How to Play Music in an Older BMW 3 Series?
2 Answers
You can play music via a USB drive or by connecting your phone via Bluetooth. Here are the detailed steps: 1. Playing Music via USB Drive: The car's onboard computer must have a USB port that supports USB music playback. First, download music files in a format recognizable by the car's onboard computer (most commonly MP3) onto the USB drive. Then, insert the USB drive into the USB port of the onboard computer. Select the USB music playback option in the car's music player. 2. The Car's Onboard Computer Must Support Bluetooth Connection: If the onboard computer supports Bluetooth, turn on Bluetooth on your phone and pair it with the car's Bluetooth. Once paired, the computer will prioritize Bluetooth as the primary audio source (meaning you can hear all sounds from your phone, such as music, calls, and messages). The car's onboard computer usually has a Bluetooth pairing function in the settings menu, and some models may feature one-touch pairing. At this point, simply open your phone's music player and select your favorite songs to play.
The easiest way to play music in an older BMW 3 Series is by inserting a CD. If the CD player is broken or you don't have a disc, you can use the AUX interface—simply connect your phone with a cable to play music. If there's no AUX, try an FM transmitter. Plug it into the cigarette lighter, connect your phone via Bluetooth, then tune the car radio to the same frequency to transmit the music. However, in older models like the E46, the sound quality might have some static. It's recommended to regularly clean the audio ports to prevent oxidation. Upgrading is a good option, such as replacing the head unit with a Bluetooth-compatible one for a few hundred bucks, but check compatibility before modifying to avoid blowing a fuse. Start with simple solutions first—don't rush into major repairs.
