BMW Bluetooth Compatible phones; What WORKS?

Those of you that have the RAZR, who is your provider? Are you happy with the coverage in your area?

I've found verizon's coverage to be quite good but I'm thinking seriously of dumping them to pick up a RAZR.

#750

I purchased the Motorola V551 for my 05' 545i to compliment the BMW BLUETOOTH and it works perfectly in my vehicle. All functions work as they should and I enjoy this option with its clarity. So how does one wire the navigation dvd system to play normal dvds since I see the option in the i-drive entertainment mode?

I have the RAZR.

I am using it with T-Mobile. I purchased an unlocked phone on eBay.

The reception quality is very good. This is the first phone I've been able to use indoors at my house and work. My others previously never had enough signal.

It works very well with Bluetooth.

From here:

http://russellbeattie.com/notebook/1007961.html#1012344

It looks as if the official firmware upgrade fixes the bluetooth issues. However, there now appears to be some activity on various verizon-related sites that verizon is considering hobbling the TransFlash capabilities of this phone. (suspicions are: further attempts to keep customers hooked to the "get it now" thing.)

Not sure if I care about TF but I am developing concerns about Verizon's business practices. ya' know? i didn't even care about this stuff until about 3 days ago. Perfectly content with my verizon service. in fact, I didn't even care that much about bluetooth until I ordered my new bmw.

begs the question, is ignorance bliss, doesn't it?

#750

Hey Guys,

I have a 99 540i and a retrofit BMW Bluetooth Kit. Install was very simple and I am very happy with the system. I've only tried two types of phone on this system. The V600s that I have tried have all worked perfectly. They sync the phonebook and have a very good connection. My main phone is a Verizon V710 and this is less then perfect. Overall I can get them to connect (no phonebook transfer), but every now and then it'll connect / disconnect in a never-ending cycle. If I turn off the phone and turn it back on things are better. Overall, I think its worth it.

-Alex

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

I have the RAZR.

I am using it with T-Mobile. I purchased an unlocked phone on eBay.

The reception quality is very good. This is the first phone I've been able to use indoors at my house and work. My others previously never had enough signal.

It works very well with Bluetooth.

I second that. I have a razr through t-mobile and it works awesome. I will be testing it with my new 05 530i in a few months via ED. The phone is really cool. I do miss my pda-phone though, I also ordered a benq p50 pocket pc phone, I need the pda function. I guess I'll be using both the razr and the pda-phone by swapping the sim card.

Originally Posted by yamilrx

I do miss my pda-phone though, I also ordered a benq p50 pocket pc phone, I need the pda function. I guess I'll be using both the razr and the pda-phone by swapping the sim card.

Or get the Treo 650 when t-mobile offers it...

Got a Cingular Razr V3. It paired up to my '01 E39 NO PROBLEM, sounds good hands free. paid 499 w/2yr no add'l fees (long-term account)
upgraded from a Sony t-616

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

Originally Posted by jefflieb

Got a Cingular Razr V3. It paired up to my '01 E39 NO PROBLEM, sounds good hands free. paid 499 w/2yr no add'l fees (long-term account)
upgraded from a Sony t-616

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

What Bluetooth Module/kit did you use on an '01 E39?

The BT module modified by Martin Bishop to fit early E39s . Would you like to buy it, my new 545 SMG is here in Natick, MA jefflieb@realtor.com

PS for the right price I would even install it for you!

Originally Posted by BillKach

Or get the Treo 650 when t-mobile offers it...

I prefer pocket pc OS rather than palm OS. I used to have the T-mobile pocket pc phone edition and it worked but I wanted the faster processor, BT and wi-fi which the benq p50 pocket pc phone will have.

A pocket PC phone won't work with BMW bluetooth.... at least, not completly.

You will assuredly not get contacts to sync...

I had iPaq H6315 and BlackBerry 7100..... neither works with BMW. (iPaq did operate, but the bluetooth is highly unreliable on that unit)

Anyone here use the Motorola mpx220? The Razr works very well apparently, as does the v551. I want to "assume" that Motorola uses similar technology in their current Cingular BT phones, but as we've learned that's not always the case.

The mpx220 syncs has an operating system that works for me, and is easy to sync to my laptop email accounts. Would love to hear thoughts/experiences.

Thanks! Once I set this sucker up, my '05 530i is going to be perfect!

Originally Posted by rduncan

Find a Compatible Handset - Not all Bluetooth phones will work!
Unfortunately, not all Bluetooth compatible phones will work (partially or fully) with BMW's Bluetooth systems. As such, “Bluetooth” is an ambiguous term and insufficient to ensure compatibility. That is unfortunate, since "Bluetooth" is all that is typically included in the phone's description.

My experience is a good example: my do-everything SonyEricsson P900 does not work with my Bluetooth-capable car (the SonyEricsson P900 lacks a "handsfree profile" required to work with the BMW implementation of integration of cell phone and car). Successful 6 Series Bluetoth retrofit, but phone incompatible

Even if you have a "BT-compatible" phone with the BT "handsfree profile," there are other features that may or may not work properly. For example, the phone should automatically share its phone book with the car to enable a set of nice features: based on your phone's address book: Calling Name display and

BMW Customer Assistance has a short list of compatible phones (SE T68i, SE T610, SE T630, Motorola V600). A more extensive compatibility list is here:
More extensive list of BMW-compatible phones


What phones work for you?
Please share what works for you so that we can all share in your experience and knowledge.

Please post your experience:
----------------------------------------------
Phone model:
Car model:
[ ] ability to make/receive calls
[ ] phone book automatically synches to car
[ ] dial by name (without verbal training of system)
[ ] calling name display (using adddress book)
[ ] ability to send/receive SMS
----------------------------------------------

My old Ericsson T39m does not work with BMW bluetooth.

Hi folks;

This is my first post in this forum and would like to thank everyone for providing great information. Hopefully I will be able to contribute myself at some point.

I have a 2004 545i that came with a Bluetooth code printed in the manual, but I have no nav installed. Would a BT phone still work, especially having the ability to use it handsfree? Also, it would appear that Motorola phones might be best bet.

Many thanks,
Michael

Sony phones work more completely.... ie SMS works.

But Moto's are great.... just no SMS.

Just got a new Moto v551 yesterday. Paired up fine with my 2005 545i and I can make and receive calls, only issue is that I can't seem to get the car to upload the phone book from the v551. My car was in for a software update on Tuesday this week so I know the car's software is current, anyone know if there are any firmware updates for the v551 that might help or have any ideas on how to get the phone/car to upload the address book? Not a big deal as to be honest I'm more interested in receiving calls but any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
cheers

The first couple of times with my Razr The phonebook did not sync and come up in the car , but magically after a couple of days there is was, all of my numbers.

Originally Posted by jefflieb

The first couple of times with my Razr The phonebook did not sync and come up in the car , but magically after a couple of days there is was, all of my numbers.

That's good to hear. As I understand it the newer Motorola devices use the same bluetooth modules etc so hopefully mine will magically sync up as well. Out of interest, which carrier are you using? My v551 is from Cingular, I'm just hoping they haven't "done a Verizon" and messed round with the phone's standard functionality here......

Originally Posted by swajames

That's good to hear. As I understand it the newer Motorola devices use the same bluetooth modules etc so hopefully mine will magically sync up as well. Out of interest, which carrier are you using? My v551 is from Cingular, I'm just hoping they haven't "done a Verizon" and messed round with the phone's standard functionality here......

Update re the V551 - jumped in the car after work tonight and for the first time everything synced up fine, all address book entries (both phone and SIM) transferred over as per the Razr owner above. Didn't do anything different, just seemed to want to work this time.

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

This was something I considered myself.

The theory is.... if you maintain the power on the iPaq, like when its in a cradle.... then the bluetooth drivers will remain active.


Unfortunately, the bluetooth drivers on the iPaq are so poor, that this is not the only problem. The drivers will only connect successfully to the BMW once, and then you'll have to soft reset. Keeping the power alive will NOT solve the iPaq problems.


I have sidelined my iPaq because it would not work with my BMW. I now have a Motorola RAZR. It works great.

In fact, I only have one complaint about the Motorola. When I use the car to call someone, and they do not pick up.... the car hangs up before the voicemail comes on for you to leave a message. I don't know why.

That very thing happens to me...hangs up before voicemail picks up. I have the SE T637, which leads me to believe the problem is the BT module???? I have a 2005 X5.


In any event, it only happens when calling another cell phone, seems to work when I call someone's land line and leave a message.

It is a ring limiter. Hangs up after 5 unanswered rings.

BMW will need to address it in a software update.

Originally Posted by yamilrx

A friend of mine is very disappointed b/c he bought a 2004 530i and was told bluetooth would be available and up to date they keep telling him that it is in the works. I was wondering if your BMW came with bluetooth or if you had something done afterwards to have it installed. . This is the only complaint he has had as of yet from his bimmer . Thank you.

If he has BMW Assist there is a way to disable the Assist and retro fit the bluetooth, or he can continue to wait for an official retro kit from BMW which may still be a few months away. -T.Vincent

Originally Posted by mda

Here is a partial list from BMW. May have changed.
AT & T/ CINGULAR
Motorola V600
Sony Erickson T616
Sony Erickson T637
Motorola Razr V3

SPRINT
Sony Erickson T608

Do you need to put a special code in for the BMW communication system to recognize the bluetooth?

Originally Posted by Alton1970

Do you need to put a special code in for the BMW communication system to recognize the bluetooth?

Generally I think you just need to set a PIN number on both the phone and the car. You set it initially on the car then input the same PIN on the phone. Any PIN is fine as long as they are the same, once you have set the PIN and made the initial link future connection is automatic (at least that's how it works on my V551).