[Q1968]

I see a few threads and hundreds of posts complaining of poor performance from the wireless charging pad on pre-LCI cars. Can anyone offer any experience with a 2022 or 2023 model, using a relatively new iPhone? I have a 13 ProMax, just trying to get a rough idea what to expect when I pick up my M40i at the Performance Center next month. Also, does the signal booster provide any meaningful performance improvement in low-signal areas?

[509er]

I've got a '23 X3 with wireless charging. I have a just good enough iPhone XR.

Do I like the feature? Pretty much. Does it get warm? A little - not (yet) like some have said it gets to be an iBBQ, but it gets warm when in use. I don't use it for Carplay or Maps so far, so YMMV. I find it convenient to not have to plug in my phone, and it keeps it charged / charges it on the fly.

Do I think it's worth $500 ($600 if you consider Digital Key comes with it, and they were doing DK delete of $100 if you didn't order WC when I ordered).

Can't speak to the signal booster performance, honestly.

Cheers~

[IAmSpeed]

From my experience (2023 M40i with iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro), it charges slow especially when one is actively using Apple Carplay/Android Auto. It also heats up the phone after 1+ hours staying on the charging pad. To be honest, don't expect too much from it, my drive is usually short, so I ended up just use the type C as it charges so much more efficient and won't heat up my phone.

Signal booster works okay with my Verizon, in some high mountain area, my wife AT&T got no signal but I can at least still got a 1 or 2 bars. However, noted that booster is a misnomer. It isn't a booster. None of these devices are. They're repeaters. If there is what would be equated to 1 bar of signal outside the car that's what you'll get in the cradle with no loss.

[EWL5]

'23 model w/iPhone 14 Pro. Charger maintains battery level while phone is in use but that's it (buy a separate USB cable if you want rapid charging). I would not have included wireless charging package myself as I took what was on the lot.

I also have the Digital Key and have used this maybe once?

[alex2364]

From my experience with an iPhone, if you're using CarPlay it'll keep the battery from dying, but won't significantly charge the phone.

[spangle1980]

It was shite pre-LCI, from the number of comments over past year on LCI it's still shite. Resulting in me glad I didn't try to retrofit (mine was deleted on order) since it clearly has not upped its game.

Quite why they cannot do what I have on my desk and paid £20 (Anker wireless charger) for I don't know.

Avoid.

p.s noted that you probably already used it - in which case try it for a week or so and report back ;-)

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by alex2364

From my experience with an iPhone, if you're using CarPlay it'll keep the battery from dying, but won't significantly charge the phone.

this.... i had the wireless charging in my x3m and thats exactly what it does.. prevents it from dying or a super slow trickle charge at best (*when not using carplay)
if you need to actually charge the phone.. plug it into the usb-c port

if taking a long a$$ road trip and yer not using carplay/waze.. then it should suffice

i opted not to get it on my 2023 as i found it fairly useless

[lex97h]

Here's the rundown:

It charges slow
Heats up the phone and depending if you have a case it could be hot to the touch
Has to be position correctly otherwise won't charge

So you are better off using the wire charger. I have it and hardly use it.

[aubs]

I agree with those saying it maintains the level of charge when using CarPlay / Auto. I was pretty disappointed with this initially, until on one journey I didn't put it on the pad and before I got to my destination music stopped playing etc and I realised my phone was on 1% battery! So it definitely drains pretty quick without it.

Personally I'm ok with it now. I don't tend to need to charge my phone during the day, and I like the fact I don't have visible wires, mounts etc.

[Q1968]

Thanks for all the feedback. I've never been a big CarPlay guy, prefer to use in-car nav and I keep my music on a USB stick, so if the wireless will just maintain during a long drive I will be happy with it. I know I will need to use USB-C if I need to really charge anything.

[JSY]

The wireless charge feature sadly caters to iPhone users that can't wirelessly charge faster than 7.5w rather than the fast wireless charging for Samsung supporting 15w wireless charging. They have little motivation for making it faster. The only reason I got it when I got my car was because you needed to get it in order to get the "enhanced USB" package that added a second microphone in the car, and the ability to pair more phones along with the "mobile office" feature permitted SMS texting. I don't know if it's still like that and I sure hope it isn't because I would otherwise stay totally clear of it.

[M40i4me]

Pre LCI with no issues maintaining my iPhone 14 pro at full charge while running music or talking on my phone while the phone is in the charging tray. Not sure why but using the mag safe case seems to work better with less heating to the phone? Also I don’t listen to my music through Car Play as it works great through iDrive.

[bocabimmer]

I have had both an iPhone 12 and 14 Pro and they can get warm. The 12 got a little crispy a couple times on long trips. I agree that it maintains and isn’t really charging though.

I will say that even when not on the charger it can get warm just doing CarPlay. I also notice that my phone gets warm when I use it tethered in our Odyssey too. Not sure how much the CarPlay is factoring into The equation.

Edit: my wife just read this and disagrees with me and says her phone fries almost immediately in the BMW. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[ernestphelps]

Originally Posted by M40i4me

Pre LCI with no issues maintaining my iPhone 14 pro at full charge while running music or talking on my phone while the phone is in the charging tray. Not sure why but using the mag safe case seems to work better with less heating to the phone? Also I don’t listen to my music through Car Play as it works great through iDrive. drift hunters

The MagSafe charger magnetically attaches to the phone, keeping it in the optimal charging position even if you move the phone around. Other wireless chargers rely on the phone staying in one spot.

[strummr]

It's hard to say what amps the wireless setup is functionally charging at. But if you're getting a retrofit, always a good idea if it's running off the cigarette lighter - as opposed to the built-in USB circuit (good chance it could be charging closer to 5a). Regardless of charging amps, wireless charging will likely lag vs a direct connection - unless you're running a direct USB/lightning connection only charging at 1.5/2A.

I was happy to find, what seems to be the only retrofit, wireless charging pad on Amazon for the F97? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9M8FKXZ...roduct_details

The fitment is decent, and it leaves the USB port, as well as the cup holders uncovered - and it also adds a fast charging usb port closer to the cigarette lighter.

Seems to be about the same rate of charging as the direct 5A charging via wireless system I have on my E46 M3 - which is also running off the cigarette lighter.