Hi there,

I've got a 2008 530d LCI with professional navigation

When i plug my 32g iphone 3gs into the usb stock; it charges but the usb audio feature is off.

Telephone works fine thru bluetooth....

thoughts? please help

 

Are you using the BMW supplied cable? BMW has a special cable that plugs into the UBS slot and the Aux In socket.

 

No just the standard white cable.....how much is this bmw cable?

can i control the iphone thru idrive and steering wheel?

 

Have you tried selecting the "Aux" input in the i-drive menu where you can choose "radio" or "cd" or "cd changer". My local dealer suggested this to me but my car has the older 2005 radio etc. which doesn't have the option.
Cheers
Ray

 

Hmm, based on your 530d, you are not in the US. Here in the states, the cable comes as part of the iPod option. Try your dealer but I recall it being something like $75 (US).

And yes, you control the iPod function through the iDrive and steering wheel buttons...

 

I never stopped to think about whether you could use the white USB cable Apple gives you to connect to your car. It seems that was what you were using. But I doubt BMW would charge you for their version of the same thing, so maybe it doesn't work, I dunno.

I read somewhere that the 3.0 OS has some issues with the iDrive recognizing. I have a Touch, and it works fine, but maybe the iPhone has yet to be fixed. If you can, downgrade from 3.0 on your iPhone and see if the problem is still there.

Just some random info:

The 2.5 or 3.5mm (I can never remember) headphone jack cable just plays music and does not charge your ipod. You also shouldn't be able to use the steering wheel controls to change songs; you'll have to manually do it through the iPod itself. The one that plugs into the iPod's dock slot should be the one that allows you to see song titles and use the steering controls to change songs. On an iPhone, which I believe has Bluetooth, you still use the phone button on the steering wheel to answer and hangup phone calls.

Again, it maybe the OS update that's doing this to you, and if you were using the iPhone in your car without problem before, then it must be the update. Thing is, doesn't the 3GS come with 3.0 allready? If so, then it still must be a compatibility issue with the iDrive.

 

Right, to get the full functionality of the iPod/iPhone, you need the BMW cable which is Y shaped, plugging in to the USB port and the Aux port (headphone jack as you call it). The headphone jack transfers the sound but the USB cable handles the data on songs etc...

 

If you use the White IPOD cable, you will be able to 1)charge your phone, 2)Use bluetooth but the Idrive will NOT recognize your 3Gs or 3G. If you use the BMW "Y"cable, your 1) Iphone will be recognized by the Idrive, 2) your bluetooth will work but your phone will NOT charge. The BMW "Y" cable is not recognized by the 3Gs as an approve charging device and will not charge the phone. I have tested a 3G, 3Gs, Nano, Ipod Classic Gen5 and Ipod Touch. Only the Nano and Gen1 charge with the BMW "Y" cable and the Iphone's and Touch do not. I know that there is an adapter which you can purchase which you plug into the BMW "Y" cable and then plug that into your Iphone which will fool the phone into thinking the it is an approved adapter and will charge your Iphone. I read about it on this forum and you should be able to search for it. I hope this helps.

 

I've had a Touch in my center console (using the BMW supplied cable, software 2.0) for more than a year now, has only seen the light of day twice to update playlists. It seems to be charging just fine. Both times I unplugged it and looked, the battery indicator showed fully charged...

 

It may be because I have the 3.0 update. I will check again and verify. I do know that my nano used to work with the apple cable untill I did a iPod firmware update then I had to use the BMW Y cable so it may be a firmware issue