Comments on: iPhone 3G and BMW

By: Judazzz

Judazzz — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:23:23 +0000

I have a 3 series 2007 my I am using the cable from BMW with the USM and aux it works fine but tends to disconnect from IPod and starts playing either CD music or radio.

Does this happen to anyone else???

By: bsd107

bsd107 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:20:17 +0000

@Andrew Solomons:

Apostrophies seem to not be handled well other places, too. My wife has a Sony bluetooth speaker set for her car. If the iPhone has an apostrophe in the name, it will still sync with the Sony, but on the Sony the apostrophe is replaced by a few garbage characters.

Must be some bug with the way Apple defines the apostrophie, or maybe it’s not a valid character for a bluetooth device name?

By: Alberto

Alberto — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:09:45 +0000

Hi I am not being able to pair my iphone 3G with my 2007 525i, they find each other but when i put the password to the iphone that I just put in the idrive, the iphone says that the password is incorrect, any ideas?

By: jim

jim — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:09:29 +0000

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…

By: marcel

marcel — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:54:36 +0000

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

By: scoopz

scoopz — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:15:27 +0000

@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.

By: jim

jim — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:01:49 +0000

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. ?????

By: Bavar

Bavar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:20:27 +0000

Thanks for the apostrophe info Andrew.

Appreciate the link bsd107, lots of good info there.

By: bsd107

bsd107 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:37:37 +0000

@Bavar:

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

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:48:45 +0000

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

By: Andrew Solomons

Andrew Solomons — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:32:36 +0000

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.

By: Bavar

Bavar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:10:29 +0000

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 . . .

By: bsd107

bsd107 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:03:26 +0000

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…

By: Henry

Henry — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:30:57 +0000

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.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:08:38 +0000

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?

By: Andrew Solomons

Andrew Solomons — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:28:21 +0000

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

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

By: Jim D.

Jim D. — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:22:30 +0000

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).

By: TwinTurbo3

TwinTurbo3 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:42:09 +0000

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.

By: Collector

Collector — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:08:45 +0000

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

By: Pam Bustamante

Pam Bustamante — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:35:01 +0000

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

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:08:01 +0000

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??

By: jjb

jjb — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:54:59 +0000

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

By: Bavar

Bavar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:37:41 +0000

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!

By: scoopz

scoopz — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:56:41 +0000

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.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:25:17 +0000

@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

By: marcel

marcel — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:18:06 +0000

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?

By: Collector

Collector — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:59:57 +0000

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.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:02:33 +0000

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.

By: John

John — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:35:59 +0000

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

By: BustAGroove

BustAGroove — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:43:49 +0000

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