Official iPhone 5 F30 Integration Thread

For the last week we've been testing our iPhone 5 with the Bimmerfest project 328i F30 3 series. We're pleased to report that everything is working as it should. Before jumping into our iPhone 5 testing we spent time with our iPhone 4 and the newly released iOS 6 (read article). With the faster speed of the A6 processor in the new phone pairing it to the F30 with Bluetooth or the USB cable for BMW ConnectedDrive seems a bit faster.



The big disappointment with the iPhone 5 in the F30 is the incompatible snap in adapter. The iPhone 5 is about half an inch longer then the 4/4S and uses the new Apple "lighting" connector. As you can see there is no way the old snap in adapter would work, even with an Lighting connection adapter. BMW has been quite about when we will see an iPhone 5 compatible snap in adapter. Tear downs of the Lighting cable show that Apple has embedded an authentication chip in the connector so BMW is probably in the process of licensing the technology from Apple.



Overall the new features of the iPhone 5, which come from iOS6, are a great addition. Having the car read you text messages or emails is a neat feature. The integration is still a little clunky but it is much safer then using your phone while driving. I have a feeling there will be an upgrade for the car software from BMW in the next few months that will make the integration better as they continue to test with the iPhone 5.



Stay tuned for more iPhone 5 testing and updates for the BMW F30 3 series.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BMW's statement on iPhone 5 and iOS 6 Compatibility?
BMW says "It is expected that all app compatibility will continue as will the ability to access one's song library using the BMW and MINI controls and screen. The specific feature, Plug-in, which works through BMW Apps and MINI Connected to replicate the look of the iPhone interface will not be available at launch. The full scope of compatibility between the iPhone 5 and BMW Group vehicles will be known once the validation process is completed."

When will BMW release the iPhone 5 Snap In Adapter?
BMW has not committed to a specific date yet but has been busy testing iOS 6. BMW tends to move slowly on this type of thing so do not expect it anytime soon. I'm thinking spring of 2014

If you're running iOS 6 on the iPhone 4 or 4S add to our iOS6 topic.

FYI: iPhone 5 works perfectly with BMW Apps. The biggest improvement that I could see was the inclusion of LTE... connecting to a BMW Apps Web Radio station is so fast now compared with the 4S 3G that it is not even funny.

Got my iPhone 5 today also but have not had time yet to set it up in my BMW. I can't wait for LTE to come to AT&T in Denver, they announced it will be here before the end of 2012, which is a good thing because I was close to dumping their sorry asses and going to Verizon.

I cannot get my iPhone 5 to work with apps. BT works fine.

Originally Posted by nyranger74

I cannot get my iPhone 5 to work with apps. BT works fine.

Delete and reinstall BMW Connected from the App Store, see if a clean install does the trick.

BJ

I set mine up in the car and so far everything is working fine. Have not played with apps yet, but the iPod out, BT integration, etc, seems to be working fine.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

I set mine up in the car and so far everything is working fine. Have not played with apps yet, but the iPod out, BT integration, etc, seems to be working fine.

iPod Out cannot work with your iPhone 5 as you don't have a snap-in adapter.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

iPod Out cannot work with your iPhone 5 as you don't have a snap-in adapter.

BJ

Has any one tired to connect the 30 pin adapter wire to the snap in and checked to see if video works.

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

Has any one tired to connect the 30 pin adapter wire to the snap in and checked to see if video works.

It won't work. The iPhone 5 doesn't have analog video output

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=660946

I mean music playback with album artwork and controls. Not "true" ipod out which obviously won't work till a new cradle becomes available sometime in the next year or so.

Does anything about the phone itself seem new, different, or better??

Originally Posted by jtuds

Does anything about the phone itself seem new, different, or better??

IMO, the addition of LTE and a much faster processor speeds downloading/uploading data quite substantially over the 4S. The bigger screen, better camera, and better power management (by streamlining circuitry inside, i.e. new Lightning connector) are great to have but not as radical improvements over the 4S as the LTE inclusion.

Originally Posted by jtuds

Does anything about the phone itself seem new, different, or better??

It's ridiculously fast compared to the iPhone 4 that most of us are upgrading from.

It's noticeably thinner and lighter. Bigger screen helps, its not a hinderance. I'm very happy with it.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

It's ridiculously fast compared to the iPhone 4 that most of us are upgrading from.

It's noticeably thinner and lighter. Bigger screen helps, its not a hinderance. I'm very happy with it.

BJ

Hey BJ and VOIP, got mine last night, as I pre-ordered a week ago. Had to pick it up at FEDEX as I was not home when it was origninally delivered. I immediafely called a friend to start to set it up, then finished at the Verizon in San Diego about 10 minutes from my House. I am coming from a Blackberry Storm 2, which I grew to hate and Detest. It must have froze on Me Daily. Very Embarrasing when using the VZ Navigator with your Sales Manager and he is sitting with his 4 IPhone. I have no prior experience, and I am thrilled. My wife has a 4s , which she got a year ago. It is so user friendly, I am having a ball just setting up Itunes and the App Store. Have not worked it with our BMW , as we have not had our PCD yet. Soon, Soon , Soon Cant wait to use it on our cross country adventure back to San Diego from Spartanburg So , how has it been integrating with your new Babies? Any tips or advice when we set up our Iphone 5 , and my wifes 4s ? Thanks in advance. I am so glad to join the Apple Family !!!! I will soon have a company provided IPAD, so its double the pleasure Soon. Enjoy the rest of your weekends. I am off to see My SD Chargers vs Atlanta Sunday. Season Ticket Holder

Originally Posted by SD330i

Hey BJ and VOIP, got mine last night, as I pre-ordered a week ago. Had to pick it up at FEDEX as I was not home when it was origninally delivered. I immediafely called a friend to start to set it up, then finished at the Verizon in San Diego about 10 minutes from my House. I am coming from a Blackberry Storm 2, which I grew to hate and Detest. It must have froze on Me Daily. Very Embarrasing when using the VZ Navigator with your Sales Manager and he is sitting with his 4 IPhone. I have no prior experience, and I am thrilled. My wife has a 4s , which she got a year ago. It is so user friendly, I am having a ball just setting up Itunes and the App Store:thumbup Have not worked it with our BMW , as we have not had our PCD yet. Soon, Soon , Soon Cant wait to use it on our cross country adventure back to San Diego from Spartanburg So , how has it been integrating with your new Babies? Any tips or advice when we set up our Iphone 5 , and my wifes 4s ? Thanks in advance. I am so glad to join the Apple Family !!!! I will soon have a company provided IPAD, so its double the pleasure Soon. Enjoy the rest of your weekends.

I am off to see My SD Chargers vs Atlanta Sunday. Season Ticket Holder

Congrats on the iPhone, works flawlessly with the F30, no worries.

I'm not rooting for an AFC win against the NFC, wildcard implications, sorry.

BJ

Originally Posted by SD330i

Hey BJ and VOIP, got mine last night, as I pre-ordered a week ago. Had to pick it up at FEDEX as I was not home when it was origninally delivered. I immediafely called a friend to start to set it up, then finished at the Verizon in San Diego about 10 minutes from my House. I am coming from a Blackberry Storm 2, which I grew to hate and Detest. It must have froze on Me Daily. Very Embarrasing when using the VZ Navigator with your Sales Manager and he is sitting with his 4 IPhone. I have no prior experience, and I am thrilled. My wife has a 4s , which she got a year ago. It is so user friendly, I am having a ball just setting up Itunes and the App Store. Have not worked it with our BMW , as we have not had our PCD yet. Soon, Soon , Soon Cant wait to use it on our cross country adventure back to San Diego from Spartanburg So , how has it been integrating with your new Babies? Any tips or advice when we set up our Iphone 5 , and my wifes 4s ? Thanks in advance. I am so glad to join the Apple Family !!!! I will soon have a company provided IPAD, so its double the pleasure Soon. Enjoy the rest of your weekends. I am off to see My SD Chargers vs Atlanta Sunday. Season Ticket Holder

Hey SD330i, I just picked up my car this past week. You already know that from my delivery thread Anyway, just wanted to chime in on my experience. First off the iPhone 5 integration with BMW is just flawless. There are a few things that you need keep in mind. On your iPhone, make sure you setup notifications to appear on lock screen for text messages. I believe the messages feature is still not working (At least I havent figured it out yet). This is for the text messages to pop up on the screen. Also download the connected drive app and start it before plugging in the phone to ensure 100% connectivity. I have seen where it looses connectivity if its not started prior to connecting the usb. ipod features just work out of the box once setup this way. Office features import your phone book into the car and the Bluetooth integration is dynamic. Meaning if you update a contact. add or delete, the change reflects once you start up the car. BMW + Apple is a good marriage (integration-wise).

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

It's ridiculously fast compared to the iPhone 4 that most of us are upgrading from.

You had the iPhone 4 till yesterday??? I think most of us are upgrading from iPhone 4S

Originally Posted by 328i2013

You had the iPhone 4 till yesterday??? I think most of us are upgrading from iPhone 4S

Most are on a two-year contract cycle with their carrier, so the upgrade pattern looks like this:

Cycle A: iPhone 3G > 4 > 5

Cycle B: iPhone 3GS > 4S > 5S

It's how it works with AT&T and Verizon in the US. So Apple does a major release every 2 years and a minor release every 1 year, so no matter which of the every-two-years cycle customers are on they always have something new from Apple. I'm an early adopter so I'm on the first cycle, my wife's on the second. My iPhone 5 is fully discounted as my 2 year contract is up, my wife's isn't up for another year.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Most are on a two-year contract cycle with their carrier, so the upgrade pattern looks like this:

Cycle A: iPhone 3G > 4 > 5

Cycle B: iPhone 3GS > 4S > 5S

It's how it works with AT&T and Verizon in the US. So Apple does a major release every 2 years and a minor release every 1 year, so no matter which of the every-two-years cycle customers are on they always have something new from Apple. I'm an early adopter so I'm on the first cycle, my wife's on the second. My iPhone 5 is fully discounted as my 2 year contract is up, my wife's isn't up for another year.

BJ

You are funny, drive 50K cars but don't upgrade every year cuz that would cost $250 more? Ha. I've had all 6 iPhones.

Originally Posted by jtuds

Does anything about the phone itself seem new, different, or better??

Not only is the screen better but it is higher DPI so it's even sharper than the already excellent screen on the 4/4S. The new screen is also better contrast and color accuracy. It's much much faster... incredibly thin and light. All around far better and worth the upgrade if you are not under contract.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

Not only is the screen better but it is higher DPI so it's even sharper than the already excellent screen on the 4/4S. The new screen is also better contrast and color accuracy. It's much much faster... incredibly thin and light. All around far better and worth the upgrade if you are not under contract.

I preordered mine under contract and unfortunately where I live only have 4G, no LTE yet. But my 3gs was on its last legs but I could deal with it. I didn't really need to upgrade but my wife did big time. Her 3G should have been disposed of ages ago and she's been toughing it out with a dying device for over a year.

My wife had the 3GS and the iPhone 5 is a massive upgrade from that phone. Less so from a 4 or 4S but still worthy to do so.

iOS6 moved all podcasts to the Podcast app and out of the music app. How do i get to podcasts now in iDrrive? I haven't tried it yet, has anyone? I don't have BMW apps integration.

-mike

Originally Posted by mikepinkerton

iOS6 moved all podcasts to the Podcast app and out of the music app. How do i get to podcasts now in iDrrive? I haven't tried it yet, has anyone? I don't have BMW apps integration.

-mike

Try this:

Go into iTunes and create a new Smart Playlist and set the rule to "type equals Podcast". Then sync that Playlist to your iOS device and see if you can get to it via the iDrive playlists menu.

Podcasts are just another type of mp4 file, should be easy to get to in this manner.

BJ

Don't know if this is true. Found this on google.

Car Audio to Finally Get iPhone 5 Video Adapter

A Car audio adapter was sadly omitted from Apple's new selection of video adapters for the* iPhone 5, iPad mini and new iPad 4.* Apple is providing adapters for cameras and TVs, but alas, not for car radios and monitors.* But in January, we will see the first such adapter from an aftermarket company.


iPhone 5 uses a new Lightning dock connector with digital audio and video output

iSimple (Aamp of America) will display at the Consumer Electronics Show, an adapter that is able to extract video from the new Apple devices and send it to a car radio or screen, using the composite video format required by most car AV devices.

Scott Rothstein, Senior Product Manager was mum on the details but said the adapter will work with most car radios and car video monitors.

As CEoutlook readers know, with the iPhone 5 and newest iPads, Apple switched the video output to digital from analog, creating the need for special adapters to work with many existing products.

iSimple is the first company to claim it will offer a composite video solution for car audio equipment. We'll have to wait until CES for more details.