Does anybody see the "iPod your BMW" ad on Apple website? It seems that a lot of us have iPod too. Maybe we need to write a "Dear Honda" letter now.

the ex and lx have a port so you can plug your ipod in. They even use the ipod in one the quicktime adds on the honda website. Not as cool as bmw but not bad.
http://www.hondacars.com/models/exterior_gallery.asp?ModelName=Element

PS I use itrip for my ipod

ya it would be cool if we could control our ipod through our stereo.
sometimes I forget and press skip on the stereo when my ipod is pluged in :roll:

Gotta laugh, Phil - I have no idea where it came from, but I darn near threw my hip out last night attemping to depress the non-existent clutch pedal on my automatic E while parking at my kid's place! I haven't even owned a manual in eight years! Where did that twitch come from!? Pretty sure it was too dark for anyone to have witnessed, but... :oops:

the controls on the steering wheel are nice. we had one on a vw we had (for cds though, they didn't have an aux). that's the one thing i miss, it's nice to effortlessly change the song and volume on the steering wheel.

Gotta laugh, Phil - I have no idea where it came from, but I darn near threw my hip out last night attemping to depress the non-existent clutch pedal on my automatic E while parking at my kid's place! I haven't even owned a manual in eight years! Where did that twitch come from!? Pretty sure it was too dark for anyone to have witnessed, but... :oops:

Good one!! :P
I thought it was bad when I try to release the parking brake like how my truck is.
on the left side by your knee. I think ive done it about a dozen time now.

I would have loved the steering wheel controls because I never had one. :oops:

Since we're talking about embarrassing moments here, I would sometimes grab for the shift where the cup holders are because my previous Accord had the shift in the center between the seats! :oops: :lol:

Speaking of steering wheel controls...

Has anyone bothered to install one of those clamp-on or strap-on infrared remotes onto the Element's steering wheel? Haven't seen anyone mention one of those.

A bunch of the Empeg folks have done so on other vehicles...

-brendan

I've never heard of the clamp-on/strap-on remotes, but the Alpine system I have has an infrared remote so I just use that to get buy. Would have still liked it factory installed onto the steering wheel, but that's just being picky. :P :twisted:

was registered by someone else than who did it for ipodyourbmw.com

should be a nice cybersquatting trial soon.

http://homepage.mac.com/reelmagik1/Menu1.html

This is a much better install than the BMW. On the BMW, sure you can control the tracks from the steering wheel, but it is just by track number, no easy scrolling or even information about what the song title is. This is all seen on the website and in the commercials. The ipod just floats around the glove compartment.

-Bryan

According to Steve Jobs keynote address at the WWDC the BMW is just the beginning. I wouldn't be surprised if the Element had the same kind of thing in the near future.

Actually, I'm totally fine with the AUX input for my iPod as is. I bought a 6 foot 1/8" stereo mini cable to connect the AUX input to my wired remote (which is my main control of the iPod anyway) and I set my iPod in the square little pocket between the cup holders in the floor console. I keep the wired remote in my lap and I'm grooovin'! Plus, this extra length of cable is great when I want someone else in the vehicle to play DJ.

Works great and I love it!

I've been checking out the iRiver mp3 player. It comes with a remote with its own 4-line backlit LED display. That way I could just mount the unit, and run the remote right to the steering wheel.

[quote:42a26f40a3=" "]I've been checking out the iRiver mp3 player. It comes with a remote with its own 4-line backlit LED display. That way I could just mount the unit, and run the remote right to the steering wheel.[/quote:42a26f40a3]

I have that player, but I don't think it's practical to do so while driving. The display was very small and sometimes tricky. If you are the passenger, there's no problem. Later, I figured out that use the 1 feet long mini-mini cable (from RadioShack) worked well. The cable won't tangled and I can still change things on the iPod while driving.

Since even 2nd Generation iPods are secretly "input capable", who's to say a voice-activated interface wouldn't be just right for automotive applications? If it can be done with cell phones, why not with mp3 players? The concept of stereo controls, and now, even shift paddles on the steering wheel hub are intriguing to me, but being an old fuddy-dud, I prefer to restrict the steering wheel to it's unique and critical purpose - the primary directional control device!

Even though some multifunctional devices are indiginous to even our species (talking and eating at the same time with the human mouth comes to mind) - both functions suffer greatly from the actual application of said multifunctionality.

I had one of the IR remotes strapped to the steering wheel. It was OK....but kinda felt glued on and not part of the car. Built in controls are the way to go.


This was in my Neon, not on my Element. I have my iPod in an easy to reach spot.

With the iRiver and remote, I personally don't think I'd actually use it (the remote) all that much while driving. I only listen to live shows, start to finish, so now that I've been thinking about it, I would really only need to hit play once and let her go...

I got an Alpine head unit with the iPod adapter which I believe as of this writing is currently the only one that will display album/artist/track info on the display (BMW does not). It's very easy to install and sounds WAY better than plugging the iPod straight into the AUX port. I highly recommend it.

If you do get it however, be sure to get a head unit that puts out at least 4 volts, since anything else won't be able to power the subwoofer. My head unit only puts out 2, so had to put in a seperate amp to power the woofer.

Also, a great place to put the Alpine iPod adapter is behind the shifter cable behind the Sub woofer... it's a nice fit back there with no mounting necessary.

Once you hear the nice boosted MX sound on an Alpine head unit, it makes the regular AUX port pale in comparison.

I got the CDA 9826 head unit (dont get this one, get at least the 9827 since it's 4 volt out) for $220 and the iPod adapter for $120.

Here is the link to Alpine for the adapter... worth every penny:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/leading_technology/leading_tech_kca-420i.htm

I believe there is an option for an Ipod control thingy for the wheel. I think you have to build the element on the control panel. it's like 199.00 or soemthing like that. worth checkin out for the long trips

i put my alpine remote in various places on my steering wheel to simulate the fact that there was a control on the wheel itself, but the only places where the remote fit well, the remote wouldn't be detected by the deck...

i was thinking about possibly getting one of those little mini retractable wire things (like they put on the mp3 players at best buy and sometimes on sneakers at shoe places so that people don't steal them). haven't really investigated into where i could get one or where i would mount it, but it's an idea...

matt

Check out this site. www.theiStore.com/ipod2car.html. They clearly show an ipod interface device being used on an Element. Except you check the application list and it says the Element is not available!

I have to say that I use my remote all the time for my video iPod. The reason is that I don't have it up at eye level.. It actually sits down in the middle right in front of the sub. Surprisingly enough it's quite stable in the dock just sitting on the floor.

The little ledge where the ignition is makes a perfect place to store the remote when not using it too :)

I thought I had my perfect iPod solution using the Video iPod and its remote control. I was going to mount it in the docking station in the little open area on the back of the center floor console. I was planning to take audio and video out and feed them into my Eclipse deck/monitor. I'd also set up a remote repeating system from my dash to the iPod and by using the remote control, work the iPod, viewing its screen on my deck. It would have been slick. Ideal, in fact. And then I found this post on another board linked to in the iPod video connector thread (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20210):

can you get the menu options out the AV connector
2005-12-22 18:24:13 pod_downunder [Reply | View]

Its a pity they don't also allow the menu options you select with the wheel to be redirected to the AV connector. That way, if you owned the uni dock and remote, you could use it as a juke box, just turn on the TV to see the menu, use the remote to control the Ipod. Would sort of make it a poor mans Front Row.
Next generation, I guess....:mad:

Hi
I have a 2005 lx and would love to know where the Ipod jack is . Or is it only on thye 2006 ???

Joe Parisi Salem, Ma

Hi
I have a 2005 lx and would love to know where the Ipod jack is . Or is it only on thye 2006 ???

Joe Parisi Salem, Ma

Check out this thread here. (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20354)

^ Yes. Your iPod jack is in jwoolz48's car. :-P