Quick Question: Charging iPhone Through USB - New 2009 2010 BMW Z4

ozankarakoc · 01-11-2012, 12:24 PM

Hi Everyone,

I have just got my new 2012 BMW Z4 28i and I'm in the process of discovering its great features.

I have a quick question. I decided to use my old iPhone (3G) in the car as a music source and it works great. I connected it via USB so that it is being charged while playing songs. However, it keeps on charging even when I stop the engine. Do you think I should plug it off when I leave the car? Would leaving it plugged to the USB port cause any problems?

Thanks a lot!
Ozan

Colorado · 01-11-2012, 12:35 PM

I have a 2012 28i on order right now. I am thinking of downloading my music from my iphone to the cars harddrive. I don't know how to do that yet, but that may be a good option for you as well. If you do that, let me know how you did it and how it works. Then you don't have the phone charging 24/7. Just a thought.

jparnes1 · 01-11-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozankarakoc

Hi Everyone,

I have just got my new 2012 BMW Z4 28i and I'm in the process of discovering its great features.

I have a quick question. I decided to use my old iPhone (3G) in the car as a music source and it works great. I connected it via USB so that it is being charged while playing songs. However, it keeps on charging even when I stop the engine. Do you think I should plug it off when I leave the car? Would leaving it plugged to the USB port cause any problems?

Your iPhone battery won't last as long if it's constantly being charged. But don't you take your phone with you when you leave the car? I suppose there is also a small drain on the car battery, but there always is anyway with these cars.

Thanks a lot!
Ozan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado

I have a 2012 28i on order right now. I am thinking of downloading my music from my iphone to the cars harddrive. I don't know how to do that yet, but that may be a good option for you as well. If you do that, let me know how you did it and how it works. Then you don't have the phone charging 24/7. Just a thought.

Colorado, you have to put your music on a thumb drive and plug it into the USB jack in the glove compartment. You can't import music through the USB int he center console. The hard drive has about 12GB of space. You'll have to navigate through the iDrive to start the import, but it's not hard. Look in your owner's manual. Now, my advice would be to import all the music you want at one time. If you do it piecemeal, you will create separate folders and the music won't be as accessible. Also you will find that if you then do a music search, the songs in the album will be listed in alphabetical order (not one of BMW's more shining moments, but then again, they're not a software company). A better way to access music is to go directly to the folder you created when you imported the music. You'll see what I mean.

jparnes1 · 01-11-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozankarakoc

Hi Everyone,

I have just got my new 2012 BMW Z4 28i and I'm in the process of discovering its great features.

I have a quick question. I decided to use my old iPhone (3G) in the car as a music source and it works great. I connected it via USB so that it is being charged while playing songs. However, it keeps on charging even when I stop the engine. Do you think I should plug it off when I leave the car? Would leaving it plugged to the USB port cause any problems?

Thanks a lot!
Ozan

Your iPhone battery won't last as long if you overcharge it. But don't you take your phone with you when you leave the car? Your car battery will probably drain a littlle, but it does anyway with these cars.

ozankarakoc · 01-11-2012, 12:46 PM

Hi Colorado,

Unfortunately, it's not possible to download music from an iPhone to the car. I tried it and failed. Then I took a look at the owner's manual and it clearly says that there's no chance.

The car is absolutely amazing and you'll love it so don't feel disappointed

ozankarakoc · 01-11-2012, 01:10 PM

After reading your answers, I noticed two things that I want to share with you.

1. The car doesn't have a USB jack in the glove compartment. The only USB jack is in the center console and it seems not to be possible to download songs by using it. But I know that the car has 12gb hard disk space.

2. I have just entered the car to unplug my iPhone to prevent it from overcharging and I heard that 'click' sound which normally comes from the iPhone when you 'start' charging it. I guess the power in the USB jack shuts off when you lock the car. That's great!

Colorado · 01-11-2012, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the suggestions and information regarding the music download. I will work with it when I get my car. I keep my ipod in my Cadillac CTS. I may just get another ipod for the Z4. I can sync the ipods to itunes for an update anytime and avoid the seperate files problem. I am a past Z3 owner (before my C6 Corvette which I traded in on the Z4) and look forward to all the new and inproved features of the new Z4. No longer will I have to struggle with the top trying to store it in the back of the Vette as rain storms approach. Push the button and in 20 seconds, I am covered. Thank you again for sharing your information. That's what makes the forum great.

jparnes1 · 01-11-2012, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozankarakoc

After reading your answers, I noticed two things that I want to share with you.

1. The car doesn't have a USB jack in the glove compartment. The only USB jack is in the center console and it seems not to be possible to download songs by using it. But I know that the car has 12gb hard disk space.

2. I have just entered the car to unplug my iPhone to prevent it from overcharging and I heard that 'click' sound which normally comes from the iPhone when you 'start' charging it. I guess the power in the USB jack shuts off when you lock the car. That's great!

Perhaps the 2012's are different, but previous MY's have the USB on the left side of the glove compartment. Did you just look for it (it's fairly unobstrusive) or did you check the manual? Check your owner's manual because you should be able to import music into the hard drive (if not, what's the point of having the space?)

BMWZ4 · 01-11-2012, 02:12 PM

+1 jparnes....if you have the HDD, then you have the glove box USB. Check again, upper left hand corner in the glove box. You REALLY have to look for it.
Dave

mstevens · 01-11-2012, 03:50 PM

The USB port in the glove box is the only way you can transfer music to the hard drive. It is very unobtrusive and took me a while to find.

It's not worth doing this. Transfers are jaw-droppingly slow. A 4GB USB drive had not transferred in the time it took my battery to discharge completely (many hours). I also tried transferring on a drive from New Hampshire to Montreal (4 hours) which also was not long enough.

jparnes1 · 01-11-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstevens

The USB port in the glove box is the only way you can transfer music to the hard drive. It is very unobtrusive and took me a while to find.

It's not worth doing this. Transfers are jaw-droppingly slow. A 4GB USB drive had not transferred in the time it took my battery to discharge completely (many hours). I also tried transferring on a drive from New Hampshire to Montreal (4 hours) which also was not long enough.

That seems uncommonly slow. I don't recall it taking so long to transfer 12GB, maybe 2 hours.

teezee · 01-11-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstevens

The USB port in the glove box is the only way you can transfer music to the hard drive.

You can also transfer music to the hard drive through the old school method of putting audio cds in the player and copying it to the hard drive from there

az34 · 01-11-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teezee

You can also transfer music to the hard drive through the old school method of putting audio cds in the player and copying it to the hard drive from there

thats the way i do it very easy.

ozankarakoc · 01-11-2012, 04:35 PM

Yes! I've found it! The only missing thing on that USB jack is a camouflage cover!

) Thanks again everyone...

I'll try to import my music files to the car today and I'll let you know about my experience.

RichysBlk35i · 01-11-2012, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozankarakoc

Yes! I've found it! The only missing thing on that USB jack is a camouflage cover!

) Thanks again everyone...

I'll try to import my music files to the car today and I'll let you know about my experience.

You got that right!! The USB port in the glove box is not only hard to find, but difficult to plug in to. Just a bit awkward. I have used both methods, from a thumb drive and direct from cd. Unless you like the full CD, collecting your favorites on a thumb drive is best. Plus the transfer is faster. Glad you found the port!

01-11-2012, 12:24 PM	#1
ozankarakoc New Member Drives: 2012 Z4 28i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	Quick Question: Charging iPhone Through USB Hi Everyone, I have just got my new 2012 BMW Z4 28i and I'm in the process of discovering its great features. I have a quick question. I decided to use my old iPhone (3G) in the car as a music source and it works great. I connected it via USB so that it is being charged while playing songs. However, it keeps on charging even when I stop the engine. Do you think I should plug it off when I leave the car? Would leaving it plugged to the USB port cause any problems? Thanks a lot! Ozan
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01-11-2012, 02:12 PM	#9
BMWZ4 Lieutenant Drives: '11 Z4 30i & '11 X3 x28i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 521 iTrader: (0)	+1 jparnes....if you have the HDD, then you have the glove box USB. Check again, upper left hand corner in the glove box. You REALLY have to look for it. Dave __________________ 2011 Z4 sDrive 30i; Space Grey, Coral Red Kansas, 6MT; Fully optioned & 2011 28i X3 Loaded

01-11-2012, 03:50 PM	#10
mstevens Mechanical Dunce Drives: 2011 Atacama Z4 35is Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 239 iTrader: (0)	The USB port in the glove box is the only way you can transfer music to the hard drive. It is very unobtrusive and took me a while to find. It's not worth doing this. Transfers are jaw-droppingly slow. A 4GB USB drive had not transferred in the time it took my battery to discharge completely (many hours). I also tried transferring on a drive from New Hampshire to Montreal (4 hours) which also was not long enough. __________________ 2011 Z4 35is Atacama Yellow Casa Suzana, vacation rental villa in Cozumel, Mexico

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01-11-2012, 12:35 PM	#2
Colorado Private First Class Drives: 2012 Z428i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 118 iTrader: (0)	I have a 2012 28i on order right now. I am thinking of downloading my music from my iphone to the cars harddrive. I don't know how to do that yet, but that may be a good option for you as well. If you do that, let me know how you did it and how it works. Then you don't have the phone charging 24/7. Just a thought.

01-11-2012, 12:46 PM	#5
ozankarakoc New Member Drives: 2012 Z4 28i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	Hi Colorado, Unfortunately, it's not possible to download music from an iPhone to the car. I tried it and failed. Then I took a look at the owner's manual and it clearly says that there's no chance. The car is absolutely amazing and you'll love it so don't feel disappointed

01-11-2012, 01:10 PM	#6
ozankarakoc New Member Drives: 2012 Z4 28i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	After reading your answers, I noticed two things that I want to share with you. 1. The car doesn't have a USB jack in the glove compartment. The only USB jack is in the center console and it seems not to be possible to download songs by using it. But I know that the car has 12gb hard disk space. 2. I have just entered the car to unplug my iPhone to prevent it from overcharging and I heard that 'click' sound which normally comes from the iPhone when you 'start' charging it. I guess the power in the USB jack shuts off when you lock the car. That's great!

01-11-2012, 01:18 PM	#7
Colorado Private First Class Drives: 2012 Z428i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 118 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the suggestions and information regarding the music download. I will work with it when I get my car. I keep my ipod in my Cadillac CTS. I may just get another ipod for the Z4. I can sync the ipods to itunes for an update anytime and avoid the seperate files problem. I am a past Z3 owner (before my C6 Corvette which I traded in on the Z4) and look forward to all the new and inproved features of the new Z4. No longer will I have to struggle with the top trying to store it in the back of the Vette as rain storms approach. Push the button and in 20 seconds, I am covered. Thank you again for sharing your information. That's what makes the forum great.

01-11-2012, 04:35 PM	#14
ozankarakoc New Member Drives: 2012 Z4 28i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	Yes! I've found it! The only missing thing on that USB jack is a camouflage cover! ) Thanks again everyone... I'll try to import my music files to the car today and I'll let you know about my experience.