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      03-06-2014, 11:36 AM   #1
Areutalkingtome
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Bluetooth/USB iPhone functionality

Can anyone shed some light on what the functions, features and limitations of the standard Bluetooth and USB audio connection are VS. the "enhanced" features of the technology package?

I did not order the tech package, but did get the HK sound system, so I'm just wondering what type of usability I will get from the standard equipment and if I need to purchase any additional cables/Bluetooth adapters to get full functionality.

Thanks!
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      03-06-2014, 01:27 PM   #2
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In Canada, we have to order the Connected Drive package to get the "enhanced" bluetooth feature (S06NS). The enhanced gives you bluetooth audio. The basic lets you make and take calls via the cars mic and speakers and access your contacts.
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      03-06-2014, 01:36 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
In Canada, we have to order the Connected Drive package to get the "enhanced" bluetooth feature (S06NS). The enhanced gives you bluetooth audio. The basic lets you make and take calls via the cars mic and speakers and access your contacts.
Thanks for the reply!

What kind of function can I expect from the USB port? Will the USB charge the phone? Will it give full control via iDrive? Does it transfer audio or will I be forced to use the 3.5mm audio jack in addition to USB?

Last edited by Areutalkingtome; 03-06-2014 at 02:15 PM..
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      03-06-2014, 02:06 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Areutalkingtome View Post
Thanks for the reply!

What kind of function can I expect from the USB port? Will the USB charge the phone? Will it give full control via iDrive? Does it transfer audio or will I be force to use the 3.5mm audio jack in addition to USB?
When I test drove the M235i it didn't have the enhanced bluetooth. You connect your phone using a special BMW Y-cable (USB & audio on one end, 30-pin IPhone/IPod on the other in my case). If you have a iPhone 5 you'll also need a 30 pin to lightning adapter. It's possible BMW has a newer Y-cable with the lightning connector, I didn't ask. You don't transfer music. You access your songs directly via the controls on the iDrive or Steering wheel and they appear on the Nav screen. Phone is charged as well.
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      03-06-2014, 02:21 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
When I test drove the M235i it didn't have the enhanced bluetooth. You connect your phone using a special BMW Y-cable (USB & audio on one end, 30-pin IPhone/IPod on the other in my case). If you have a iPhone 5 you'll also need a 30 pin to lightning adapter. It's possible BMW has a newer Y-cable with the lightning connector, I didn't ask. You don't transfer music. You access your songs directly via the controls on the iDrive or Steering wheel and they appear on the Nav screen. Phone is charged as well.
Ok so Ill need that Y-cable. Great info, thanks!

With a little research I found a small USB device to give full Bluetooth audio functionality, here is the link for anyone interested.

http://www.viseeo.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...0&hidShowID=21

I personally would rather go wit the Y-cable so I can keep my phone charged.

Last edited by Areutalkingtome; 03-06-2014 at 02:27 PM..
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      03-06-2014, 02:25 PM   #6
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I have an M235i with the tech package, plugging my iPhone 5 into the USB port is ROCKIN'!!!! Once you plug your iPhone into the USB port, located in the center arm rest, start the BMW Connected App and you get access to the Connected Drive apps on your iDrive. The iDrive then basically is an extension of apps that run on your phone. Apps like WikiLocal, web radio, eco pro analyzer, are all built into the BMW Connected App on your phone.

My personal fave is the M Lap Timer. It gives you a killer lap timer with G-Foce readout on your iDrive. Here's a video describing the M Lap Timer:



To me (a masssive geek), just having the M Lap Timer is worth the extra $$ for the tech pkg.

If you'd like a more complete review of what Connected Drive gets you, I can take a video and show you what you want to know.
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      03-06-2014, 02:42 PM   #7
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I would love some photos or a video! Thanks for the offer.
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      03-06-2014, 03:02 PM   #8
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Me too. In Canada we have to pay $850 for the Connected Services /w RTTI package (S0ZRT) which includes the Connected App. Would be good to know if it's worth it. Connected services comes with:

BMW Online & BMW Apps (S06AK) - aka Connected App
Advanced Real Time Traffic Information (S06AM) - useless to me
Concierge Services (S06AN) - useless to me
Remote Services (S06AP) - ?
Internet (S06AR) - browse the internet on the nav?
Convenience Telephony with Smartphone Connectivity( S06NS) - aka enhanced BT
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      03-08-2014, 05:50 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Areutalkingtome View Post
Ok so Ill need that Y-cable. Great info, thanks!

With a little research I found a small USB device to give full Bluetooth audio functionality, here is the link for anyone interested.

http://www.viseeo.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...0&hidShowID=21

I personally would rather go wit the Y-cable so I can keep my phone charged.
I stand corrected. You don't need a y cable. The standard USB to iPhone connector is all you need. Then select the Idrive multimedia menu and your device will appear. Thereafter you can see your playlists and songs. Verified this with my iPhone 5 when I took the M235 out for a second test drive.
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      03-08-2014, 08:21 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
I stand corrected. You don't need a y cable. The standard USB to iPhone connector is all you need. Then select the Idrive multimedia menu and your device will appear. Thereafter you can see your playlists and songs. Verified this with my iPhone 5 when I took the M235 out for a second test drive.
Interesting, thanks for the heads up!
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      03-08-2014, 08:49 AM   #11
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i love the blue tooth audio... crisp and clean...
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      03-09-2014, 10:12 AM   #12
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Sorry for the delay, but here's a video of connected drive:



If you need any other features demonstrated, feel free to ask.
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      03-09-2014, 01:34 PM   #13
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Very informative. Thx.
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      03-18-2014, 02:46 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xbook
Sorry for the delay, but here's a video of connected drive:



If you need any other features demonstrated, feel free to ask.
Thanks for the info! Question tho. If you have to have your phone connected to use all those features in your video, what does the enhanced Bluetooth do?
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      03-18-2014, 05:09 PM   #15
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If I connect a usb drive with a movie on it, can I watch it on the screen?
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      03-20-2014, 07:30 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
I stand corrected. You don't need a y cable. The standard USB to iPhone connector is all you need. Then select the Idrive multimedia menu and your device will appear. Thereafter you can see your playlists and songs. Verified this with my iPhone 5 when I took the M235 out for a second test drive.
Sorry, just to confirm... this is without the Tech package? And, stupid question, but I assume when you say "standard USB to iPhone connector", you mean the normal charging cable that comes with the phone, yeah?

So would that mean that the only real difference/advantage the Tech package has in terms of playing music from the phone is that it can do so via bluetooth?
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      03-21-2014, 10:42 AM   #17
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I keep seeing Apple Apps on all the web information coming from BMW for North America. I was able to install the BMW Connected app for my Galaxy Note 3, but only Twitter and Facebook apps appear. How do I get all the other cool apps that the Apple phones are getting for BMW Connected? Don't tell to switch to an IOS device either

When I do connect my Android phone to the USB port (I have BMW Assist) my device goes straight into Media mode and Bluetooth is no longer available. I would assume that is normal, but I can't play any of my music apps from the phone when it is plugged in.
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      03-21-2014, 11:51 AM   #18
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The connected drive app for android is different. It doesn't have the eco pro analyzer or the m lap timer. BLOWS. Very disappointed. As far as your question regarding bluetooth while connected, it turns off any real phone functionality while connected via connected drive.

My real opinion of the phone functionality with connected drive? It's still in it's infancy and needs HUGE improvements in almost all areas. As of right now, for android users it's a waste of money.

I hope some design/engineering folks read these forums, because I'm taking notes on what needs to be done in every facet of connected drive for both IOS and Android, and will be posting those soon.
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      03-21-2014, 12:50 PM   #19
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Thank you for the good information. Looks like Android love for the US by BMW is not coming anytime soon. I will give it until May and if they don't offer the BMW Assist Snap In for Galaxy S4 or Note phones by then I will switch over to an old iphone 3 or 4 just for running the apps in my car. Not really what I want to do but can be done for with not too much money using the current hardware available now from BMW, including cost of a used iphone.
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      03-26-2014, 03:43 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
I stand corrected. You don't need a y cable. The standard USB to iPhone connector is all you need. Then select the Idrive multimedia menu and your device will appear. Thereafter you can see your playlists and songs. Verified this with my iPhone 5 when I took the M235 out for a second test drive.
For whatever reason, my normal Lightening cable isn't working that way - it worked fine on my 135, but not in the M235.

I talked to the dealer, and they said I needed the 30 to 8 pin connection adapter from Apple, to then be used with the BMW y cable to which you refer above.

I don't have the tech package - I am surprised I can't get to my audio files via the normal USB Lightening cable route. Pretty frustrating to say the least...

EDIT - I posted these pics in a different thread on this problem
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      03-26-2014, 08:49 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmboone25 View Post
For whatever reason, my normal Lightening cable isn't working that way - it worked fine on my 135, but not in the M235.

I talked to the dealer, and they said I needed the 30 to 8 pin connection adapter from Apple, to then be used with the BMW y cable to which you refer above.

I don't have the tech package - I am surprised I can't get to my audio files via the normal USB Lightening cable route. Pretty frustrating to say the least...
That's... really weird. I thought Bahuba mentioned that he tested the regular iPhone 5 cable with a non-Tech Package car and it worked (maybe I'm imagining that). And why the heck would the adapter work but not the native cable? Maybe this'll be fixed in a software update?
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      03-27-2014, 07:21 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaviin View Post
That's... really weird. I thought Bahuba mentioned that he tested the regular iPhone 5 cable with a non-Tech Package car and it worked (maybe I'm imagining that). And why the heck would the adapter work but not the native cable? Maybe this'll be fixed in a software update?
I had thought the exact same thing - and it worked fine on both my E92s and my E82s...but no such luck with the M235.

I have tried everything I can think of, short of buying the 30 pin to 8 pin (lightening) adapter from Apple, and then using the monstrocity y cable that BMW provides with the car...

If they make the M2, I hope they make it without iDrive.
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