Playing music through using the USB connection

[X5pete]

My X5 is a 2010 pre LCI car with the CIC Nav system and idrive. I tried to connect my wife's iphone 5 to the car today using a standard iphone 5 USB cable, the idrive system did not recognise the phone as an external drive and hence music could not be played from the iPhone through the cars stereo system. Is this normal, do I need to buy the BMW iphone5 Y cable for the phone to be used as a an external music source?  Is this the same for my galaxy S4?

Are there any alternatives (that work) to paying BMW £40 or so for a cable?

My alternative solution is to buy a 32Gb USB stick to download my wife's iTunes music library then just stick it in the X5's USB socket and leave it there.

Any help appreciated.

EDIT. Can I bluetooth audio stream with this age of car with the CIC Nav?

[X5Sport]

Not sure about the cable, but there have been reports about the Lightning connector not supporting 'iPod out' and it might be this that causes the issue.  I haven't seen a 'Y' cable with a lightning connector.

And yes you can stream music via Bluetooth.  When you pair the device just tick both phone and music options and then select it in the CD/Multimedia devices list on the iDrive.

Richard

[X5pete]

thank you.  I take it a 'lightning' cable is the iPhone5 usb lead?

[X5Sport]

Yup, that's what I meant. 

Was it when the 5 was introduced that the new connector first annoyed us?

Not yet seen a BMW version of it...

Richard

[Flash]

I've just bought an LCI X6 and had the same problem, solved by using the USB to charge the phone and bluetooth for music.
I also have a small older Ipod that works fine with the lead so have left that in the car.

[hertfordshire1]

I have LCI X5 and can use the standard apple cable to connect my iphone 5 and play music via USB. If the cable is not connected I can stream with bluetooth.  My Mrs iphone 5 has a strange fault (not car related) that it will only detect the apple cable is connected (to the home pc or for charging) if it is inserted a certain way.  I know the lightening adapter should work either way round, so its a fault with her handset. Maybe you can try, turning the lightening plug around (flip it over / not swap ends) and see if that does anything?


Cheers

Steve

[X Box]

Can you Bluetooth music on a 2008 (sept build) E70?