Mk7 iPod Compatibility (MDI, Bluetooth etc)

[steve2209]

This is not a simple issue, according to another thread on this site.

Have a read through this: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...olf-87352.html

Best of luck!

hmmm thanks guys. It does seem to be more complicated than it needs to be. I will take the cable from the X3 to VW and see if it works with my iPod. I use the iPod Classic as it is 160 GB so I can put about 5,000 songs in apple lossless on it and that keeps me happy whichever mood I am in. I don't need the new cable connection that the iPhone 5 uses. BMW have had this functionality for a few years so I am very surprised if VW don't have it. If it works then I'll let everyone know and you use the BMW cable. Three more sleeps. I'm getting antsy!

Steve

[readerr0r]

My MK6 uses a specific VW cable which plugs into the MDI in the centre console. Im assuming your Mk7 has been ordered with MDI (Media Device Interface)?

If so, then you will want the proper MDI to iphone cable. Golf Audi VW AMI MMI Media IN MDI Interface Adaptor Cable FOR Ipod Iphone Ipad | eBay

Any non Genuine cables do not work properly in my Mk6 - so im sure it will be much the same in the Mk7.

No AU Golf MK7 has MDI from factory

[stedes]

MDI interface on Mk7

Dear all

About to order a Mk7 and I'm confused about the media system.

In my previous Mk5 GTi I had the RCD 510 system with MDI. Could connect my iPod classic and was able to choose music on the touchscreen with nothing displaying on the MFA. I have been to my local dealer and none of the cars there seem to come with an MDI interface but all have a USB port and a 3.5mm plug in the centre console.

Questions:
- Does anyone have MDI
- Does the USB port only charge or is there any other functionality
- Does anyone have a large music collection on an SD card and if so how fast is the system accessing the songs?
- How big an SD card can the system recognise?

[steve2209]

There is no mdi on the new golf. I can confirm that the capacity for the SD card slot is future proofed at 1TB.

[zardoz]

Incidentally, I tried some hard drives today (1TB and 2TB, NTFS formatted) and absolutely no dice; the Discover Media would not even recognise that there was a USB device connected.....

[readerr0r]

Incidentally, I tried some hard drives today (1TB and 2TB, NTFS formatted) and absolutely no dice; the Discover Media would not even recognise that there was a USB device connected.....

Very rare to have a NTFS formatted drive work on an embedded device (TVs, Bluray players, Media units etc.). Try exFAT, or failing that FAT.

[ihawk]

Mk7 iPod Compatibility (MDI, Bluetooth etc)

The USB port will charge and will read music on a USB thumb drive which works quite well. You can arrange music in folders on the USB if you want. Similarly I also have an 8 gig high speed SD card connected in the glove box but have noticed sometimes songs are unrecognisable and other times they can be played. I haven't worked out why but maybe it has something to do with my particular SD card. At first I was surprised at no mdi but now I think it makes sense just to have an SD or USB. The port in the centre console is USB 2.0 according to the manual so there's no point paying more and getting a USB 3.0 speed.

[neoexe]

Incidentally, I tried some hard drives today (1TB and 2TB, NTFS formatted) and absolutely no dice; the Discover Media would not even recognise that there was a USB device connected.....

The biggest HDD I've tried that worked is an old seagate 320GB formatted in FAT32. That had about 200gb worth of music and worked after a little wait for the unit to scan.

[adhock]

My experience after 10 days in a mk7 high line:
1. There is no MDI plug or anything like what was in my mk6. Nothing. End of discussion. No way to connect MDI in an Aus spec mk7.
2. USB is charge only. It will not recognise an iPod Classic, period. I could hook it in, and connect via headphone jack, but that's hardly a sensible solution.
3. My solution: get a 32gb SD card, dump a bunch of music on it that has been processed thru iTunes to have cover images etc., organised by artist into folders then albums in sub folders (same as it probably is on your PC). Plug card into socket in glovebox. Then hit media on the dash display, and fiddle. Works better than mk6 iPod direct connect, displays album art, all normal tag info.
4. Pity about the spare iPod Classic, but the SD card only cost $30 anyway.

[golfi_vend]

[ihawk]

My experience after 10 days in a mk7 high line:
1. There is no MDI plug or anything like what was in my mk6. Nothing. End of discussion. No way to connect MDI in an Aus spec mk7.
2. USB is charge only. It will not recognise an iPod Classic, period.

Correct it won't recognise an ipod - I was also expecting it to. However it will recognise a USB thumb drive with music and works just like the sd card. I often encountered instability with my previous mdi/ ipod setup so I'm in favour of using just a USB or sd card. As you say cheaper than a dedicated ipod.

[steve2209]

Hi all, I started a thread a couple of days ago regarding the BMW Ipod Y cable and was going to discuss my success (or lack of) with it but now the post is closed and I can't get into it. Why is that?

Anyway, I will explain how I went in this post. I am picking up my new Golf 103TSI Highline tomorrow and I went to VW Camberwell to try out my Ipod Classic 160GB with the BMW Y cable (see below pic) and it worked perfectly except for one thing; you have to select your music off the Ipod itself. The song selections do not come up on the screen menu. My Ipod has all my music in Apple lossless so I get CD quality coming through and yes it will be a pain not being able to select my music on the go through the multi-media controls but it's better than nothing.

So if you want to be able to play your Ipod (regardless of type) then buy the BMW Ipod Y cable as that connects from the Ipod and splits in to a USB cable for powering and a 3.5mm Audio out cable in a neat small cable which allows you to store it in the cubby hole behind the gear stick.

What I'm going to do is create a bunch of playlists to suit my moods so I can select a playlist when I get in the car and don't have to worry about changing from one artist or album to another on the go. I hope this helps anyone who wants to connect their Ipod or Iphone to the stereo to play music whilst keeping their Ipod/Iphone charged.

Steve

[readerr0r]

Hi all, I started a thread a couple of days ago regarding the BMW Ipod Y cable and was going to discuss my success (or lack of) with it but now the post is closed and I can't get into it. Why is that?

Anyway, I will explain how I went in this post. I am picking up my new Golf 103TSI Highline tomorrow and I went to VW Camberwell to try out my Ipod Classic 160GB with the BMW Y cable (see below pic) and it worked perfectly except for one thing; you have to select your music off the Ipod itself. The song selections do not come up on the screen menu. My Ipod has all my music in Apple lossless so I get CD quality coming through and yes it will be a pain not being able to select my music on the go through the multi-media controls but it's better than nothing.

So if you want to be able to play your Ipod (regardless of type) then buy the BMW Ipod Y cable as that connects from the Ipod and splits in to a USB cable for powering and a 3.5mm Audio out cable in a neat small cable which allows you to store it in the cubby hole behind the gear stick.

What I'm going to do is create a bunch of playlists to suit my moods so I can select a playlist when I get in the car and don't have to worry about changing from one artist or album to another on the go. I hope this helps anyone who wants to connect their Ipod or Iphone to the stereo to play music whilst keeping their Ipod/Iphone charged.

Steve

Just a normal retractable 3.5mm aux cable would have the same effect, just without charging is all.

[stedes]

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Hey mate. This is really interesting. I am wondering whether part no. 15, I.e. The cable connecting the interface to the media unit in the glovebox, is the same for The USB/Aux (no. 2) and the Media In interface (no.1). If it is then, without much fiddling, one could swap between them?

[steve2209]

Yes you are correct there. But if you want charging as well you'll need the cable above. But I cannot express how disappointed I am that VW can't incorporate the song selections on to the screen. Many other manufacturers have it.