X5 E53 2006 BLUETOOTH ISSUES WITH IPHONE 4S
 

Hi All

I have just purchased a 2006 3.0D with TV/RADIO/SATNAV Dash unit.

I have also purchased all of the trays and snap in adaptors for the Bluetooth facility for use with Iphone 4S. Phone charges up when phone is placed in tray, press the Bluetooth Button in tray area for 3 seconds on key position 0 turn to key position 1 and release after 3 seconds, no lights illuminate on the unit as directed in the instructions.......... so my questions are
1. Is the Iphone 4s Compatible or do I need a specific ULF ?
2. Are the instructions on pairing correct?
3. do I actually have to have the phone in its clip in adaptor to pair or is that just a charging and antenna extending facility?
4. If there are any checks that I can do to make sure that A the head unit is operational on the Bluetooth side of things and B if the ULF is working as it should do?

Thanks for any help you could give me

Cheers

Rob

The instructions on pairing are different for the 2006 model - you are following instructions for the original E53... your ULF is probably 5th generation or later, it pairs differently... I am afraid to tell you how to pair it, as on mine it worked only couple of times as designed - i use INPA to pair the phone... when the ignition is just turned on from deep sleep, the BT module goes into pairing mode fro 2 minutes - like i said, i managed it only couple of times, out of several dozen attempts... so, i just gave up and used computer and software to tell the ULf to go into pairing mode...

oh... BTW...

welcome to the forum!!! where are the pics?

ok im not too sure what you mean by how you programmed the ULF? OK I thought the E53 was the same through until 2006 with regards to the pairing method...

i used INPA software on a laptop connected to the car via an OBDII-USB cable to put the ULF into pairing mode, as I was not successful in utilizing the instructions in the manual...

The 4s is compatible, and you should not need to have it in the cradle to pair. Like others above, I have found it difficult to pair and the instructions for my beast do not seem to match exactly what I've had to do (I recall that the telephone button on the steering wheel was the best way to initiate pairing in my case). Good luck. On my 2005 it turned out to be not worthwhile as the whole mic/speaker interface is poor - much better on the 2013 e70.

i just went into the phone settings and typed in the Bluetooth code (found in owners manual or on the Bluetooth module itself). 4 digits. The phone paired without any issues. now every time i start the vehicle is pairs automatically (if the Bluetooth feature is turned on in the phone).

thanks All, seems like I will just have to plug away at it, i am sure it will work out ok i have just seen so many issues with this on all BMW forums and just my luck i have the issue :) sure i will get there

Hopefully!!

Cheers

Rob

As stated above...BMW changed the module sometime during production. My 2006 X5 4.4 (with 12/05 build date) had the Premium & BMW Assist option packages...and that came with the different TCU ( I think that's what its called)...where as mentioned above, you don't really press any buttons in or on the X5 to do the initial pairing...your X5 should make itself "visible" to other BT devices automatically within the 1st few minutes of turning the ignition to KL-R or KL-15 (ignition position 2)...then you go into your iPhone (or other smartphone) and look for BT devices.
When you do the above, you should see your X5 listed ("BMW XXXXX"...where the x=the last 5 digits of your VIN)...you select that on your iPhone (or other smart phone)...then you enter the PK code (should be in your BT booklet or on the TCU module if you don't have the booklet & nbr)...once the PK code is entered...your X & phone should be paired (for life :) ) until you remove it.

From that point on, you can use the VR (voice recognition) feature where you press the talking face button on the steering wheel to make voice calls using specific prompts (google BMW VR PDF if you don't have the booklet in your owners manual binder). You can save names and numbers and have the X5 dial those numbers etc when you press the talking face button on the steering wheel...or you can use your MID or Nav screen and scroll through the phone book...(which it uploads or accesses your phonebook) to make calls. Incoming calls will automatically be heard through the speaker system, and to answer the phone, you can press the talking face button on the steering wheel..and I think you can press the button on the MID or Nav (not sure because I always use the steering wheel button). :)


If your X5 has this BT set-up and you try to pair your phone & fail...as mentioned by others above & me...don't give up. The 1st time I tried to pair my phone & X...it failed over & over & over. I gave up in disgust and went to bed...then the next morning I thought I'd try it one more time...and it worked the very 1st attempt.

I have no clue as to why it worked the last time and failed the previous times before because I had the instructions in my hands each time and thought I was following the procedures as outlined below. But again, each early attempt failed...then all of a sudden it worked...but all you need is for it to work one time...and your X5 will be on your phone's BT list of devices. Once paired, all that is required is that your iPhone's/smart phone's BT is activated.

Here's the instructions for the latter set-up as described above (BMW Assist w/integrated BT):

KL R = ignition position 1
KL 15 = ignition position 2

Once paired and your X5 has VR (voice recognition)...making voice calls is sort of Star Trekish...in that you press the talking face button, and give a command...then your X5 speaks back to you...in either repeating/verifying the numbers or the "saved" name you give it to call...then finishes up by telling you "dialing number".

Below are a few pages from the Voice Recognition booklet:

wow thanks for the replys there, that has certainly made me more determined to get this sorted, thanks for the replies much appreciated, will update you once I try again, this wont be for a few days now as I am at work until Thursday :(