is the iPhone 4 cradle just a big waste of money?

M&AGuy · 03-18-2011, 07:07 PM

My E93 M3 is an 2011.5 with office/integration. Delivered in January; have been waiting for the iPhone 4 cradle and just picked it up today. In the meantime I've been using the AUX / USB cable for charging and streaming ipod music and bluetooth for phone calls.

Other than the joy

of removing my iPhone cover in order to snap in the new cradle, what are the benefits the new cradle vs. the AUX/USB cable?

I am told the phone reception is supposed to be better, but I've not noticed a benefit.

dirtyfreebooter · 03-18-2011, 11:04 PM

If you have a 2011.5 and you are using USB aux you are doing it wrong.

all you need is the apple USB cable and everything works fine. The aux USB y cable is for older setups, though some 2011.5 are still coming with the y cables apparently.

As far as the adapter is concerned, I am going to get it because I just hate messing with the wire every time I go in and out of the car. Just my opinion.

ssabripo · 03-19-2011, 11:38 AM

1. you dont need anything but your standard iphone cable, not the usb/Y cable bmw gives you (that's for older setups).

2. you could even stream (st bluetooth) all your audio (mp3's, etc) wirelessly if you really like.

M&AGuy · 03-21-2011, 02:37 PM

guys, there is really no difference between using the Y cable and the standard Apple cable (let's just call it a "cable"). Question for you is whether there is any difference in functionality between connecting through a CABLE vs. connecting through the iphone 4 CRADLE. If there is no difference, the cradle seems like a pretty expensive hunk of plastic.

alpina527 · 03-21-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robackja

If you have a 2011.5 and you are using USB aux you are doing it wrong.

all you need is the apple USB cable and everything works fine. The aux USB y cable is for older setups, though some 2011.5 are still coming with the y cables apparently.

As far as the adapter is concerned, I am going to get it because I just hate messing with the wire every time I go in and out of the car. Just my opinion.

Yes, but isn't messing around with the cable easier than removing the iphone case? (assuming you have one)

M&AGuy · 03-21-2011, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpina527

Yes, but isn't messing around with the cable easier than removing the iphone case? (assuming you have one)

Right, that is my point/question. If there is not a functionality difference, the big cradle development drama for the iPhone 4 was a big waste of brain cells. If you really want no cables and you also don't want to screw around with the iphone case so that it fits in the cradle, then stream bluetooth, which actually has MORE functionality than the cradle/cable (since you can send pandora and other audio to the car system) - although mine is giving me fits now (after a cycle of running bluetooth audio and shut off the car, it does not pair with my iphone the next time I get in the car). Frustrating.

///M Rakete · 03-21-2011, 08:59 PM

Supposedly the cradle gives you an inductive connection for the external antenna but the efficacy is probably variable.

mhaghighi · 03-22-2011, 07:41 AM

also you should see the art work for the songs played through your iphone (ipod) on the cd/multimedia menu. it looks great. so iphone and ipod at same time really. The hope was to have the software upgrade so that we could use the office feature in the idrive but of course hasnt happened.

mhaghighi · 03-22-2011, 07:43 AM

mine has worked great. no issues at all by the way so far besides taking the cover off the iphone. I have 3Gs by the way

///M Ryder · 03-22-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M&AGuy

guys, there is really no difference between using the Y cable and the standard Apple cable (let's just call it a "cable")

Not sure about the adapter (though I've heard it's a waste of time) but the cable makes a difference. My car didn't come with the Y cable but if you have it you'll notice that the album art work won't show up. Use the regular wht ipod cable for the correct functionality................Phil

Alekshop · 03-22-2011, 10:31 AM

it suppose to improve phone reception.

cloud8r · 03-22-2011, 12:10 PM

Doesn't streaming via Bluetooth have a lower audio quality than the cable? If so how perceptible is it?

03-18-2011, 07:07 PM	#1
M&AGuy Private 5 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	is the iPhone 4 cradle just a big waste of money? My E93 M3 is an 2011.5 with office/integration. Delivered in January; have been waiting for the iPhone 4 cradle and just picked it up today. In the meantime I've been using the AUX / USB cable for charging and streaming ipod music and bluetooth for phone calls. Other than the joy of removing my iPhone cover in order to snap in the new cradle, what are the benefits the new cradle vs. the AUX/USB cable? I am told the phone reception is supposed to be better, but I've not noticed a benefit. __________________ 2011 E93 M3 (JzB/FR-ext, M-DCT, Akrapovic Evolution exhaust, MS pulley, spacers, air filter, rear diffuser, a few other things...) 2008 E93 M3 (IB/G, 6MT, RPi exhaust, others... hit from behind and totaled); 2006 E46 M3C (CB/Cin, SMG, SuperSprint exhaust, others... retired); 2004 E46 M3C (CB/Cin, SMG, SuperSprint exhaust, others, spin out in rain and totaled); 2001 E46 M3C (SG/G, 6MT, retired)
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03-18-2011, 11:04 PM	#2
dirtyfreebooter Captain 341 Rep 655 Posts Drives: Vespa Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boulder, CO iTrader: (2)	If you have a 2011.5 and you are using USB aux you are doing it wrong. all you need is the apple USB cable and everything works fine. The aux USB y cable is for older setups, though some 2011.5 are still coming with the y cables apparently. As far as the adapter is concerned, I am going to get it because I just hate messing with the wire every time I go in and out of the car. Just my opinion.
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03-19-2011, 11:38 AM	#3
ssabripo HALA MADRID! 939 Rep 2,879 Posts Drives: camels & donkeys Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Plantation, Fl iTrader: (7)	1. you dont need anything but your standard iphone cable, not the usb/Y cable bmw gives you (that's for older setups). 2. you could even stream (st bluetooth) all your audio (mp3's, etc) wirelessly if you really like. __________________ F87 M2 Competition, Sunset Orange, Exc, DCT. SOLD F80 M3 Mineral Grey/Sakir Orange, Exc, DCT... ED 6/2015 SOLDE90 M3, Interlagos Blue / M individual two-tone, ZCP, ZP2, ZCV, DCT, ED.
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03-21-2011, 02:37 PM	#4
M&AGuy Private 5 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	guys, there is really no difference between using the Y cable and the standard Apple cable (let's just call it a "cable"). Question for you is whether there is any difference in functionality between connecting through a CABLE vs. connecting through the iphone 4 CRADLE. If there is no difference, the cradle seems like a pretty expensive hunk of plastic. __________________ 2011 E93 M3 (JzB/FR-ext, M-DCT, Akrapovic Evolution exhaust, MS pulley, spacers, air filter, rear diffuser, a few other things...) 2008 E93 M3 (IB/G, 6MT, RPi exhaust, others... hit from behind and totaled); 2006 E46 M3C (CB/Cin, SMG, SuperSprint exhaust, others... retired); 2004 E46 M3C (CB/Cin, SMG, SuperSprint exhaust, others, spin out in rain and totaled); 2001 E46 M3C (SG/G, 6MT, retired)
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03-21-2011, 08:59 PM	#7
///M Rakete Rocket Scientist 33 Rep 948 Posts Drives: BMW 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Utah iTrader: (4)	Supposedly the cradle gives you an inductive connection for the external antenna but the efficacy is probably variable. __________________ 2015 BMW M5 Sedan Returned to BMW at end of lease.
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03-22-2011, 07:41 AM	#8
mhaghighi Private First Class 27 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Competition package Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (1)	also you should see the art work for the songs played through your iphone (ipod) on the cd/multimedia menu. it looks great. so iphone and ipod at same time really. The hope was to have the software upgrade so that we could use the office feature in the idrive but of course hasnt happened.
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03-22-2011, 07:43 AM	#9
mhaghighi Private First Class 27 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Competition package Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (1)	mine has worked great. no issues at all by the way so far besides taking the cover off the iphone. I have 3Gs by the way
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03-22-2011, 10:31 AM	#11
Alekshop 436 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: E30 M3 l E46 M3 l GT4 l 991 RS Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8)	it suppose to improve phone reception.
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03-22-2011, 12:10 PM	#12
cloud8r Member BMW CCA Los Angeles 32 Rep 470 Posts Drives: 2022 M8 GC Comp Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M4 [0.00]	Doesn't streaming via Bluetooth have a lower audio quality than the cable? If so how perceptible is it? __________________ Current Rides: 2022 ///M8 GC Comp Much enjoyed: 2018 ///M4 ZCP \|\| 2014 ///M5 ZCP \|\| 2011.5 ///M3 Sedan \|\| 2007 ///M Coupe \|\| 2008 550i Sport \|\| 2006 ///M3 ZCP \|\| 2008 X3 3.0si \|\| 2006 325i \|\| 2003 Z4 3.0 Roadster \|\| 2003 330ci \|\| 2002 325i
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