BMW to be 1st to offer iPhone Integration

[MD11F]

Originally Posted by rh71

say I grab a MY2008 E70 without the ipod/iphone adapter... and I pick up an iphone 2 years down the line... can I still grab an adapter somewhere without hassle ?

I was told it's not possible to retrofit the ipod upgrade after the fact.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by rh71

say I grab a MY2008 E70 without the ipod/iphone adapter... and I pick up an iphone 2 years down the line... can I still grab an adapter somewhere without hassle ?

2 years from now?? anything is possible two years from now, but short of a crystal ball how would we know?

[jfr0317]

Originally Posted by jfr0317

I believe the "iPod/USB interface" that BMW refers to in the article I quoted above is the 6FL option. We have the $400 6FL option on our X5 4.8, and my new iPhone works just fine with it. The only glitch is that when you first connect the iPhone to the 6FL cable, a message comes on the screen of the iPhone that says "This accessory is not compatible with the iPhone. Do you want to use "Airplane Mode" to avoid interference?" "Airplane Mode" turns off any RF signals from the iPhone so as not to cause any interference with an airplane's systems. Apparently, this message asking if you want to go to Airplane Mode appears whenever you connect the iPhone to an accessory that doesn't return a signal to it that it is "ready for iPhone" as the upcoming round of ipod & iPhone accessories will.

In any event, I just clicked the virtual button for "No, I don't want to go to "Aircraft Mode", and it worked just fine, transferring all three playlists, album, artist, and song info, etc. to the iDrive display. I was able to simultaneously listen to music from the iPhone while browsing the iPhone's phone number directory on the iDrive screen. I got exactly the same behavior, including the "Airplane Mode" message in my pickup truck, which has an Alpine aftermarket headunit with a dedicated iPod cable and a separate Parrot CK3100 hands-free Bluetooth telephone kit.

Glad to answer any other questions anybody may have.

Thanks,
John

Update - iPhone works great! I tried just ignoring the "do you want to use Airplane Mode?" message, and it defaults to the same mode as if you clicked the "No, I don't want to use Airplane Mode" choice. iPhone phone book pairs and is accessible through iDrive, calls made from there work great, and iPod functionality of iPhone works great through iDrive when the iPhone is connected via the 6FL cable. I like it!

[nelsonc]

I have an X5 4.8 with factory installed iPod (USB/Aux in the center console) integration kit. Does that come with an interface cable?... I didn't find it in the car and tried the cable that came with my iphone but no response from the iDrive. Bluetooth works great though! thanks all

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by nelsonc

I have an X5 4.8 with factory installed iPod (USB/Aux in the center console) integration kit. Does that come with an interface cable?... I didn't find it in the car and tried the cable that came with my iphone but no response from the iDrive. Bluetooth works great though! thanks all

The dealer needs to give you the cable...you have to use the 6FL cable.

[jfr0317]

Originally Posted by X5FX

The dealer needs to give you the cable...you have to use the 6FL cable.

And the emphasis is on "give" you the cable, since although it is a dealer-supplied item rather than being placed in the car at the factory, it is part of the 6FL option. I had to wait about a week to get my cable back in April since the dealer had not yet gotten any in by my April 14th delivery, but there was no hassle getting it other than that and no additional charges.

[jfr0317]

According to www.wireless4bmw.com, BMW is supposed to make available shortly a revised cable for use with the 6FL iPod integration option and the iPhone to allow the iPhone to be charged while connected to the cable. THe site provides the following info:

"3. iPod/USB adapter cable (Y-cable for connecting iPod/iPhone to the USB
connector)
The currently available cable will charge the iPhone with 100mA max (which is not
detected by the iPhone and thus not indicated on the iPhone).
The revised y-cable for the iPhone will charge with up to 500mA and the iPhone will
indicate it’s charging (availability expected for mid August 2007"

My dealer has no further information as of this past Saturday. Has anyone else heard anything about this?

[X5FX]

Interesting..looks like X5's produced before 3/07 (mine) have BT 1.1 and I assume those after this date were updated w/ BT 2.0

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by X5FX

Interesting..looks like X5's produced before 3/07 (mine) have BT 1.1 and I assume those after this date were updated w/ BT 2.0

You could probably replace the BT module and be good to go.