Hard drive compatible with the E60's USB/iPod interface
10-08-2008, 04:40 PM
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If you've followed some of the older threads here about using USB hard drives instead of an iPod or flash drive, you probably know that based on a drive's power requirements, some work well and some don't work at all.
For about a year now, I've been using a 2.5" Hitachi drive in a Dynex external USB enclosure and have had some great (but not perfect) results. The issue I was having was that sometimes the drive wouldn't spin up when power was first applied to the drive. Every once in a while, I had to "help" it spin up by tapping the drive or shaking it somewhat. Once it began to spin, the thing always worked really well.
Recently, I got tired of having to help it spin so I went back and read the older threads about this and decided to find a drive with lower power requirements. Other members seemed happy with using a 1.8" drive instead of a 2.5" one. I was almost ready to buy a 1.8" drive and enclosure to mount it in when I stumbled on what seems like the perfect solution for our cars...
The Aegis Mini Ultra-Portable Pocket Drive (made by Apricorn) is pretty much made for the E60!
Not only does it require less power (and so far it seems to spin up without any help each and every time), it has a built in USB cable and fits PERFECTLY in the console!
It comes in 80Gig or 120Gig versions and I ended up getting the 80Gig version for $134.24 at Provantage.
Here's a link to the Apricorn product page for more information:
http://www.apricorn.com/product_detail.php...amp;anc=#bottom
Although I've only had it for a day, I'm pretty sure that it will not let me down since the old drive worked most of the time and I'm sure that this unit requires considerably less power.
In case anyone is interested in the older discussions on this topic, take a look here:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=42656
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=45644
Hope that helps -- if I encounter any problems over the next few days, I'll be sure to post an update!
(One more small detail I want to make note of...recently I had an E90 loaner -- a 335i coupe -- and found that my old drive worked every time with the USB inteface on that car. Clearly, it seems that BMW has upped the power output of the interface but if you don't already have a drive, getting the one I describe above is probably the safest bet.)
For about a year now, I've been using a 2.5" Hitachi drive in a Dynex external USB enclosure and have had some great (but not perfect) results. The issue I was having was that sometimes the drive wouldn't spin up when power was first applied to the drive. Every once in a while, I had to "help" it spin up by tapping the drive or shaking it somewhat. Once it began to spin, the thing always worked really well.
Recently, I got tired of having to help it spin so I went back and read the older threads about this and decided to find a drive with lower power requirements. Other members seemed happy with using a 1.8" drive instead of a 2.5" one. I was almost ready to buy a 1.8" drive and enclosure to mount it in when I stumbled on what seems like the perfect solution for our cars...
The Aegis Mini Ultra-Portable Pocket Drive (made by Apricorn) is pretty much made for the E60!
Not only does it require less power (and so far it seems to spin up without any help each and every time), it has a built in USB cable and fits PERFECTLY in the console!
It comes in 80Gig or 120Gig versions and I ended up getting the 80Gig version for $134.24 at Provantage.Here's a link to the Apricorn product page for more information:
http://www.apricorn.com/product_detail.php...amp;anc=#bottom
Although I've only had it for a day, I'm pretty sure that it will not let me down since the old drive worked most of the time and I'm sure that this unit requires considerably less power.
In case anyone is interested in the older discussions on this topic, take a look here:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=42656
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=45644
Hope that helps -- if I encounter any problems over the next few days, I'll be sure to post an update!
(One more small detail I want to make note of...recently I had an E90 loaner -- a 335i coupe -- and found that my old drive worked every time with the USB inteface on that car. Clearly, it seems that BMW has upped the power output of the interface but if you don't already have a drive, getting the one I describe above is probably the safest bet.)
10-08-2008, 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='688566' date='Oct 8 2008, 08:40 PM
If you've followed some of the older threads here about using USB hard drives instead of an iPod or flash drive, you probably know that based on a drive's power requirements, some work well and some don't work at all.
For about a year now, I've been using a 2.5" Hitachi drive in a Dynex external USB enclosure and have had some great (but not perfect) results. The issue I was having was that sometimes the drive wouldn't spin up when power was first applied to the drive. Every once in a while, I had to "help" it spin up by tapping the drive or shaking it somewhat. Once it began to spin, the thing always worked really well.
Recently, I got tired of having to help it spin so I went back and read the older threads about this and decided to find a drive with lower power requirements. Other members seemed happy with using a 1.8" drive instead of a 2.5" one. I was almost ready to buy a 1.8" drive and enclosure to mount it in when I stumbled on what seems like the perfect solution for our cars...
The Aegis Mini Ultra-Portable Pocket Drive (made by Apricorn) is pretty much made for the E60!
Attachment 61307
Not only does it require less power (and so far it seems to spin up without any help each and every time), it has a built in USB cable and fits PERFECTLY in the console! It comes in 80Gig or 120Gig versions and I ended up getting the 80Gig version for $134.24 at Provantage.
Here's a link to the Apricorn product page for more information:
http://www.apricorn.com/product_detail.php...amp;anc=#bottom
Although I've only had it for a day, I'm pretty sure that it will not let me down since the old drive worked most of the time and I'm sure that this unit requires considerably less power.
In case anyone is interested in the older discussions on this topic, take a look here:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=42656
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=45644
Hope that helps -- if I encounter any problems over the next few days, I'll be sure to post an update!
(One more small detail I want to make note of...recently I had an E90 loaner -- a 335i coupe -- and found that my old drive worked every time with the USB inteface on that car. Clearly, it seems that BMW has upped the power output of the interface but if you don't already have a drive, getting the one I describe above is probably the safest bet.)
For about a year now, I've been using a 2.5" Hitachi drive in a Dynex external USB enclosure and have had some great (but not perfect) results. The issue I was having was that sometimes the drive wouldn't spin up when power was first applied to the drive. Every once in a while, I had to "help" it spin up by tapping the drive or shaking it somewhat. Once it began to spin, the thing always worked really well.
Recently, I got tired of having to help it spin so I went back and read the older threads about this and decided to find a drive with lower power requirements. Other members seemed happy with using a 1.8" drive instead of a 2.5" one. I was almost ready to buy a 1.8" drive and enclosure to mount it in when I stumbled on what seems like the perfect solution for our cars...
The Aegis Mini Ultra-Portable Pocket Drive (made by Apricorn) is pretty much made for the E60!
Attachment 61307
Not only does it require less power (and so far it seems to spin up without any help each and every time), it has a built in USB cable and fits PERFECTLY in the console!
It comes in 80Gig or 120Gig versions and I ended up getting the 80Gig version for $134.24 at Provantage.Here's a link to the Apricorn product page for more information:
http://www.apricorn.com/product_detail.php...amp;anc=#bottom
Although I've only had it for a day, I'm pretty sure that it will not let me down since the old drive worked most of the time and I'm sure that this unit requires considerably less power.
In case anyone is interested in the older discussions on this topic, take a look here:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=42656
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=45644
Hope that helps -- if I encounter any problems over the next few days, I'll be sure to post an update!
(One more small detail I want to make note of...recently I had an E90 loaner -- a 335i coupe -- and found that my old drive worked every time with the USB inteface on that car. Clearly, it seems that BMW has upped the power output of the interface but if you don't already have a drive, getting the one I describe above is probably the safest bet.)
10-08-2008, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by juris335' post='688575' date='Oct 8 2008, 08:59 PM
Wow. Top drawer info, Rudy. Thanks. Just curious as to what types of data do you put onto the hard drive, besides mp3s, that you can use in the e60? Thanks again.
10-08-2008, 10:41 PM
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I tried a hitachi 2.5" (with an adapter to US
and on my 5 (I have the Dension Gateway 500) it didn't spin up: the light came on, but it didn't work.
I don't need 80 or 120 GB (I got an USB stick), but who knows if this Aegis works on the Dension...
and on my 5 (I have the Dension Gateway 500) it didn't spin up: the light came on, but it didn't work.I don't need 80 or 120 GB (I got an USB stick), but who knows if this Aegis works on the Dension...
10-09-2008, 07:00 AM
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My Ride: 03 BMW E60 520i - Steptronic - Black Sapphire - Style 116 wheels (Pirelli PZero Rosso) - PDC - Beige Dakota Leather - Dark Poplar Wood
I haven't read any of the previous threads regarding this but I just want to add something that you might find useful. Last week I was on Dension's representative and I saw a Dension accessory named USB booster. It was a 15-20 cm USB cable with some circuitry on the one side and an extra red wire which I thing is connected to 12V power to provide the extra power needed to run some hard drives. I checked Dension's website but is not listed there. If someone is interested in this cable just let me know and I can call the shop and get more info.
