2 questions...

1. If you have the 6 CD Changer AND Sirius Satelitte, will this work? IpodYourBMW says no.

2. Can you control EVERYTHING through the iDrive system with this new interface? Do you even need to touch your ipod, once it's hooked in? Can you scroll through artists, albums, playlists, functions, etc.? Or just certain playlists?

You'll have to replace your CD changer. Sirus isn't a problem. As for controls, you can access all your play lists. I'm not sure if there is a limit to the number of play lists but I have 30GB of songs on my iPod and I just keep it in the glove box and haven't touched it since installing it.

But what if you don't use playlists?


I always browse by Artist.

Yes, the new interface will let you browse by playlist, album, artist, podcast, or genre.

The only problem with iPod adapter is it's very slow when go from browsing by playlist to album to artist, and so so. Very very slow because it needs to sort out the data. :( Other than that, I'm very happy with it.

I never got the idea that does the head unit process the file system or the emulator does? Also the ipod plays the MP3 and the sound is processed inside the emulator ...so bus radio or prof radio shouldn matter, but I dont know...my vehicle does not play mp3 and has 6 cd changer with hifi and business radio with single cd. I will get my unit sometime this century...so will let you guys know if i was able to play it with sw update and mp3 enable.

I don't know but it's clear that one of the units receive the list from the iPod, sorts items and show results. Most of the list are limited to 255, 500 or 100 items, depending on type of head unit.

It really matters: business radio doesn't work with iPod interface, at least pre September05

There is a protocol to give commands to the iPod like play, pause, next, etc. as well as commands to list out the artists, albums, genres, etc. The iPod connector reads input from iDrive or radio and sends commands to the iPod. It also interprets the response from the iPod to display on the car's radio. Once you pick a song, however, the iPod does the actual decoding and playing of the file. It sends the line-level audio out through pins on the docking connector.

FYI.

So this clears of the confusion some ppl have wit their Bus vs Prof radio, either ways you WILL be able to do it, with SW update.