ipod and aux input vs. ipod adapter

[Gr8ful]

I went to the local BMW dealership today in hopes of getting the ipod your bmw adapter which costs about $149. When I was walkin to the parts department I ran into a dealer that sold me my first bmw, he asked what I was doing and I told him I was going to get an ipod adapter. He looked at me and said not to do it, that you could only have 5 playlists and it cost a lot of money. Instead, he suggested getting a $40 auxilary adapter and install it myself. I was pretty excited about this so I went to the parts guy and told him, and got the auxilary cable. After I got it I noticed it was just one small cable and I couldn't find anywhere that looked like a jack to plug into my headphone...so I took it back and asked the parts guy how it would work. Then he told me it wouldn't work with an ipod, and i HAD to get the ipod adapter for $149 and that the aux input was ONLY for mp3 players. The guy who told me to get the aux was already gone so I couldn't ask him about it again..so I took it back and spent the $149. Now I'm reading and it seems like the aux cable CAN do the job! and for a lot less.. Is this true?? Should I go back there and return the adapter for the aux? What kind of cable do I need to buy to connect it to my ipod?

To me it seems like the aux input would be better because I can have unlimited playlists on my ipod and be able to easily select songs directly from my ipod without scrolling through them on my radio. I can find songs a lot quicker on my ipod than through my steering wheel. If I do decide to stay with the adapter, can I actually change my songs using my ipod or only with my radio? I'd rather use my ipod.. So basically, if I take this high dollar part back, get the $40 aux in, and be happy? Thanks in advance!

 

[raiyu]

I just got my Auxilliary input put into my car about 2 weeks ago I did it completely through my dealer, it ran a bit more expensive, I think it was like $150 with the install and everything else. But this way its their work, they are responsible for it, and I just didnt want to bother with it. I got it placed inside my glove box, then I just got a regular headphone to headphone jack, which comes out of my glovebox (while closed) and goes right into my ipod which I keep in my cupholder.

Then you just click mode, to get from radio, to cd, then to the AUX input and you use your ipod as you always would to play your tunes. The only negative thing I can say is that you need to have your Ipod on FULL volume if you want the car's volume control for the AUX input to match the sound levels of the radio or CD. But other than that works great, good quality, and very comfortable and easy to use. You can use your car's controls for anything but the volume, but I think the Ipods native controls are easier than anything else.

I wouldnt get the Ipod your car option, its much more expensive, forces you to use only an ipod, and version2 or higher, and just really limits what you can do. Here I can have any of my friends with anything, CD player, Ipod, mini Ipod, old Ipod, IRiver, just plug it in and we have tunes.