“It sometimes seems like the whole world is plugged into Apple Computer’s iPod digital music players. You see the iPod’s distinctive white earbuds on the street, and in buses, trains and planes. But there’s one place in America where the iPod has difficulty going: the automobile,” Walter S. Mossberg reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“Now, Apple has joined forces with the German luxury car maker BMW to solve this problem. The two companies have come up with an integrated system for plugging an iPod into a BMW and streaming its music through the car’s audio system. It’s called the BMW iPod Adapter, and is available for $149, plus installation costs, on any 2002-2004 BMW 3 Series model, Z4 Roadster, or X3 and X5 SUVs. Some specific BMW configurations can’t use the adapter,” Mossberg reports. “BMW and Apple aren’t just any two companies. They are widely imitated corporate icons, known far and wide for their design and engineering skills. So, you’d think their joint effort at mating the iPod and the car would be a brilliant, smashing success. But you’d be wrong.”
Full article here.
I for one would buy and pay for an Apple in-dash iPod solution. I wouldn’t mind in the least if I had to replace my current stereo.
I guess buy and pay for mean the same thing huh….
It’s BMW’s fault. For those who didn’t know, they use Microsoft software embedded into various chips that run the car including navigation and stereo control.
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If I could get an in-car kit for my Toyota Hi-Lux I’d definintly buy (and pay
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BMW’s are SO common
ANY portable music player that uses lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries will have problems in a car. All the user has to do is leave the device in the car for a hot day or two and the batteries will be destroyed. Some information below:
http://www.fact-index.com/l/li/lithium_ion_battery.html
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
“For all its limitations, the BMW adapter is a welcome development. But it’s frustrating that the car industry can’t do better.”
At least he places the responsibility for its crudeness appropriately — on the car industry, not Apple.
I can imagine the adverts they’d show in Britain. “Wire your iPod to your South London Cortina”. Now if a prestige brand (think Audo or Saab) worked with Apple on this, they would do it right first time, no wishy washy half measures.
You know, I have a 2003 330xi, and I wanted to buy this thing, but I went to the dealership and they sold me just a cable to plug into the back of the stereo. It then mounts in the glove box, and my ipod plugs right into it. It’s user installable, cost me $40, and my ipod plugs right into it. It’s compatible with all generations of ipods, it just simply doesn’t charge the ipod, and I can’t change my playlists from the stereo.
Fine by me. It sounds great and I love it.
Sparky,
I have the same setup with my 2003 525iT. To charge the ipod, I use a cig lighter adapter (from BMW) that plugs into the flashlight charger in the glovebox.
Can’t wait for the Alpine solution arriving in the fall.
Read this somewhere….
First level of integration: Steering wheel buttons control volume and fwd / back.
Second level of integration: iPod screen mirrored in the navigator screen — full playlist navigation while driving
Third level of integration: Wirelessly synch’ your car’s built-in iPod [optional extra] from your comp or your iPod.
Fourth level of integration: plug your butt to the car and it drives itself and blows music outta your ears.
They should figure out how to have the iPod display come up on the dashboard or in the middle of the steering wheel. Maybe even have a scroll wheel right in the middle of the steering wheel? Not THAT would be cool.
Maybe BMW could license it and use it for controling more than the iPod too.
My Nissan Sentra came with an auxiliary input on the factory stereo. I just plup the iPod into that with a mini to mini cable from Radio shack. Cheaper than a BMW.
Alpine, which makes the BMW radios, is supposed to be incorporating the capability of connecting the iPod into some of their retail products. If you are either in the process of buying a new radio or “just can’t wait” to get you iPod connected check them out.
I believe all Alpine decks from 2003 and 2004 can connect to the iPod, you just need the adapter box, which will be out soon. [url=http://www.alpine1.com]http://www.alpine1.com[/url]
BMW has been slipping in recent years.
The american, yes american, that they have styling their cars is making them all look like the garish mess we see coming out of Tokyo: lines, proportions and styling that looks like it was done by a 10-year old. Take the roundel off the hood and the new 5-series could be the next Camry.
BMW used to make fun of the US carmakers because of their huge and heavy cars, sporting engines that suck gas. Now BMW builds big and heavy cars with big engines that suck gas.
First the Windows Media promotion, then the IE only website, now BMWs that look like Toyotas. OMG
@ NoPCZone
I agree. Since the release of the illfated BMW 7 series with the tabletob trunk hood, design is going down the drain. The new 5 series does look like a japanese car.
I own 2 BMW’s and you people that are taking cheap shots at the new BMW’s are either jealous or uniformed (or both) …BMW sales are UP 18% in the second quarter of 2004..um, let me see who else had an increase like that…. and as far as the IPOD adapter goes…What other CAR MAKER that has even tried a solution!…as the new BMW’s arrive the IPOD integration will improve as BMW’s always do.
Steve
Has anyone here gotten one installed? Ive thought about it but would like to see one first…
<Off topic> I owned a number of Japanese cars before the turn of the century. Without exception, every one of them had better sound than the bmw I bought this century. </Of topic>
Have you guys figured out yet why they put it in the glovebox? When you see someone stopped at a red light leaning over and disappearing towards the passenger side, he’s changing playlist. When you see someone do the same in the middle of the freeway, he’s playing dice with your life.
The bmw connection is a stopgap solution — better’n nuthing. I’m sticking with my iTrip until the 2nd level of integration, despite the poorer sound.