I think most dealers just don't have the facts and don't want to check into it - But I will find out for sure in about a week. Now here is the long story, just because I need to bitch:

It seems like everybody is getting different information regarding what model years will accept the Ipod Interface.

I had my car in for the scheduled vehicle check a couple of days ago and unfortunately I am dealing with a new SA. I asked him when I made my appointment last week that I wanted the Ipod interface - can he check into it.

When I dropped the car off, no clue. Said he had to have service check the build date.

Picked the car up - no Ipod. "Ipod not available for this model year production" Said they cross referenced VIN with parts.

Now the thing I don't understand is that it replaces the 6-disk changer. So, if you have a 6-disk changer, what would they have changed that would not allow this upgrade?

I checked with the service manager and he pulled it up. Said there should be no problem.

So, I call service today. He says no problem and is ordering me one. $300 without installation. I asked him about the confusion and he said when BMW posted it, they did not properly reference the models it would work with - whatever.

So, I have ordered one and will try to have it installed next week. I will let everybody know.

 

I would be very interested to know because my car's production date is just one month before yours - Jun 2004.

My SA told me the iPod interface won't work for my car. I've read on this forum that I would need a software/firmware upgrade which is not even out yet for my car.

 

I hope your SA is wrong, but I would not bet on it.

I will post next week after I see what happens.

 

>I would be very interested to know because my car's production date is just one month before yours - Jun 2004.

Me too, very interested in the outcome, I have a December 04 with CD changer

>Now the thing I don't understand is that it replaces the 6-disk changer. >So, if you have a 6-disk changer, what would they have changed that >would not allow this upgrade?

I agree but I seem to recall this is not as straightforward as we all originally assumed. I'm sure I read of people with CD changers/early release cars where the ipod interface didn't work. I suspect though the adapter is emulating a CD changer there is still some dependency on SW/HW versions somewhere.

 

My car is a 04/2005 built. Business radio, no CD Changer, but factory pre-installation.

iPod integration doesn't work, it only works with business radios if built after september 2005.

Dealer is changing my radio to professional next week.

 

jsal - any update on this? Did v23 fix your situation?

I have a 2/04 545 with Nav. Will v23 allow ipod integration to work? I did buy the ipod interface, but it isn't working right now (I have v17 currently installed).

Thx!

 

jsal - sorry - just realized you probably wouldn't be trying this until this week. Keep us posted!

BTW - I have Nav and a CD changer.

Thx!

 

Something does not sound right here fellas.

I have a May 05 production E61, professional radio (L7), no Nav and did not have a 6 CD changer previously installed. The dealer had to update the vehicle to progman 23 to get the interface to work as activation was not possbile using progman 22.XX. I was told by the shop forman that under 23, there is an option to activate ipod interface that is not available under 22.

I had a Mar 04 production E60 up until early September of this year. I spoke directly to the fellow at BMWNA who is the product manager for the ipod integration who told me that my early production E60 was not compatible with the ipod interface until a future SW update addressed a firmware issue in the head unit. He told me over the phone that any car built after March 05 was compatible but may require a software update. He also told me that the software was being tested by BMW and was to be released by the end of October. I am assuming that is the update that was included in progman 23.

 

[ He also told me that the software was being tested by BMW and was to be released by the end of October. I am assuming that is the update that was included in progman 23.
[/quote]

Ademitt - just to make sure i understand this statement - are you referring to the SW update needed for March 05 or later, or the SW updated needed to update the firmware in earlier models?

 

In my discussions with BMWNA, I was specifically told that it was for the pre 03/05 builds. I specifically asked the fellow from BMW what was going to happen to the early build cars (as my car at the time was affected). That's when he passed on the information regarding the software update being required for the early builds.

A bit of background regarding the install in my May 05 production E61. The day they originally started my install, the dealerhsip only had 22.XX. They were unable to complete any programming as MP3 playback was not an available on my car during porgramming (due to build date I assume). They connected and activated a 6 cd changer and then plugged in the ipod adapter thinking that once the 6 cd changer was in place, you could swap it out for the ipod interface. it did not work and we decided to wait for 23.0 to be released.

Tried again a few days later using 23 and reinstalling the build sheet for the car from scratch (setting the vehicle back to factory status to delete the 6 cd changer installation attempt) then followed by a full update to 23. At that time, an option came up on the programming interface that gave the tech an option to enable MP3 for ipod interface. Enabled the interface and everything worked perfectly.