Did you try pairing it with a different phone first, to see if it's the car bluetooth or the handset that's the issue?

 

It could also be the overhead microphone (if the other person can't hear you) If it's under warranty take it to another dealer.

 

Yup

Try a new mic. My daughters bluetooth sounds better than using just the phone itself.

 

+1 for trying a new mic

 

+2

Sent from my PC36100 using BimmerApp

 

Could also be the phone itself. I've had the BB Curve, Bold, and now the Droid X (oldest to newest) for my work phones. Their rank of quality is (best to worst): Droid X, Curve, Bold.

 

What generation ULF do you have? I have the same issue with my blackberry, but just got a druid. Have 5th gen.
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Bimmer App

 

We have the Bold and

this is the one I referred to above. Using bluetooth on it actually sounds better than if you use the phone directly. It is unbelievable how clear it is.

 

My '08 X3 had the same issue; callers were crystal clear but they couldn't hear me. They said it sounded like I had all the windows open. The microphone was replaced but it didn't help. The telematics control unit (TCU) was replaced and that fixed the problem to a great degree.

I don't believe the first generation BMW TCU has noise cancellation so road noise is still evident to callers. I'd be surprised if the next generation X3 is missing it thought.

 

I had the reverse problem sort of. A friend who called me on her handheld cell phone always surrounded terrible. Her changing phone and carrier fixed it some. Her current use of Bluetooth does not seem to make it any worse or better. Note that QOS (Quality of Service) problems are aggravated when it's one packet phone (digital cellular or VOIP) calling another. Test your setup by calling a traditional land line. Generally nobody complains about QOS from my X3 (iPhone 3Gs synced to Business CD).

The cellular networks, and for that matter the traditional land line network, are the big QOS problem IMHO (I say with some chagrin since I work for a major carrier). By contrast, I got a message from my sister's iPod video via the Internet and the voice quality was like real life.

 

Got the same set of issues as the OP. The driver can hear crystal clear, the outgoing quality though.... sounds like the driver as at the bottom of a metal barrel. Thinking of going to the dealer, i doubt it is going to be productive though.

 

Do you know what the bulletin number for the issue is / was? The dealership snobs are giving me grief and blaming the phone; the same thing works perfectly in my acura.

 

Make sure your center heating/cooling vents are not directed upwards blowing air towards the mic.

 

Yes I did. Usually when I test for noise I shut things like that off ; the challenge there is not the noise but the "bottom of the barrel" sound.

 

Has anyone pressed their dealer to update their TCU or replace the Mic and/or TCU. I went to the dealer yesterday complaining that the person on the other end of the phone call complains I sound like I'm in a barrel when on a hands free call. Generally, this complaint happens when I'm underway, not sitting at a stop light. The dealer said that they reset my TCU and then told me that my phone may or may not be compatible as the official BMW approved list only shows recent compatible phones.. My phone is a Casio G’zone and it worked fine in the 2011 328i I drove on loan while my car was in for service a few weeks back. My model is 2008 X3 3.0si. If anyone can give me a strategy for getting the dealer to do something more meaningful than blame me for the problem I would greatly appreciate the help..

Thanks!

 

Yes, two months after posting to this thread I was able to get them to change the TCU.
They kept telling me it was good, I kept telling them my Acura RL 2005 with 3 years older technology does 100 times better. Finally I told them I'll give corporate a call and discuss service levels and the likelihood of me buying another BMW. They all strive for 5 star service (bonuses) so making a stink with those paying them in the end of the year usually does the trick. Try that route, if you get to corporate level conversation and need to have a vin number for an example: ping me -- that was billed under their warranty so corporate most definitely has a record of my replacement.

The car model is the same 2008 3.0si

 

What dealer are you using?
cheers
vern

 

I'm using United BMW of Roswell Georgia. I've scheduled a new appointment with them for next Wednesday to get them to relook at my car. I'm getting a loaner and as far as I'm concerned they can keep the car until they fix the problem. Blaming the customer for problems may work if you're at a KIA dealer but not for me as a new BMW customer... I had an Infiniti 2005 and did not have this issue with my Bluetooth therefore I should not have this issue with a car that's 3yrs newer. I’ll post back what goes down next week at the dealer.

 

Hey Guys,

I wanted to follow up on my last post. So my X3 has been at United BMW all week. I went to pick up the vehicle last night after they replaced the mic on my car. However, I quickly returned it after discovering that their repair did not fix my issue. Upon return, the shop manager did a quick drive down Hwy 9 with my vehicle and used his approved Droid phone to make a call to a service writers desk where I was sitting. I was able to demonstrate the issue to the service advisor so they are now planning to replace my TCU. Let’s hope that this fixes the issue…. I just bought this CPO X3 30 days ago.. I hope that I’m not sorry that I got out of a reliable Infiniti and into a maintenance nightmare…

 

Fixed!!

Hey Guys,

The dealer finally agreed to replace my TCU. The OEM replacement was a BMW part made by I think Continental. My speaker phone in the car works well now under all conditions including having the window down cruising at 30-40 mph. I will also point out this was covered by my CPO warranty. While the car was in the shop for a week I managed to rack up 900 miles on a 335d. I feel like I got a bit of the hair of the dog that bit me.... Any ways, I'm happy that my problem is now 100% resolved… On the other end, I'm shocked that BMW was reluctant to replace this faulty unit at first. I never had an issue with Infiniti on warranty claims. Everything was always fixed on the first go around.. Is this my dealer or do you feel that this is a nationwide corporate culture problem?

Patrick

 

Is this my dealer or do you feel that this is a nationwide corporate culture problem?

Patrick

Judging from what I've read here and some personal experiences, I'd say it's more of a culture problem. They usually make you feel like they are doing you a favor.:thumbdwn:

 

Thanks for the update. I have an appointment scheduled for Monday to address the exact same issue on my '08.