My ida-x100 has no faceplate operation. When turned on cannot adjust any function--will play on whatever station or ipod song but cannot adjust volume or change any function. Fast blinking red light on faceplate acts as if something is stuck but even after removing from power source and reconnecting--same problems exist. Alpine has basically told me oh well its out of warranty. Anyone experience something like this?

Compatibility issues can come from a couple different places when dealing with digital media. I looked up your device here http://reviews.cnet.com/car-audio/alpine-ida-x100-digital/4507-3425_7-32790566.html for your digital specifics. I am under the assumption that you are trying to play MP3 files. Your Alpine reads ID3 tags and this could be where a lot of your issues are coming from and some could possibly come from the file name of your MP3's. Most car audio decks are not equipped to handle characters that people put in the MP3 names or ID3 tags. If you notice how the working MP3's are titled on your Alpine's display it usually reads something like "song - artist". If there are characters like "~ # ^ $" or something to that effect, your Alpine might not be able to read that. If the MP3 name is already written like "song - artist" then the problem could be in the ID3 tags and they could have unreadable characters in there which are not visible to you without a ID3 tag editor. In this case, download a free ID3 editor, trying clearing it out or modifying it to a simpler format, edit your file names as needed and try that out.

you might have to reset your ipod itself. press the center circle and menu button at the same time until the apple shows up then plug back into your alpine. hope this works

are you sure you don't have the mix option turned on??

you may have a bad switch. if you have a multimeter you can check the switches for resistance. the should read in the mega ohm range. if less than that it is probably bad.

I have a similar problem. The original Alpine USB cable fell apart on me and I began receiving an error message. "No, biggie," I thought. "I have plenty of iPod USB cables." But I get an error message with each one, as well as an error message with every iPod I've tried. Apparently the IDA-X100 will only read iPods if you use an original Alpine USB cable.

The cord might likely the problem. The iDA-X100 will only recognize iPods if you use an original Alpine USB cord. Using any other cable won't work. I had this problem when my Alpine cable fell apart and stopped working. I thought any other cable would work, but that's not the case.

Are you using the original Alpine iPod USB cable? If not, that could be the problem. The iDA-X100 will only read iPods using the Alpine cable. Otherwise, you get a "USB Device Error."

Most newer car receivers have a feature named something like "level balancing" in which you can adjust the relative loudness of each input (Tuner, CD, AUX, IPOD). Check you owner's manual for a similar function.

Also, are you or can you turn the level of the ipod itself up a bit?

You connected your blue alpine wire (power antenna) to your blue wire (amplifier remote on) on the BMW harness adapter. You need to undo this, amputate your blue alpine wire (because your E36 has no power antenna) and connect the alpine blue wire with white stripe (remote power) to your blue wire on the harness adapter.

When you switch source from the radio, alpine is shutting off your amplifier through the connected power antenna wire. Since you're not listening to the radio anymore, it sees no reason why it should give it power.

Try disconnecting the unit completely.