[buckybadger]

Hi All,

I have a old OEM iPod cable which I used in my E90 to play music. With this cable I could see the playlist on the i-Drive display. The F30's i-Drive I have is not recognizing the OEM cable but it can still play music via the other input. I am also unable to see the playlist. I went to the dealer and they are selling the same OEM cable for $100 bucks or so. It looks exactly the same.

Then I did search the forums and saw that folks had some luck with a similar but cheaper cable available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/neXplug-Adapte...bmw+ipod+cable

I was wondering if anyone here has tried this cable and does it work?
Also did anyone have luck getting the old OEM cable to work successfully with the F30's interface?

I have the enhanced USB and was wondering if there's a special or different cable needed. Not sure it it matters but my iPod is slightly old. I got it in 2008.

Thanks for your help.

[Fronzdan]

Just use a standard Apple cable.

[fshubert]

I had an IPhone4 with my '12 F30 and the cable I kept from my '09 E90 worked just fine. But when I tried using the same set-up in my '15 F30, nothing worked right at all. I never figured it out but when I got the iPhone6, I use the cable that it comes with and plug that in the USB port and all is well. Perhaps the latest F30 software was not compatible with the older iPhone.

[chiefneil]

The older iPhone connector output music via an analog signal. The newer lightning jack outputs music via digital.

The F30 usb accepts and expects a digital signal for music. Ergo, the older analog music signal must be sent to the old-school 3.5mm jack.

[dalto]

I think you just need to use a standard 30 pin to usb cable like the one that came with your ipod originally.

[shinichilee]

Hey man, I picked up my cable at a gas station on my way back home, costs like 5 bucks. works just fine. I can see playlist and everything.
Dont buy a $100 ipod cable..Im screaming on my knees..

[buckybadger]

Thanks, I got one from best buy for $15 bucks and it works great!

[bovino]

I spent 2/3 of the lease of my F30 using that combo cable and was always mad I didn't get full sync. Then on a whim I tried a regular Apple USB cable--full sync. The combo cable prevented a full digital connection. Try that, maybe it's the same.


(My 2015 and 2016 BMWs can do everything via Bluetpoth, so the cable is just a charging port for me now.)

[rolltidef32]

I have a gen 1 iPod Touch in the car and use the old 30 pin connector that came with it or an old iPhone.

Works perfectly and I can see playlists and album art just fine.

Is that a really old iPod that doesn't show album art?

[Pauleebe]

The audio quality is so terrible with that cable and newer iPhones with lighting adapter (iPhone 5 and newer).

Really pathetic you need an adapter beyond just the OEM lightning cable, unless you get technology package. I think BMW fixed this in 2014 or 2015's or newer after lashback.