I am waiting for my new S40 with an IPod/USB interface, now I do not own, nor want to, own a IPod. So I ordered it for a 2.5 inch USB powered external HDD.
Its a 120GB FAT32 storage device.
Now I can not seem to find any confirmation that it actually will play the music. Can anyone confirm that this setup will work?

I did see some reviews that not all USB mass storage devices will work, but FAT32 and stuff meets the requirements. I really need to have my entire collection in there ;)
Cause if this HDD option does not work, how will I know what will? What are the limits, file count, disk size partitions folder name length. I can not find many specs for this system.

What I can tell you is that most USB keys work, most HDD work, and that iPod work. But I found that some latest USB keys do not...
The only way to be sure is to try with your HDD to be sure.

Great to hear that for most it works, two more days then ill know for sure ;)
thanks

Sad news; It does not work.

I got the car today and plugged in my USB HDD. And well, it just did not power.
I got a dedicated power cable and a car light to USB plug and powered it that way and then de disc works fine. The disc works without such additional power from a laptop or pc.
It seems the USB interface just gives to little power for the HDD to spin.
Interesting enough, when the disc is playing and I remove the additional power plug it keeps playing, so its border stuff there.

So I do have a functional work around, however I also got an wire now from the lighter adapter to my arm rest compartment, and that just looks bad.

Maybey I can let them installe a 12v plug inside the compartment, or find some other device that uses less power, but no USB disc box ever specs the power consumption (in mA).

Love the car though!

This sounds like an excellent idea a HDD - let us know more about the setup - i have a V50 R-design SE coming with this option (hopefully) - do you select the tracks through the headunit - do you get names etc..

Also does anyone have any hard drive models to share with us that do work using the power from the USB plug?