While driving our long-term M3 in the past, I've used the tape deck to play my iPod or portable XM radio. However, the sound quality is so craptacular, I decided to take a trip down memory lane. I dug out my mammoth CD collection book, popped the M3's trunk, then pre-selected the six discs I wanted to listen to on the journey. Given the '90s nature of this exercise, I decided to sample from CDs left over from the Clinton era: Oasis, Dave Matthews, Coldplay's Parachutes, Collective Soul, Ben Folds, Eve 6.
Having had a 2000 Jetta with a similar six-CD changer, I was used to this trunk-mounted song and dance -- I never thought of it as that big of a deal. In retrospect, though, it's just a massive pain in the ass. On road trips, I'd often make pit stops to change CDs even if the gas tank and my bladder were A-OK. Using the M3's changer has an added pain with a magazine that features six individual trays that must each be popped out to switch a CD. My Jetta's magazine had a little switch that would eject all the discs from the magazine at once -- much quicker.
I remember being quite impressed by my buddy's 1997 Volvo 850 that had an in-dash three-CD changer. The thing would pop in and out of the radio faceplate when switching discs and made a bit of a racket, but dang it was cool. How things quickly change. Considering that the M3's trunk-mounted changer and equally ye-olde navigation interface seem oh-so-quaint now, I can only imagine what today's selection of iPod connections and iDrives is going to seem like in 10 years. I'll report back in 2018.
huyracing says:
01:28 PM, 07/21/08
i never liked magazine style cd changers. on the slk350, it was in the glove box (which couldn't store gloves because of it) and it was still annoying to load.
dougtheeng says:
01:31 PM, 07/21/08
In-dash is better, but I don't think this would bother me that much. I guess it may be annoying if you picked someone up and they handed you a cd and wanted to put it in while you were driving. As far as every day driving goes, this would be fine for me - especially if it could play MP3 CDs - then you could have most of your library with you.
ahightower says:
01:34 PM, 07/21/08
Sounds like an audio upgrade is in order, like the Ford GT got. Get a nav/music head unit with a real iPod jack and put a sub where that CD changer used to be. That would be interesting to the readers who may also be considering buying a used car but want more modern infotainment.
skierx420 says:
01:39 PM, 07/21/08
This is like the guy you always see in the movies from the early 90's late 80's with the giant boom box on their shoulders with their head between the speakers. Do they even sell those anymore? It was cool then. On another note: I have a giant CD collection mostly made of tapes (converted to WMA files) of concerts that I have traded for over time. So I guess I will have to convert them all to Mass Storage Devices so I can have them in the car.
bryan__t says:
01:40 PM, 07/21/08
Why do we need to wait ten years to decide that iDrive sucks?
lsd says:
01:53 PM, 07/21/08
I think I might be a good idea to try one of the aftermarket ipod adapters in this car. It would be interesting to see how the audio quality/usability compares to a simple audio-in jack or other manufactures ipod adapters. They also have car specific mounts to keep the thing visible. I have a similar setup in my vehicle and overall I've been very pleased.
Here are a couple companies who offer these products.
http://www.neocaraudio.com/advanced_search_result.php?vehicle=30%7C355%
7C2002&set_vehicle=1&sort=4d&select_vehicle_make=30&select_vehicle_
model=355&select_vehicle_year=2002
http://www.proclipusa.com/?sectionpath=144&pageid=8108&processor=content&pcategoryid=12893&
categoryid=12894&year=2002&p_origin=144&p_sectionid=144&p_pageid=
8901&p_processor=asp&p_asp_processor=product&p_action=
proclipcategorysearch&p_ppagecategoryid=13872&p_pagecategoryid=
14172&p_pcategoryid=12893&p_categoryid=12894&p_sitecategoryid=
&p_year=2002&p_countryid=0&p_leftorright=
Mike Magrath says:
01:54 PM, 07/21/08
"Why do we need to wait ten years to decide that iDrive sucks?"
I like iDrive. Once you figure it out it's staggering how much can be done inside of those menus. -mike
James Riswick says:
01:57 PM, 07/21/08
^^ You're a communist.
louiswei says:
04:00 PM, 07/21/08
"I can only imagine what today's selection of iPod connections and iDrives is going to seem like in 10 years."
iPod - iPod will be obsolete in 10 years...
iDrive - telepathic or using eyeball to make the selections.
bimmerjay says:
04:32 PM, 07/21/08
"I like iDrive. Once you figure it out it's staggering how much can be done inside of those menus"
Agreed. The '09 updates are bringing in some really cool new nav features too.
lol louiswei, in 10 years, we'll wonder how we ever got by with such giant, slow iPods with their silly hard drives.
cartester16 says:
06:04 PM, 07/21/08
I have a magazine changer and I simply burned CD's will all my favorite songs, enough to last for my monthly PHX-LA trips. I can't remember the last time I actually changed them out.
blueguydotcom says:
08:28 PM, 07/21/08
spend the $100 for the aux input. Or go buy an ipod connected for a couple hundred.
iPod will be obsolete in 10 years? Not much chance with the way Jobs is getting people to buy iPods that act as phones.
Brian Moody says:
08:39 PM, 07/21/08
YES! Trunk mounted changers rule. If only I still had my '89 Accord LXi Coupe. 10 disc changer thank you very much - anyone seen my 10,000 Maniacs, REM, Innocence Mission or Frank Black CDs? I think they got sucked into a time warp.
louiswei says:
09:21 PM, 07/21/08
"iPod will be obsolete in 10 years? Not much chance with the way Jobs is getting people to buy iPods that act as phones."
Really? Think about the cell phone you are using in 1998 and the phone you are using right now. Then repeat whatever you've just said with a straight face...
sgude says:
05:15 AM, 07/22/08
louiswei -- the iPod will not be obsolete at all. It may be smaller, it may look different, but really, what's next? Will we surgically place hard drives inside our abdomen, complete with a docking port? C'mon.
Jeez, Edmunds -- you'll drop near $2,200 on brakes but won't spring for an iPod jack? I know the straight six is music to some ears, but let's get real.
skierx420 says:
06:42 AM, 07/22/08
Brian, I think I have a idea on the location of the REM Cd's. My mom is using them for coasters.
louiswei says:
12:18 PM, 07/22/08
"louiswei -- the iPod will not be obsolete at all."
That's a bold statement to make...
Did you foresee the iphone back in 1997?
Do you think people in 1980 foresee the idea of "cell phone"?
Do you think people in 1959 foresee that human will set foot on the moon within the next decade?
Do you think people in 1893 foresee that human will be flying in 10 years?
Just because it seems "impossible" to you does not mean that it is impossible...
brian60 says:
04:56 PM, 07/22/08
Right on, sgude. I just installed a DICE Silverline iPod adapter in my M3 and it's been great. I retain a completely stock appearance because I access all of the settings through the headunit's interface and the iPod resides in the trunk, away from prying eyes. Better yet, there's an auto play/stop functionality so that the music starts and stops with the ignition key (aux adapters I've used in my other car can't auto play). The inevitable downsides are a one second button delay and the fact that the random button always turns off after shutdown (apparently mimicking the stock cd changer functionality). Still, not bad for $150 and an hour of install time.
Be forewarned that a lot of people have issues with the Silverline unit in M3s with navigation, in which case the Intravee II works better.
stingray454 says:
11:43 AM, 07/23/08
I just replaced the stereo on my '02 Z06 with a Kenwood head unit that has a USB port and built-in iPod controls. Works great, and I can play all my MP3's from a USB memory stick, or any USB storage device (including hard drives), as well as from my iPod. It was a great and relatively inexpensive upgrade to replace my old factory Delco head unit, which was crappy and had no features even when it was new in 2002. It was pathetic because it was the same head unit GM used in almost all of their vehicles since 1993.
Love the car, hated the old stereo. Problem solved. Next upgrade I want to do are the seats. I'm just glad there are aftermarket solutions for almost all of the very few complaints I have about the car. I think these aftermarket upgrades will keep me from spending money on a new car, and will keep me happy with this one for longer.
Would it be a problem to replace the stereo in the M3 with a more modern unit because of the NAV system, or are they separate units? Might be something to look into. If you like the car otherwise, you shouldn't get rid of it because of the out dated stereo.
brian60 says:
03:59 PM, 07/23/08
Between the NAV and steering wheel controls, going aftermarket would involve a high PIA factor.