Euler

So, I just went through the horror of canceling my Sirius XM subscription. Now I am loading my music library on the hard drive and running out of space. Have any of you put in a larger hard drive, and if so, please describe the procedure.

Ingenieur

How sre you loading it?
Wouldn't it be easier to hook up an ipod?

Changing the HD sounds like a pita and expensive

Dogtag114

After I cancelled satellite, I use Pandora 90% of the time.... Just discovered it has great comedy too.

rory breaker

Spotify here, never looked back.

For the hard drive, you can also load a CF or SD (don't remember) card no? For added storage. Many folks on here have successfully done it.

Or 10/mo for unlimited spotify, radio, pre populated playlists etc!

jcfay

I considered this. Personally I just couldn't believe the only way I could load my '14 hard drive was via dvd or cd. That's pathetic, to be honest. So I ended up just using my 160GB iPod (which is close to full). Imagine trying to load a larger hard drive via dvd or cd (you can't use the SD card to load it, or usb, or anything else - again, pretty sad). Go for the iPod if you can, not sure what the interface is with other mp3 units. HTH

bhamg

What form factor is the M-B OE HD? I suspect it's the same size as in the iPod Classic. The mfr (Toshiba?) discontinued this form factor drive two or more years ago so they are now rather expensive. The common capacities were 80 & 120GB, but you can find them up to 240GB. An 80GB drive of this type will cost you the same as a 1TB 2.5" laptop drive so it's a marginal proposition at best, but I've thought about trying to pop a 120GB drive in myself. Although I listen to primarily to house/trance/dub in mp3 I rip my classical CD's to the HD...they sound pretty damn good that way.

JRHolt

Just get a USB portable hard drive and plug it into your usb port.

You can get a 2 Terabyte one for around $100.00

Dogtag114

Another alternative is to loadup CDs or even DVDs with mp3s

Quality is great but load times are long if more than 50 songs. I think I have 300 on one but it takes 3 min to load and start

Southways

Are you sure?
I loaded mine using a 64GB USB with no problem - took about 20 minutes.

Euler

Thanks for all the replys, but I know about IPODS, memory cards, MP3 discs, and other subscription services. My car is a 2008, no USB, and the card slot is PCMCIA, seen one of those cards lately? I really just want to change the hard drive.

Conv_GSDriver

If that is the case that an external HD can be plugged in, might as well go for an SSD, a little more expensive for the gigs, but faster loading and no shock impact compared to a spinning HD.

hyperion667

yeah, you can get terabytes for your car now LOL..........

JRHolt

Oh sorry, no USB? That sucks

JRHolt

Yes very true. The prices of the SSD are coming down all the time

jl9j

I have the PCMCIA slot. they have converters you can buy the will make an SD card fit. I have a 64 gig SD card in there now. Bought the converter off Amazon for cheap.



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Ingenieur

Well, you probably won't get any useful info because it's never been done before
Why? Because there are so many better and cheaper ( not to mention easier) solutions

Your best bet it to locate and physically access the HD
Get the mfg/PN/specs/etc and see if you can find a larger capacity direct replacement of the same format , etc
But I doubt it, I bet it is custom for integration into MB's data network and for vibration isolation

I like the pcmcai solution
64 gig is a lot pf music

rory breaker

Bingo.

If you don't see this as a viable option to replacing the hard drive itself...well, good luck.

bhamg

Can't see that. It's most certainly an off-the-shelf production item. If there was a ruggedized version destined for a Panasonic Toughbook type of application - beyond the demands of an iPod - then that would suffice. Pin configurations would be unchanged. Rubber isolation inside the console is pretty likely. OP - go for it. I'd love to see what's there!

Ingenieur

Only 1 way to know for sure
Pop it open!!!!

jcfay

Do it, do it, do it! If you're comfortable with it I'd love to see it. They have 128GB SD cards now too if the adapter option is appealing. But it would be awesome if you could install a new solid state speedy, large HD in there. Then you've got to figure out how to load it and alter content... Soon we'll be able to update content via wifi (I'm really hoping), car pulls in garage, hits home wifi and updates content based on user prefs. Some day...

vtune

I did get a PCMCIA card adaptor recently. Cost me about $60 and $30 for a 32GB SD card. It works very well, music loads up instantly. I'm sure a 64GB SD would work as well.

vtune

I would not mess with the hard drive you don't know what kind of stuff is on there from the factory.

jvanbrecht

I have CF PCMCIA adapter (about $10), and a couple of 64 and 128GB CF cards, works just fine.

The hard drive would be a pain in the *** to replace, don't bother.

Since you do not have the Ipod or USB interface, it probably means you have the line in one (headphone jack). Lately I just use my phone and pandora, and the headphone jack. You lose a little bit of fidelity at the higher volumes, but it's not too bad.

jvanbrecht

Correct
It's a regular laptop hard drive, nothing special, with a vibration isolation mount (thing regular mount with rubber grommets). As for customization, at most you have a custom image or custom partition mapping, which I doubt since this is a WinCE OS, so standard MBR and FAT32 (I doubt it's FAT since that has a 4GB partition limit, and you would end up with 20 partitions).

If you wanted to replace the drive with a larger one, it's easy, dd if=source of=destination (on a linux, freebsd, mac, or windows with a downloaded dd binary). This does a bit for bit copy at the platter level, regardless of what OS or filesystem is in place.

The hard part.. getting to the drive

MBAdon

I'never used the hard drive or PCMCIA slot. And your saying the car can rip CD's to the hard drive? Even on my 09'?