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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics > Supported HDD and USB audio formats
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      03-15-2017, 02:46 PM   #1
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Supported HDD and USB audio formats

Does anyone have a definitive list of the supported audio (and video) formats from the HDD and/or USB thumb drive?
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      03-15-2017, 06:26 PM   #2
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Another one to add to this. Does the NBT support artwork in FLAC format audio files?
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      03-19-2017, 04:01 PM   #3
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NTFS is supported, but FAT32 is recommended.
I have not found a media format that is not supported.
I mostly use flac and tag with Mp3tag. Artwork is supported.
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      07-11-2018, 04:43 AM   #4
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FAT32 is only working, which is ridiculous

Tried to play music through my 64GB USB-drive.
First, I tried NTFS with AAC files. The drive is recognised, but only about 5% of the tracks/artist/albums are recognised and are playable.
Second, I tried ExFat with Ogg Vorbis. The system plays Ogg files without a problem, but now less than 1% of the files etc are recognised. Instead of 5000 tracks I can only choose from around 100 tracks.
I went to the dealer to help me out, appears they are pretty useless on this. Didn't even know what Ogg Vorbis is.
So I formatted a 128GB MicroSD card with Fat32 and added 6000 songs (FLAC and MP3) to the drive. Now it works!

However, one needs to be pretty tech savvy to format a drive with over 32 GB as FAT32. Windows doesn't support it. I used a program called "guiformat.exe".

The same issue arises with the Navigation Update. The BMW download manager program asks for a FAT32 formatted drive. I tried a 32GB drive, but it was too small. So one can only update the navigation with a larger drive. But most people wouldn't know how to format such a drive with FAT32.

It becomes time that BMW supports ExFat or even better NTFS fully.
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      07-11-2018, 05:00 PM   #5
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enjoythemusic says he is using a 1TB SSD Drive.

Quote:
Originally Posted by enjoythemusic View Post
Personally... avoid the internal HD / ripping feature like the plague. Takes forever, is proprietary-ish file type, low quality lossy compression, a PIA to get your files back out of it, etc. Just rip your CDs in FLAC using the free Exact Audio Copy program. Them simply use a thumbdrive or SSD. Am using a Samsung 1TB SSD in the 435i
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      07-11-2018, 08:57 PM   #6
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Thanks and yes i am, Samsung 1tb SSD. This case in USB-A config seems to play well with the BMW system. I forget the exact details why about the chipset that makes it play nice, yet it works and that's what counts.

Only $10

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQTO8TU
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      07-11-2018, 10:46 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by enjoythemusic View Post
Thanks and yes i am, Samsung 1tb SSD. This case in USB-A config seems to play well with the BMW system. I forget the exact details why about the chipset that makes it play nice, yet it works and that's what counts.

Only $10

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQTO8TU
I guess the bigger question is how and what file system did you format it with?
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      07-12-2018, 06:37 AM   #8
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exFAT, though to be fair am only using about 300GB of the 1TB space. This 435i has all the tech options and was built in April 2014. The armrest USB port also keeps the drive hidden, yet easy to access.

Of note is that if the car hasn't been driven in a few days/week, sometimes the audio system 'forgets' the file structure so has to 're-index' it while the 'first song' plays.

Again, i forget the exact reason why yet THIS SSD CASE IN USB-A CONFIG https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQTO8TU seems to also make a difference too. As a geek who stayed at a Holiday Inn, think there's something about the HD controller/whatever in the SSD case that talks to the car's chipset all nicey-nice.

Apologies for non-tech details, haven't had my first cup of ristretto yet.
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Last edited by enjoythemusic; 07-12-2018 at 03:36 PM..
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      07-18-2018, 06:47 AM   #9
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Interesting that the car recognizes exFAT, this format is ok if you're using a Mac and NTFS works just as well if you only work with Windows.
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