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      09-23-2012, 04:10 PM   #1
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Y cable

What does the y cable do that a standard Apple USB and a phono to phono wouldn't do...?
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      09-24-2012, 05:24 AM   #2
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If you haven't got professional media or enhanced Bluetooth, it allows you to access your iPhone or iPod through the idrive system.

If you only have the standard stereo set up, without nav, the standard apple USB will not allow you to access your music library, you need the Y Cable. You can use the 3.5mm jack to jack, but then you need to control the music from the actual device, not the idrive.

I'm using an eBay special, for £10 and it works just fine.
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      09-24-2012, 05:51 AM   #3
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I currently have an F10 520D with no nav and use the standard apple supplied usb cable with my i pod.
I can control my music through the i drive system no problem and have always wondered what benefit using a Y style cable would bring too?
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      09-24-2012, 06:38 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glackster View Post
If you haven't got professional media or enhanced Bluetooth, it allows you to access your iPhone or iPod through the idrive system.

If you only have the standard stereo set up, without nav, the standard apple USB will not allow you to access your music library, you need the Y Cable. You can use the 3.5mm jack to jack, but then you need to control the music from the actual device, not the idrive.

I'm using an eBay special, for £10 and it works just fine.
OK so i have to confess to being an idiot.. I ordered said cable from eBay and it duly arrived today. However, on Friday i got myself an iPhone 5 and sold the iPhone 4 - so there's me thinking that i don't care about the new connector on the iPhone 5 to be hit with an issue 4 days in!

Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew520d;
I currently have an F10 520D with no nav and use the standard apple supplied usb cable with my i pod.
I can control my music through the i drive system no problem and have always wondered what benefit using a Y style cable would bring too?
If i connect my iPhone (4, when i had it, or 5) with the standard Apple cable i get nothing at all. I wonder if the iPod is different in some way, as far as the connectivity goes. I don't have Nav - in fact the only thing i have is standard bluetooth and USB audio.

So now i have to wait until a) someone releases a Y cable with the new connector - or Apple release the adapter which won't be for a few weeks yet.
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      09-24-2012, 11:20 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew520d View Post
I currently have an F10 520D with no nav and use the standard apple supplied usb cable with my i pod.
I can control my music through the i drive system no problem and have always wondered what benefit using a Y style cable would bring too?
For some reason, the software on the F10 allows this to work with only a standard Apple cable. Unfortunately you get screwed on the F30 with the standard audio setup. Pishflaps.

My boss is on a new 520ed and he can use the standard USB cable, even gets the album artwork and he's only running the base audio setup without nav, not sure if you get enhanced Bluetooth as standard on the car?
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      09-24-2012, 11:48 AM   #6
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It's all about the option 6NF - telephone USB Audio Interface. Nothing to do with Enhanced Bluetooth. If you get enhanced Bluetooth then you can do all the funky stuff wirelessly but if you're talking about using a standard Apple USB cable then you need 6NF )

If the 520 you speak of works then it has that options or it's standard
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      09-24-2012, 01:54 PM   #7
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where can you get esys/enet coding cable in the uk from for f30 m sport
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      09-24-2012, 02:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaestroAl
It's all about the option 6NF - telephone USB Audio Interface. Nothing to do with Enhanced Bluetooth. If you get enhanced Bluetooth then you can do all the funky stuff wirelessly but if you're talking about using a standard Apple USB cable then you need 6NF )

If the 520 you speak of works then it has that options or it's standard
Thanks for the clarification.

Does anyone know what can be retrofitted in the UK? For example, has anyone been able to take a standard car (6NH Bluetooth hands-free with USB audio interface) and add any of the following?

6NF telephone USB audio interface
6NK enhanced BT with USB audio interface
6NR mobile application preparation
6AL BMW Live
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      09-24-2012, 02:32 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MaestroAl View Post
It's all about the option 6NF - telephone USB Audio Interface. Nothing to do with Enhanced Bluetooth. If you get enhanced Bluetooth then you can do all the funky stuff wirelessly but if you're talking about using a standard Apple USB cable then you need 6NF )

If the 520 you speak of works then it has that options or it's standard
Does anyone else find this incredibly confusing- apps, connected drive, enhanced bluetooth how are you supposed to know what to order?

MaestroAl- you seem to have a fair idea- any chance you could give me your view on what i can or can't do with 6NK Enhanced Bluetooth and 6NR Audio USB?

Haven't gone for Nav options so limited in what i could achieve so hedged my bets with these two- hoping to play/stream Spotify and connect ipod at the same time.

Any insight welcome - my dealer didn't have a clue!
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      09-25-2012, 02:31 AM   #10
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Dude, I'm honestly no expert but, like yourself I expect, I got no straight answers from my dealer and turned to the internet for support

Here's my understanding.

If you want to stream music and control your phone via iDrive, you need enhanced Bluetooth which is available separately or comes with the NAV system. You're then responsible for charging your phone yourself.

If you want to use a standard iPhone cable and plug your phone into the USB socket in the armrest (or glovebox) and do the same thing, then you want USB Audio prep thingy but as far as I can tell, they effectively achieve the same goal, the only difference being that you have to physically plug in your phone for this option. Oh, and it charges obviously. Another plus to this option is that you can buy a cheap 64GB USB stick, copy a shed load of muzak onto it, plug it into your glovebox and forget about it.

If you want to stream internet radio and stuff and use MyFace and Twitbook then you need Mobile Application Preparation. This automatically adds USB Audio prep. There are also a few other fun apps available but not many. One "big" plus of this is that you can turn your iDrive screen into something that looks just like an iPod screen when you're playing music.

If you want to stream video (?) then you have to have the full media cradle but in order to have the full media cradle I believe you have to have Apps and consequently USB Audio. The media cradle also means that the phone uses the car's external antenna for making calls, theoretically giving you better reception.

I would say that if you're not getting NAV and you want maximum connectivity from your phone then get enhanced Bluetooth and USB Audio as a minimum. If you want the cradle then get the Mobile Apps thingy. I covered all bases and just ordered the lot along with Pro NAV, partly because I wanted maximum functionality from my phone but mostly because I'm a sucker

Please don't take this as gospel though - by all means use it as a guide to help you in the right direction but I don't yet have my car and when it comes, I'll have every media option so I can't really say for sure what does what Hope this helps somewhat though!
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      09-25-2012, 02:35 AM   #11
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USB Audio
Enhanced Bluetooth
Mobile Apps
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      09-25-2012, 03:19 AM   #12
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Quote:
If you want to stream internet radio and stuff and use MyFace and Twitbook then you need Mobile Application Preparation. This automatically adds USB Audio prep. There are also a few other fun apps available but not many. One "big" plus of this is that you can turn your iDrive screen into something that looks just like an iPod screen when you're playing music.
So my question is: Does anyone know if USB Audio (6NF) and Mobile Apps (6NR) can be enabled by coding or does it require different hardware..?

Just going to do a bit of searching on the web and other forums. If i find the answer myself i'll report back!
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      09-25-2012, 03:31 AM   #13
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My understanding is that there is a dealer fit option for the Mobile Apps but not for the USB Audio thingimabob.
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      09-25-2012, 03:42 AM   #14
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Yes i think i have just found the same.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=524

So i guess BMW will charge £££ for the 6NR retrofit, but some aftermarket options may start to appear...

Need to find out about 6NF now..
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      09-25-2012, 09:08 AM   #15
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MaestroAl you are amazin!

Don't care if any of it is wrong at least it makes sense and I have a fighting chance with my dealer- gonna give them a ring and add the Mobile Apps ( if I can with out Nav?)

I have done the Nav/ hard drive etc in my current Audi and have used it 3 times and uploaded just one album - just easier to whack in an iPod classic or USB and get what you want that way

Once again thanks for the clarity
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      09-25-2012, 09:55 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mungogrubb View Post
MaestroAl you are amazin!

Don't care if any of it is wrong at least it makes sense and I have a fighting chance with my dealer- gonna give them a ring and add the Mobile Apps ( if I can with out Nav?)

I have done the Nav/ hard drive etc in my current Audi and have used it 3 times and uploaded just one album - just easier to whack in an iPod classic or USB and get what you want that way

Once again thanks for the clarity
What Mungogrubb said! Makes more sense to me too now. Cheers MaestroAl
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