iPhone 3G and BMW

11 Jul

Posted by Horatiu B. as Interesting

In case you haven't been surfing the internet in the past year and missed all the millions of articles and searches on the iPhone 3G, then I'm letting you know that tomorrow the second generation iPhone 3G will be launched.

Last year, we were the first website to report the compatibility between the iPhone and a BMW 3 Series. One of our readers offered to show us in photos the process of pairing his new iPhone with the 328xi. The article became extremely popular and we had and stil have over 90 comments, many of them becoming very helpful to people that were having issues pairing the device or having other technical problems.

Tomorrow with the launch of iPhone 3G, we have a new challenge for you: whoever send us first some photos and a small report on the compatibility between the iPhone and a BMW, will receive an original BMW hat and a keychain, along with some cool BMWBlog decals.

Our email is:

Looking forward to the first photos!

Thank you.

43 Responses

fas

July 11th, 2008 at 5:31 am
1

That is so cool.
Mark

July 11th, 2008 at 8:54 am
2

Just curious…does the iPhone have the capability to work overseas?? Or is it just for use in North America??

Cheers,
John

July 11th, 2008 at 9:33 am
3

Yes, it can work overseas (at least wherever there is GSM and EDGE and/or G3).
John

July 11th, 2008 at 9:34 am
4

3G, that is. A little dyslexic this morning, apparently :).
bsd107

July 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
5

I want to know also if 3G fits in the current BMW Snap-In iPhone adapter….

It gives you an awesome dock for for the iPhone in the car, powers the phone and uses the roof antenna. BUT, you do lose iPod functionality when using it, since 6FL isn’t integrated into the adapter (like it should be!)
Kier

July 11th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
6

I can’t comment on iPhone 3G - but my original iPhone worked perfectly with my 535d up until I upgraded to firmware 2.0.

Now the car fails to see any contacts data from the phone.

Seriously annoying.
Horatiu B.

July 11th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
7

@Kier: That’s interesting. If that’s the case, then a lot of people will be very unhappy.
Horatiu B.

July 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
8

@Kier: I got my iphone today, I’ll give it a try later
Horatiu B.

July 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
9

@bsd107: It should fit, the shape hasn’t changed much. I just bought one today and I will test it out
Tim W.

July 13th, 2008 at 6:12 am
10

terrible echo with my iphone 3g in my 328xi. Any insight?
bsd107

July 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
11

@Horatiu B.: Thanks for checking the Snap-In. Would be nice if the 3G fit.

Of course, the next question is whether BMW is working on an updated Snap-In that integrates the 6FL (iPod USB control) at the same time. I hate the idea of having to choose….
Horatiu B.

July 13th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
12

@Mark: Yes Mark, but it needs to be unlocked or jailbreak. Pretty much all Europe can buy now an iPhone as long as they sign a contract with their cellphone carrier.
Scoopz

July 14th, 2008 at 11:18 am
13

I’ve posted a recent story about the new iPhone 3G and iPhone 2.0 software update causing the BMW address book sync’ing to stop working.
http://blog.scoopz.com/2008/07/11/iphone-20-update-breaks-bmw-idrive-contactaddress-book-syncing/
It includes some photos too, does that mean I get the free goodies? It was posted on the 11th July
Scoopz (Admin)

PS - just subscribed to your twitter profile!
Horatiu B.

July 14th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
14

@Scoopz: Absolutely We will post the article today and I will email you directly to get your address. Thanks again
daniel frank

July 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am
15

Can someone tell me if the 2006 BMW hands-free system is compatible with the 3G Iphone? thanks.
Luke

July 23rd, 2008 at 12:51 am
16

I have an echo on my 3G iPhone. I am not sure but it seams it is caused by both the car and the phone mic’s staying on. i think with the 2G phone it would dissable the phone mic when the car mic was on. I could be wrong about this does anyone have another idea ? @bsd107:
BustAGroove

July 23rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
17

I had 1st gen IPhone unlocked using IFunstatic, Independence, etc. I was able to unlock using Pwnage 2.0. My IPhone has been exhibiting weirdness when trying to using my BMW’s bluetooth (COMMUNICATION) to use IPhone as hands-free phone and IPod connection (ENTERTAINMENT) listening to IPhone’s playlist thru car’s speaker system. I’ve reset IPhone several times when the IPhone’s display doesn’t respond. I’m going to try re-pwning my IPhone using 2.0.1. update, hopefully that will help.

[UPDATE: 07/23/08 - I contacted BMW Customer Service and they indicated that the BMW bluetooth and IPod/IPhone functionality is not compatible with Apple 2.0 software. They also indicated that there is on method to upgrade the BMW bluetooth and IPod connection to be compatible with Apple 2.0 or IPhone 3G versions. So the BMW setup is not future-technology proof. So, I’m going to resort to using my standalone IPod and my IPhone as a separate bluetooth “phone” — no IPhone music/podcasting

Here’s a link to the information I found at http://www.wireless4bmw.com
http://www.wireless4bmw.com/info/CingularATT_Apple_iPhone_03.21.08.pdf
John

July 27th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
18

Hi,

I just bought a 2008 BMW 335i convertible and discovered that my one year old Motorola Q doesn’t work in the car (won’t sync). I’m ready to buy an iPhone which I’ve wanted all along but was reluctant to drop Verizon and pay the fee for cancellation. Does anyone have my car AND a new 3G iPhone and finds that it works?

John
Shawn

July 29th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
19

John - Yes, the new iPhone 3G works with my 2007 335i with Bluetooth/iDrive. You can answer and speak through bluetooth in the car and the contacts sync across to iDrive. I will mention that I recently (before getting the iPhone 3G) had my car serviced and the dealership upgraded the iDrive to the latest firmware which I assume is the same as the 2008 335i model. In short, yes it works as expected.

Now, if someone can offer some suggestions for my question, I’d appreciate the help. I’m trying to figure out how to mount my iphone 3G into the top of my center armrest (iphone resting horizontally in the armrest) and run a cable to both charge and play through the aux input. I’m willing to get the armrest custom modified but I need to find an iPhone holder to insert. My understanding is the the BMW iPhone holder accessory does NOT have an auxillary/line out feature. Does anyone know if the connector can be swapped out or have any other suggestions for an iPhone holder for an iPhone 3G? Thanks.
Collector

August 1st, 2008 at 12:59 am
20

Dear Shawn,

It seems Apple has changed the pin design in iphone 3G. I’m also searching the same connector as you wants, i.e. charge and having an AUX/line out.

I’m now using the phone out + a small amplier to improve the sound quanlity before plug in the AUX in of my car. Otherwise, the sound quality is very bad.
marcel

August 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
21

i have a 3 series 08 BMW where the first gen iphone worked great over bluetooth - but the new 3G iphone has some change in software or something where now there is an echo of my own voice over the 3 series system. i’ve taken one phone back and tried another. it’s something with the new phone. anyone else having this issue?
Paul

August 4th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
22

@marcel: I am having EXACTLY The same problem with my 2008 535i and my 3G iPhone. A TERRIBLE echo when I’m on a phone call. I have read in the Apple forums that this is a software glitch that can be corrected once Apple decides to do something about it. I hope that’s soon. I do not want to return my 3G iPhone!! PDUB OKC
scoopz

August 4th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
23

Apple have just (20 mins ago) released iPhone 2.01 update. It’s a chunky 240MB download, I’m just waiting for my backup to complete before updating then I’ll go and check if any of the bugs introduced by 2.0 are fixed.
Bavar

August 13th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
24

Any update on this? Interested in how the 3G works post update, over BT as well as via a BMW cradle, if anyone has a new 3G cradle (reports are that the older cradle, which worked fine with iPhone 1.0 [so to speak] do not work with the 3G).

Thanks!
jjb

August 14th, 2008 at 2:54 am
25

Certainly my address book won’t upload using the Mercedes BT puck with 2.0.1. It worked fine with 1.1.4.

Call quality with 2.0.1 is so poor as to be almost useless too. Grrrr.

JJB
‘07 SLK 280
Andrew

August 14th, 2008 at 7:08 am
26

I have a 2008 335i and can get the Iphone 3G 2.0.1 to connect and work until I get out of the car.

The next time I get in the phone will not automatically pair with the car.

I have to delete the pairing and start again…..

Do I need a BMW software update?

Anyone else having the pairing issue??
Pam Bustamante

August 14th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
27

I have a 2004 BMW 330 convertible with the Ipod hook-up in ghe glove compartment. Will it work with my Iphone….(3g). I have to set up playlists and name them correctly for the system to work. Don’t want to fry anything, just want to listen to my music. Thanks, Pam
Collector

August 15th, 2008 at 10:08 am
28

It seems there is a product from Kensington, namely LiquidAUX, which can charge iphone 3G, AUX output and remote control too.
TwinTurbo3

August 16th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
29

My 2007 335i has the echo issue with my iPhone 3G. I applied the 2.0.1 software update and this did not help one bit. I do want this issue fixed soon, so hopefully Apple will give us the fix in the next round.
Jim D.

August 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
30

I have an iPhone 3G and an ‘07 335i and had the echo problem initially. I’ve been able to eliminate the problem by initiating a bluetooth call and then on the iphone using the volume buttons to increase bluetooth volume to maximum.

I am also using the Kensington LiquidAUX for ipod functionality for the iphone and am reasonably happy, although I’ve encountered a few times when, after pausing and then resuming playback, the sound would no longer come out of the speakers. I ipod app would indicate that it is playing, but somehow the audio from the aux port was not being heard. It’s only happened a couple of times and I’m not sure if the problem is the LiquidAux, the iphone, or the aux port on the BMW (although the latter is unlikely since I’ve been using the port for months with a traditional ipod).
Andrew Solomons

August 19th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
31

Is nobody else having the pairing trouble that I am???

The iphone pairs initially but then does not reconnect when re-entering the car????
Mary

August 19th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
32

Yes! Mine just started having problems today. I have had my car for 3 weeks and had no problems. Yesterday, I turned my Iphone bluetooth off so I could make a call in “private” and have had problems ever since. My car cannot find my phone even though it says it is paired. Any ideas?
Henry

August 22nd, 2008 at 8:30 am
33

I have a 2006 BMW Z4M Coupe with the factory fitted satnav system (not iDrive).
I had the same problems as many are having ie phone pairing but no adress book sync etc, with the ‘please wait’ prompt on the address book.

I was able to receive calls and that was all (no addresses, no speed dial etc).

As a solution pair your 3G iPhone with the car and then use the handset to make a call to a contact in your contacts list - you must make sure to select the BMW/ car option which should apper as a dialing option.

The call should then route through the bluetooth in-car system and immediately the contacts from your phone should appear as usual on the satnav - thus enabling usual making and receiving of calls.

Hope this helps.
bsd107

August 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
34

From October 2008 production, BMW is now offering option 6NF Smartphone Integration for $150. Using it will require installing a Snap-in Adapter specific to the phone.

What’s really cool here is that this now allows controlling & playing music while in the Snapin! It also does not interfere with independent use of 6FL at the same time!

Not clear whether it uses the roof antennae, although it mentions “reduces radio interference…
Bavar

August 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
35

Bsd107, if this comes through, I can imagine the 6NF option would be popular. Do you have any links for this one?

Thanks for the update . . .
Andrew Solomons

August 24th, 2008 at 4:32 am
36

I have solved my pairing problems (not just between my Iphone 3G and my 2008 335i but also between the phone and other bluettoth devices.)

Interestingly by just changing the name of my Iphone the pairing now works perfectly.

Itunes names my phone “Andrew’s Iphone”

Note the ’s … the car and other devices does not like the apostrophe!

Removing just this has made it all work

Hope this helps.
Mary

August 24th, 2008 at 5:48 am
37

I also think I solved my pairing problem. I restarted my 3G and so far, so good.
bsd107

August 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
38

@Bavar:

See http://www.bimmerfile.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/2009-pricing-revised.pdf
Bavar

August 24th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
39

Thanks for the apostrophe info Andrew.

Appreciate the link bsd107, lots of good info there.
jim

September 25th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
40

So is the latest info on the ECHO problem that Apple needs to fix this? 2 week old 528xi with the iphone cradle. iPhone updated with 2.0.1. I have tried adjusting the iphone volume which does help, but doesn’t really solve the problem. ?????
scoopz

September 25th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
41

@jim: I’ve not experienced the echo problem myself but if you are running 2.01 I would first suggest updating to the latest version. Since 2.01 we’ve already had 2.02 and more recently 2.1 which resolved many other bugs.

Update to 2.1 and see if the echo problem is still there.
marcel

September 25th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
42

actually, the echo issue returned back for me with the latest update (after having gone away with the previous update) 328csi 08
jim

September 26th, 2008 at 9:09 am
43

Thanks. I actually was incorrect, I was more up to date. Last night I did a complete restore of the iPhone from within itunes, which should have also updated the firmware in the phone. Echo is still there on most calls….

arghhh. I really like the iPhone AND the new bmw, but don’t love the echo…