2008 iPhone 5 and idrive

[af908]

Guys,

My iPhone 4s just shit the bed. I will be upgrading to the iPhone 5s. Will I sti have full access to my music library on my idrive just like i had with my iPhone. 4s? Keep in mind this car is an 08 m3 and has the older idrive unlike the 2009 and up.

I apologize if this question has been asked before. I'm in a rush and my search didn't bring up my answer.

[Da Hapa]

Both my old Iphone 5 and current Iphone 6 work as designed in my 2008 E90 M3 with the same shitty, lame version of Idrive you have.

Hope that helps.

[70X200]

Mine works just fine. You will need to buy an adapter to go from the 21 pin connector to the new fancy connector thats all.

[badbeef]

Related question.. I have a 2011 with the snap in iPhone 4 adapter. Can I just get the y cable with the firewire plug and leave the plug in adapter as is? That snap in adapter is a pain, and I like to keep the phone charged anyway.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by badbeef

Related question.. I have a 2011 with the snap in iPhone 4 adapter. Can I just get the y cable with the firewire plug and leave the plug in adapter as is? That snap in adapter is a pain, and I like to keep the phone charged anyway.

That's a Lightning connector (FireWire is a completely separate entity), but yes the 30-pin female to Lightning male adapter should work through the cradle just fine as long as the cradle design doesn't prevent the adapted from physically connecting. But if you have a 2011, why bother with the cradle at all? Do you need to keep the USB port in the glovebox free for some other device? If you have a 2011.5 you can use a regular Lightning to USB cable; if you have a 2011(.0), you can use a Y cable.

Also note that even if you have the iPhone 4 MEDIA cradle (assuming you have a 2011.75 with BMW Apps), the "iPod Out/PlugIn" and video playback features will not work with an iPhone 5.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Would something like this work? (iphone 5 and 5s only)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vktech-Outpu...for+iphone5S+5
I have one on order but won't be allowed to try it out untill xmas.

[badbeef]

Originally Posted by jphughan

That's a Lightning connector (FireWire is a completely separate entity), but yes the 30-pin female to Lightning male adapter should work through the cradle just fine as long as the cradle design doesn't prevent the adapted from physically connecting. But if you have a 2011, why bother with the cradle at all? Do you need to keep the USB port in the glovebox free for some other device? If you have a 2011.5 you can use a regular Lightning to USB cable; if you have a 2011(.0), you can use a Y cable.

Also note that even if you have the iPhone 4 MEDIA cradle (assuming you have a 2011.75 with BMW Apps), the "iPod Out/PlugIn" and video playback features will not work with an iPhone 5.

Very helpful post. Thank you. I have a 2011.75 with BMW apps. I was not aware that a plain old lightning to usb cable (and not a y cable) would work. I will give this a try.

[calbear13]

Why don't you just use bluetooth for music? It's free in comparison

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by badbeef

Very helpful post. Thank you. I have a 2011.75 with BMW apps. I was not aware that a plain old lightning to usb cable (and not a y cable) would work. I will give this a try.

Yep, USB will sound better than a Y-cable too because it uses digital rather than analog delivery to the car. In fact I believe even the cradles use analog audio because they predate the 2011.5 cars that supported digital audio, though the MEDIA cradle may be an exception to this. In any case, USB might well sound better than what you're doing now.

And yes, as mentioned above, Bluetooth audio streaming is also available as of 2011.5, which is much more convenient and avoids the potential for you to forget your phone in your glovebox. It doesn't sound QUITE as good as USB since bandwidth is more limited, so I still connect via USB for longer trips, but Bluetooth being digital still means it sounds as good or better than using AUX via a Y-cable, which is why I use it 95% of the time.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Would something like this work? (iphone 5 and 5s only)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vktech-Outpu...for+iphone5S+5
I have one on order but won't be allowed to try it out untill xmas.

This is essentially a Y cable designed for an iPhone 5, so it would spare you having to purchase the 30-pin to Lightning adapter. I can't see why it wouldn't work, though again on a 2011.5 or newer car it would be unnecessary and suboptimal.

[SenorFunkyPants]

If you are not bothered about charging your device then there are also several bluetooth units that can fit into the glove box and pair with your iphone (for pre- 2011.5 cars).

[mmbv1000]

Hi guys - I posted in another sub forum but thought I'd get more response here. I have an 08 and just upgraded to an iPhone 6. I was using the y-cable previously and purchased a 30 pin-to-lightening adapter and that doesn't seem to work. I've also tried using just the usb, but get a "device not supported" message. What am I doing wrong?

[///Mvy]

Sorry, can't answer your question as I'm having the same issue trying to connect with my adapter. Is yours a true Apple brand adapter?

Anyone tried to use this device or something similar?
http://www.amazon.com/CoolStream-Blu.../dp/B00GHUHMUS
I'm thinking about ordering one to hook up to my Y-Cable and hopefully have Bluetooth audio.

[OneSickM]

Sub'ed ...would like to know this thing work as well

[///Mvy]

I bought the CoolStream in the link above. I'll let you know if it works. Some said it won't work with BMW but I'm going to try anyway with Amazons great return policy.

Also found this: http://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-Tune2ai.../dp/B00B52LLJ6
Price point is a bit higher but supposedly it will work. Some said it would even tie into the idrive for controlling the iPod like the factory Y-Cable. It's advertised to integrate with Audi MMI so maybe it would play with iDrive as well.

[///Mvy]

And then I found this....http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00R3A...=AC_SX230_QL60

Advertised to work with BMW and a reviewer claiming it works well with his 07' 335i.

I'm canceling my order for the CoolStream and ordering the above.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by calbear13

Why don't you just use bluetooth for music? It's free in comparison

OP has a CCC idrive, no Bluetooth streaming.

[mmbv1000]

Originally Posted by ///Mvy

I bought the CoolStream in the link above. I'll let you know if it works. Some said it won't work with BMW but I'm going to try anyway with Amazons great return policy.

Also found this: http://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-Tune2ai.../dp/B00B52LLJ6
Price point is a bit higher but supposedly it will work. Some said it would even tie into the idrive for controlling the iPod like the factory Y-Cable. It's advertised to integrate with Audi MMI so maybe it would play with iDrive as well.

I've heard good things about the Viseo and might go with this if I can't find a hardwire solution.

[mmbv1000]

Originally Posted by ///Mvy

Sorry, can't answer your question as I'm having the same issue trying to connect with my adapter. Is yours a true Apple brand adapter?

I believe I am, but not entirely sure since I purchased it cheap, online. Certainly looks like one....

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by sansin

Hi guys - I posted in another sub forum but thought I'd get more response here. I have an 08 and just upgraded to an iPhone 6. I was using the y-cable previously and purchased a 30 pin-to-lightening adapter and that doesn't seem to work. I've also tried using just the usb, but get a "device not supported" message. What am I doing wrong?

Originally Posted by ///Mvy

Sorry, can't answer your question as I'm having the same issue trying to connect with my adapter. Is yours a true Apple brand adapter?

Anyone tried to use this device or something similar?
http://www.amazon.com/CoolStream-Blu.../dp/B00GHUHMUS" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.amazon.co...B00GHUHMUS</a>
I'm thinking about ordering one to hook up to my Y-Cable and hopefully have Bluetooth audio.

Originally Posted by OneSickM

Sub'ed ...would like to know this thing work as well

You almost certainly need one of the two genuine Apple adapters. The reason is that the Apple ones have an audio DAC chip in them, which is important because Lightning now only outputs digital signals, whereas CCC iDrive requires an analog audio signal. The DAC converts the iPhone's digital audio into analog audio before sending it out the 30-pin connector (and is why these adapters are so expensive even by Apple standards), but if you have a Lightning to 30-pin adapter that only remaps pins to allow you to connect via USB and charge rather than having that DAC, it won't work.

If you're going to be buying a new adapter anyway, I'd recommend the more expensive one that actually includes some cable length rather than the plastic block version. The reason is that the latter might not connect to your iPhone properly if you have a case, whereas the one with cable length has much less plastic around the Lightning connector side.

Once you've got the proper cable, the 08s will continue to need the Y-cable; you'd simply add the adapter to the chain.

///Mvy, Tune2air is known to work well and even allows playback control and I believe song metadata display. The WMA1000 + a Y-cable is equivalent to the 3000B you purchased. The WMA2000 is for cars that actually accept the audio signal over USB, which the pre-2011.5 cars do not, and the 3000A is specific to Audi models, apparently.

[mmbv1000]

Awesome - very helpful. thanks, all, for the help!

[Mvy]

Originally Posted by ///Mvy

And then I found this....http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00R3A...=AC_SX230_QL60

Advertised to work with BMW and a reviewer claiming it works well with his 07' 335i.

I'm canceling my order for the CoolStream and ordering the above.

Dude you stole my handle ;-)