Enhanced bluetooth

[olicana]

I picked up my new Z today. On the options list it says it has enhanced bluetooth. I am struggling to see what the "enhanced" bit is. I have the standard professional stereo and no i drive.

I have already paired my phone so I can make calls which i presume the standard bluetooth allows you to do?

The car is a brand new 2012 model.

 

[K99]

Think it means you can stream music via BT.

 

[olicana]

That's what I thought but as I do not have the I drive I cannot see a way to do this.

 

[Wondermike]

It is just "normal" bluetooth but BMW seems to have updated the description to "enhanced bluetooth" on the used car site, but the reality is it's no different and can't do streaming.

 

[olicana]

Thanks Mike.

 

[olicana]

Does anyone know if i buy a Bluetooth USB dongle and plug that into the USB socket in the car will I be able to stream music this way?

 

[Maniac]

Does anyone know if i buy a Bluetooth USB dongle and plug that into the USB socket in the car will I be able to stream music this way?

If you can find a bluetooth to AUX out, powered by USB power then that might work, but a) you'll get even worse quality audio and b) you won't be able to control the music from the car, you'd have to control it via the phone, while you're driving... not a good idea.

This might work for instance; http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_254705_productId_832737_langId_-1?cm_mmc=GooglePPC-_-Google%20Product%20Search-_-In-Car%20Technology%2FiPod%2FiPad%2FiPhone%20%26%20MP3%20Player%20Accessories%2FFM%20Transmitters-_-Belkin%20CarAudio%20Connect%20Aux%20-%20Bluetooth&source=ppc&adtype=pla&_$ja&_$$ja=tsid:37143

Albeit a neater solution would be USB powered so you can plug it into the AUX and USB sockets in the arm rest. Again though, there's no control over the music playing, it would simply play, you couldn't select tracks or whatever...

EDIT: Here we go, done the hard work for you... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Bluetooth-Audio-Music-Receiver-Adapter-for-Stereo-Speaker-iPhone-iPod-/200840981177?pt=UK_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item2ec30e2ab9

That would connect, provided you have both AUX and USB in the arm rest, and be tidy. Just pair it to your phone and off you go.

Or more compact one.. with 8 hr battery...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Car-Bluetooth-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Music-MP3-Receiver-A2DP-Phone-CN26-/170907211693?pt=UK_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item27cadd17ad

 

[olicana]

Thanks I will have a look at those.

To be honest I would prefer to control the music from my iPhone as I have it sat nicely in view on a tetrax holder.

I find the professional radio much more distracting to use on the move.

 

[olicana]

Well I bought a (very) cheap usb bluetooth receiver and plugged it into the usb port in the Z4 and the car refused to acknowledge anything was plugged in.

After that failure I bought a cheap bluetooth receiver that plugs into the 3.5mil jack point and is powered by the 12v power socket. This set up works a treat. My iphone syncs to this bit of kit as soon as i get in the car.

I can now stream my music from the iphone and select the songs from the iphone (which i prefer). In addition to this the Tom Tom app I have on my iphone now works throught the cars speakers, the music is muted automitically when it gives directions.

I have not noticed a drop in music quality and the bluetooth adapter is hidden away out of sight in the arm rest.

What makes it all even better is the phone can link to the BMW bluetooth at the same time. If someone rings me it just mutes the music and allows me to chat.

I use a tetrax holder so have my phone just below my sight line on the drivers side airvent.

This is the link for the bluetooth receiver.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=JUSTOP+BTR006+Bluetooth+Wireless+Stereo+Audio+Receiver+With+3.5MM+Jack%2C+Universal+Adapter+For+Speakers%2C+New+Module+with+Bluetooth+V2.1+A2DP+profile+

 

[Maniac]

Thought so.. USB=No but USB powered AUX=yes

As for audio quality, aux (analogue) is generally worse than music that's from the idrive for example, which is digital. Depends how picky you are tho I guess.

Glad it worked for you.