BMW Bluetooth Compatible phones; What WORKS?

check my post

Originally Posted by Shahul_BMW

Couple of questions on 08 535i with iphone 3gs

1. Why wouldn't all missed/reveived/dialed numbers from my iphone show up in the idrive communications
2. I do no see an option of Messaging/sms in the idrive communications

Please help

1. The only calls that will show up are those calls that occur while your phone is paired with the car.

2. Sorry, can't help here, although I don't see the utility of sms while driving.

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All,
I found a serious work-around for most phones. Here's the steps.
1) Go to Bluetooth > Settings > pair phone (do not start pairing just yet)
2) Set on your Bluetooth selection in your phone and turn the phone off.
3) Turn your phone back on.
4) With the Voice command (in the newer vehicles) follow these steps:
>Press voice command and say > Bluetooth (it will repeat the command)
>Go down the iDrive menu to >Settings >start pairing
> With your phone >go to Bluetooth settings > pair >enter pin code on phone & iDrive
5) It will tell you that pairing is successful but not display phone information
>Press Voice command and say >Bluetooth
>Go to phone in your iDrive >Go down to your phone in the list and say> A to Z
6) The Voice Command Module will say "Searching for paired phones". If it does not say this then you did something wrong.
7) While searching for the phone it will enable Bluetooth again on its own in about 6 seconds.
8) Now toggle your phone from "MUSIC ONLY >on" to "MUSIC ONLY>off" your phone book will be displayed.

Note: if you already have a phone paired but can't see your listings, jump to step "5".

I hope this wasn't too long. Once you get use to it it'll go faster.

Key Points:
>Clear Paired phones
>Activate blue tooth in your phone then turn cell phone off
>Turn phone back on and use voice commands
>Pair phones> use voice commands> say "Bluetooth">go to phone in iDrive>
>Go down to phone ID> press voice and say> A to Z
>Listen for "Searching for Paired phones"
>Toggle from MUSIC ONLY>on to MUSIC ONLY >off after 6 seconds

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All,
I found a serious work-around for most phones. Here's the steps.
1) Go to Bluetooth > Settings > pair phone (do not start pairing just yet)
2) Set on your Bluetooth selection in your phone and turn the phone off.
3) Turn your phone back on.
4) With the Voice command (in the newer vehicles) follow these steps:
>Press voice command and say > Bluetooth (it will repeat the command)
>Go down the iDrive menu to >Settings >start pairing
> With your phone >go to Bluetooth settings > pair >enter pin code on phone & iDrive
5) It will tell you that pairing is successful but not display phone information
>Press Voice command and say >Bluetooth
>Go to phone in your iDrive >Go down to your phone in the list and say> A to Z
6) The Voice Command Module will say "Searching for paired phones". If it does not say this then you did something wrong.
7) While searching for the phone it will enable Bluetooth again on its own in about 6 seconds.
8) Now toggle your phone from "MUSIC ONLY >on" to "MUSIC ONLY>off" your phone book will be displayed.

Note: if you already have a phone paired but can't see your listings, jump to step "5".

I hope this wasn't too long. Once you get use to it it'll go faster.

Key Points:
>Clear Paired phones
>Activate blue tooth in your phone then turn cell phone off
>Turn phone back on and use voice commands
>Pair phones> use voice commands> say "Bluetooth">go to phone in iDrive>
>Go down to phone ID> press voice and say> A to Z
>Listen for "Searching for Paired phones"
>Toggle from MUSIC ONLY>on to MUSIC ONLY >off after 6 seconds

Devil dog, the first time was probably enough.

2006 530i
Phone HTC Evo 4G
will pair with car but will NOT import contacts into car. I have to dial manually or dial via voice activation (pain in the ass)!

FYI: Samsung Galaxy S3 now imports contacts with 2007 iDrive!

I tried everything, but the definitive fix - for me anyway, was T-Mobile's official update to Jelly Bean (4.1.1) OS. Once update the phone still would not sync. contacts with the iDrive UNTIL I did a factory reset of the phone and then re-paired it to the car and bingo. FWIW, I am a very technical individual and tried EVERYTHING even remotely talked about on the net about this issue.... I have always been able to get the phone to pair OK, but just not transfer contacts; until now. Very happy here!

Galaxy S3 paired with 2007 550 I drive. Phone book came thru with no issues.

Originally Posted by TRS550

Galaxy S3 paired with 2007 550 I drive. Phone book came thru with no issues.

Can you tell us what version of Android you are running? This is something that MANY people have struggled with. Would be nice if we can start tracking the details that work.

Originally Posted by TRS550

Galaxy S3 paired with 2007 550 I drive. Phone book came thru with no issues.

Originally Posted by whdigital

Can you tell us what version of Android you are running? This is something that MANY people have struggled with. Would be nice if we can start tracking the details that work.

I also have an S3 on a 2007 550. No problems either.

Started on whatever came on the phone, which was the predecessor to ICS. No issues. Then ICS came out, and still works great. Never had a problem, regardless of Android version.

I have a 2013 550 on the way, hopefully just as trouble-free. And also hoping I get Jelly Bean soon (Verizon is a little sloooow on this update, I know Sprint has already pushed it).

Originally Posted by whdigital

Can you tell us what version of Android you are running? This is something that MANY people have struggled with. Would be nice if we can start tracking the details that work.

It's Ver 4.0. Very simple process.

1. Turned on the phone's Bluetooth via the settings menu.

2. Turned to "Settings/Bluetooth/Pair a new phone" in the I drive menu.

3. When prompted by the phone, I entered a 4 digit password

4. When prompted by I drive to enter the same password, I enetered the same 4 digit password.

5. Phone comes back and states that BMW phone is requesting permission to access contacts list and call registry.

6. Click on "do not show again" and then "accept".

Phone list imports and everything is operational.

The process will not work if you do not click on "do not show again" in step 6. You must do this, then click on "accept"

Give it a try.

Samsung Galaxy S3 - 2008 528i - paired immediately, all contacts sync'd, work great

BMW & Samsung Galaxy III
Just found this forum about BMWs. I finally bought my BMW last year, started looking at the 335 but ended up buying a 2010 535xi. My question is (and sorry if already asked in here, learning how to navigate this site) I am about to change cell phones and thinking about getting the new Samsung Galaxy III. Has anyone paired this phone with their bmw and been able to display texts and emails and of course names & phone numbers?

if not, what new phones can be paired that will show emails, texts and phones?
thanks

Just saw zufahren answer, did you also get text and emails to work with the idrive?

Hi BMW_535 - see the previous post - S III pairs fine. As far as I know you cannot display SMS or email with any phone, wouldn't exactly be safe driving practice!

Hi zufahren,

thanks for replying. As far as I know it is possible to display both sms & email but will not be able to work it while the car is moving. I found it out here: that is why I am wondering if the new Galaxy SIII can be used for this. I know it has to do with some blutooth-MAP protocol but obviously I am not that savvy on this and hopefully I can find out so Ill know what phone to update to.

Originally Posted by whdigital

FYI: Samsung Galaxy S3 now imports contacts with 2007 iDrive!

I tried everything, but the definitive fix - for me anyway, was T-Mobile's official update to Jelly Bean (4.1.1) OS. Once update the phone still would not sync. contacts with the iDrive UNTIL I did a factory reset of the phone and then re-paired it to the car and bingo. FWIW, I am a very technical individual and tried EVERYTHING even remotely talked about on the net about this issue.... I have always been able to get the phone to pair OK, but just not transfer contacts; until now. Very happy here!

What about text messages. Do you have those paired?

I have a 2005 545I. My first phone was the Motorola Razer, which worked very well. I now have a windows phone and it works, although not as well as the Razer.X] ability to make/receive calls
[X] phone book automatically synches to car
[X] dial by name (without verbal training of system)
[X] calling name display (using adddress book)
[X] ability to send/receive SMS

Phone model: HTC One X on AT&T
Car model: 2007 530xiT
[X] ability to make/receive calls
[X] phone book automatically synches to car
[X] dial by name (without verbal training of system)
[X] calling name display (using adddress book)
[ ] ability to send/receive SMS

Phone model: Galaxy Nexus on VZ running AOKP JB
Car model: 2005 545i
[X] ability to make/receive calls
[X] phone book automatically synches to car
[X] dial by name (without verbal training of system)
[X] calling name display (using adddress book)
[ ] ability to send/receive SMS

I have 06 530xi and the bluetooth in my car is not pairing anymore with my cellphone the galaxy s3 and its giving me code cu20240, before it was working good. Thank u

Originally Posted by Zkanaan

I have 06 530xi and the bluetooth in my car is not pairing anymore with my cellphone the galaxy s3 and its giving me code cu20240, before it was working good. Thank u

I had a similar problem with a different unit.
The SA told me that the phone was not compatible, even after it had worked well for months. BUT it was at the same time I had trouble with the car battery. Then I re-paired and it worked fine for YEARS!

All this is too complex for mere mortals.

Samsung Galaxy S I works perfectly including phone book.

Will the iPhone 5 work on the 2004s ??

I think it is important that you have latest firmware and latest TCU. As I've installed second hand TCU it supports new devices.

Originally Posted by mike535xi

All iphones work with this car. It took me days to figure out why my iphone 4 wouldn't pair - I kept hitting the 'back' arrow on iDrive instead of 'CONFIRM PASSKEY.' If you're having a problem with the car pairing with an iphone 3G, GS, or 4 (I troubleshot with all - and all now work) try scrolling down and actually entering the passkey. I am so frustrated at my ineptitude. Good luck.

Newbie here, we got my wife's old phone to pair, surprisingly, but my iPhone 5 wouldn't. I entered the passkey, then pushed iDrive controller 'up' to the 'return' key, and got a fail mesasge. Is that what I'm doing wrong?
'06 530xi