I'm on day 3 with my '08 MCS and I'm really loving the car. However, I've run into a few issues with the nav/ICE system.

First, the car/accessories:
- 2008 MCS
- Satellite Navigation
- Comfort Access (ie: I have the ridiculous iPod "Y" cable ish)
- 5th Gen iPod Classic with most recent firmware.

Now, my issues:
1. There seems to be no "now playing" screen that simply shows the artist, album, track, etc. Just this morning, as I was reconnecting my iPod after bringing it into the house last night, I saw an option that said "Now Playing" just above the list of playlists, but it quickly disappeared. Is this a bug/known issue??

2. Is there any way to connect the iPod in hybrid or direct mode so that one can control the iPod from the iPod itself? Hybrid mode would be ideal so I can still use my MFSW controls. I mainly want this because I often use features that radio interfaces don't support, like ratings.

Thanks in advance.

 

As far as I know...

(1) I don't know at all because I don't have the navigation system. Without the navigation system a soft key appears labeled "track" that will give you your song info.

(2) If you only plug in the audio plug and not the usb port into your MINI I think you would have to control the iPod with the iPod. You then couldn't control it through the MINI at all. Also, you would loose any electrical charge you might be getting.

I think this is right. I could be wrong. I've only had mine for 3 weeks. I hope you get more answers =)

 

have you tried using just the USB cable to connect to the car? not the Y cable but the cable that came with your ipod with ipod connector on one end and usb plug on the other. that puts my ipod nano (first gen) in hybrid mode.

 

Are you using JUST the iPod cable and not an additional 1/8" cable to connect the headphone port to the AUX port? Do you retain MFSW controls? Does the iPod charge? What's your setup?

 

There are many ways of connecting the iPod to the car but the tow most common ways are as follows.

1. Use "MINI Y-Cable" this give you charging and MFSW/dash control of the iPod and allows the iPod to play DRM music.

2. Use the USB cable that came with your iPod. THis has different results depending on many factors including iPod model, Firmware on iPod, and firmware version in the car. for teh most part this allows control of the iPod from the iPod and not the car. The MFSW will only control the volume, and as for track selection it seems to be intermittent.

Now as for the NAV part i can not speak with authority as i do not have the NAV system but the non NAV system show you a "now playing screen" so i would think that there had to be a way to view this info on the nav system.