How should I go about adding a iPod auxiliary feature in a '01 BMW 325i?

Question

My '01 BMW 325i doesn't have a feature to play my iPod. Can I take it to a retailer (Best Buy, Circuity City) to add a feature so that my iPod can be played in the BMW?

Or, does the '01 BMW 325i already has a iPod feature that I'm unaware of or didn't see???

Answer 1

Your car does not come with any auxilary input from the factory. But there're lots of after-market options.

The most cost effective way that still offers HIGH QUALITY sound is to add an "auxilary input adaptor" to the CD-changer wiring located in your trunk.

This would basically send your iPod (or any other mp3 player)'s music signal through the CD changer wiring back to your sound system - to the car's sound system, it would be as if you were playing a CD.

Look for this item in Circuit City... They're really cheap on clearance now. USA SPEC DF-BMW. Clearance prices range from $24-$30.

Aside from this, you would also need to buy a long (10-foot will suffice) RCA-to-3.5mm stereo jack cable.

This is to connect your iPod to this adaptor, which would be located in the truck when installed.

The good thing about this is that it offers 2 channels of input. And you can even switch between the channels from your steering wheel.

So not only you can play your iPod, you also have a spare input for something else (maybe your phone, or DVD player, X\M radio...etc). You'll need to buy another cable as described above.

If you're not handy with installing this yourself, the guys at Circuit City can install it for you for a fee.

Answer 2

BMW do an ipod kit, which wires into the back of the radio and you get an adaptor which goes in the glovebox, but I don't know how much it costs, there are alternatives on the market.