X5 iPhone APPS Integration.... or maybe not :(

[FunfDreisig]

Before you ask... Yes I know that the iPhone integration topic has been discussed many times before. And yes I've used the search function. But....

I think this thread may cover different ground - the integration of the X5 with iPhone apps. In particular apps, other than the iPod app, that emit SOUND.

[begin rant]
When we ordered our 35d in Aug 2009 we didn't have an iPod or iPhone. But we tried to get the option (the $400 USB/iPod) that would work best for us in case we got a iPhone later. Well that glorious day came earlier this week, when my wife managed to break her S-E flip phone. Today I took her X5 and her iPhone out for a drive to try out the X5<-> iPhone integration. Can you say 'Boy was I disappointed' boys and girls?

What worked --
1 - The iPhone worked great as a PHONE via Bluetooth But heck my antique S-E T616 works great as a Bluetooth phone too.
2 - The iPhone worked OK as an iPod when I plugged it into the Y adapter cable.
3 - Sorry there is no 3 in this list.

What didn't work --
1 - $400 dollars later I have a fancy iPhone loaded with cool apps and our X5 thinks it is just a Phone and an iPod - DUH. And the iPod functionality only works when the iPhone is attached to an extremely short Y cable that makes using any other of the iPhone apps nearly impossible while attached. Don't think SMS messaging, Suduko, etc. Think streaming radio, etc.
2 - I could not get ANY sound from any iPhone app. (except iPod) to pay through the "Premium Sound" system. Even apps that one could easily use without touching the iPhone while driving -- for example, streaming radio, turn by turn driving instructions from a navigation app, etc.
3 - There is a 3 in this list... That $400 USB/iPod option didn't even charge the iPhone. The iPhone let me know this with a snippy message 'Your very expensive BMW X5 was delivered with a crappy adapter cable that was not designed to work with an iPhone 3Gs. ' or words to that effect. Yes I know there is different BMW Y cable that probably will charge the iPhone but BMW chose not to include it*. At $400 they should have included every Y adapter cable that BMW makes with instructions as to which one works with which model iPod/iPhone, etc. After all, a BMW owner (and their family members) could have a whole range of different model iPods/iPhones today and more yet in the future.

AFAIK given the two cables we now have (the BMW Y adapter and the Apple USB -> iPhone cables), our choices are....
1 - Use the BMW Y adapter cable -- and allow our X5 to covert our smart iPhone into a dumb iPod and generic Bluetooth phone - DUH.

2 - Use the Apple USB -> iPhone cable -- and get to use all the iPhone features including all the apps (think passenger) BUT... the only X5 integration is a Bluetooth phone that can be charged via the USB port in the console - DUH. This can be done with a 12v outlet and a simple iPhone car cable -- IOW for maybe just a little less than $400.

OR

3 - Purchase an iPhone aux out cable to feed the iPhone audio to the X5 "Premium Sound" and use an Apple 12v chargeing cable. IOW we could convert our sleek, smart iPhone into a borg with multiple cables hanging out of it.
[end rant]

So my question/hope is that one of the fabulously well informed forum members can tell me a way to get better X5 <-> iPhone APP integration with a single cable that will both charge the iPhone and allow whatever is being output by the iPhone including APPS to be heard via the "Premium Sound" system.

Thanks in Advance - Funf Dreisig

* Our 35d with the $400 USB/iPod option, came with the Y adapter cable part# 61-12-0-440-796 that does NOT charge our iPhone. But bigX5er has posted that the Y cable part number 61-12-0-440-812 DOES charge an iPhone 3Gs

[santo]

So my question/hope is that one of the fabulously well informed forum members can tell me a way to get better X5 <-> iPhone APP integration with a single cable that will both charge the iPhone and allow whatever is being output by the iPhone including APPS to be heard via the "Premium Sound" system to play.

This doesn't directly answer the question but...

I have a Blackberry app called Drive Safely that reads out emails. This application has an option to set audio to speaker, ear piece, headphone jack or Bluetooth. This means that on the Blackberry, at least, you can direct audio to various output so I would think the iPhone app would need similar options which I haven't seen yet but I haven't played with a lot of iPhone apps yet. If you could direct audio to Bluetooth, you would be all set.

[JCL]

I think it is unrealistic to expect any manufacturer with a vehicle on a 7 year model redesign cycle (with several years of design work prior to customer release) to keep pace with consumer electronics.

That said, I hope somebody has a workaround or kludge for you.

(still using my 2004 iPod as a hard drive, and driving my special-ordered 535 with the telephone integration factory-deleted)

Good luck.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by JCL

I think it is unrealistic to expect any manufacturer with a vehicle on a 7 year model redesign cycle (with several years of design work prior to customer release) to keep pace with consumer electronics.....

I would generally agree but...

A funny thing happened while testing the iPhone apps integration. When I plugged the iPhone into the BMW supplied Y adapter WHILE an iPhone app was 'playing' (e.g. IheartRadio streaming a local radio station). The X5 "premium sound" system briefly picked up the output of the iPhone app and then quickly switched over to playing just sounds via the iPod app. Even though the "premium sound" system was set to play FM. FWIW this was repeatable.

So it is possible for the X5 to play sounds produced by iPhone apps, other than the iPod app. BMW just appears not to have implemented it.

Funf Dreisig

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by santo

...If you could direct audio to Bluetooth, you would be all set.

Thanks. That's an interesting idea

iPhone OS 3.0 and later supports audio via Bluetooth to devices that support Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). Does anyone know if a 2009 X5 does this?

TIA - Funf Dresig

p.s if it does the $400 USB/iPod option becomes even less valuable

[apw2607]

In a earlier release of iPhone os, if you held the home button for 5 seconds or so, it would pause the iPod. Then you could launch any app, like pandora ... And it would play through the BMW stereo. You couldn't control the app from any control via idrive however.

Since iPhone os 3.0 things don't work quite the same way. If the iPhone is connected to the car if you push the home button on the iPhone you can get to the apps. A few of them will pause the iPod automatically ... Sometimes not always ... It's a bit flakey. You can try pausing the iPod as well with voice control via iPhone. Again a bit flakey ...

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

Thanks. That's an interesting idea

iPhone OS 3.0 and later supports audio via Bluetooth to devices that support Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). Does anyone know if a 2009 X5 does this?

TIA - Funf Dresig

p.s if it does the $400 USB/iPod option becomes even less valuable

No ... X5 or any BMW doesn't support streaming bluetooth A2DP audio. It's pretty crap anyway with limited bandwith and no meta data support. Ok for headsets but connecting to stereos with this approach is worthless.

[apw2607]

* Our 35d with the $400 USB/iPod option, came with the Y adapter cable part# 61-12-0-440-796 that does NOT charge our iPhone. But bigX5er has posted that the Y cable part number 61-12-0-440-812 DOES charge an iPhone 3Gs

Yea, not sure which part # I have but my y cable does charge my 3gs as does my iPhone cradle with option 6nf

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by apw2607

No ... X5 or any BMW doesn't support streaming bluetooth A2DP audio. It's pretty crap anyway with limited bandwith and no meta data support. Ok for headsets but connecting to stereos with this approach is worthless.

Thanks for the tips.

FWIW I always enclose the BMW "premium sound" system in quotes because I think is pretty far from "premium" in quality. So I'd be happy to hear almost ANY quality sound from iPhone apps (other than the iPod app) as long as the solution charged the iPhone, didn't require more than one cable and allowed the passenger to access the iPhone apps without being a contortionist

Funf Dreisig

p.s. I'd give up the iPod functionality of the iPhone via the X5 controls in a heart beat of a hummingbird on a sugar rush, to gain access to the sounds of iPhone apps. To paraphrase the song...'got along without 'em before I had 'em, could get along without 'em now'

[apw2607]

Ok ... All you need to do then is buy a 3.5mm male to male cable and plug one end into the iPhone and the other into you car aux jack, and hit aux on your BMW. You will be able to root any app audio through the car. If you want charging as well buy a cigg lighter iPhone charging cable.

Done

Bluetooth will still work as before.

Here's a manufacturer that combines that into a single cable

if you get this make sure you use the cigg lighter via USB for charging and not the dedicated USB socket on the car. Dont use the USB socket on the car, otherwise the car will detect your iphone just like it does with the Y-cable you have today.

Kensington K39204US 2-in-1 Car Charger & AUX Audio Cable for iPhone/iPod in Cables for iPods at JR.com