[heverlee]

the other day when paired my iphone5 with x3, was thinking I can stream audio via Bluetooth as well.

Then figured out this feature was not standard but hidden in the bmw assist option. only found out this after 8 months owning the car. Why bmw is being so "cheap" of not including this feature even though BT with phone is standard? I doubt it would cost them that much. This is not like the moon-roof,leather seat, etc. but just a tiny chip with some standard software. WTF

I had to admit as well this was overlooked by me when choosing the options by taking it for granted when I saw the BT feature was a standard option.

Really pissed off by this.

[wrp]

I think "BMW Assist" is either $650 or part of the $3200 "Technology Package", and then there's the "BMW Apps" for $250. I've never seen a simple list of things these options provide - there's only content-free phrases like "... gives you peace of mind" or "... a suite of web-connected integrated blah blah blah"

[philtrick123]

Can someone explain this in more depth for a UK user. I have the Pro-Nav which includes BMW assist, but I can't seem to play audio from my Samsung Galaxy S2 over BT. Any help appreciated!

[dandanio]

Originally Posted by heverlee

Really pissed off by this.

You can't even start to imagine how pissed off I am at BMW for not including something so ordinary as a rocket launcher and two jet engines with my X3. I mean... why would they not?!? That is... unthinkable!

[dalesbmw]

I'm right there with you. I bought mostly standard with the exception of sport line and moonroof. To find no BT streaming audio standard is ridiculous considering I've seen several in its class that do, including renting an American SUV that had it. Oh well, it still is the ultimate driving machine.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

Can someone explain this in more depth for a UK user. I have the Pro-Nav which includes BMW assist, but I can't seem to play audio from my Samsung Galaxy S2 over BT. Any help appreciated!

The device needs to be paired for BT audio as well as BT voice. You may need to re-pair if you have plugged the phone in a cradle or the car's USB as this will knock out the BT audio (you'll get a warning if you plug it in). You can see how it is currently paired by looking at the icons on the BT menu on iDrive. If it's paired correctly for BT audio, you'll see it listed in the external devices even if it's not physically connected.

I know this all works for iPhone but not sure on Android

Re. options and transparency, there are two problems: 1. user manual and BMW option brochure is misleading; 2. dealers are next to useless on all technology options

[Jay Ell]

Originally Posted by sfax

The device needs to be paired for BT audio as well as BT voice. You may need to re-pair if you have plugged the phone in a cradle or the car's USB as this will knock out the BT audio (you'll get a warning if you plug it in). You can see how it is currently paired by looking at the icons on the BT menu on iDrive. If it's paired correctly for BT audio, you'll see it listed in the external devices even if it's not physically connected.

I know this all works for iPhone but not sure on Android

Re. options and transparency, there are two problems: 1. user manual and BMW option brochure is misleading; 2. dealers are next to useless on all technology options

hey sfax ...
i'm reviving this post as i've now picked up my X3, and I have the BT Audio etc specced on the car. The phone syncs fine, and I've then gone into the sub menu and ticked the BT Audio box, but it doesn't then appear in the devices, and the audio (notes) sign is grey.

Is it an issue with iPhone "5" maybe? really annoying as this would be my ideal audio stream.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Jay Ell

hey sfax ...
i'm reviving this post as i've now picked up my X3, and I have the BT Audio etc specced on the car. The phone syncs fine, and I've then gone into the sub menu and ticked the BT Audio box, but it doesn't then appear in the devices, and the audio (notes) sign is grey.

Is it an issue with iPhone "5" maybe? really annoying as this would be my ideal audio stream.

My iPhone 5 is synced for BT audio so it definitely works

Have a look at this thread and see if it helps:

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=536121


This may also be useful if you have any issues with album artwork:

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529599

[Jay Ell]

Originally Posted by sfax

My iPhone 5 is synced for BT audio so it definitely works

Have a look at this thread and see if it helps:

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=536121


This may also be useful if you have any issues with album artwork:

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529599

thank you sfax .. I'm looking fwd to getting home tonight and trying it again with your instructions etc..

[sivakumarbalu]

You won't regret skipping BT streaming option if you know the drawbacks, (at least with my Nexus 4 running 4.2.2)

1. iDrive doesn't display any track information or any details.
2. You can't browse the tracks.
3. You can only skip to next song with iDrive control and not from steering wheel control.
4. If you try to skip multiple tracks it will take forever to resume, and you won't know the song until it starts playing.
5. If you are on a long drive with iDrive screen on for few hours, it gets warm and start skipping the audio or you will keep hearing static sounds.
6. In Android, by mistake if you kill the music player running in background then you can't start the song from iDrive control. You have to open the player from the phone and hit play.
7. BT Audio clarity is mediocre when compared to USB connection.

Except for Chrysler's uconnect system, rest of the automaker's BT streaming are bad.

[Jay Ell]

Originally Posted by sivakumarbalu

You won't regret skipping BT streaming option if you know the drawbacks, (at least with my Nexus 4 running 4.2.2)

1. iDrive doesn't display any track information or any details.
2. You can't browse the tracks.
3. You can only skip to next song with iDrive control and not from steering wheel control.
4. If you try to skip multiple tracks it will take forever to resume, and you won't know the song until it starts playing.
5. If you are on a long drive with iDrive screen on for few hours, it gets warm and start skipping the audio or you will keep hearing static sounds.
6. In Android, by mistake if you kill the music player running in background then you can't start the song from iDrive control. You have to open the player from the phone and hit play.
7. BT Audio clarity is mediocre when compared to USB connection.

Except for Chrysler's uconnect system, rest of the automaker's BT streaming are bad.

yep .. agree with all of those points

I bought a brand new Fiesta for a station car, and specced it with their SYNC which comes with BT streaming. I was bitterly disappointed with the way it worked, and thought to myself "surely the BMW system will work better". Er, no. Actually, the Ford SYNC works better!

So, when I got it working in the X3 last night, I was shocked to see how primitive it is. Really shocked. Pointless in my eyes.
Instead, I got an old Nano out the drawer, grabbed an old Apple cable and settled for that. More than happy with the way it works, but disappointed that the BT isn't a viable option.

sfax - thanks for you assistance on the matter, all the same.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Jay Ell

yep .. agree with all of those points

I bought a brand new Fiesta for a station car, and specced it with their SYNC which comes with BT streaming. I was bitterly disappointed with the way it worked, and thought to myself "surely the BMW system will work better". Er, no. Actually, the Ford SYNC works better!

So, when I got it working in the X3 last night, I was shocked to see how primitive it is. Really shocked. Pointless in my eyes.
Instead, I got an old Nano out the drawer, grabbed an old Apple cable and settled for that. More than happy with the way it works, but disappointed that the BT isn't a viable option.

sfax - thanks for you assistance on the matter, all the same.

No worries. I only ever use BT audio for podcasts and use a USB stick or the HDD for music. Tend to avoid the HDD though as it has silly bugs like playing an album's tracks in alphabetical order - also no artwork.

iPod plugin if you have BMW Apps is another option

[sivakumarbalu]

looks like BMW addressed all the BT streaming drawbacks in iDrive v4.2...atleast for iOS devices.

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=849540

[czarmar]

Make sure and turn the stereo on before setting the BT streaming option in iDrive. I noticed that BT streaming wasn't working in iDrive when the radio was off. I haven't been in a recent BMW that had BT for which streaming music didn't work.