Phones that are compatible/incompatible with BMW Bluetooth

sapphire_nick said:
Hi all

I have just put a deposit down on a z4 coupe and can't wait to pick it up.
Now I have had a look and I can see that my phone Apple iphone is only compatible with cars built from Sept 07 - as mine is a june 07 car, what would I need to make it compatible?

Is there software that can be downloaded onto the car that I can get from anywhere or the dealer?

All the best
Nick
Click to expand...

Nick, I have a 2003 Z4 and the iPhone works just fine!

David.
 
the procedure shown on http://www.wireless4bmw.com does not work for me. is there a different procedure for 2004 z4's with pop up navi?
 
how wierd, David! Thanks. I pick the car up on thurs so I will confirm then. The parts guy called me and said it would not work. I thought that was wierd to be honest. Do you get full functionality with the sat nav?
 
sapphire_nick said:
how wierd, David! Thanks. I pick the car up on thurs so I will confirm then. The parts guy called me and said it would not work. I thought that was wierd to be honest. Do you get full functionality with the sat nav?
Click to expand...
I have the Pro Sat-Nav - the one with the poppy-up screen. I guess if you don't have that, the pairing process may be different and the method of going through the address book will be different too.

But, as far as functionality goes it receives calls (important!) and makes them too. The address book syncs up just fine - if you have more than one number for a contact (e.g. work and mobile numbers for 'John') it comes up on the screen with 2 address book entries ... 'John (Mobile)', 'John (Work)'.

I did have some trouble with it when running an old iPhone firmware (it sometimes would not connect) but on the newer firmwares (1.1.2 and above) it's been plain sailing. I did find that after upgrading the firmware I needed to re-pair the phone, but not a big deal.

Let me know how you get on with it ...

D.
 
em2b96p said:
the procedure shown on http://www.wireless4bmw.com does not work for me. is there a different procedure for 2004 z4's with pop up navi?
Click to expand...
That's basically the process ... although step 1 if the important one. You need to have the car in bluetooth pairing mode. There's a bit of a knack to putting it in pairing mode, and there are a few tutorials on this site. My process with my Pro-Nav poppy-up screen Z4 is:

1) With key OUT of the ignition, take the centre cabinet door down.
2) Press and hold the pairing button (which looks like a face, shouting)
3) Put the key in, turn two (I think!) steps. i.e. the one before the engine would be started.
4) As soon as the poppy-up screen starts to rise, release the pairing button.

The car should be in paring mode, and the screen should confirm this. Now follow the iPhone instructions on the wireless4bmw site. Once you've paired successfully, turn the car off, and then back on. You should pair up automatically and be all set.

D.
 
Hi Dave

That is strange - I have just updated the firmware on the iphone to version 1.1.4 and visited the car at the dealers yesterday to pair it up and it would not work :-(
No idea what we were doing wrong - do you have a pairing procedure?

The sat nav system is the pro pop up version like yours. It has bluetooth and telematics if that helps.

Really wierd! Did you have to update the car software on the nav system?

Nick
 
Have just seen that the iphone snap in adaptor has been made available in America.... Let's hope we get it soon. It is meant to be about £60 when it comes

http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.aspx?modelId=239&categoryId=112&productCategoryId=&menuId=2&subItemId=2&productId=948
 
Please note that whilst the SE W880i works, the snap-in adapter doesn't fit due to a large lump hanging out of the left-hand side.
 
sapphire_nick said:
sorry... you answered above!! :oops:

What software version is your iphone then?
Click to expand...
It's 1.1.3 now, but I had it working with 1.1.1 and 1.1.2.

At what stage does it fail? Can the iPhone see the BMW - does it attempt to connect?

For what it's worth, the car comes up on the iPhone as "BMW ULF".

David.
 
davidpfitz said:
sapphire_nick said:
Annoying! Does anyone know if the iphone is too wide?
Click to expand...
I'd be very surprised if it did fit - there's no a whole lot of room in there.
Click to expand...
Apparently you have to modify (dremel) the eject box to get it to fit. I understand that a few people had to do this with their Razr phones. Pain, but I will do it!! :x
 
davidpfitz said:
sapphire_nick said:
sorry... you answered above!! :oops:

What software version is your iphone then?
Click to expand...
It's 1.1.3 now, but I had it working with 1.1.1 and 1.1.2.

At what stage does it fail? Can the iPhone see the BMW - does it attempt to connect?

For what it's worth, the car comes up on the iPhone as "BMW ULF".

David.
Click to expand...
Hi David

The iphone found the car as Handsfree, but then when I selected it on the phone, the message came up on the iphone "could not connect" and then failed. I now have 1.1.4 software. Picking the car up this weekend, so I hope it does work.

To be honest the dealer gave me no confidence that they knew what they were doing, what do I do on the car itself to get it into pairing mode. The car has the prof nav and Bluetooth with telematics if that makes a difference?

Thanks so much!

Nick
 
Nick - Fingers crossed it'll work for you.

There's a stack of different bluetooth modules in the Z4. Last time I saw the list there were about 10-12 different models of it in different Z4s; I guess some are more compatible with some phone models than others.

So, if your iPhone won't work with your Z4 you could just replace the bluetooth module with one that is known to work with the iPhone.

Looking at eBay, (searched for BMW bluetooth module) it's not a horrific amount of money if that is indeed the route you'd need to take (especially since you could sell your one on eBay for the same kind of money, presumably? You might even make money!)

David.
 
definitely when ive seen the 13th gen advertised it says iphone compatible, which would make sense for those dates..
 
Given my Z4 is an 03 and it works, it sounds like the first ones are compatible, later ones are not and later ones again are!
 
yes, it is all very strange. I will but a new module if necessary and Ebay mine, but I really do think that the dealer could be doing something wrong. I really thought that Bluetooth was bluetooth regardless of version!
 
That's the problem, there is no industry standard for bluetooth and it's implementation varies between phone manufacturers, hence the problems getting a version of the BMW bluetooth module that is compatible with your phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom