Help with Smartphone Integration problem

J

Just J

Member
 NW Suburban Chicagoland, Illinois (USA)
Picked up my 35is two weeks ago. Love it, and everything is great except for one problem - the smartphone integration isn't working.

When my iPhone is in the cradle it charges, but it doesn't show up in the list of external devices. Whether or not the phone is in the cradle, and whether or not I have anything plugged into the Aux-on jack in the center console, the external devices list has a check-mark next to the Aux connection.

The dealer isn't having any luck finding the problem. They're working with BMW, but the time difference between US Central time and the engineers in Germany really slows things down. And they want to hang on to both the car and my cell phone while they sort it out, which is frustrating as hell on both fronts.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I'm getting to the point where I may tell them to refund me the cost of the option and the accessory cradle, and I'll just have to learn to live without this feature.
 
JustJ, sorry but I don't have an answer for you (although my snap-in adapter is on order at the dealership for a BB Bold). I'll be watching this thread however for whatever solution BMW Germany offers up. Also, no issue with the bluetooth & my bold though. Works flawlessly on that front.
Dave
 
Bluetooth works OK, and it seems to charge the device. It just doesn't detect it as a music player. More important, with that functionality not working I can't tell if the external antenna connection is working, which for me is the primary driver for purchasing the option.

I swapped them my Touch for my iPhone last night so I can at least use my phone and they still have an Apple dock connector device to test with. They reported that my phone and cradle worked in another vehicle. BMW was going to overnight them a new "base" for the center console for delivery today so they could see if that is the problem. But we're approaching the end of the day with no call or email that the car is ready, so it's not looking good. :(
 
Do you have the iPod connection USB under the arm rest in the centre console or just the mini jack input?

If you have the USB connection as well as the mini jack socket (for it to navigate through the iPhone using the steering wheel and show on the screen as an iPod it also needs to be connected to that USB connection with a Y cable when out of the cradle) it means you have the iPod connectivity pack and if you plug in the cradle the iPhone should also work as an iPod and show on the screen as an external device when in the cradle.

If you only have the mini jack connection and no USB connector under the arm rest (not the USB in the glove box) you have no iPod integration. Even in the cradle it won't work as an iPod, just a phone. You should see your phones address book on the screen but it won't be recognised as an external device. I know this because this is the option I have and mine doesn't show as an iPod either. :wink:

You can tell the signal strength because it shows in the top right corner of the screen as a bar level.

You can see the USB and mini jack connection to make the iPhone connect as an iPod in this review vid:

http://cnettv.cnet.com/2009-bmw-z4-sdrive-35i/9742-1_53-50075352.html

Does yours look like that? If not, it will only work as a phone. :wink:
 
Breaker said:
Do you have the iPod connection USB under the arm rest in the centre console or just the mini jack input?
Click to expand...

Yep - it's required if you order the SmartPhone integration.

I finally heard back from the dealer. The new center console base arrived, with a new wiring harness. Good thing, because they found the wiring harness on the original base to be pinched and crimped. After replacing the base and wiring harness, everything is working as it should. The only remaining issue is that the fit of the replacement base isn't quite right - there's a gap at the forward edge and it doesn't sit down flat. I'll play with it a bit myself to see if I can get it to work, and maybe have the dealer take another look at it (though I may just quit while I'm ahead :) ).
 
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