MDI niggles

[Maverick]

He's not right, it just a good excuse to bash apple (i used to hate apple products too because of clever marketing, but they are mostly solid products if you can look past the wanky cool factor).

The car stereo will never sound as good as a reasonable dedicated system at home so why bother trying to achieve something that can never be attained?

To me the MDI doesn't seemed bias toward ipod, works equally as well with USB. Those who have an ipod/iphone just have to get the extra cable.. pretty easy really. The fact that most people have one warrants advertising features as ipod can basically be taken for 'mp3 player' these days.

Most people don't have one and it's only the sheep that do.

Still don't know why the MDI doesn't do video too though like the Alpine units do with a simple cable.

Why would it? It's illegal in every country to watch video when driving so what possible reason could there be to run video through the connector other than add on hundreds of dollars of costs? And it would only work with icruds anyway so maybe a fraction of one percent of the owners would actually use it.

Anyway USB/ipod connection AND bluetooth should really come standard in VW's that your spending $40-50k+ on, just like they are standard on BMW's - plug it in and off you go.

Name a BMW that they come standard on? They're an option on all BMW's (with the possible exception of high end models).

Why should an icrud cable come with the car? Most people won't use it so why would they bundle it? Same with bluetooth.

[G-rig]

The car stereo will never sound as good as a reasonable dedicated system at home so why bother trying to achieve something that can never be attained?

Never said it would but quite frankly the sound system is crap for a $45-50k car and most people expect better. A few upgrades don't hurt, but some people wouldn't 'get it' if they aren't into music or have wooden ears.

Why would it? It's illegal in every country to watch video when driving so what possible reason could there be to run video through the connector other than add on hundreds of dollars of costs? And it would only work with icruds anyway so maybe a fraction of one percent of the owners would actually use it.

Wouldnt be that different to the expensive kufatec crap like video in motion, and wouldn't allow you to use it while the car is moving. If you're adding a media interface anyway it may as well include video (for USB & ipod), but give it a few years.

Name a BMW that they come standard on? They're an option on all BMW's (with the possible exception of high end models).

Why should an icrud cable come with the car? Most people won't use it so why would they bundle it? Same with bluetooth.

The USB jack comes on all of them which also has an AUX jack like our VW's. The people who want to use an ipod can buy the extra cable. Those who don't don't.

http://www.bmw.com.au/com/en/owners/...usb_audio.html
How do you navigate through a library of 10,000 songs? Preferably on the road using the vehicle's control functions. Almost all common MP3 players, Apple iPods and USB sticks can be integrated effortlessly with the audio system. The title of the track being played is displayed either on the control or radio display. MP3 players and Apple iPhones can be operated directly from the central console. All common formats are supported (MP3, AAC, WAV and WMA) as well as M3U-format playlists. To integrate an Apple iPod or Apple iPhone, the BMW cable adapter for Apple iPod/iPhone equipment option is required.

Either way the dealers should be specing the cars from the factory to include the interface as most people want it and expect it on an expensive car.

[Guest1306]

Either way the dealers should be specing the cars from the factory to include the interface as most people want it and expect it on an expensive car.

We do....

[G-rig]

We do....

That's great, I think Phillip does too. Most buyers would be happy to pay that for the added functionality.

$270 from the factory is a pretty good deal, cost me about $425 to buy the parts last time which was a great price, but then add the time etc to fit it.

[Guest1306]

I think the majority of dealers do. I would estimate that 99% of our whole range in stock has it as a factory option. If someone does not want it and is adamant about not paying for it, then tuck in for a 6-9 month wait.

[kennyc]

Is it possible to remove it from the factory fit and then move it to the golvebox?

[G-rig]

Is it possible to remove it from the factory fit and then move it to the golvebox?

That's a lot of work why would you bother?

Armrest is good if you are using an iphone etc, but i dont mind glovebox either.

[Guest1306]

With the extra labour and parts involved (new glove box insert) you would end up at the same cost of just retro fitting it.

Although I personally prefer the factory fitted option, I do have one complaint, and it has been the same on every car I have had (I have had dozens at this stage) with factory fitted MDI, and that is the cable. It is too short and clumsy. In all cases, the space to fit the I-Pod and cable is too small, and it eventually ends up damaging the lead and or the I-Pod, causing random problems (not charging, going back to song A every time you shut the car off etc...) The space is just too small to squeeze both into..

Perhaps Volkswagen will issue a revised unit in the coming years to combat this, or perhaps I am just doing something wrong...

[G-rig]

Dermot is the cable the same one that comes in the retrofit kit, or a shorter one? Wouldnt mind seeing a pic, as i thought the ipod would just plug into a dock or something?

[Maverick]

Never said it would but quite frankly the sound system is crap for a $45-50k car and most people expect better. A few upgrades don't hurt, but some people wouldn't 'get it' if they aren't into music or have wooden ears.

I don't have a problem with the stock system once you set it up properly and I'm sure most people don't either. The dynaudio upgrade is there for those that want more. It's the interior of a small car and everything you do is going to be compromised by the fact it's a car, it's a small/medium size and it's price point (starting at $25,000).

Wouldnt be that different to the expensive kufatec crap like video in motion, and wouldn't allow you to use it while the car is moving. If you're adding a media interface anyway it may as well include video (for USB & ipod), but give it a few years.

So video for USB would have to support the many different codecs and so forth? I can't see them doing that nor supporting video from icrud when there is no need for it.

The USB jack comes on all of them which also has an AUX jack like our VW's. The people who want to use an ipod can buy the extra cable. Those who don't don't.

The Aux In jack is an option as well.

http://www.bmw.com.au/com/en/owners/...usb_audio.html
How do you navigate through a library of 10,000 songs? Preferably on the road using the vehicle's control functions. Almost all common MP3 players, Apple iPods and USB sticks can be integrated effortlessly with the audio system. The title of the track being played is displayed either on the control or radio display. MP3 players and Apple iPhones can be operated directly from the central console. All common formats are supported (MP3, AAC, WAV and WMA) as well as M3U-format playlists. To integrate an Apple iPod or Apple iPhone, the BMW cable adapter for Apple iPod/iPhone equipment option is required.

This doesn't say anything about standard. I've posted on this forum before the thousands of dollars it costs for usb/icrud integration in BMW cars. Search seems fubar at the moment so I can't find it.

Either way the dealers should be specing the cars from the factory to include the interface as most people want it and expect it on an expensive car.

I disagree, the car has a 32gb sd card slot that can be used. Most people don't want it and reasonable people wouldn't expect it standard in what is a small/medium sized entry level car.