Can the CD player play mp3 CD's or is there a way to make this work? There Must be a way to hack windows!
BMW dealerships in Australia would like to charge me over $1,000 for the ipod integration kit and 2 days to install! useless...

Thanks
Chris.

 

in the states you can play MP3 cds from the factory. 1,000 for the ipod kit

you are going to get yoru best answer from someone in your region

 

Not all systems play mp3s - some have to be upgraded. I never bothered with mine - seemed a bit too expensive. But there are some people on here that've installed the iPod adapter themselves, saving on the part and one hour of labor at the dealer - if you do this, you'll only have to pay the dealer one hour of labor, vs 2hrs, for updating the software. So you can probably realistically have an iPod adapter installed for about 300 USD altogether. AND as a bonus, your CD player will play mp3s after the software update

 

installing the adapter takes about 30-45 seconds. no kidding.

 

yeah, i've read about installing the adaptor...removing the stacker etc... but i have nowhere to buy it from in Australia and BMW want around $700-800 for it!
does the adaptor use the existing cables from the stacker? and is there no need to do any updates in i-drive?

 

Hi
Here in Thailand adaptor is 2500Baht around 75US$

 

I have 2004 with October 2003 build date. So Calif. Dealer quoted me over $600 to install I Pod Interface. The CD Changer must be removed. this is not making much sense since I paid over $700 to have a CD changer installed 3 years ago. I checked Dension Gateway thinking I could add I pod and keep CD changer installed. No go for my build date. It will work but you have to manually select songs on I Pod and cannot via I Drive. So way too much money for Dension over $500 and have to have a cord with I Pod hanging out to adjust songs. If I had a newer E60 2006 year on I believe then Dension may work via I Pod and can keep the CD Changer. Very confusing so you need to spend time on the bluetooth I pod forum and read the posts. I was going to buy Apple I phone to do both phone and I pod and snap in adapter where it would charge phone and use the roof antenna, but my car is too old for snap in adapter to work. There is no wiring in the central armrest for the snap in adapter for my build date. What I can do is remove the CD changer and get I pod Interface about $300 I think. Then complain to my dealer that I should have I pod software installed ( see the posts to verify this) My dealer said they would intall MP3 software, but I need to have the Interface already installed for the main I Drive computer to recognize. The dealer was vague as to whether or not they would charge for this? Didn't want to answer my question. I'm willing to bet that if I remove the CD changer and install the I Pod Interface, result will be an error code and dealer will charge me for removing the error code. Not exactly trusting of the dealer as I caught them trying to charge me to install a brand new computer when another dealer said there is nothing wrong with it. Another story...