6FL option and Creative Zen

stevie996 · 08-19-2009, 03:12 AM

Does anyone know if a USB interface lead is available for the Creative Zen?

BMW only lists one for an Ipod.

Steve

doughboy · 08-19-2009, 05:31 AM

Steve,

AFAIK they only do a special IPOD 'y' lead with split control and audio. This is better for pre-HDD nav cars and cos ipod owners are too precious about there little gadgets

Theres no need for this. The zen uses a mini usb right? so just plug that straight into the 6FL socket (armrest) and you can access the media with the zen acting as a dumb mass storage device, just like a memory stick?

Much better audio quality when the CAR is doing the decoding rather than the zen / ipod etc.

tomgrey · 11-11-2009, 02:23 PM

I haven't got my car yet, arrives in couple of weeks. I wondered, can you attach portable hard drive via USB connection?

I have a 22GB MP3 collection. This will fit USB stick, but I can get a 60GB sata portable drive, USB powered, for £30.

Will it work. If I had MPEG4 video on the hard driver would the BMW play them?

M3-FAST · 11-11-2009, 04:17 PM

I had a small USB powered HDD and the car would not power it up.

I have used a 32GB memory stick but the car used to take ages to index it every time you started up. Used to take 30 secs or so before any music was played.

Can't beat an ipod ultimately for the full idrive control and functionality.I currently use a 120GB Ipod classic (latest one) and it works perfectly and holds my entire music collection.

mjh93sa · 11-12-2009, 01:22 PM

Some in the US have had success with HardDrives in the past, I think they were the Western Digital Passport, but in general many have tried and failed.

Personally I started with a USB stick, but have now gone to a 160GB iPod classic. In reality there is no difference between the iPod and the USB stick when working with large capacity device, at least with the pre-LCI iDrive. The first use takes a while to load the file structure, but that is only when you change stuff, otherwise a couple of seconds to load from the device when changing to search by genre or artist etc, regardless of if using a stick, or an iPod.

M3-FAST · 11-12-2009, 02:56 PM

LCi cars are defo different then as the USB stick just became a PITA to use on a daily basis. Not seamless enough for my tastes! The ipod starts up as quick as say the FM radio would and searching is instant.

My old car had 6FL but no idrive so searching was done through the head unit.

tomgrey · 11-12-2009, 03:05 PM

I am a bit of a lazy arse with my music, like to stick it on shuffle and see what I get rather than pick genre or albums. Can the BMW do shuffle? With uSB stick and or Ipod?

doughboy · 11-12-2009, 03:14 PM

yep.

just put it on random with a USB stick. either random from all or from the playlist / search results.

tomgrey · 11-12-2009, 03:21 PM

Thanks DB. I expect it is too much to expect it to play MPEG4 via media centre.

doughboy · 11-12-2009, 03:23 PM

according to BMW spec the usb only plays MP3, AAC and WAV audio.

M3-FAST · 11-12-2009, 04:28 PM

I have tried playing vids off the ipod and no, doesn't work unfortunately.

With the ipod you can play random tracks from either the whole ipod, or genre, or artist.

RagingKileak · 11-13-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

I have tried playing vids off the ipod and no, doesn't work unfortunately.

With the ipod you can play random tracks from either the whole ipod, or genre, or artist.

Where is the option for that mate?

I have the 6FL in the 1 series and I am happy enough listening to my albums in that order, but random would be welcome - how do I sort that out?

Matt

08-19-2009, 03:12 AM	#1
stevie996 First Lieutenant 35 Rep 396 Posts Drives: BMW F36 435d M Sport Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wales,UK iTrader: (3)	6FL option and Creative Zen Does anyone know if a USB interface lead is available for the Creative Zen? BMW only lists one for an Ipod. Steve
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08-19-2009, 05:31 AM	#2
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Steve, AFAIK they only do a special IPOD 'y' lead with split control and audio. This is better for pre-HDD nav cars and cos ipod owners are too precious about there little gadgets Theres no need for this. The zen uses a mini usb right? so just plug that straight into the 6FL socket (armrest) and you can access the media with the zen acting as a dumb mass storage device, just like a memory stick? Much better audio quality when the CAR is doing the decoding rather than the zen / ipod etc.
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11-11-2009, 02:23 PM	#3
tomgrey Private First Class 12 Rep 153 Posts Drives: e93, M sport, 269 alloys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: bristol iTrader: (0)	USB interface - audio and video I haven't got my car yet, arrives in couple of weeks. I wondered, can you attach portable hard drive via USB connection? I have a 22GB MP3 collection. This will fit USB stick, but I can get a 60GB sata portable drive, USB powered, for £30. Will it work. If I had MPEG4 video on the hard driver would the BMW play them?
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11-11-2009, 04:17 PM	#4
M3-FAST Defected to the dark side..... 210 Rep 5,795 Posts Drives: BMW M5 LCi Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stafford, UK iTrader: (11) Garage List 2009 E90 M3 [10.00] 2007 325i M-sport C ... [9.00]	I had a small USB powered HDD and the car would not power it up. I have used a 32GB memory stick but the car used to take ages to index it every time you started up. Used to take 30 secs or so before any music was played. Can't beat an ipod ultimately for the full idrive control and functionality.I currently use a 120GB Ipod classic (latest one) and it works perfectly and holds my entire music collection.
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11-12-2009, 01:22 PM	#5
mjh93sa Major General 147 Rep 5,080 Posts Drives: 530d Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [10.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [5.50]	Some in the US have had success with HardDrives in the past, I think they were the Western Digital Passport, but in general many have tried and failed. Personally I started with a USB stick, but have now gone to a 160GB iPod classic. In reality there is no difference between the iPod and the USB stick when working with large capacity device, at least with the pre-LCI iDrive. The first use takes a while to load the file structure, but that is only when you change stuff, otherwise a couple of seconds to load from the device when changing to search by genre or artist etc, regardless of if using a stick, or an iPod. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i Now: 530d
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11-12-2009, 02:56 PM	#6
M3-FAST Defected to the dark side..... 210 Rep 5,795 Posts Drives: BMW M5 LCi Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stafford, UK iTrader: (11) Garage List 2009 E90 M3 [10.00] 2007 325i M-sport C ... [9.00]	LCi cars are defo different then as the USB stick just became a PITA to use on a daily basis. Not seamless enough for my tastes! The ipod starts up as quick as say the FM radio would and searching is instant. My old car had 6FL but no idrive so searching was done through the head unit.
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11-12-2009, 03:05 PM	#7
tomgrey Private First Class 12 Rep 153 Posts Drives: e93, M sport, 269 alloys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: bristol iTrader: (0)	I am a bit of a lazy arse with my music, like to stick it on shuffle and see what I get rather than pick genre or albums. Can the BMW do shuffle? With uSB stick and or Ipod?
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11-12-2009, 03:14 PM	#8
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	yep. just put it on random with a USB stick. either random from all or from the playlist / search results.
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11-12-2009, 03:21 PM	#9
tomgrey Private First Class 12 Rep 153 Posts Drives: e93, M sport, 269 alloys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: bristol iTrader: (0)	Thanks DB. I expect it is too much to expect it to play MPEG4 via media centre.
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11-12-2009, 03:23 PM	#10
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	according to BMW spec the usb only plays MP3, AAC and WAV audio.
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11-12-2009, 04:28 PM	#11
M3-FAST Defected to the dark side..... 210 Rep 5,795 Posts Drives: BMW M5 LCi Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stafford, UK iTrader: (11) Garage List 2009 E90 M3 [10.00] 2007 325i M-sport C ... [9.00]	I have tried playing vids off the ipod and no, doesn't work unfortunately. With the ipod you can play random tracks from either the whole ipod, or genre, or artist.
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