Android and BMW Bluetoooth

W

wildbeeste

Member
 Brighton
I have a Nexus 4 (LG) Android phone using Android version 4.4.4
The car is a 2006 Z4 Coupe with Sat Nav Version IV and Bluetooth (BT)

First problem locating the correct button to press to connect the car to the phone by BT
You are looking for the picture of a face (speaking) - there are two such buttons it is not the one on the steering wheel but the one in the compartment between the back of the seats

Insert the ignition key but do not turn it (Position 0)
Press the face button for 3 seconds
Whilst holding the button down turn the ignition key one click (Position 1) carry on pressing the face key for a further 3 seconds then release

The screen on the dash should rise and after a few seconds should say something about "pairing"

Make your phone visible to other BT devices (it is in settings on the phone (at the bottom of the settings screen)

Then wait

Your phone should find BMW*******
and you will be asked for the 4 digit code that is stuck onto a smallish white plasticky card with your car documents (It may be in the special little multilanguage booklet named telephone)

Then you should connect in a few seconds

Accept the option to allow the car to use your contacts
 
This is all in the instruction booklet :wink:

It's wise to first erase all previous paired phones as there is a maximum on the number of paired phones.
 
If you have an apple product you will have no problems at all as BMW and apple have collaborated together
Similarly with Blackberry but if you have problems turn off the security and the transfer should work

But lots of Android smart phones will have problems and it is often only with BMWs

My whole contacts list did not transfer - only one number did!
It happened to be a French Mobile number which I have now dialled several times by mistake :headbang:

Why is this? Well it seems that noone really knows as some android phones work and others do not
The BMW dealership I went to did not know about BMWs own compatibility website
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/owners/mobile-devices/compatibility.html

My phone LG Nexus is listed (whoopee)
It has limited functionality
Why is this as it is a Smart phone? :(
 
If you have an apple product you will have no problems at all as BMW and apple have collaborated together
Similarly with Blackberry but if you have problems turn off the security and the transfer should work

But lots of Android smart phones will have problems and it is often only with BMWs

My whole contacts list did not transfer - only one number did!
It happened to be a French Mobile number which I have now dialled several times by mistake :headbang:

Why is this? Well it seems that noone really knows as some android phones work and others do not
The BMW dealership I went to did not know about BMWs own compatibility website
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/owners/mobile-devices/compatibility.html

My phone LG Nexus is listed (whoopee)
It has limited functionality
Why is this as it is a Smart phone? :(
 
GuidoK said:
This is all in the instruction booklet :wink:

It's wise to first erase all previous paired phones as there is a maximum on the number of paired phones.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree it is, but the instruction book is not always clear.
The max number of paired phones is 4 and if you try to add a 5th it simply erases the first phone paired
 
It is not because apple&bmw work toghether that an iphone my work better than a smartphone. Remenber: you're working with a BT system designed before 2003 :rofl:
Some 4 years before apple started making phones :lol:
It all has to do with implementation of ancient BT profile standards. Some phones (or even firmware) do that better than others. My S3 used to pair great and transfer contacts, until it was upgraded to a new android version.....
My previous nokia didn't do anything, but I also have an ancient nokia (6310 or so) that works excellent.

But then again... who wants to wast time on telephone calls when driving spiritly in a z4 8)

wildbeeste said:
The max number of paired phones is 4 and if you try to add a 5th it simply erases the first phone paired
Click to expand...
Not on every BT ULF firmware ;)
 
I had a look at my phone and downloaded ROM Toolbox Pro
This allowed me to look at the system files
in etc/bluetooth/auto_pair_devlist.conf is a list called

Blacklisting by partial name (if names starts with)
PartialNameBlacklist=BMW,Audi,Parrot,Car

It seems that Android have Blacklisted BMW (and others) from BT connections on my phone :thumbsdown:
 
I may forced to either "root" my present phone or else buy an old iphone for use in the car
I know iphones work as my sons connected with no problems.

I agree however why would you want to make phone calls from a Zed :driving:
 
GuidoK said:
^I highly doubt that you interpret that parameter correctly....
Click to expand...
You are probably correct as the android phone does connect and I can make calls (using the phone's own screen) but what do you suggest it means?
 
I have a Sony Xperia Z2 running 4.4.2 and it was easier to connect than my previous iphone & samsung. I always follow this guide:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14520
 
bluestreak56 said:
I have a Sony Xperia Z2 running 4.4.2 and it was easier to connect than my previous iphone & samsung. I always follow this guide:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14520
Click to expand...
Wish I had found that before I faffed around for an hour or so
 
wildbeeste said:
GuidoK said:
^I highly doubt that you interpret that parameter correctly....
Click to expand...
You are probably correct as the android phone does connect and I can make calls (using the phone's own screen) but what do you suggest it means?
Click to expand...

It says something like autopair. That may be a function that it pairs without code (manual code input) or something like that. But I'm pretty sure that android phones work with the 100 of millions of parrot systems out there or audi's, or bmw's in general.

-I looked it up; in that file it says:
# This file contains information to prevent auto pairing with Bluetooth devices.
So, to prevent auto pairing; not pairing in general. It is a set of parameters to prevent autopairing. It does that by certain names, both partial and exact (bmw, parrot, audi, peugeot etc, it is a HUGE list) and by a set of hex code (AddressBlacklist)


But this is a specific problem related to this specific ULF (this ulf is used in the z4, e46 and probably e39).
It is -in mobile communication terms- a prehistoric piece of hardware. That's the trouble with cars&phones/computers/media. Cars have a much longer lifespan.
 
I have just found this
http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-evo-3d/101902-bmw-bluetooth-problems.html
Post 22
install the app "bluetooth file transfer"..
next export your phonebook contacts to the Sd card (as a .vcf file)
unpair your car and phone
re-pair using the manual, and the pin code given with the bmw documentation
AS SOON as the re-pair is done, go into the bluetooth file transfer tool, find you vcf file, and
select it, then from the drop down menu select "send contacts"
Select all, and "Send as single"

No that did not work
The car is missing some protocol
 
What can you do if your pin code is wrong?

The one in the leaflet/booklet isn't recognised by the car. Will the correct code be written on the module and if so, where is it? Also I don't have Sat Nav so I presume my Bluetooth is purely for answering calls etc as there is no screen? Sorry, I'm new to all of this and need some pointers.

Cheers.
 
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