Bluetooth madness..

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Bnagy4.8

OK so here is where I am at on my issue. I have a 2005 4.8is with rear entertainment and the works (fully loaded) no options left out (I think). I only have the button on my steering wheel. I have the cables to hook up a eject box but they hang freely under the center console. I have the unit posted in post #1. When I press the Face with waves or the R/T button and hold while turning to the first position and holding for a few seconds nothing happens. I have even held it for a minute, nothing happened. I also recently noticed that when I switch to telephone and press > (*)> (call), It begins to ring and takes me to Verizon wireless to set up a phone with a phone card and whatnot. I contacted the dealership and they ran my vin and said "Yes" my vehicle is equipped with Bluetooth.
I read several post mentioning that this came standard with the 2005 4.8is sport package.

Now, I have an iphone 4s. When going through the "pairing process" nothing comes up on my phone. As mentioned before, I have NAV, Nothing comes up on my nav.

When I press the R/T button it says "activate phone" on my dash.
When I press the face for 2 sec, it beeps, and the assist voice says please speak. I can say "activate phone" it responds, "the phone is on", when I say, "dial Number", it says, "function is currently not possible".

Am I missing something here? Do I need to take it in to the dealership for them to pair it? seems like it should just work.

Not sure what instructions you're following for pairing your iPhone 4s to your car...but see the info below in case you are "winging it". The VR's (voice recognition) response to you is due to your phone not being paired to the vehicle yet...it can't dial a number that hasn't been uploaded or stored to it yet.

Also, you'll need the PK (pass key) code from your bluetooth module...which can be found on a label attached to the module, or on a card in your owners manual binder.

As you can see in the info below, you have a 2 minute window when you turn the ignition to position 1 or 2 (KLR or KL 15). Your iPhone must have bluetooth turned on & be ready to have your iPhone "search" for bluetooth devices within this 2 minute window.

When your iPhone and X5 have been properly paired... you should see "BMW_ _ _ _ _" (where the blank spaces will be the last 5 digits of your X5's VIN) on your iPhone's list of bluetooth paired devices. If your X5 isn't in your phone's list...then they still aren't paired.

[Bnagy4.8]

Yes, I have the PK if you look at post #1, and yes I'm aware of the voice recognition functions. The problem I am having is that it ( my phone) never finds my car.

[upallnight]

R U pairing the phone within the 2 minute window?

People use to complain that they couldn't get the stomp test to work for them, and some made Youtube Video of the stomp test. Problem was that they weren't doing the stomp test quick enough to retrieve the trouble code from the car computer.

[Qsilver7]

There's so much truth in your post above. I suffered the same fate with the stomp test on my e30 when I first attempted it and as the OP in my first attempts to pair my Samsung Galaxy SII to my X5. Both instances I chalk it up to operator error. If at first you don't succeed...you probably did something wrong...so try, try again.

And if you still fail...take the time to look at EVERY step you're doing...even if you have to write it down...and clearly compare it to the correct instructions to see if you've skipped, combined, omitted, forgot, or misunderstood a step that may be the reason for the failure.

My first attempt at pairing was a failure. I had the instructions in hand and turned the ignition to KLR then KL15 and turned my phone's Bluetooth on and for some reason, never got the message to enter my PK code. But it was around 1 o'clock in the morning sitting in a cold garage...I eventually gave up and went back first thing latter that morning after some rest and a clear head...and for some reason it worked that time. Not sure what I did differently but somehow it worked:

1. turned ignition to position 1 (KL R) and within the next 2 minutes....
2. turned my Samsung Galaxy SII's "search for Bluetooth devices" feature on...
3. saw "BMW24133" listed (24133 are the last 5 digits of my X's VIN) on my phone and selected it
4. my X5 sent message to my phone to enter PK code
5. I entered the PK code into my Samsung Galaxy SII
6. "BMW PAIRING" appeared in the Nav screen on my X as well as UPLOADING PHONE BOOK
7. turned the ignition off & waited the prerequisite 30 seconds...then turned the ignition back on

I must say though, that my phonebook never has uploaded...but I think this issue is more of an issue with my brand of phone. If my phone rings while I'm in the X...I can answer it using the talking face button on the steering wheel (or the button on the nav screen)...and as far as making calls...I stored my most called numbers into VR and use the "call name" voice command to call those numbers. And to call a number not stored, I use the "call number" VR command. From my readings on this issue, the iPhones tend NOT to have an issue with uploading it's phone book.

So good luck to the OP...keep trying to find out where you & the pairing instructions are differing. One thing you've mentioned is trying to use the R/T button...not sure why you're pressing that one since you told us that the wires to the phone cradle in the armrest area aren't connected to anything. Pairing your X with an iPhone that isn't used in a "wired" cradle...only uses the talking face button once the two have been paired thru bluetooth.

[Bnagy4.8]

Yes I am trying to pair within the 2 min window. I'll just have to keep on trying. One question I have for all those who have Bluetooth that works, in the back left panel, where all the units are (NAV, CD, Bluetooth), is there a Bluetooth antenna mounted on top. Please post a picture if you can.

[Qsilver7]

The Bluetooth antenna is #4 in the diagram below & the TCU is #1. It's as easy as typing " BMW E53 Bluetooth antenna" in a google search box to find actual images...moreso if you click the images button to limit your search for pics. Some of the results will probably lead you right back to Xoutpost.

Here's a bluetooth PDF install guide found here on xoupost that shows two places the bt antenna may be installed based on how your X may be optioned: http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...l-20manual.pdf



84506928461 (the antnna's 11 digit part # can be seen in the pic below):