Does press-hold of your microphone button redirect to Siri

Barbja · 02-21-2020, 11:28 AM

This is a poll for iPhone users so that I can get some data points to give to my service adviser when I take my car in next week:

When you press-hold the microphone button on your steering wheel, does the iDrive redirect to Siri?

Also, it would be helpful to know the iDrive version (6/7), are you using carPlay, and which phone you have (6/7/8/10/etc)?

Thanks!

chicagofan00 · 02-21-2020, 12:04 PM

IDrive 6, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro Max.

hinckley · 02-21-2020, 12:33 PM

iD7, CarPlay, X

asyvan · 02-21-2020, 01:54 PM

I would be very interested to know if this would work also without Apple Carplay.

Bernie2x · 02-21-2020, 02:39 PM

Works with ID6, iPhone X, no carplay

teaston · 02-21-2020, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

IDrive 6, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Exact same as me!

lorien · 02-21-2020, 03:07 PM

ID6 / CarPlay / iPhone X

Works great, even with Spotify...

Blacktemplar · 02-21-2020, 04:58 PM

ID7, CarPlay, iPhone X

satz · 02-21-2020, 07:56 PM

just checking...does pressing and holding the mic button on the steering wheel let you talk to Siri (even if you don't have apple carplay installed)?

chicagofan00 · 02-21-2020, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

just checking...does pressing and holding the mic button on the steering wheel let you talk to Siri (even if you don't have apple carplay installed)?

I don't think so. I don't see a mention of it under the Bluetooth sections of the manual but it does call it out specifically how it functions when using CarPlay. Plus when you hold it and get Siri it goes into CarPlay when you aren't in it already.

Barbja · 02-22-2020, 12:35 AM

This evening I paired my phone in carPlay mode. In that mode it's working with push-hold Siri. Everything else is madness though (being carPlay and all), so I put it back the way that it was.

I hope that this is a bug in iDrive7 and that they didn't purposefully remove this feature -- it worked all the way back to at least iDrive4.

carPlay: it reads the texts to you, you speak the reply
iDrive7: you read the texts on the screen (I prefer that), you reply with your fingers on your phone. Really?

Barbja · 02-22-2020, 02:14 AM

Aha! I found it in the online manual (for my VIN) under:

COMMUNICATION > Telephone > Telephone functions > Voice command response

At least Manuel thinks it should work

.

justanotherx3 · 02-22-2020, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

just checking...does pressing and holding the mic button on the steering wheel let you talk to Siri (even if you don't have apple carplay installed)?

Yes - on my 30i with no car play, small nav screen, holding the button brings up Siri and it works great.

chicagofan00 · 02-22-2020, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbja

Aha! I found it in the online manual (for my VIN) under:

COMMUNICATION > Telephone > Telephone functions > Voice command response

At least Manuel thinks it should work

.

You'll have to test it but I'm not sure that it evokes the use of Siri. I think it uses the Bluetooth connection to call contacts and such but the Siri functionality wouldn't be there like set reminders, use Apple Maps navigation, etc.

tonyb15re · 02-22-2020, 10:23 AM

Also works with Google Assistant I believe, not actually asked Google for anything but on the odd occasion its been initiated but I dont have it configured/allowed, I dont allow any O/S/spy apps like Siri, Google, Alexa, Bixby to function on my phones.

Quantum Blue · 02-22-2020, 12:36 PM

Yes, it does. IDrive 6, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro

Tubes23 · 02-23-2020, 03:50 PM

ID7, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro

Alias1431 · 02-23-2020, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyb15re

Also works with Google Assistant I believe, not actually asked Google for anything but on the odd occasion its been initiated but I dont have it configured/allowed, I dont allow any O/S/spy apps like Siri, Google, Alexa, Bixby to function on my phones.

How? I have android and I just get the car.

tonyb15re · 02-24-2020, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias1431

How? I have android and I just get the car.

If you have Google Assistant enabled on your phone and its connected to the head unit you should be able to press and hold the mic button on your steering wheel which should wake the assistant up.

moff · 02-24-2020, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

just checking...does pressing and holding the mic button on the steering wheel let you talk to Siri (even if you don't have apple carplay installed)?

Yes it does.

Alias1431 · 02-24-2020, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyb15re

If you have Google Assistant enabled on your phone and its connected to the head unit you should be able to press and hold the mic button on your steering wheel which should wake the assistant up.

Ahh, had to enable it in my phone settings first. Thanks.

Barbja · 03-02-2020, 08:37 PM

Someone from BMWUSA gave me a call today to find out how I was liking my new car. During the discussion I brought up this issue that I'm having with the microphone press-hold access to Siri. I told him of the results of this poll. He went away and had a discussion with his colleagues and much to my dismay:

==> Despite what it says in the manual, in iDrive7, Apple "made" BMW make Siri only accessible when using CarPlay.

Excuse me, what?

I had a lively discussion with him about distracted driving and he agreed that BMW/Apple should in no way be encouraging us to pick up our phones. They're supposed to be helping us not touch them.

He's going to submit the feedback. I hope it lies on some eyes that want to embrace all users. All users that use iPhones don't necessarily want to use CarPlay.

View Poll Results: Does press-hold of the microphone button on your steering wheel redirect to Siri?
Yes	45	95.74%
No	2	4.26%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll

02-21-2020, 11:28 AM	#1
Barbja Captain 149 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2020 X4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Does press-hold of your microphone button redirect to Siri This is a poll for iPhone users so that I can get some data points to give to my service adviser when I take my car in next week: When you press-hold the microphone button on your steering wheel, does the iDrive redirect to Siri? Also, it would be helpful to know the iDrive version (6/7), are you using carPlay, and which phone you have (6/7/8/10/etc)? Thanks! Last edited by Barbja; 02-21-2020 at 11:36 AM..
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02-21-2020, 12:04 PM	#2
chicagofan00 Major General 19140 Rep 8,028 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 M60i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Phoenix iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW X5 M60i [10.00]	IDrive 6, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro Max. __________________ Instagram: @Phxrisingphotography Current - 2024 G05 X5 ///M60i in Java Green Past - 2005 E53 X5 3.0i in Titanium Silver; 2008 E92 335i in Montego Blue; 2019 G01 X3 M40i in Glacier Silver; 2022 G80 M3 Competition in Twilight Purple
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02-21-2020, 12:33 PM	#3
hinckley Brigadier General 3493 Rep 3,213 Posts Drives: '24 M4C Conv Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida iTrader: (1)	iD7, CarPlay, X __________________ CURRENT: '24 M4C Conv RETIRED : '23 M8C Conv \| '20 X4 M40i \| '18 M4 6MT \| '13 M5 6MT \| '08 550i 6MT \| '04 545i 6MT \| '98 540i 6MT \| '94 530i 5MT \| '84 528e 5MT Other retirees from Chevrolet, Buick, Subaru, Honda, Acura, Merkur(!), Volvo, Saab, Audi and Porsche
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02-21-2020, 01:54 PM	#4
asyvan Second Lieutenant 166 Rep 223 Posts Drives: X3 M40i (MY19) Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00]	I would be very interested to know if this would work also without Apple Carplay. __________________ Jens Ejvinsson, Sweden BMW X3 M40i (MY19), every option in the book, Pictures BMW X1 20d M-Sport xDrive (MY17), Nav, HUD
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02-21-2020, 02:39 PM	#5
Bernie2x Private 15 Rep 58 Posts Drives: BMW X3 G01 (2018) 2.0d Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Austria iTrader: (0)	Works with ID6, iPhone X, no carplay
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02-21-2020, 03:07 PM	#7
lorien New Member 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: X3 (G01) M40d Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	ID6 / CarPlay / iPhone X Works great, even with Spotify...
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02-21-2020, 04:58 PM	#8
Blacktemplar Brigadier General 3475 Rep 3,689 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	ID7, CarPlay, iPhone X
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02-21-2020, 07:56 PM	#9
satz Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: A land down under iTrader: (0)	just checking...does pressing and holding the mic button on the steering wheel let you talk to Siri (even if you don't have apple carplay installed)? __________________ 2019 X3 M40i, Sophisto grey, H/K, pano Previous: 2019 BMW X2 Msport, Mineral Grey, Adaptive Suspension, H/K Previous: 2009 335i LCI, Bluewater
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02-22-2020, 12:35 AM	#11
Barbja Captain 149 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2020 X4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	This evening I paired my phone in carPlay mode. In that mode it's working with push-hold Siri. Everything else is madness though (being carPlay and all), so I put it back the way that it was. I hope that this is a bug in iDrive7 and that they didn't purposefully remove this feature -- it worked all the way back to at least iDrive4. carPlay: it reads the texts to you, you speak the reply iDrive7: you read the texts on the screen (I prefer that), you reply with your fingers on your phone. Really?
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02-22-2020, 02:14 AM	#12
Barbja Captain 149 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2020 X4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Aha! I found it in the online manual (for my VIN) under: COMMUNICATION > Telephone > Telephone functions > Voice command response At least Manuel thinks it should work . Attached Images
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02-22-2020, 10:23 AM	#15
tonyb15re Second Lieutenant 97 Rep 271 Posts Drives: i4 M50 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: england iTrader: (0)	Also works with Google Assistant I believe, not actually asked Google for anything but on the odd occasion its been initiated but I dont have it configured/allowed, I dont allow any O/S/spy apps like Siri, Google, Alexa, Bixby to function on my phones.
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02-22-2020, 12:36 PM	#16
Quantum Blue New Member 11 Rep 24 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive30i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Newton, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 [0.00]	Yes, it does. IDrive 6, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro __________________ 2019 X3 xDrive 30i, Phytonic Blue, Canberra Beige, Ceramic Coated, Paint Protection Film
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02-23-2020, 03:50 PM	#17
Tubes23 Private 34 Rep 98 Posts Drives: M4 xDrive Comp Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Essex iTrader: (0)	ID7, CarPlay, iPhone 11 Pro
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03-02-2020, 08:37 PM	#22
Barbja Captain 149 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2020 X4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Someone from BMWUSA gave me a call today to find out how I was liking my new car. During the discussion I brought up this issue that I'm having with the microphone press-hold access to Siri. I told him of the results of this poll. He went away and had a discussion with his colleagues and much to my dismay: ==> Despite what it says in the manual, in iDrive7, Apple "made" BMW make Siri only accessible when using CarPlay. Excuse me, what? I had a lively discussion with him about distracted driving and he agreed that BMW/Apple should in no way be encouraging us to pick up our phones. They're supposed to be helping us not touch them. He's going to submit the feedback. I hope it lies on some eyes that want to embrace all users. All users that use iPhones don't necessarily want to use CarPlay.
	Appreciate 0 Quote