Can an E46 BMW 2004 Business CD Player play MP3 CDs?

[Go Horns!]

I am going to be driving for over 20 hours before I get home and will be able to install an auxiliary input. I would prefer to not have to burn 20 CDs for the ride back. Anyone know if a 2004 will be able to play MP3 CDs? The production date was May 2004 if that helps.

[romanred62]

I have the exact production date. Mine unfortunately won't play MP3s. MP3 compatibility didn't come until 2005.

[mimalmo]

My favorite channel on the radio is the BMW inline 6 channel. I listen to it whenever I can.

No, I don't think you can play MP3's on that.

[danewilson77]

My car plays MP3 CD's

[romanred62]

My car plays MP3 CD's

Did you or the PO change out the Business CD player?

[romanred62]

2005
Lumbar seat support added to the premium package on the 325.
CD shuttle became MP3 compatible

Thats on the wikipedia site for E46.

[danewilson77]

I haven't done anything....an I doubt PO did either.

I know..that...I...ahem....acquire music....burn it to CD....then play it in my car.

[kayger12]

My favorite channel on the radio is the BMW inline 6 channel. I listen to it whenever I can.

Love it.

[mimalmo]

Hey Horns, might as well give it a try? Burn a couple discs and if they don't work, no biggie. Otherwise get an FM modulator for the trip and return it when you get home and get your aux input installed.

[pyreguy]

I tried mine and it was a no go. Ordering my aux jack this week.


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[az3579]

I think it's a pretty mixed bag of who can and cannot play it.
I would just try it. What's a disc cost nowadays, ~$.25 each? If that?

[billschusteriv]

Hey Horns, might as well give it a try? Burn a couple discs and if they don't work, no biggie. Otherwise get an FM modulator for the trip and return it when you get home and get your aux input installed.

+1 on FM modulator.

You can pick this up at any radio shack. Not ideal, but will hook up to any standard headphone jack (MP3 player, Cell phone, DiscMan, Walkman, etc) and allow you to play your music.

Just a thought. I used these back in the day...

[Go Horns!]

Not a fan of the FM modulator and had CDs lying around, so I spent last night burning old-school music CDs for the trip. It has been a while since I had to make best-of CDs for my favorite bands; got some decent play-lists for the future out the process.

I asked the stealership yesterday how much an aux input install would cost and they quoted $407. The salesman himself told me it was a ripoff and that I should just wait until I can do it myself.

[kayger12]

That is definitely a rip off. Think it cost me $40.

[Johnmadd]

2003 here and all cds work on mine so far.

[mimalmo]

2003 here and all cds work on mine so far.

But have you burned MP3's to CD?

[danewilson77]

But have you burned MP3's to CD?

Pretty sure thats what he is referring to....but cannot confirm.

[mimalmo]

That's why I'm asking.

[danewilson77]

That's why I'm asking.

Yes sir.

[billschusteriv]

Not a fan of the FM modulator and had CDs lying around, so I spent last night burning old-school music CDs for the trip. It has been a while since I had to make best-of CDs for my favorite bands; got some decent play-lists for the future out the process.

I asked the stealership yesterday how much an aux input install would cost and they quoted $407. The salesman himself told me it was a ripoff and that I should just wait until I can do it myself.

Not a fan of the modulator either. Just a temp solution to your problem. I know I prefer to do things right the first time.

Plus driving through different areas you'd have to change your radio frequency if you picked up a random station...happened to me on my drive from PA to DC.

[az3579]

Honestly CDs are dying out. Perhaps it's time to pick up a cheap used iPod for less than $50 and do a DIY aux jack mod...

[RITmusic2k]

So, do not all of you with the business CD have an aux. input on the inside left wall of your glovebox compartment? Short of mp3 CD capability, it's just a matter of getting a male-to-male 1/8" plug for your phone/ipod, etc., and sounds great.

[pyreguy]

Not that I know of... If I do that would be great.

[kayger12]

So, do not all of you with the business CD have an aux. input on the inside left wall of your glovebox compartment?

Negative. That's an after purchase add on to the best of my knowledge.

[Johnmadd]

Pretty sure thats what he is referring to....but cannot confirm.

Yes and yes.

[RITmusic2k]

Negative. That's an after purchase add on to the best of my knowledge.
Interesting. My car is at least the second one out there with this exact configuration. I didn't know I had it until I saw a picture of someone else's in their car on one of the forums. Mine's in the same spot, with the same legend plate and everything.

[kayger12]

Interesting. My car is at least the second one out there with this exact configuration. I didn't know I had it until I saw a picture of someone else's in their car on one of the forums. Mine's in the same spot, with the same legend plate and everything.

The instructions that come from BMW with the auxiliary input show the left side of the glove box as the mounting point, so I wouldn't be surprised if you saw all of the dealer installed ones in that location.

[RITmusic2k]

Ah. Well that's a simple straightforward explanation :-p

[mimalmo]

OK, so what's the verdict now that you have the car? Does it play the MP3 discs?

[Kudos]

Where you guys buying your aux inputs?

[Crickett]

Where you guys buying your aux inputs?
I DIY'd mine; it's very straightforward if you have even the slightest bit of soldering & screwdriver-using skills. This E46F thread (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422239) was very helpful to me.

[Kudos]

I'm taking apart my cell phone to replace the digitizer, so a little solder is a non issue, just need to find that iron :) Any1 have any fancy ones? i think i saw a thread somewhere where someone dremel'ed a female into the glovebox and had a short wire coming from there. i think he just wired up the 12v from the cig lighter. any1 have this or any other cool custom wire solutions?

[Crickett]

I use a two-in-one iPod audio & charge cable (http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=zhpcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0037MH5W4) to get line-out audio from the dock connector & power all in one cord. The audio line I have plugged into my DIY'd aux-in & the power cord I'm going to hard-wire with a 5V regulator to a switched 12V line. The iPod end of the cable is routed through a hole in the back of my sunglasses holder.

[Kudos]

i'm not a fan of the ipod, and i'd probably just get a standard aux female and just get a short cable to connect to cell phone. my plan is to get sirius radio on my phone and just run it through that. u guys think it's a good idea or would the quality be better if i go straight from the radio hu?

[pyreguy]

Quality may be better, but it will never be as inexpensive or convenient. My female aux hole is in the mail. Hopefully I can have it in this weekend. Next week sometime at the latest.


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[iZHP]

I think there's some confusion between an Audio CD and an MP3 CD. An Audio CD is a music-only disc that's formatted for standard CD players and can only be around 80 minutes and usually fits under 20 songs. MP3 CD's can hold hundreds of songs and can have folder directories to organize files. It's more of a Data CD. This is merely an option when burning the disc.
Example
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab58/ianbrady/burn.jpg

Just clarifying :)


i'm not a fan of the ipod, and i'd probably just get a standard aux female and just get a short cable to connect to cell phone. my plan is to get sirius radio on my phone and just run it through that. u guys think it's a good idea or would the quality be better if i go straight from the radio hu?

I use Pandora/Sirius/iHeartradio apps on iPhone through the AUX input and it sounds perfect. Theres a setting for Pandora to use Higher Quality Audio and it works fine no delays and sounds CD quality. Just make sure you have an unlimited data plan

[RoCo]

I have a stock 05. the HU plays MP3 cd's just fine but they will not work from the trunk 6 pack cd. Anyone else experience the same?