ipse dixit

I was playing around on the BMW North America configurator and noticed that the E60 Comfort Access was a $1000 option. (See E60 Comfort Access)

Then I switch over to the E90 menu page and notice that the E90 Comfort Access was only a $500 option. (See E90 Comfort Access)

What gives???!!!

As far as I can tell, both the E90 and E60 Comfort Access are the same.

Is BMW trying to pull a fast one on us E60 folks? :thumbsdown:

m630

...and dont forget L7....in the US, you subsidize the E90 330i by way of an $1800 CD changer that is nearly useless...good ole BMW NA marketing

znod

Isn't $1,800 for premium sound and not just the changer? Expensive regardless, yes, but what makes the changer nearly useless? I like mine; it seems useful to me.

m630

...i just mean it would be more useful to now offer a true USB type plug in for iPod or any mp3 player...

znod

Yes, it would be better--to have both--iPod/MP3 and changer. But, I prefer the sound quality of CDs if the choice is either iPod/MP3 or CD changer.

m630

Yes, it would be better--to have both--iPod/MP3 and changer. But, I prefer the sound quality of CDs if the choice is either iPod/MP3 or CD changer.
[/quote]

...it absolutely should be offered, BMW was the first to have the iPod integration, but they just stopped moving forward to the logical inclusion of USB support, i mean, damn, iDrive is a pc, it could have already been easily integrated, imho,

I just recently read that now VW is offering a USB connector on new cars as an option

...as for the sound quality of mp3s or ACCs, it all depends on the original source and how you convert the files, if you use the appropriate software settings, the difference is impossible to tell

znod

Yes, it would be better--to have both--iPod/MP3 and changer. But, I prefer the sound quality of CDs if the choice is either iPod/MP3 or CD changer.
[/quote]

...it absolutely should be offered, BMW was the first to have the iPod integration, but they just stopped moving forward to the logical inclusion of USB support, i mean, damn, iDrive is a pc, it could have already been easily integrated, imho,

I just recently read that now VW is offering a USB connector on new cars as an option

...as for the sound quality of mp3s or ACCs, it all depends on the original source and how you convert the files, if you use the appropriate software settings, the difference is impossible to tell
[/quote]I could be wrong, but my understanding is that music files inveitably are compressed to some extent. Thus, if, for example, the source is a CD, then the compressed version will lose something in relation to the original. Of course, it might be hard to hear the difference depending on the quality of the sound system.

m630

...with the best settings used, anything that may be compressed is outside of the hearing range, and is undetectable even in the best systems, thats why it'd be great to trully have USB/firewire support within iDrive, allowing thousands of songs at your fingers with digital clarity

znod

...with the best settings used, anything that may be compressed is outside of the hearing range, and is undetectable even in the best systems, thats why it'd be great to trully have USB/firewire support within iDrive, allowing thousands of songs at your fingers with digital clarity
[/quote]
I see. But, you would have to do the recording yourself, right? Or, are optimally recorded tunes readily available legally? I thought not, but I am not an avid iPodder although I have one. Also, does an iPod, for example, have the ability to playback with the quality of a decent CD player?

Edit: Apple's answer to the last question is below--at least if listening using headphones. I suppose this answer implies that an iPod connected to a sound system should sound as good, for example, as the CD from which it was recorded--except maybe for any loss caused by its electronics in general--e.g.. amplifier (same with headphones).

"Question: Will music sound as good on my iPod as on my CD player?
Answer: iPod is designed to provide the best-quality sound. iPod has a powerful 60 mW amplifier so it can deliver audio as loud as you want. It also has a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, which means you can hear distortion-free music at the lowest or highest pitches. Even the iPod headphones are designed to give you the best-quality sound. The earbud-style headphones rely on Neodymium transducers, a rare earth magnet that significantly enhances frequency response and overall sound quality. Most other headphones use aluminum, cobalt, or ceramic drivers; at the same size, the Neodymium driver is five times as powerful. Because the strength of the driver increases the accuracy of the sound, the iPod headphones provide a high-energy listening experience while minimizing distortion.

To ensure CD-quality sound, be sure to use a compression setting of 160 kbit/s (the default setting in iTunes) or higher when you "rip" tracks from your CD into MP3 format, or 128 kbit/s in MP4 format (AAC)."

EBMCS03

Ya I'm not happy that the E90 gets a LOT more than the E60 as base / standard especially the 330 but on the other hand the 545 nor the 550 gets them and options are TWICE as much!!!! What gives???