Volkswagen ID.3 Forum

As per the title, has anybody had success connecting an IPOD Classic to the ID.3?

Obviously can't do anything Bluetooth or wireless but is it simply a case of getting a cable to connect it to the USB C and, if so, can you then drive it from the infotainment screen or do you have to choose tracks from the device itself?

I've got an IPOD at home which is now barely used but has a lot of stuff on it; this could be a good option until it finally breaks.....

Cheers,

Jon

Two options as I see it:

1. Use an adapter for your existing iPod lead to plug into a USB-C port - you should be able to control the music
2. Buy a device that plugs into the iPhone headphone socket and can transmit a radio signal or bluetooth - this will give you audio playback but no control

Thanks Scott - happy if option 1 works, so would be great if anyone can chip in if they managed to do this. Option 2 isn't really worth the bother but plugging into USB C is not much of an inconvenience.

I theory it will be a media player, like any USB device being plugged in. You'll need a USB to USB c adapter no doubt.

Well USB adapter on its way and will see what happens....when the car arrives!

I'd get all your ipod files ripped and converted to MP3, stick them on a USB-C stick and plug that into your ID3. Then sell your ipod on ebay.

I have the first ipod with colour screen, I should get that ebayed.

I took delivery of an ID3 a few weeks ago & am also frustrated that it comes with USB c ports that don't suit an iPod classic. The USB to USB c adaptor that I brought on Amazon fits beautifully, but the ID3 says it is not recognized, and won't play anything. I think the USB-C stick is an interesting option, but I'll be eager to hear if anyone finds an adaptor that works.

I have 2 adapters i bought off E bay and both work fine with flash drives

I too have an iPod Classic that it would be good to be able to use in my ID.3.

I already purchased a Samsung USB-C convertor to be able to charge my Samsung phone which works fine. If I connect my iPod Classic to it though, using the original iPod cable, the ID.3 says gives me a message saying 'USB device not supported' or words to that effect.

Maybe if I had an Apple USB-C convertor it might work? If anyone finds a way to get it to work please do let me know. I have had my iPod for a long time and am quite attached to it - it worked fine with my previous BMW vehicles (non-electric).

In the meantime I have purchased a 64 GB memory stick (< £20) with both USB-C and traditional USB connectors and have put some music files on it. This seems to work quite well with the ID.3 media player and I may just have to accept that I need to put my music on this

I have also tried to connect a Gen 6 and Gen 7 iPod via a USB to USB-C converter in my ID.3, but with no luck. I contacted VW and although they dodged answering the question of iPod compatibility directly, their response was "Please be informed that Apple Carplay is available for all iPhones from the iPhone 5 in combination with the iOS version 8 and higher."

So they have moved over completely to CarPlay via either Bluetooth or USB connections and have given up on retaining iPod support - which is a pain.

I can't believe you're all moaning you can't use something that was discontinued 7 years ago.

Personally I am not 'moaning' but interested to know if anyone has found a way to get it work.

Just because a product line is discontinued, doesn't mean it stops working or that it should be replaced. My iPod Classic works fine still and was able to connect to my previous non-electric car.

I would have thought that if you are an electric car driver you would see the benefit in reusing some existing tech, rather than depleting the planets resources by unnecessarily have to buy some new products, but hey that's just me.

What Sherlock said - not moaning but investigating whether it’s possible to use a device that continues to work flawlessly, has 164GB of storage space and is still perfectly serviceable.

I've already given my opinion. It seems to recognise phones etc as media, in theory I can't see why it doesn't work. I don't have one so can't really give an opinion. The only thing I can think of trying myself to replicate is plugging in an sd card using a card reader and seeing whether or not thay recognises it. That I can possibly try and do.

Unfortunately this is not a ID.3 issue or even a VW issue it's more to do with Apple

1. It appears to be well documented on Apple forums that Ipods do not output Audio over USB connection, so simply plugging it in as an Ipod won't work. UIpod touch may work over Bluetooth but you would lose other connectivity functions for your phone.
2. It is also documented that Apple Car Play only works with Iphones https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/ (Actually Iphone 5 upwards)

The next alternative is whether the car system will see it as a media device, most operating systems require the storage or media to be mounted in order to access it however it is unlikley the storage will allow itself to be mounted to multiple devices. So on a lot of Non-apple devices there are options for changing the nature of the device and making it able to act as a memory stick, does the Ipod have this? This will unmount the storage and effectively turn it into a media device.

Incidentally Android Auto also lists Ipods as not supported.

My iPod Classic works fine in our Merc, and worked fine on our VW Eos, so there must be an audio signal coming down the cable.
It's a pity that the ID.3 fails to recognise it as I must have getting on for 100Gb of music on it.
I might have to try a USB flash drive and put a few files on it before long journeys.

Charles

I think we can discount any question of the car being able to actually access any music on an iPod, in the sense of a mass storage device (memory stick style) at least. Apple used to go to great lengths to obfuscate the files on iPods such that even if you unhid hidden folders etc to see the contents, they were not in any sort of intelligible form.

So you'd basically be relying on the ID3 having the correct Apple protocols to 'talk' to the iPod properly over USB, which it appears is highly unlikely.

You could probably use the Kokkia Bluetooth adapter in the ipod
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004I408OW/ ... DYFPN2RM3P
And connect to the ID3 using Bluetooth.

Not tried it, but it might work.

If you have an iPhone - won’t the music app already have all your tunes there (in the cloud etc) assuming you’ve used iTunes to buy/rip them and put them on the iPod in the first place?

Then either play on CarPlay (think music works) or via Bluetooth.

I have an ipod touch and an ipod classic. Haven't tried the classic, but the touch for music works OK over Bluetooth, if not the occasional time it thinks it's at the end of the song list. However even over Bluetooth it won't let me play audible, the audio starts for a second then it stops and the songs start again. Anyone know if it's possible to get audible app to work?

Just looking I find it a little surprising that there isn't an actual usbc to ipod classic cable.