have not seen it documented anywhere the 6FL DOES support WMA Lossless. This a big deal if you're an audiophile and have the Premium sound option since you can take advantage of true CD sound quality, not just "near CD" sound quality

As far as I can tell it is not possible to play DTS surround in any format (WAVE, WMA Lossless). Bummer.

Back to the regularly scheduled threading....

[Saturn]

Originally Posted by rvacha

Sorry, but a little thread jacking...

Since I have not seen it documented anywhere the 6FL DOES support WMA Lossless. This a big deal if you're an audiophile and have the Premium sound option since you can take advantage of true CD sound quality, not just "near CD" sound quality

As far as I can tell it is not possible to play DTS surround in any format (WAVE, WMA Lossless). Bummer.

Back to the regularly scheduled threading....

**DISCLAIMER: I am Canadian, and thus not subject to RIAA legislation***

Where's a good place to download lossless WMA format music/CD's?

[FifthStreetz]

Originally Posted by Saturn

**DISCLAIMER: I am Canadian, and thus not subject to RIAA legislation***

Where's a good place to download lossless WMA format music/CD's?

Limewire its a P2P sharing program.

[Greenspotpop]

They now have a 16 bit and 32 bit Corsair, have either of these been tested? If not, ill just buy the 8g, they sell them at my local computer store 5 min away. 8g is a lot of space for music lol

[Nucking Futs!]

Can somebody help answer my question here:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133759

Thx!

[kcarriga]

So, I got the Corsair in 8gb @ Frys today, but I'm having a small issue. I downloaded all the music onto it fine, and it sounds great, when it works...

Every once in a while the music just stops and the system kicks me out to the radio (or CD, whatever I was listening to previously). It works again once I un-plug and re-insert. Without un-plugging the AUX menu doesn't recognize the drive.

I figure it might be that the cable was a bit loose, but it does the same thing direct also. Anyone have an idea of whats going on?

[Greenspotpop]

damn, thanks fo the hneads up. can anyone confirm this?
maybe ill buy the 16g. But hey, what plug are you pugging in , Kcarriga, a 08 m3?

[GarryF]

Originally Posted by kcarriga

So, I got the Corsair in 8gb @ Frys today, but I'm having a small issue. I downloaded all the music onto it fine, and it sounds great, when it works...

Every once in a while the music just stops and the system kicks me out to the radio (or CD, whatever I was listening to previously). It works again once I un-plug and re-insert. Without un-plugging the AUX menu doesn't recognize the drive.

I figure it might be that the cable was a bit loose, but it does the same thing direct also. Anyone have an idea of whats going on?

There is a known software fault on cars that causes that, I think it was fixed around september last year. there is a thread on here about it somewhere, you need to ask the dealer to update the car software under warranty.

I purchased a 320D for work which was registered december and it has the fault, I can't be bothered getting it looked at until first service though

[Greenspotpop]

Just picked up the 16g Corsair Flash Voyager, will start putting in songs and will test it out. They had the 32g, but since there was a previous post about the 16g, I better play it safe. Plus on the Newegg website, they have some negative reviews on the 32g version