iPod® Connection
When music tracks are to be played back using the Apple iPod® the iPod must be connected through an adaptor cable that simultaneously uses the auxiliary jack socket and the USB.
The y-cable (cable adapter for iPod®; BMW part number 61 12 0 429 645) included with the vehicle.
With the adaptor cable, the USB connection is used to control the iPod® and the jack socket for audio playback.
The reason for this method of connection is that music tracks obtained from iTunes® (Apple music portal) are subject to DRUM and can only be played on the device to which they were downloaded. The copyright protection prevents digital transmission of the music track via USB.
If a video file is selected on the iPod®, only the sound track is played. If other supported USB mass storage devices are used, video files are not displayed.
It is only possible to access the files on the mass storage device using the iDrive when the USB mass storage device is connected to the USB interface. If the mass storage device is connected using the Audio jack plug, the iDrive cannot be used to operate the device.