[BMWRyan]

I heard you get a HDD built into the car and you can store mp3 songs with artwork etc on it. I was wondering if this is an easy process and do you use any software to convert files or add track artwork. I have a usb stick to use and I use windows 7.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

p.s what size is the standard hard drive on a 330d msport?

[PA11L JJ]

I believe its 12GB. In my current car I load my music from I-tunes straight onto a USB stick and then transfer it onto the cars HDD drive. Its pretty straight forward to be honest and you get all the prompts on screen as to what to do.

Not sure about the art work though.

[Torque of the Devil]

I take it you have to have the Pro-Nav to get the hard drive for music storage ?

[BMWRyan]

Originally Posted by Paul845

I believe its 12GB. In my current car I load my music from I-tunes straight onto a USB stick and then transfer it onto the cars HDD drive. Its pretty straight forward to be honest and you get all the prompts on screen as to what to do.

Not sure about the art work though.

I get it probably will be straight forward. It's the artwork and album listings i want grouped. i dont want it to be just one bick tracklist of all mixed up genres etc

[BMWRyan]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

I take it you have to have the Pro-Nav to get the hard drive for music storage ?

You got it

[sdb123]

The HDD has been increased to 20GB from 12GB.

[Poohbore]

I'm sure there is a thread here which suggests the USB is better as the quality is superior to the hdd

[BMWRyan]

Originally Posted by Poohbore

I'm sure there is a thread here which suggests the USB is better as the quality is superior to the hdd

Surely if you play a stored mp3 file at 320kbs it should play fine regardless?

[BMWRyan]

I've seen a application that easily allows album artwork tagging to full albums quick but not sure if i can link here. Anyway I think I'm sorted.

[mproudfoot]

Originally Posted by BMWRyan

Surely if you play a stored mp3 file at 320kbs it should play fine regardless?

You'd think so but I did read on a forum somewhere (perhaps this one) that audio files copied to the HDD are converted to a lower bitrate. Not sure if that is confirmed or not.

Either way, iPod is the only way I'd connect my music as no other method (barring good old CD) supports gapless audio.

[rich1068]

I think using the HDD can be a bit of an arse for storing albums etc. It's slow to load them, I believe it will re-encode it the bit rate is 'wrong' and if your tags and file structure aren't 'just so' all the tracks are listed alphabetically. Not ideal. USB all the way plus you can put video on it.

[Poohbore]

Try reading through this thread.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=696802

The US guys are currently one generation behind on the nav so I'm not sure if the Hdd works in a different way on the latest version

[Torque of the Devil]

Another music related question, I have been running a USB stick for music media since I got the car, today I plugged my iPod in and it wouldn't work, I seem to remember on previous BMW's I have to have a lead the plugged into the ipod then it split into the aux and the USB, is that still the case on the F30 to get an ipod to work properly ? Cheers guys

[mproudfoot]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

Another music related question, I have been running a USB stick for music media since I got the car, today I plugged my iPod in and it wouldn't work, I seem to remember on previous BMW's I have to have a lead the plugged into the ipod then it split into the aux and the USB, is that still the case on the F30 to get an ipod to work properly ? Cheers guys

My understanding is that this is the case unless you have Enhanced USB/BT and or the Professional nav.

[Torque of the Devil]

No I just have the business media package, I think I have one of those splitter leads at home somewhere, thanks for the reply

[BMWRyan]

Right, I can confirm that the car displays album artwork and has individual albums whilst loaded with the USB in the centre console.. The car does not have a USB slot inside the dash. Everything does however work from the centre console under armrest.

[sdb123]

Correct....there is a USB port in the glovebox however I believe this is for map updates. For all things music via USB use the centre armrest connection.

[schrickm5]

So can one play Spotify from my Android via the USB in the armrest or must I use the 3,5mm jack?
Has anyone tried and Android phone with the stereo?

I will have the Business with Blue Tooth and USB radio.

Also the Sales man said something about being able to put a SIM card in the new 2014 Stereo's, has anyone heard of this?

[BMWRyan]

Originally Posted by schrickm5

So can one play Spotify from my Android via the USB in the armrest or must I use the 3,5mm jack?
Has anyone tried and Android phone with the stereo?

I will have the Business with Blue Tooth and USB radio.

Also the Sales man said something about being able to put a SIM card in the new 2014 Stereo's, has anyone heard of this?

Any phone will require the AUX jack

[BMWRyan]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Correct....there is a USB port in the glovebox however I believe this is for map updates. For all things music via USB use the centre armrest connection.

There is no USB port in my glovebox. At least I had a quick look and feel there was nothing obvious.

[sdb123]

Originally Posted by BMWRyan

There is no USB port in my glovebox. At least I had a quick look and feel there was nothing obvious.

Look again.

[Poohbore]

while youre looking do you have the extra power socket under the glove box ?