Is Wireless Charging a must have?

ND40oz · 01-03-2018, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCBayernFTW

Thanks for that clarification. I don't get full connected drive functionality until I move back to the states.

You basically don't get any functionality until you move back to the states. Bluetooth calling and streaming is all I've been able to use.

FCBayernFTW · 01-04-2018, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND40oz

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCBayernFTW

Thanks for that clarification. I don't get full connected drive functionality until I move back to the states.

You basically don't get any functionality until you move back to the states. Bluetooth calling and streaming is all I've been able to use.

Yea I don't get any of the apps on my M4

Slalom · 01-04-2018, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCBayernFTW

Yea I don't get any of the apps on my M4

I drove my E92 M3 for 3 years in Europe and found that there were some features that I could not access. The most worrisome was the FM Radio band being limited to odd first decimals (e.g. 89.1, 89.3) when many stations, particularly emergency broadcasts in long tunnels were on even frequencies. I had my car coded to accept these. I even thought of switching out the mobile phone to a European one so that I could get real time traffic. Instead I stuck a TomTom on the window. That had the additional advantage of giving me the real speed that I was travelling at. Saved me more than it cost in photo radar tickets! All rather frustrating, since my first BMW came was a tourist delivery (1990) and came with a European radio.

ND40oz · 01-04-2018, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slalom

I drove my E92 M3 for 3 years in Europe and found that there were some features that I could not access. The most worrisome was the FM Radio band being limited to odd first decimals (e.g. 89.1, 89.3) when many stations, particularly emergency broadcasts in long tunnels were on even frequencies. I had my car coded to accept these. I even thought of switching out the mobile phone to a European one so that I could get real time traffic. Instead I stuck a TomTom on the window. That had the additional advantage of giving me the real speed that I was travelling at. Saved me more than it cost in photo radar tickets! All rather frustrating, since my first BMW came was a tourist delivery (1990) and came with a European radio.

Speed limit info coupled with HUD and switching the units to KM from miles mitigates pretty much any camera tickets. The digital display of speed seems to be much more inline with actual speed then the old analog gauges, especially at higher speeds although the analog gauges in my F31 are pretty close.

FCBayernFTW · 01-05-2018, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND40oz

Speed limit info coupled with HUD and switching the units to KM from miles mitigates pretty much any camera tickets. The digital display of speed seems to be much more inline with actual speed then the old analog gauges, especially at higher speeds although the analog gauges in my F31 are pretty close.

Yea, I run everything in metric as well.

Slalom · 01-05-2018, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND40oz

Speed limit info coupled with HUD and switching the units to KM from miles mitigates pretty much any camera tickets. The digital display of speed seems to be much more inline with actual speed then the old analog gauges, especially at higher speeds although the analog gauges in my F31 are pretty close.

I only have metric - but I found that the speed was over-estimated by 3 km/h at 120. For many that is not important. But in Switzerland things are precise. My winter setup (required by insurance from December to March) was off by a further 10.

Speed cameras in my canton were set to flash at 2 to 3 km over. There was some tolerance but by 5 over a letter would arrive in the mail. The French and Italian cantons were different and generally viewed as scofflaws.

ND40oz · 01-05-2018, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slalom

I only have metric - but I found that the speed was over-estimated by 3 km/h at 120. For many that is not important. But in Switzerland things are precise. My winter setup (required by insurance from December to March) was off by a further 10.

Yeah, my E82 was the same way, except in imperial. It seems like they've gotten much better each gen at the over-estimation. Waze shows about 1-2 km/h lower at speeds higher than 120 on my F31 and seems to be within 1 km/h on the G01.

I can't believe the BMW winter set had that much of a diameter difference for your M3 and it threw the speedo off by that much, that's crazy. I got my all seasons fitted before 1 Jan so I could get away with just M+S rated tires. Won't be able to do that again though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slalom

Speed cameras in my canton were set to flash at 2 to 3 km over. There was some tolerance but by 5 over a letter would arrive in the mail. The French and Italian cantons were different and generally viewed as scofflaws.

Germany's are the same way, saw someone get one for 1 km/h over in a 30 km/h zone. It's all just a money collecting scheme anyway, €10 or €15 here or there and people don't complain too much.

Slalom · 01-05-2018, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND40oz

Germany's are the same way, saw someone get one for 1 km/h over in a 30 km/h zone. It's all just a money collecting scheme anyway, €10 or €15 here or there and people don't complain too much.

Yeah in CH it was 20CHF, but then our autobahn tax was only 40 per year. They tried to increase it to 100 but were defeated in a referendum. The marvels of direct democracy.

RaslDasl · 01-05-2018, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryatl

The music can be played over bluetooth standard. USB is better for fast charging. I use spotify, I dont use itunes.

I would recomend ordering a shorter usb/micro cable for it. Also be aware that even if you order the built in charging pad, they charge much much slower than a USB port.

View post on imgur.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larryatl

[IMG]

View post on imgur.com

[/IMG]The music can be played over bluetooth standard. USB is better for fast charging. I use spotify, I dont use itunes.

I would recomend ordering a shorter usb/micro cable for it. Also be aware that even if you order the built in charging pad, they charge much much slower than a USB port.

View post on imgur.com

I find the lighter with USB (BMW supplied or not) is much faster than the direct USB that connects the phone to the car for apps on my '16. The apps are fairly useless so I don't bother with the direct USB connection.
Has anyone tried lighter to USB to wireless pad to phone to see how fast that is? That would also leave the USB free for other uses.

syuan92 · 10-12-2019, 10:14 AM

Sorry to revive an old thread but I'm starting to think I made a mistake by not ordering the wireless charging option on my 2020 M40i build. Does anybody know what the USB situation is on the new 2020 X3s? I could have sworn I heard something about USB C as standard. My concern is that by not getting the wireless charging option, I will also lose out on enhanced Bluetooth and the interface for listening to music with my phone plugged in will be different. I'm coming from a 2013 3 series with a tech package so I've been used to having both of my phones connected (personal and work) and being able to scroll through music and albums with my phone plugged in via the HUD. Does anybody know if Wireless Apple CarPlay allows you to scroll through the current playlist on the HUD (with Apple Music). I saw a video review where someone was listening to Spotify through CarPlay and you only get the option to skip forward or back a song on the HUD as opposed to scrolling through all the songs in the playlist. Perhaps I should make a pit stop at the dealership today to test this out.

Cybulman · 10-12-2019, 09:45 PM

I placed a small flat box in the charging tray and bought the Alpatronix charging pad for my iphone 8 plus. Plugged it into the USB spot in that tray with retractable USB cord reel. It works just fine for about $19 + $7. $26 Total. My phone is connected via BT, Apple Car Play and I can see Google maps on big screen.

syuan92 · 10-12-2019, 11:05 PM

I decided to add the wireless charging feature to my build. I had enhanced Bluetooth on my last BMW and the dual phone feature was extremely handy. I still think $500 is overpriced. On the m340i, j think the wireless charging option is only $200 which is much more reasonable...

hinckley · 10-13-2019, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syuan92

Does anybody know what the USB situation is on the new 2020 X3s? I could have sworn I heard something about USB C as standard.

In my MY20 with Wireless Charging option, I have three USB C ports - two in the rear and one in the front center console. There is another USB port under the center cubby where the cupholders and wireless charging pad is. That one is a traditional USB A port.

Jeepersjoey · 10-13-2019, 08:29 AM

I am one of the people that said that this is the biggest waste of money.

In an hour of driving, Mine charges 1-5% just sitting on the pad while driving. Ie not streaming. I took a 6 hr drive and it still was not at 100%...after six hours of blue light. It was SUPER hot though!

We had a test drive of a 2019 Audi SQ5 last weekend. The 20 minute test drive changed from 91 to 100%. We bought the car.

I have a scosche Charger on my desk at work. It charges the way you would expect.

The BMW one...absolutely useless. Barely keeps up with the normal running of the phone. I am installing a scosche one...thanks BMW!

I will turn my pad into a pizza holder.

Paul

youngdoc1 · 10-13-2019, 08:25 PM

Agree. Slow charging and causes overheating of phone. I use a lightning cable from inside the centre arm rest.

syuan92 · 10-13-2019, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngdoc1

Agree. Slow charging and causes overheating of phone. I use a lightning cable from inside the centre arm rest.

Part of the reason why I added the wireless charging option was for the addition of the charging port inside the centre arm rest. I really didn't like the idea of a cable constantly exposed in the front console or having to plug and unplug a cable every time I need to charge my phone. With the extra port in the armrest, I can keep the cable stowed away without unplugging it when I don't need it.

10-12-2019, 10:14 AM	#76
syuan92 Member 26 Rep 237 Posts Drives: '20 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2013 BMW ActiveHybr ... [0.00]	Sorry to revive an old thread but I'm starting to think I made a mistake by not ordering the wireless charging option on my 2020 M40i build. Does anybody know what the USB situation is on the new 2020 X3s? I could have sworn I heard something about USB C as standard. My concern is that by not getting the wireless charging option, I will also lose out on enhanced Bluetooth and the interface for listening to music with my phone plugged in will be different. I'm coming from a 2013 3 series with a tech package so I've been used to having both of my phones connected (personal and work) and being able to scroll through music and albums with my phone plugged in via the HUD. Does anybody know if Wireless Apple CarPlay allows you to scroll through the current playlist on the HUD (with Apple Music). I saw a video review where someone was listening to Spotify through CarPlay and you only get the option to skip forward or back a song on the HUD as opposed to scrolling through all the songs in the playlist. Perhaps I should make a pit stop at the dealership today to test this out.
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10-12-2019, 09:45 PM	#77
Cybulman Cybulman 5 Rep 9 Posts Drives: BMW X3 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I placed a small flat box in the charging tray and bought the Alpatronix charging pad for my iphone 8 plus. Plugged it into the USB spot in that tray with retractable USB cord reel. It works just fine for about $19 + $7. $26 Total. My phone is connected via BT, Apple Car Play and I can see Google maps on big screen.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2019, 11:05 PM	#78
syuan92 Member 26 Rep 237 Posts Drives: '20 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2013 BMW ActiveHybr ... [0.00]	I decided to add the wireless charging feature to my build. I had enhanced Bluetooth on my last BMW and the dual phone feature was extremely handy. I still think $500 is overpriced. On the m340i, j think the wireless charging option is only $200 which is much more reasonable...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-13-2019, 08:29 AM	#80
Jeepersjoey Stay Tuned! 297 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 m40i Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: North Denvah iTrader: (0)	I am one of the people that said that this is the biggest waste of money. In an hour of driving, Mine charges 1-5% just sitting on the pad while driving. Ie not streaming. I took a 6 hr drive and it still was not at 100%...after six hours of blue light. It was SUPER hot though! We had a test drive of a 2019 Audi SQ5 last weekend. The 20 minute test drive changed from 91 to 100%. We bought the car. I have a scosche Charger on my desk at work. It charges the way you would expect. The BMW one...absolutely useless. Barely keeps up with the normal running of the phone. I am installing a scosche one...thanks BMW! I will turn my pad into a pizza holder. Paul
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10-13-2019, 08:25 PM	#81
youngdoc1 Private First Class 34 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 2019 X4 M40i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Agree. Slow charging and causes overheating of phone. I use a lightning cable from inside the centre arm rest.
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