iPod shuffle? - New 2009 2010 BMW Z4

Jayda · 03-17-2012, 03:03 PM

Hello- I am looking for an inexpensive and small MP3 player to leave in my car. My iPod touch works fine in the car but it is large to leave under the console and I use it for other things as well. The little square IPod shuffle only has a USB connection. Anyone know if the the car will read/play from the 4th generation iPod shuffle? For $49 and with a tiny size it seems like the way to go (I know it is only 2gb). Not sure if it matters but my car has the idrive system.

xnav · 03-17-2012, 03:13 PM

Just put your music on a USB stick.

rfx45 · 03-17-2012, 03:17 PM

Yeah USB works but for me, I have the current gen iPod nano and only slightly bigger than the shuffle. Curious though, isn't there a pocket attached to the center console cover for your iPod? Mine has it and it is made to fit ipod touch/classics.

Jayda · 03-17-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfx45

Yeah USB works but for me, I have the current gen iPod nano and only slightly bigger than the shuffle. Curious though, isn't there a pocket attached to the center console cover for your iPod? Mine has it and it is made to fit ipod touch/classics.

Yes there is a little pocket but I literally want something that never leaves the car. I do use my iPod touch for other things including when I teach and also for some interval workouts. I never put music on my phone. Yes, a USB drive would work too....duh!

richard in NC · 03-17-2012, 03:58 PM

I use a gen 3 Nano. I don't know about limitations with the shuffle.

jparnes1 · 03-17-2012, 04:59 PM

Why dont' you just transfer your music into the car's hard drive? that frees up your ipod for use elsewhere.

myst · 03-17-2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnav

Just put your music on a USB stick.

Is the other thing an aux/charger for an ipod/iphone to use the line-out? If so what kind is it? I had one but it broke, so I'm looking for a new one.

marcw · 03-17-2012, 11:21 PM

You can also put a USB drive into the USB connection in the glove box. That way it's tucked away and never has to leave the car. Or do what jparnes1 suggested and simply transfer all your music to iDrive. There is plenty of space.

ManiacGT · 03-18-2012, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcw

You can also put a USB drive into the USB connection in the glove box. That way it's tucked away and never has to leave the car. Or do what jparnes1 suggested and simply transfer all your music to iDrive. There is plenty of space.

No u can't. The glovebox USB port is for music/data import only, you can't play music directly from it. Only the armrest USB port lets you do that.

xnav · 03-18-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myst

Is the other thing an aux/charger for an ipod/iphone to use the line-out? If so what kind is it? I had one but it broke, so I'm looking for a new one.

It's the same as this, I ordered it with the car.
I leave the stick in all the time except on long trips when I want to keep my iPhone charged. Then I pull the stick and plug in the USB pigtail. My phone has more music than the stick.

35iDriver · 03-18-2012, 02:59 PM

Yes, you can use the iPod Shuffle.

Since I do not have iDrive or NAV, I set the Shuffle in the little cubby hole in the center console behind the shifter and the cord runs under the armrest into the port inside the armrest storage.

You just have to remember to turn off the Shuffle when you get out of the car. In 2.5 years I must have forgotten to turn it off about 20 times. Only to get in the car the next day to a Shuffle in need of a charge.

Atebit · 03-19-2012, 05:38 AM

I've never used a USB drive in the car, only an iPod. But I've read that it's a little easier to search through your music, shuffle-play your music, etc. using an iPod rather than just a USB drive.

As others have suggested, you might be able to get around that by dumping all your music to the car's HDD. I don't do that because I find it easier to keep my iPod updated (since I do that regularly anyway) then I would to keep the car's HDD up to date as well.

mstevens · 03-19-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Why dont' you just transfer your music into the car's hard drive?

Because it takes forever. I have literally never been able to transfer the contents of a 4GB USB stick to my internal hard drive even on the longest drive I've ever taken: 4 1/2 hours. I also tried in the garage, but the car's battery failed before the transfer was complete.

This also makes updates to playlists and additions and deletions of items difficult.

ManiacGT · 03-19-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstevens

Because it takes forever. I have literally never been able to transfer the contents of a 4GB USB stick to my internal hard drive even on the longest drive I've ever taken: 4 1/2 hours. I also tried in the garage, but the car's battery failed before the transfer was complete.

This also makes updates to playlists and additions and deletions of items difficult.

Yowzer.. you might want to look at a faster USB stick then. I have a 16GB HP USB stick, I can move 4GB off that in under 15 minutes.

jparnes1 · 03-19-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstevens

Because it takes forever. I have literally never been able to transfer the contents of a 4GB USB stick to my internal hard drive even on the longest drive I've ever taken: 4 1/2 hours. I also tried in the garage, but the car's battery failed before the transfer was complete.

This also makes updates to playlists and additions and deletions of items difficult.

There's something definitely wrong there. I transfer 12GB to fill the hard drive in about 1 hour. Maybe you have a bad stick. Try another.

Blu Yea · 03-19-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35iDriver

Yes, you can use the iPod Shuffle.

Since I do not have iDrive or NAV, I set the Shuffle in the little cubby hole in the center console behind the shifter and the cord runs under the armrest into the port inside the armrest storage.

You just have to remember to turn off the Shuffle when you get out of the car. In 2.5 years I must have forgotten to turn it off about 20 times. Only to get in the car the next day to a Shuffle in need of a charge.

I don't have the NAV either but if you have the "Premium Sound Package" even without the NAV, DVD, idrive etc, the ipod integrates into the radio seamlessly.
plug it in to the USB, leave it in the armrest pouch, control it from your steering wheel. Yes, it doesn't seem to turn off and can get hot.

mstevens · 03-19-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

Yowzer.. you might want to look at a faster USB stick then. I have a 16GB HP USB stick, I can move 4GB off that in under 15 minutes.

It's not the USB stick. I usually use an up-to-date Sandisk USB 2 one that works quite fast anywhere but in the car, but I also tried a couple of others with similar results. The first gigabyte transfers quickly then it bogs down.

AlexGP · 12-01-2012, 10:59 AM

Hi all, sorry, but to recap (and noting that I have a 2012 X5 SAV which has both the AUX input and the USB input beneath the center armrest - and I also have an iPod Shuffle): it is clear that transferring the music to a USB stick will work, but I am wondering still if the direct connection from the Shuffle should be to the USB port or to the AUX port via a special cable, since I have tried the direct USB connection and the audio system doesn't even recognize it as "being connected"....

03-17-2012, 03:03 PM	#1
Jayda Lieutenant Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SC Posts: 509 iTrader: (0)	iPod shuffle? Hello- I am looking for an inexpensive and small MP3 player to leave in my car. My iPod touch works fine in the car but it is large to leave under the console and I use it for other things as well. The little square IPod shuffle only has a USB connection. Anyone know if the the car will read/play from the 4th generation iPod shuffle? For $49 and with a tiny size it seems like the way to go (I know it is only 2gb). Not sure if it matters but my car has the idrive system. __________________ 2009 Z4 35i, alpine white with beige leather and all the goodies (new to me with 4,500 miles in October, 2011)
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03-17-2012, 03:13 PM	#2
xnav Enlisted Member Drives: 2010 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hawaii Posts: 31 iTrader: (0)	Just put your music on a USB stick. Attached Images

03-17-2012, 03:17 PM	#3
rfx45 Lieutenant Drives: E89 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CA Posts: 567 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW Z4 [5.00]	Yeah USB works but for me, I have the current gen iPod nano and only slightly bigger than the shuffle. Curious though, isn't there a pocket attached to the center console cover for your iPod? Mine has it and it is made to fit ipod touch/classics. __________________ *2012 Z4*

03-17-2012, 03:58 PM	#5
richard in NC Major Drives: 2009 Z4 35i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,173 iTrader: (0)	I use a gen 3 Nano. I don't know about limitations with the shuffle. __________________ 2013 X3 35i, Vermillion Red/Sand Beige: MSport, Premium, Technology, Premium Sound, Hud, More... 2012 335is, Space Gray/Oyster-Black: DCT, 19s, Premium, Convenience, Nav, Heated Seats, More... Gone '11 X5 50i, '09 Z4 35i, '08 550i, 06 X3, 06 650i, '02 M5, '99 540i

03-17-2012, 04:59 PM	#6
jparnes1 Captain Drives: 2006 525xi, 2012 Z4 35i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 994 iTrader: (0)	Why dont' you just transfer your music into the car's hard drive? that frees up your ipod for use elsewhere. __________________ 2006 525xi, Orient Blue Metallic, Beige leather, Dark Poplar trim, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package 2012 Z4 35i, ED 2/24/2012, Melbourne Red Metallic, Black Leather, Carbon Trim, 6MT, ///M Sport, CW, PP, PS, NAV, CA, Alpine HID Angel Eyes, pedal covers, stubby antenna.

03-17-2012, 11:21 PM	#8
marcw Second Lieutenant Drives: 2010 Z4sDrive35i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 290 iTrader: (0)	You can also put a USB drive into the USB connection in the glove box. That way it's tucked away and never has to leave the car. Or do what jparnes1 suggested and simply transfer all your music to iDrive. There is plenty of space.

03-18-2012, 02:59 PM	#11
35iDriver Private First Class Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Posts: 167 iTrader: (0)	Yes, you can use the iPod Shuffle. Since I do not have iDrive or NAV, I set the Shuffle in the little cubby hole in the center console behind the shifter and the cord runs under the armrest into the port inside the armrest storage. You just have to remember to turn off the Shuffle when you get out of the car. In 2.5 years I must have forgotten to turn it off about 20 times. Only to get in the car the next day to a Shuffle in need of a charge.

03-19-2012, 05:38 AM	#12
Atebit Private Drives: Yellow 2011 Z4 sdrive30i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NC Posts: 95 iTrader: (0)	I've never used a USB drive in the car, only an iPod. But I've read that it's a little easier to search through your music, shuffle-play your music, etc. using an iPod rather than just a USB drive. As others have suggested, you might be able to get around that by dumping all your music to the car's HDD. I don't do that because I find it easier to keep my iPod updated (since I do that regularly anyway) then I would to keep the car's HDD up to date as well. __________________

12-01-2012, 10:59 AM	#18
AlexGP Private First Class Drives: 2001 BMW X5 3.0 Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA Posts: 125 iTrader: (0)	Hi all, sorry, but to recap (and noting that I have a 2012 X5 SAV which has both the AUX input and the USB input beneath the center armrest - and I also have an iPod Shuffle): it is clear that transferring the music to a USB stick will work, but I am wondering still if the direct connection from the Shuffle should be to the USB port or to the AUX port via a special cable, since I have tried the direct USB connection and the audio system doesn't even recognize it as "being connected"....

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