2008 Cadillac CTS: IPod Connection Incomplete

The 'gibberish' is actually how the newer iTunes versions save your files on an iPod. It's Apple's way of making copying music from friends' iPods to your computer just that much more difficult.
 
I don't really see what a USB cable will do differently, other than if it is able to detect that it needs to interpret the iPod file names rather than display the ones on the drive.

When I leased my '08 CTS in November--the car came with the cord you are talking about. All of the CTS' I drove before chosing mine had the white cord in a little Cadillac bag in the console. My IPod integrated perfectly--weird that you car didnt come with the proper connection.

Let's see: with the standard iPod USB cable in the CTS, load times are 5 minutes for my 4Gb library to be accessible, a time in which I cannot select anything; 40% of the songs do not show up except with gibberish titles in the "No Info" album folder (60% are fine); "Playlists" and "Podcasts" are entirely missing in the main menu; certain long podcasts abruptly end anywhere from 3 seconds to 15 minutes into the program (unpredictable, but repeatable for a specific program).
 
But I know a lot of this disappears with the bespoke cord (similar to what BMW and Ford systems use) so I'm reserving judgment until I have the cord in-hand and can test it properly. I should have my cord by Monday.
 
CTS24: Glad to hear it. We bought our CTS anonomously from a dealer, but the cord was not included. And this dealership sits in the heart of LA's music industry--you think they'd know.
 
The owner's manual passage indicates that the cord isn't typically included. Perhaps your dealer is a forward-thinker. Do you know if you paid a bit for it?

I agree Dan, this would infuriate me as well. GM should have included this cord with the vehicle. And charging 55 for a damn USB cable? Geez!!!
 
But then again, I don't know whom to be angry at. Should I blame GM for not including this cable (an obvious mistake). Or, should I blame Apple (and His Holiness Steve Jobs) for the DRM crap? As another poster mentioned, iTunes jumbles up the file names when you transfer your MP3s to Ipod just to make your life difficult when you want to transfer music. (Doesn't matter whether you legally own the music or not).
 
I think I would go about blaming the DRM crap for this. Why can't you just drag & drop MP3s directly? Why do you have to depend on ITunes to transfer regular MP3s to your IPod? (Remember, I'm not talking about songs purchased from ITunes. I'm talking about regular MP3s.)
 
Also, why should GM throw the Uber Special IPod cable in every CTS? Although IPods have 80% marketshare, is it fair to ask EVERY CTS owner (with the HDD option) to pay for cable? I have an ARCHOS Mp3 player & the IPod cable would do didly squat for me. :)

There are cars out there that can hook up to an iPod with the standard Apple iPod USB cord. The 2009 Acura TSX is one recent example.
 
I think this is a Microsoft issue. Microsoft Windows Auto is the OS in the Caddy, as it is in the Fords that have Sync--another car that uses this oddball cord. Why not make the iPod connection easy, using a standard cable every iPod user already owns? Oh, wait. Microsoft backs the Zune.
 
But there could be good technical reasons why this bifurcated cord is necessary. Don't know what they are, but the Acura TSX tells me it can be done the easy way.

my first response to this, while coarse was..."well it's GM, and GM doesn't give a **** about its cars"

I can't be that harsh. A lot of development went into this interface. Someone outside the engineering department is responsible for deciding to leave the final, all-important detail to the dealers.

actualsize,
 
I'm not Microsoft apologist. But I think your allegation is uncalled for. Cadillac DOESN'T use any Microsoft technology for it's Audio/Nav technology. Get your facts straight buddy! (I agree with you on SYNC, it is a Microsoft technology.) But believe me, IPod integration on SYNC is better than Zune!!!

Consider them straightened, wobbly ears. I just went down to the parking garage and fired-up the CTS. Deep in the menus where it lists Map Database version numbers and suchlike, it lists the "OS" as "Windows Automotive 5.0" with a small Microsoft logo labelled "Microsoft Windows Powered" appearing right there on the screen.
 
May I suggest the broiled Crow a la Orange. I hear it goes good with Bud Light. ;-)

I'm not surprised. GM (and Subaru) vehicles with "satellite ready" tuners require a special interface box in between the tuner and the head unit.
 
So instead of just buying and installing the $35 receiver/antenae, you have to buy a $200+ GM interface/tuner.
 
Total scam.

Be nice, Dan. j/k At least you didn't say, "You got OWNED!" (Or 0wn3d/Pwn3d.)

I think Acura's radios are by Pioneer, but I'm not sure. I'm guessing Pioneer and Apple have an agreement whereby the TSX tells the iPod "You can trust me with your digital DRM tunes, I'm a trusted device." But the CTS is not a trusted device so it has to get its audio via analog.

Imagine you order a sunroof in your new car, but have to pay an extra $55 for a button to operate it. Or let's say you order a Playstation 3 with a game included, only to find that you need to buy a controller. Or what if you bought a new cell phone, but found out when you got home that no charge cord was included. Or if you bought a book, only to find that the middle 10 pages were missing because they're selling them a couple aisles down at a premium? It sounds like a scam.

It's obviously a strategy meant to bend the consumer over and violate their rear. How much did this car cost again, bring back the Azera lol. I don't think these cars are purchased for the value they represent, but the issue comes off as cheezey and low. After shelling out 40k+ on this car you'd think the profit margin ought to be satisfied.

7, the TSX Tech, all TLs, MDX Tech and RDX Tech all have ELS/Pioneer desgined stereos.
 
RL has a similar system but its designed by .....BOSE. Yuck! The ELS systems is much more enjoyable.

Absolutely unacceptable. CTS24's experience should be standard across the board 100% of the time.

I spent my weekend test driving various new cars I have on my short list to buy soon. Among them is the new CTS, at the dealership I visited, all the new CTS' had the cable in the center console wrapped in a plastic bag. So obviously it is supposed to come with it.
 
Perhaps it is buried somewhere in the office with some paperwork that came with the car.

It sounds like the cord should have been provided with the car. I would've called Cadillac to complain and they probably would've sent you a free cord.

Considering the wording in the manual, I suspect the other dealers are throwing it in the glove box and tacking $55 for the cable onto the final tab for the car...$55 within a $40,000 purchase is probably not going to be noticed but by itself, it seems a bit much. Sorta like getting mud flaps or floor mats as a dealer installed option...most people are too lazy to say take it off and want the car. I'm not one of those people...but I would pay for the cable with the car.

GM keeps saying they've turned the corner and then they do another stupid thing such as this.

actualsize,
 
My apologies! The crows are being dipped in ketchup right now (along with Bud Light you suggested!)
 
- Straghtened Ears
 
(Wait, wait, but but....could it also mean that the Head Nav unit uses Windows CE as an OS. But that the actual Software to run the Navigation & Audio interface was done by GM? But nevertheless, you were correct, it is running MS softeware :(((

Great expose, Dan. This is why I visit your website.
 
It does sound like the cable was "supposed" to be included with the car, tacked-on charge or not.

GM sucks. $55 for a stupid cable? No wonder people don't take them seriously.

I doubled checked some of my paperwork yesterday, and have not found any evidence of a charge for the cord. I called my salesman(also in Southern CA) and asked him about the cord. He says that all of the cars should have it and most of the time it comes bundled with the pre-delivery packet. Hope that helps.

Though I would have liked to have it included, $55 for what this cable promises to do is a deal. Consider me excited.

I'm glad it seems the cable should have been bundled. But still, this shouldn't be nessesary, the whole idea behind USB(Universal Serial Bus) is that its universal.
 
I can't help but wonder what the difference between the standard and GM cable is. I dobut it's something more than an extra wire, or maybe one wire is switched.

I have 2008 MINI Cooper S clubman w/iPod connector that uses a similar double ended wire. There may be some reason that this type of wire is needed.
 
However, mine was included with the car. Check what MINI wants for the cord - it might be cheaper and do the same job.

It appears that the USB interface on this car is for data only. Audio is utilizing the line level output from the iPod's dock connector. Perhaps the Cadillac adapter extracts the audio signal so as not to corrupt the data packets flowing through the USB port. Just a theory...

To be fully transparent up front, this is Kevin S. from Cadillac Communications in Detroit to set the record straight on this issue of full iPod connectivity integration in the 2008 Cadillac CTS:
1) The reason a special cable is needed for the iPod connection in the first place is that this connection of the iPod to the car requires that the resistence be different than that provided in a standard iPod cable so that the iPod, when connected to the car, relinquishes control of its operation to the controls in the car.
2) Before Cadillac shipped the very first saleable 2008 CTS to our dealers for retail to a customer, the decision had already been made to include this special cable with the cars for free. Any 2008 CTS that has the USB port in the center console, which means it has the up-level audio system with the hard drive, has full iPod connectivity and comes with the special cable included for free.
3) The reason the Owner's Manual is incorrect in this regard is because it was sent off for printing before the RIGHT decision was made to include the cable for free with the 2008 CTSs that have the iPod connectivity capability.

I applaud Cadillac for having an iPod connection - the rest of the car's tech features are top notch too. The REAL PROBLEM is that no matter what Cadillac or GM does, the dealers are out to lunch. They don't get it - it's like 1977 and they're all still standing around out front yelling "up" and rolling their eyes when someone wants to hear the "radio."
 
All 3 dealers had no clue about the cable standard or optional -- Old world, Old school - that time is gone, get a copy of Wired and catch the freak up with the rest of us.
 
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor

brian- sometimes it's best to deal directly with operations. I had some frustrating dealer issues (Mazda) and a quick call to main number solved my problem. I'm not making excuses but we have to remember dealerships don't always properly represent the manufacturer.