[penet05]

Hi,

When I click on CD/Multimedia on iDrive it says no device is found (no selection available), and nothing is listed there although usb flash drive (with MP3's) is plugged in the usb port in the armrest. Am I missing something here? car is 2014 320i.

thanks.

[Manulap92]

Hi,
Normally, Under CD / Multimedia, you should see a menu with at least these items :

• CD/DVD
• External Devices
• Tone

USB is available under External Devices (with Bluetooth audio and 3,5mm jack).

[MMVI]

I presently have a 5 series and the USB port that you must use for music is in the glovebox. The arm rest interface does not work for music play. Do you have this second port.

[penet05]

As far as I know, in F30 the USB port in the arm rest is being used.

When I go to CD/Multimedia devices there is no option available there. No USB or aux option listed. Empty listing. It just says no external device found. Can it be a software issue?

[xjet04]

If you are using a USB Flash drive, you have to use the port in the glove box. The USB port in the center arm rest is for use with iPod's and the like.

[crono06]

I think it also has to be formatted a particular way to get it to work. I could be completely wrong though. I've only tried this with my iPhone via Lightning cable to the arm rest USB and it worked fine.

[Frogman]

Glove box USB is for importing music onto the HDD.

Armrest USB is for playing music directly.

USB needs to be formatted as FAT32, the car will not read exFAT32.

Sticks formatted as NTFS do work, but you may need to update the Bluetooth/Media software in your car first.

[penet05]

Originally Posted by Frogman

Glove box USB is for importing music onto the HDD.

Armrest USB is for playing music directly.

USB needs to be formatted as FAT32, the car will not read exFAT32.

Sticks formatted as NTFS do work, but you may need to update the Bluetooth/Media software in your car first.

Both sticks are formatted with Fat32.

I think this info maybe helpful for me: Without anything plugged in, do you see a number of selection(s), ie. USB and or Aux devices, under CD/Multimedia menu?

[335i_4D]

When you go to CD/Multimedia, it may have defaulted to CD.
Push left on your iDrive command, and the menu with all the selections should appear.

Frogman's right about the use of the USB port in the F30.
Personally, I use the armrest for the iPod 5 that stays there permanently (BMW Apps).
Glovebox is used to charge the phone, import music only in my case.

[Manulap92]

I'm right too with Frogman and 335i_4D.

I use a 16Gb usb stick formated in FAT32 in the arm rest usb port and it works perfectly (either with an USB3 stick which is well recognized).

Can you post a pic of your empty iDrive menu . It could be easier to understand your problem

Thanks.

[Fronzdan]

There is no glove box USB in F30 MY14. I suspect your memory stick needs to be reformatted to FAT32. Or you have your music in some kind of folder hierarchy that iDrive doesn't like. Reformat it, put a few simple Mp3 files in the root directory and see what you get.

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by 335i_4D

When you go to CD/Multimedia, it may have defaulted to CD.
Push left on your iDrive command, and the menu with all the selections should appear.

Frogman's right about the use of the USB port in the F30.
Personally, I use the armrest for the iPod 5 that stays there permanently (BMW Apps).
Glovebox is used to charge the phone, import music only in my case.

My glove box USB port does not supply enough current to charge a phone. You can plug it it, but I don't think it will actually charge.

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

There is no glove box USB in F30 MY14. I suspect your memory stick needs to be reformatted to FAT32. Or you have your music in some kind of folder hierarchy that iDrive doesn't like. Reformat it, put a few simple Mp3 files in the root directory and see what you get.

AFAIK, you only get the glove box USB port in cars with the CIC (old) based navigation. No nav, no USB port.

Also, I don't think the 2014's have the USB port there either, you only get the one in the armrest. I have a '12, so I can't say for sure.

Anyone with a '14 have a USB port in the glove box?

[penet05]

Originally Posted by Manulap92

I'm right too with Frogman and 335i_4D.

I use a 16Gb usb stick formated in FAT32 in the arm rest usb port and it works perfectly (either with an USB3 stick which is well recognized).

Can you post a pic of your empty iDrive menu . It could be easier to understand your problem

Thanks.

Here is the screen that I get after I enter CD/Multimedia menu from iDrive.

[nicklouse]

It remembers the last type of "external" device you used, be in CD / external / built in HDD. As said above, just push left on the idrive controller and you should get back to the menu listing external then you can select and pick usb/ bluetooth etc.

[Fronzdan]

Originally Posted by Frogman

AFAIK, you only get the glove box USB port in cars with the CIC (old) based navigation. No nav, no USB port.

Also, I don't think the 2014's have the USB port there either, you only get the one in the armrest. I have a '12, so I can't say for sure.

Anyone with a '14 have a USB port in the glove box?

Yeah I have '14 and no port in glove box...at least not in the US. Trust me I looked and looked and looked, lol. I wanted to put a flash drive in there "permanently".

Off topic, but does anyone actually use the HDD? What for? It doesn't hold all that much. And with multiple sources of audio files (bluetooth, snap-in, glove box USB, satellite, radio, CD or DVD) who needs it?

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

Yeah I have '14 and no port in glove box...at least not in the US. Trust me I looked and looked and looked, lol. I wanted to put a flash drive in there "permanently".

Off topic, but does anyone actually use the HDD? What for? It doesn't hold all that much. And with multiple sources of audio files (bluetooth, snap-in, glove box USB, satellite, radio, CD or DVD) who needs it?

My music is on the HDD. I have to be a bit selective as 12GB isn't all that much, but it's adequate.

My wife's music is on the USB stick in the arm rest. I got her one of those tiny 32GB SanDisk drives, it doesn't get in the way at all.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00812F7O8

They even come in 64GB now!

I don't have the snap-in, or satellite, and CD/DVD's are too bulky / clunky.

I do stream from my phone once in a while; that works great too.

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by nicklouse

It remembers the last type of "external" device you used, be in CD / external / built in HDD. As said above, just push left on the idrive controller and you should get back to the menu listing external then you can select and pick usb/ bluetooth etc.

Precisely !

When you see arrows (on the controller in the display, left) or "+" (display, to the right), it means you have more options selectable.

1 thing that I would recommend... (sorry for the F, not my smily)

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by 335i_4D

Precisely !

When you see arrows (on the controller in the display, left) or "+" (display, to the right), it means you have more options selectable.

1 thing that I would recommend... (sorry for the F, not my smily)

There's nothing wrong with "Read the Fine Manual"...

[Manulap92]

I don't use the HDD to store music because it doesn't support Album Art Cover , as an usb stick in the arm rest does.
So for me , it's USB rather than HDD (i'm a little bit disappointed to have an HDD not used because it gives less functions than a simple usb stick )

[vabopi]

I have a pen drive permanently in the usb port under the central armrest. No usb port in the glove box on my 2014 f30. I am a bit puzzled about organizing >1000 mp3 files. It seems the letter dial works only after I select something like music genre, interpreter, album etc. and is not available when I most need it, i.e. to locate a song title or an interpreter among a thousand others. To reach a song with a title beginning with a T (for instance), I have to scroll several hundred titles until I reach the desired music. Or am I missing something?

I have a few CDs ripped to the hard drive with album art.

[Fronzdan]

I agree, the interface isn't very good