2009 Mini S, w/usb & ipod interfaces. The manual states in part, that..... the data from up to four USB devices or for approximately 20,000 tracks can be stored in the vehicle.

So, how do you upload the music into the vehicle so that you don't have to insert the USB every time you want to listen to your tracks? Or,,,, is this one of those misleading things that actually doesn't mean the music will be uploaded into the vehicle, but actually plays through the USB device Only while it is attached to the vehicle.

Also, if the USB is left in the port, the light on the USB stays on, even when the vehicle is turned off. Can someone explain why or if that is okay?

 

You don't. You'd need a hard drive-based system to upload your music into the car, and we don't have such a system. You can use a USB stick and leave it plugged in, or insert it every time.

As to the last question, I can't imagine that a USB stick would draw much current, but I'm curious as to why the light stays lit - it's not like the thing is being charged like a phone or music player would be.

 

It is uploaded, but only remains in the car's memory while the radio is on.

It probably means the USB port is powered. Does it remain on if the car is locked, or half an hour after the car is turned off. If you turn off the car, the radio will remain on for something like 15 min. I suspect the USB port would power off when the radio does.

 

Actually the music it self is not uploaded to the temporary memory it is only the mp3 tags (data about the track) that is uploaded. The music track is actually still played off of the USB stick. The key is in the work DATA in the explanation in the MINI manual. There are several threads that explain exactly how this works and the limits and what the 20,000 data items are.

Here is the best thread to read thru on this subject.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-usb-keys.html

Here is the posts that explain the data limits the best.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...68-post60.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...63-post67.html


I know in my April 08 Build the USB power (5vdc) is there all the time even after the car has gone to sleep (after 15 minutes). I have heard reports that this changed somewhere along the line and has been put on the timed circuitry of the car. Some people report that it goes off after a period of time.

As for if it does stay on all the time. it draws so little current that it should not affect the battery at all. I have left one plugged into my car while away for a week skiing and the car not being started for that week and when i come back everything is fine, it starts just as if it had been driven yesterday.

 

The CD player also supports MP3CDs, so you can also put up to 800MB or so onto a data CD and leave that in your dash if you don't want a thumb drive dangling out of the dash.

 

Check out this TINY 32gb thumb drive.. will barely stick out at all.. I think I'm gonna buy one of these little buggers and load it up with my m4a library out of iTunes (which is 100% DRM-free) ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820609485

 

There are also a few others that are very small and do not stick past the overhang of the console.

One suggestion is that if the light is bright on the stick then cover it wth black electrical tape an no one will ever see it.