BMW Bluetooth Compatible phones; What WORKS?

I got a new RAZR from T-mobile and the BMW does not pair with it. I went to the local Cingular store today and tried their RAZR, SLVR and V557 and they all had difficulty pairing. The phones were able to find the devices, but were 'unable to connect'.

But, for some reason it was able to pair and even download address book from my Friend's T-mobile RAZR.

Overall, the Samsung A920 worked best. The only problem was that it could not download the address book. But it was very robust and the voice quality was superb over the BMW system.

Frustrating. I am going to see if the dealer will check my car for software updates.

I guess I've been lucky. My 2 RAZRs from Cingular pair just fine.

Pairs with no problem.
Doesn't transfer address book, but does transfer quick dial favorites
Transfers between car and phone when entering / leaving vehicle

Sound quality sucks but this is because I bought the first generation from BMWBluetooth (now Advanced Autovations - side note ... they sold me a unit that had been discontinued for 13 months when I purchased it. Bad Customer Service. Caveat Emptor - My fault.)

I will be installing the latest generation ULF tomorrow. I am sure that this will fix the sound quality and SMS issues.

I will repost to certifty.

Originally Posted by GiXXer GiMp

Forgive my ignorance but im a newby. Can anyone tell me if the samsung d600's phone book can be viewed. I can use the phone to dial and recieve calls but not search. It will display the number on an incomming call but not the name as it appears in my phone.....

I tried my friends Sony K750i and his W800 walkman phone and they paired up very easily including full use of the phone book ect.. even though they are not on BMW's list of approved phones either.
I have searched around and nobody seems to mention the Samsung D600 at all so it looks like i will get myself a Sony. Shame cos i really like the Samsung.

Phone model: Sprint PPC-6700 with upgrade from Windows Mobile 5.0 build 14352.0.1.0
to the next build available as a download from Sprint. Prior to the upgrade the phone paired and would make calls using either manual dialing or the dial number voice command, but the phonebook would not transfer. After the upgrade, my phonebook with 407 entries transferred in < 5 min and has worked flawlessly since. However, an idiosyncrasy of the phonebook display is that the names are alphabetized by first name rather than last. I haven't tried sending SMS messages.

Car model: 2006 M5
[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
----------------------------------------------

Red Stick Tom

SLVR 7 from Cingular works great. I have used the phone for a month without any complaints. No problem pairing and the address book that took about an hour to download with my SE 637 only took a few minutes.

Car model: 2005 545
[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 a 1 month old 06 550i and a Verizon Treo 650. The Bluetooth works great with no problems whatsoever. Yes, the phonebook doesn't transfer, but all of the speed dial numbers transfer.

I'm pleasantly surprised that it works without drama . . .

Originally Posted by amt7565

I got a new RAZR from T-mobile and the BMW does not pair with it. I went to the local Cingular store today and tried their RAZR, SLVR and V557 and they all had difficulty pairing. The phones were able to find the devices, but were 'unable to connect'.

But, for some reason it was able to pair and even download address book from my Friend's T-mobile RAZR.

Overall, the Samsung A920 worked best. The only problem was that it could not download the address book. But it was very robust and the voice quality was superb over the BMW system.

Frustrating. I am going to see if the dealer will check my car for software updates.

I had similar issues where my old razr v3 paired perfectly. When I tried pairing a newer version of the rzv V3 the address book did not sync. but I copuld make phone calls by dialing on the phone or the car's phone keypad. I also tried the motorola slvr and also I could not get the addressbook to sync. My latest phone is the T-mobile MDA pocket PC phone and it pairs just fine except once in a while I get the error message "Please activate phone" Not sure why it does this but I am due for my 1st oil change/15k mile check and I am going to tell the dealer that I am having issues with the I-drive and see if they do an upgrade. I truely am having a minor issue where the screen goes blank every blue moon.

Originally Posted by typrsn

My Sprint Treo 650 does not work with my '05 545i. The address book doesn't interface. The handsfree aspect of it only works when you initiate a call or answer a call directly from the phone. I don't know if BMW needs to come out with a new software update and/or Palm needs to do a firmware update for the phone. The Treo 650 is an exellent device and I'm confident that resolution will come about soon. I'll keep you posted.

I also have a 05 545i. I have the Treo 700 and it works. Not all features such as the contacts, but I can use the voice acitvated calling. There is a new software update coming out next month that may fix the rest of the features.

I ordered a Motorola E815 just to use the Bluetooth capability of the 2007 525i that I purchased. It took a while to get the correct combinations between the car and phone to sync up; however, the reward was well worth the challenge. The Bluetooth/E815 combination works very well and the audio quality is great. Then I assigned the diamond button on the steering wheel for my directory and it also comes up flawlessly.

I have ordered the E815 cradle from the dealer ($140) as it allows the phone to use the car's battery as well as antenna. Since I am on the road quite a bit, often in rural areas, the use of the external antenna plus the ground plane effect that it will create should increase the effective radiated power of the cell phone probably by a factor of two with a resulting ERP of about a watt. It may not sound like much, but with a CDMA system like Verizon's, it should be quite helpful.

Hi,
Any anybody had any luck with 2005 X5 4.8is BT/Assist Control Module and Treo 700w from Verizon Wireless?

Please share your experience.
Thanks
Laxmi

Hi,
I see some people have posted reviews on BMW Blue Tooth and Treo 700w back in November, December 2005. While Treo 700w was launched only by Verizon and that too only after Jan 5th 2006 to the general public, I am forced to think about the credibility of the messages posted here. I thought we as a BMW owners are using this forum to learn from one another and help each other out.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks
Laxmi

Originally Posted by trikerider

Loved my Razr V3 but I needed a better email and calendar option. Looked like a PDA/Phone combo was the way to go.

Tried out a few different options from Cingular before arriving at the Cingular 8125. Pairs perfectly with my 330i. Everything seems to work fine.

Cingual PDA/Phone combos I tried that do not work include:

HP ipaq hw6515 (ick)
Seimens sx66 (this thing is awesome otherwise though a tad big and heavy)
Treo 650 (yawn)
Blackberry 7100 (wasn't really interested but I was getting desparate)

The Cingular 8125 is nice. I'm happy with it. If you're in need of a pda/phone combo and you need it to sync up with your car, this is a pretty good compromise.

For phone only use, the razr's still the best phone I've ever had. Thin and light is definitely the way to go.

#750

I just got a 8125 and I paired it to my BT but when I go to use it most of the time it doesnt let me scroll through my address book or anything. It defaults to my last call and thats it or it just doesnt access my address book.

ANY TIPS???

Thanks

I just installed Bluetooth in my '03 325. I have a Sony Ericsson z520a phone and it works flawlessly so far.


Car model: 2003 325i
[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 address book)
[ ] ability to send/receive SMS

Originally Posted by ggladden

I just installed Bluetooth in my '03 325. I have a Sony Ericsson z520a phone and it works flawlessly so far.


Car model: 2003 325i
[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 address book)
[ ] ability to send/receive SMS

To the best of my knowledge, the highlighted feature does not exist in MY2003 vehicles. If you have new information, please advise.

I found out the hard way on this too..

total joke..

I got a blackberry.,, then after I programed 250+ numbers.. found out if wouldnt work on my 2006, 530i

Sal

I have a blackberry 7130e. I had all kinds of problems, but then had my dealer upgrade my cip to v. 21 and now it still disconnects from time to time, but works 100% better. Get the latest version on your car and you will be much happier.

Originally Posted by Fantastic Five

I have a 1 month old 06 550i and a Verizon Treo 650. The Bluetooth works great with no problems whatsoever. Yes, the phonebook doesn't transfer, but all of the speed dial numbers transfer.

I'm pleasantly surprised that it works without drama . . .

See my thread here on getting the phonebook to work. Lots of research to figure out this one but it does transfer the numbers.


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...51&postcount=7

I took mine to Hank Aaron BMW in Union City GA and got my Razr working hands- free making and receiving calls perfect, and my address book downloads from my Motorola Bluetooth V3 Razr cell into the BMW Bluetooth RAM memory each and every time my car is started. Having my iDrive to accept new Bluetooth cost me $315.00 at Hank Aaron BMW in my 2004 530i


Sincerely,

R. Eddie Presley

I finally got the stooges at my BMW Dealership's service center to fix my TCU so that my Treo 650 Unlocked GSM with TMobile would connect correctly every time. The problem wasn't about pairing because it could be paired at any time. The problem was that after the first successful connection then the subsequent "sleep mode" the car goes into after some time the phone and car wouldn't connect. After around 48 hours or so the phone would connect every other day or so, almost randomly. The way I got the service center to finally get off their butts and try fixing it was by telling them to try the same troubleshooting steps I took to determine it was the car's problem and not my phone (since they kept telling me it was the phone since it wasn't on the official BMW compatible phones list.) I told them to get a phone that was on the list, pair it, use it to make a call or two, then wait for the car to go into sleep mode. Afterwards, insert the key and wait for the phone to connect to the car - it shouldn't and it didn't. They then reprogrammed the TCU (Telephone Control Unit) with new software and it works like a charm now. It even worked with my girlfriend's Motorola PEBL yesterday. The quickest way to get this problem fixed if you are having the same problem where it pairs OK but only connects every once in a while is with the following service codes to give to your service center. I'm not sure which one is correct, I'm just getting all the stuff from my service invoice:
0056737 8411914500 PROGRAM AND CODE COMPLETE
VEHICLE (INCLUDING CAS)
415 WW4
FC: 8411914500
6734 SIB 842505, DC 8411914500, LO 0056737, LA 12FRU PROGRAM
COMPLETE VEHICLE INCLUDING CAS.

I hope this helps someone.

can anyone shed light on whether the blackberry 8700 will work with the e60 as well as what function will or willnot work?

thanks

Originally Posted by sleeperz321

can anyone shed light on whether the blackberry 8700 will work with the e60 as well as what function will or willnot work?

thanks

Hi Sleeper,
I can confirm that the BB 8700c (using Cingular) works very well. Out of the box, the BB8700c was loaded with v4.1.0.194 and paired with I-Drive on the first try. I sync'ed over 200 contacts, most with multiple numbers, in about one minute. As I reported previously with my older BB7920, this BB OS allows the display of the type of number next to the name (home, mobile, work) if you have more than one number for that contact.
Good Luck,
Big Pete

Does anyone here at the forum know which wireless provider service works better in a E60 using a RAZR Motorola Bluetooth cell phone... Verizon or Cingular or does it really matter?

Thanks in advance,

R. Eddie Presley

The coverage of cellular networks is a relative thing. Without boring you with a bunch of technical stuff, my experience has been that CDMA-based technology works better than GSM. Verizon uses CDMA and Cingular is GSM. However, this is all relative to your part of the world and how the carriers have developed their networks. Cingular is (for a while longer) part owned by BellSouth and in Atlantia, I'd expect that they would have excellent coverage (just a guess). In the Mid-Atlantic, Verizon's coverage is hard to beat. I travel a lot and switched to Verizon for the better coverage; particularly when inside major buildings where Verizon has often installed adjunct hardware to boost the signal. I have not regreted the change. In my office, which is full of radio engineers, 80% of the staff uses Verizon. One guy likes the carry-over minutes and has Cingular; however, he is always complaining about the lack of coverage. He has carry-over minutes because he can't get a signal to use the silly thing.

Originally Posted by NO MA'AM

The coverage of cellular networks is a relative thing. Without boring you with a bunch of technical stuff, my experience has been that CDMA-based technology works better than GSM. Verizon uses CDMA and Cingular is GSM. However, this is all relative to your part of the world and how the carriers have developed their networks. Cingular is (for a while longer) part owned by BellSouth and in Atlantia, I'd expect that they would have excellent coverage (just a guess). In the Mid-Atlantic, Verizon's coverage is hard to beat. I travel a lot and switched to Verizon for the better coverage; particularly when inside major buildings where Verizon has often installed adjunct hardware to boost the signal. I have not regreted the change. In my office, which is full of radio engineers, 80% of the staff uses Verizon. One guy likes the carry-over minutes and has Cingular; however, he is always complaining about the lack of coverage. He has carry-over minutes because he can't get a signal to use the silly thing.

The Cingular ads really amuse me, in which they brag about "fewer dropped calls." Well, duh. Hard to drop a call if you cannot connect in the first place.