525d MSport

Can anyone advise if on the LCI when the iPod kit is fitted you still lose the CD changer functionality.

And no I didn't opt for the USB interface - maybe I should have done.

Obviously I have the 6 disk CD changer, but am looking at ways of increasing on board music. The single slot CD is MP3 compliant. How many tracks can you stuff onto a CD-R?

Using the Aux in seems a bit limited - I can see me fiddling with the MP3 player rather than concentrating on the road hence the IPod question.

Also, does anyone know if the USB socket is available as a retrofit?

Thanks,

JSpira

But if that?s the case, you can only use the MOST Interface (old kit) which is not bad but does not have as polished a user interface and suffers from some file size limitations (number of tracks). It also doesn?t allow you to go to Genres when you are playing a track in Playlists, for example.

I heard of a retrofit but I believe it is for 3ers without iDrive.

525d MSport

Jonathan,

Thanks for the response.

What would you suggest as a way forward. The iPod route, or burning some Mp3 disks?

Thanks,

JSpira

I had the first MOST bus iPod adapter installed (goes back to June of last year) and I was very happy with it. The limitations are really not noticeable (at least from my perspective) and you get used to the fact that CD1 means playlists etc.

The factory option is better and less expensive but that isn?t possible in your case.

The installation on a 5er with a CD changer is fairly straight forward so I would recommend you go with the iPod interface.

My article on the USB option may give a bit more insight into this.

525d MSport

So I should have specified the USB as an option!

You say that with the iPod the playlist comes up as CD1, does this mean that the CD changer can no longer be used then?

Sorry for so many questions.

Thanks,

JSpira

Ja, the MOST interface for the iPod connects to the MOST bus port that the CD changer would use. Trust me you will be much better off using the iPod than the CD changer.

Russ1974

Also just to pick up on something you touched on earlier ... MP3 discs will _not_ play in the CD changer, only in the "in dash" single slot.

525d MSport

Russ,

How many tracks can a CD-R (mp3) contain please?

What info will be displayed if playing MP3 on disk from the single slot?

Why the 5 series CD changer is non-MP3 compliant I don't know.

All the brochures for 3 series, etc say they now are, why not the 5?

6 compressed disks would be a decent capacity!

Thanks,

525d MSport

Anyone?

Russ1974

Average CD, 650Mb. So it depends how big your MP3 files are. Assume 3Mb each, and that's 225 (around 20 average albums) on a CD. They will be displayed "as is" from the CD... e.g., put them in folders and name them however you like, and that's how they will appear on the screen.

It should also be noted that if you have Nav and aren't using it, you can put a DVD (4.7Gb) of MP3's in the nav dvd slot, which means around 1250 songs. Numbers are approximate as it really depends on file size, but will give you an idea.

No idea why the CD Changer doesn't play MP3s, but that's how it is!