How do play my own music in BMW iDrive?
I recently bought a new BMW X1. Before ordering I asked for confirmation that the model I was buying had a USB plug in for playing my own music from a card or Memory stick. I was assured that it had such a facility. Unfortunately this was incorrect - there is no such facility. The dealer says there is no way the car's computer can be connected to anything that will do this, they say they tried a Bluetooth player but that did not work. The dealer says I will have to buy a phone and subscribe to Spotify, and if I installed and wired a player to the speakers I would invalidate the warranty. Clearly this is unacceptable. Have you any suggestions on how to solve this problem?
Asked on 12 January 2026 by Bill Raymond
Answered by
Matt Robinson
Unfortunately, due to the rise of music streaming and the prevalence of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, USB sockets or SD card slots for music playing are becoming rarer, so it doesn't surprise us that your X1 does not have this. It's a pity you were incorrectly advised on this.
Spotify is definitely not the only solution, though – it should be possible to play audio files from your phone to the car via the Bluetooth connection. If you don't have a smartphone and don't want one, there's always the option of buying an MP3 player with Bluetooth connectivity. They're a niche product these days, but there are still a few options around, or you could try a late, used iPod touch.
Spotify is definitely not the only solution, though – it should be possible to play audio files from your phone to the car via the Bluetooth connection. If you don't have a smartphone and don't want one, there's always the option of buying an MP3 player with Bluetooth connectivity. They're a niche product these days, but there are still a few options around, or you could try a late, used iPod touch.
Tags:
infotainment
idrive
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