iphone 6 making calls

[Loxford]

Hi,
Z4 2011.
I've managed to pair my iphone 6.
I can receive calls.

However, my contacts don't seem to have synced onto the car system apart from the very first from my mobile (which it will dial successfully).
I cannot scroll forward as presumably nothing else has transferred.
AFAIK my contacts are on the phone and on the SIM.
To make a call I have to tap in the numbers on the radio function buttons. It works but this incredibly inconvenient, slow and crucially completely illegal and unsafe....Unless I stop.

I know the iphone 6 and later is not officially listed as having all functions compatible but I've seen a post where someone is using an iphone 8 to play music. I'm more concerned with the phone function at the moment.

Any suggestions?

Thx

G

[AnubisZed]

Firstly what headunit do you have? iDrive or non-iDrive?

Let's say non-iDrive... The iPhone 6 should work perfectly with the bluetooth and have all contacts showable, I know as I used to have an iPhone 6s+ and it worked fine.

[Chippie]

I have idrive and iPhone 6s and that works fine

[Loxford]

Hi,
Non idrive.
I’ve now got the iPhone 6 contacts into the system.
To make a call the voice activation requests a command but it doesn’t hear me.
The only way I can select a number/contact is to scroll through one by one. That takes a long time and would require my visual attention for too long.
It works for incoming calls.
I have seen reference to a separate instruction manual for Using and setting up mobile phone but can’t find it.
Many thx

[Chippie]

Could you have a faulty microphone, have you tried any other voice options?

[Loxford]

The mic must work as I can converse on received calls. It’s the command thing and selecting contacts.
Only had the car 3 days, not familiar with the technology. I’ve been driving only classic cars for decades.
This, to me is a space ship!

[AnubisZed]

Hi,
Non idrive.
I’ve now got the iPhone 6 contacts into the system.
To make a call the voice activation requests a command but it doesn’t hear me.
The only way I can select a number/contact is to scroll through one by one. That takes a long time and would require my visual attention for too long.
It works for incoming calls.
I have seen reference to a separate instruction manual for Using and setting up mobile phone but can’t find it.
Many thx

Not sure if the manual can help but I do have a pdf copy of it, alas at home and I won't be there until tonight.
I'll have to upload it to my Dropbox account though as it's not possible to attach it to a post here

[Loxford]

Hi Dave.
I’d appreciate that very much thank you.
I have a pdf version of the owners handbook it’s in there that it refers to a separate manual for the phone. At least that’s what I take it to mean, rather than simply suggesting I refer further to the manual for the iPhone.
The vehicle didn’t come with any handbook. I found the pdf version online. I am expecting a hard copy from BMW the previous owner has ordered for me.
Regards

[AnubisZed]

Hi Dave.
I’d appreciate that very much thank you.
I have a pdf version of the owners handbook it’s in there that it refers to a separate manual for the phone. At least that’s what I take it to mean, rather than simply suggesting I refer further to the manual for the iPhone.
The vehicle didn’t come with any handbook. I found the pdf version online. I am expecting a hard copy from BMW the previous owner has ordered for me.
Regards

As yours is a 2011, I'll upload all the manuals I have for mine (I have them all in pdf) as mine is also a 2011. (Owners manual, Phone Manual, Radio manual, 2011 brochure, 2011 price list)
Just as a matter of interest if you go to the App Store you can download the "BMW Drivers Guide" app, once it's loaded you insert your VIN and it loads the correct manual for your car, handy to have when you're out and about.

[Loxford]

Thx Dave
That’s great.
The phone guide is the one.
I found the app thx, got that.
The others would be very handy.
Cheers.
G

[AnubisZed]

Here you go....
Phone manual > https://www.dropbox.com/s/s4zta049vn6w9 ... e.pdf?dl=0

And the others...
Radio > https://www.dropbox.com/s/qmb3pxurdkppv ... o.pdf?dl=0
Price list > https://www.dropbox.com/s/ix4th3s7bik3i ... t.pdf?dl=0
Brochure > https://www.dropbox.com/s/dvg37j8prk7tl ... e.pdf?dl=0
Accessories > https://www.dropbox.com/s/g2ujquco50zvq ... s.pdf?dl=0
Owners Manual > https://www.dropbox.com/s/s8a4vtq8vrako ... l.pdf?dl=0

[Loxford]

Really great Dave. Thanks so much for your help.
Regards
G

[Lazza]

My 2009 35i never understands any of my voice commands either. I think there might be a BMW service that I’d need to sign up to to make it work.
I avoid the problem by using Siri to make phone calls. It also makes texting and reading texts easy, no need to touch the phone at all

[Loxford]

I found the telephone information vague.
Most owners have probably figured this out but for those like myself......,

What I didn’t understand were the voice commands you are required to use.
If you hit ‘help’ somewhere on the radio system it will read out the various commands it understands.

Eventually, I managed to upload my phone’s contacts via Bluetooth but could only search through them manually on the radio screen by selecting the first letter of the name then scrolling through them.
Dangerous and illegal unless I stop the vehicle.

I found the way to get to dial out on my voice command was to sit in the car and input my own directory, one entry at a time.
State the contacts name, number, save.

Then crucially, to voice dial, hit the phone speech button, say “Dial Name”, state “Contacts Name”, (as you recorded it), it reads back the recording you made of the contacts name asking you to confirm, you reply “Yes”.
It dials out......

I doubt if you’re ever going to sit in the car making up a voice recognition directory of all of your contacts but this works for whoever you want to call regularly.

Regards

[Lazza]

I just say ‘Hey Siri, phone the Mrs” and it dials my wife. No need to program anything.
I can also say “read my messages” and it’ll read any unread messages. I can even send text messages the same way!