Recommendations For USB Flash Drive

[frankzlin79]

I've got a 2008 E93 M3 coupe with ipod+usb option. I've got an iPhone, but it's too much hassle to hook up the iPhone to the supplied cable, since my commute is generally less than 20 min.

I'm looking for a USB flash drive to keep in the car for long term. I'm looking for something around 4 gb, and that is not too tall, so that I can close the storage compartment completely. Any suggestions?

[Ronin13]

Here's a thread with some options.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114132

[frankzlin79]

That thread mainly talks about the Corsair Flash Voyager. I'm aware of that drive, but I was looking for something less bulkty and more micro in size, that still delivers fast read/write speeds.

[Nucking Futs!]

I don't recommend the Corsair Flash Voyager. Every 1 out of 5-6 times I startup the car, it doesn't read so I have to unplug then plug it in again. Even then it doesn't read it asap, usually takes a few minutes. FWIW, I have about 8.5gb's of mp3's on there.

[Ronin13]

Originally Posted by Nucking Futs!

I don't recommend the Corsair Flash Voyager. Every 1 out of 5-6 times I startup the car, it doesn't read so I have to unplug then plug it in again. Even then it doesn't read it asap, usually takes a few minutes. FWIW, I have about 8.5gb's of mp3's on there.

Sorry to hear that. For me, I'm using the 16GB version and I haven't experienced that problem.

OP - The Corsair plugs directly in without interference with closing the armrest. So, its size works. There was another thread around here from earlier in the year where they measured the maximum length of drives that would fit. That may help if you are looking for a selection of the shorter drives.

[BMWTECH#007]

I got picked up a generic on ebay and it works just fine.

[jlaw]

+1 for the Flash Voyager. It fits vertically without an issue and is cushioned to protect it from shocks and bumps.

I experience the non-read issue sometimes, but there's no need to unplug the drive. You just nudge the iDrive selection up one level and click on it and it will re-read it.

[Nucking Futs!]

Originally Posted by Ronin13

Sorry to hear that. For me, I'm using the 16GB version and I haven't experienced that problem.

Yep, I have the 16gb version as well. I read somewhere awhile back it wouldn't fit directly on there (vertically) unless you trim the rubber end. I'll have check later today. Perhaps the issue is that I'm using the BMW included 6" extension cable. It's always garaged parked & I got it in the middle of summer (read: heat/humidity of Texas) yet I'm still having issues right now (in the cold) so I don't think temperature is an issue.

Originally Posted by jlaw

+1 for the Flash Voyager. It fits vertically without an issue and is cushioned to protect it from shocks and bumps.

I experience the non-read issue sometimes, but there's no need to unplug the drive. You just nudge the iDrive selection up one level and click on it and it will re-read it.

That's the first thing I tried when I started having issues but it only works 1/4th of the time for me.

[808MGuy]

I just bought a 32GB OCZ Rally 2 drive. Waiting for it to arrive so I can post a review. Reviews look good though as its been tested to have faster read and write times than the Corsair Voyager. I really wanted to try the 16GB Corsair Voyager GT but I couldn't find one available anywhere. It's seems to have been discontinued already. The GT is a faster version of the standard Voyager. OCZ has a turbo version of their drive but the max capacity is 8GB. The regular Rally drive is still very fast though.

[MacDaddy]

Originally Posted by frankzlin79

I've got a 2008 E93 M3 coupe with ipod+usb option. I've got an iPhone, but it's too much hassle to hook up the iPhone to the supplied cable, since my commute is generally less than 20 min.

I'm looking for a USB flash drive to keep in the car for long term. I'm looking for something around 4 gb, and that is not too tall, so that I can close the storage compartment completely. Any suggestions?

Generic works fine. In Houston, the Micro Express on the West Loop at San Felipe has great deals. I got my 32GB for ~$80 almost two months ago. They seem to fall in price (or new higher capacity units are introduced) about every week.

[Big Windy]

Originally Posted by jlaw

+1 for the Flash Voyager. It fits vertically without an issue and is cushioned to protect it from shocks and bumps.

I experience the non-read issue sometimes, but there's no need to unplug the drive. You just nudge the iDrive selection up one level and click on it and it will re-read it.

+2. My 16GB flash voyager works great. I never unplug it, and I never have issues. I'd recommend it.

[Subw00er]

These are really neat. Its a SD card that "folds" in half to reveal a USB connector. Its probably as small as you are going to get. Largest they have is 8gb I think, but thats still a lot of music. The 4gb version is more affordable.. I use a 2gb one in my camera. It works great and its fast.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDSDPH...7637687&sr=1-1