iPhone connection?

jmexx · 11-01-2008, 09:21 AM

Hey guys,

I picked up my 135i a couple of days ago (haven't had a chance to post yet since I was driving it like I was on steroids) and I noticed that plugging the iPhone in via the USB jack just charges it. Is it not supposed to play music from that? Do I have to plug it into both the USB and AUX jack? That would seem kind of pointless for the "integration" part. Especially since I could've just put a charger where the 12v connection is...

I go into the Audio options and select USB and it just flashes insert...

Do I need a special iPod/iPhone wire?

Thanks!

bily · 11-01-2008, 10:18 AM

There should have been 2 wires in the glove box on delivery. A regular aux jack wire and a dual connection wire, usb/aux. That is the one that will allow you to connect your iphone and have full integration for your music. But you phone does not need to be plugged in to just use your phone. The bluetooth will pick up the signal. I only plug mine in when I want the music. But the sound quality is not as good from the iphone as it is from burning a cd. Just a heads up.

jmexx · 11-01-2008, 12:11 PM

Nope, no cable... Then again it was a demo but I specifically asked the salesmen if there was a particular cable, he said "No, just use the one that came with the iPhone". I tried using the the iPhone cable and an standard aux cable at the same time. I still can't enter the USB option. I can use the AUX option and have my iPhone charge with the USB but it defeats the whole "integration" part.

He better give me that cable for free

Teddieman · 11-04-2008, 08:07 PM

I have the Itouch and found that you have to use the dual connection Apple have purposly made it that way the calbe is an excessary here in Australia you need to buy seperatly but the BMW dealer through it in when we Purchased the Car

EspressoBoy · 11-04-2008, 08:09 PM

jmexx, yup hope he does. FYI, some paid like $110 for it.

If he said it, hold him to it.

EspressoBoy

jmexx · 11-05-2008, 01:51 PM

After a couple of days waiting for him to answer my phone call, he finally called me back telling me that I can pick up my cable whenever I get a chance! I'll be heading there this evening, I hope it works well!

I read a couple of posts saying that it doesn't charge the iPhone? It's strange because just the USB cable seems to charge the iPhone pretty well.

We'll see tonight!

john970 · 11-05-2008, 04:22 PM

Search is your friend on this one.

You need the BMW cable with the mini jack and usb connectors on one end and the ipod connector on the other. The car uses the phone to play the music and just directs the output to the car's amplifier. It does this as the car cannot decrypt itunes store music files. There should be no perceptible difference in audio quality between this and a burned CD from the same audio source files (the only difference is the signal path from the armrest to the headunit and the use of the iPod DAC versus the headunit DAC).

Also, the 135 (or any 1er afaik) has no connectors in the glovebox for an audio source.

jmexx · 11-05-2008, 08:19 PM

I just find it ridiculous that it doesn't come with it.

I went to the dealer to pick it up today and he brings me this USB extension cable... I was uber confused. I asked him "what in the world do you want me to do with that?"

Apparently that cable you're all talking about is $105 over here...

If I plug in the iPod cable and aux cable separately, it doesn't work. It doesn't make sense, the only thing that the USB does is charge the iPhone while the USB audio option is non-selectable.

Any other cable that can do the same thing without costing $105 for 4 inches of copper wire...?

john970 · 11-06-2008, 04:08 PM

You can make one yourself if you are motivated enough. All it does is take two pins from the dock connector to the line out, and two from the usb for power (5 volts). It will probably cost you about $10 in parts.

Probably not worth the effort though. I got mine free (usa cars came with it).

jmexx · 11-06-2008, 05:08 PM

Bah, he still hasn't gotten back to me...

I don't trust myself to make a cable

. Anyone want to make me one for 20$?

john970 · 11-10-2008, 01:53 PM

I'm making a cable to enable charging on the 5V pins from a charger with only 12V pins, and I can assure you it is a huge PITA.

If you value your time at more than 2 cents an hour, buy the bmw one.

11-01-2008, 09:21 AM	#1
jmexx Private First Class 3 Rep 110 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	iPhone connection? Hey guys, I picked up my 135i a couple of days ago (haven't had a chance to post yet since I was driving it like I was on steroids) and I noticed that plugging the iPhone in via the USB jack just charges it. Is it not supposed to play music from that? Do I have to plug it into both the USB and AUX jack? That would seem kind of pointless for the "integration" part. Especially since I could've just put a charger where the 12v connection is... I go into the Audio options and select USB and it just flashes insert... Do I need a special iPod/iPhone wire? Thanks!
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11-01-2008, 10:18 AM	#2
bily Lieutenant 84 Rep 540 Posts Drives: 22 G05, 22 G26 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 i4 [0.00] 2022 BMW X5 [0.00] 2015 BMW 428 Cabriolet [0.00]	wires in glove box There should have been 2 wires in the glove box on delivery. A regular aux jack wire and a dual connection wire, usb/aux. That is the one that will allow you to connect your iphone and have full integration for your music. But you phone does not need to be plugged in to just use your phone. The bluetooth will pick up the signal. I only plug mine in when I want the music. But the sound quality is not as good from the iphone as it is from burning a cd. Just a heads up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-01-2008, 12:11 PM	#3
jmexx Private First Class 3 Rep 110 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	Nope, no cable... Then again it was a demo but I specifically asked the salesmen if there was a particular cable, he said "No, just use the one that came with the iPhone". I tried using the the iPhone cable and an standard aux cable at the same time. I still can't enter the USB option. I can use the AUX option and have my iPhone charge with the USB but it defeats the whole "integration" part. He better give me that cable for free
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11-04-2008, 08:07 PM	#4
Teddieman Z4 Maniac 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: Sep 2012 Z4 2.0i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	Ipod Cable I have the Itouch and found that you have to use the dual connection Apple have purposly made it that way the calbe is an excessary here in Australia you need to buy seperatly but the BMW dealer through it in when we Purchased the Car
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11-04-2008, 08:09 PM	#5
EspressoBoy 1addict, and proud 40 Rep 1,019 Posts Drives: BMW 135i 08 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (1)	jmexx, yup hope he does. FYI, some paid like $110 for it. If he said it, hold him to it. EspressoBoy
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11-05-2008, 01:51 PM	#6
jmexx Private First Class 3 Rep 110 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	After a couple of days waiting for him to answer my phone call, he finally called me back telling me that I can pick up my cable whenever I get a chance! I'll be heading there this evening, I hope it works well! I read a couple of posts saying that it doesn't charge the iPhone? It's strange because just the USB cable seems to charge the iPhone pretty well. We'll see tonight!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2008, 04:22 PM	#7
john970 1er 73 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Search is your friend on this one. You need the BMW cable with the mini jack and usb connectors on one end and the ipod connector on the other. The car uses the phone to play the music and just directs the output to the car's amplifier. It does this as the car cannot decrypt itunes store music files. There should be no perceptible difference in audio quality between this and a burned CD from the same audio source files (the only difference is the signal path from the armrest to the headunit and the use of the iPod DAC versus the headunit DAC). Also, the 135 (or any 1er afaik) has no connectors in the glovebox for an audio source.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2008, 08:19 PM	#8
jmexx Private First Class 3 Rep 110 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	I just find it ridiculous that it doesn't come with it. I went to the dealer to pick it up today and he brings me this USB extension cable... I was uber confused. I asked him "what in the world do you want me to do with that?" Apparently that cable you're all talking about is $105 over here... If I plug in the iPod cable and aux cable separately, it doesn't work. It doesn't make sense, the only thing that the USB does is charge the iPhone while the USB audio option is non-selectable. Any other cable that can do the same thing without costing $105 for 4 inches of copper wire...?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-06-2008, 04:08 PM	#9
john970 1er 73 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	You can make one yourself if you are motivated enough. All it does is take two pins from the dock connector to the line out, and two from the usb for power (5 volts). It will probably cost you about $10 in parts. Probably not worth the effort though. I got mine free (usa cars came with it).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-06-2008, 05:08 PM	#10
jmexx Private First Class 3 Rep 110 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	Bah, he still hasn't gotten back to me... I don't trust myself to make a cable . Anyone want to make me one for 20$?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-10-2008, 01:53 PM	#11
john970 1er 73 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	I'm making a cable to enable charging on the 5V pins from a charger with only 12V pins, and I can assure you it is a huge PITA. If you value your time at more than 2 cents an hour, buy the bmw one.
	Appreciate 0 Quote