Meteor collection update with traditional id

Im trying to do a simple update

Collection.update(id, {$set:{name:value}}); 

or even

Collection.update({'_id':id}, {$set:{name:value}}); 

But the collection won't update if the id is a traditional mongodb id. It only seems to work with meteors own implentation of unique id's. How can I remedy this. Is it possible for meteor to accept mongo's own id structure?