[Razor1973]

New BMW owner here. I just assumed someone else's lease (think swapalease.com or leasetrader.com) on a mint 2007 335i sedan, 6-speed, Premium, Sport, Navi. For those of who you think this process is easy, quick or cheap, think again, as it's none of those. But it's over and now I am the proud "owner" of my first BMW (see my signature for previous cars).

Other than introducing myself and my car, the reason I am posting is because I am trying to figure out the whole iPod adapter/CD changer mess. Mess for me, anyways, since I have been searching and reading on here and still don't get it. I have read there is a factory iPod adapter and also one that's dealer installed and gives you pretty much the same options. I just don't know which one I have, but I am hoping you can help me figure this one out.

Where does the CD changer go? I know the BMW changer is not in-dash (darn) and the most common locations I see these are: glove compartment, center console and trunk. The changer is definitely not in the glove box and, by just opening the center console cover and looking in, it doesn't look like it's in there either, although there is a rubber cover that I did not remove, but may be hiding the face of the changer.

As far as the iPod adapter, there is a cable in my glove box where I was able to connect my iPod.

Now, using iDrive, I went to Entertainment and there is no iPod, so I selected CD and saw CD1 through CD6. By selecting CD1, I had access to the entire first album on my iPod, but found no way to navigate through the artists, albums, genres, etc.

Using this information can you already tell whether I have a CD changer or not and whether I have the factory or the dealer installed iPod adapter? The original owner also handed me a manual for the iPod adapter. Is this something you would get with the dealer installed option?

In this manual, it says "It is not possible to use the BMW CD changer and the iPod interface at the same time in your BMW. If your device has a CD changer, the connection plugs on the CD changer must be disconnected." So how exactly do I do this? If I have to choose, I'll definitely choose iPod over changer, but I think I read somewhere that the dealer installed iPod adapter (if that's what I have) allows you to also use the changer. Wrong?

Any advise will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Lexor1704]

If you connect your Ipod via the glove box you have the dealer installed Ipod solution. The factory version, 6FL, consists of a USB and aux port in the center console. As to the CD changer it installs in the left side of the trunk where there is a little door under the piece of plastic labeled CD. Open that flap and if you see the changer you have it. Hope that helps and enjoy the car!

[Razor1973]

Thanks. Now what does "the connection plugs on the CD changer must be disconnected" mean? I want to use the iPod adapter as it's supposed to be used, even if that means sacrificing the changer.

TIA!

[ntpcrew13]

you have the dealer installed ipod interface. it takes the place of the cd changer that is the reason why you see CD1-CD6. if you had the 6fl option you would see it in the center console with an AUX input and usb slot next to it.

[Razor1973]

Yes, now, how do I make my iPod work?

Based on the first response, I removed that plastic cover in the trunk that says "CD" on it and saw a silver box inside that looks like it's surrounded by a heat difused. I then removed what seems to be the power cord in the back (the connector has a red LED in it that you see once you remove it), went back in the car, started it and the iDrive screen automatically said "SOS call system not functioning" or something like that. It went away after about 1 minute. Is this normal? Will I get it every time I start the car? What exactly does it mean? I didn't like the sound of that.

Anyways, I selected Entertainment on my iDrive and then CD again. This time, the screen read "Retrieving CD contents" or a similar phrase, but it never went away during my 10 minute drive from home to work, so I don't even know if that worked either. I guess I will try again once I leave this evening.

Am I on the right track?

[ntpcrew13]

the silver box is the stock oem logic 7 amp. you shouldnt be disconnecting anything. the reason why the dealer installed ipod cannot work with the cd changer is because it uses the same cable. also i heard that if your ipod has over 40gig worth of music that it takes a while to load.

[Razor1973]

Well, it wasn't until I disconnected this cable that I got the message saying the system was retrieving the music on my iPod (CD, actually). Otherwise, I only see the first album on my iPod in CD1 and that's it. Read first post for details. Read there also what the manual says about unplugging the CD changer in order to be able to have the iPod adapter work. I am just trying to find out what it is I should be unplugging.

[ntpcrew13]

i did read your first post. the only reason why the manual says unplug the cd changer to use hte ipod adapter is because you cant use both. they use the same wire. you dont even have the cd changer from what you are saying so there is no reason to unlpug the wire. like i said before, you shouldnt be unplugging anything. the reason why your only getting one album listed on your navi/idrive is because the dealer installed ipod interface only allows 6 playlists to load. it doesnt operate exactly like hte 6fl ipod/usb adapter.

also if you are having further issues or just dont want to tackle the issue, you can just bring it in the dealer since the car should still be under warranty.

[Razor1973]

Oh, is that how the dealer-installe iPod adapter really works??? Each CD is one playlist and you can only have 6? What??? Well, come to think about this... This album is not in a playlist at all. I also read in another thread that the functionality of the dealer installed and factory option is almost the same except for podcasts. Yes, no?

[enforcerman]

Here is a BMW video to help you out. Each "CD" is a specific thing. CD 1 is your playlists, CD 2 is by Artist, CD 3 is Album, CD 4 is Genre, CD 5 is podcast, and CD 6 randomly picks up to 500 songs from your ipod and plays them.