iphone5 contacts won't transfer through Bluetooth BMW...

Hi all,

I know this is an older post but I’ve just stumbled across it with a current clients complaint having the same issue (iPhone applicable).

I’m a BM tech for over a decade and having worked in the UK and Canada, it’s no surprise this has been an issue for many for some time now that we still see.

Just to clarify, contact pictures shouldn’t really be an issue, especially on the newer head units, that’s really a piece of cake for them.

2 main factors still apply to contact migration;

1 - special characters, emojis etc. They just really don’t get on well together. Fine on the device but seen many issues, not just with cars pulling contacts across.

2 - number of contacts and WHERE they are stored. At the last count anything over 1000 contacts begins to cause problems AND stored contacts on cloud services other than the device or iCloud (gmail/outlook etc.) if it’s not native to iOS, it doesn’t usually like it. And just for anyone else out there, my buddy at VW says anything in the VAG group is having similar issues (Audi, Skoda, Seat etc.)

Hope this helps a few guys and gals out there.

Had the same problem. I drive a BMW 328 x.

Try this. Tap on settings on your iPhone. Turn your Blue Tooth app on. The screen should show all devices you have synced. Go to BMW with the code showing next to it. Straight across to the right. You’ll see a blue small case letter i. With a blue circle around it. Tap the circle. The screen will change to Sync Contacts. Tap til it’s green. Your contacts should sync in your BMW

Does the system in your car support the PBAP bluetooth profile? If it does, contact transfer should be automatic. You can not manually transfer them.

If it was working and has stopped, delete the pairing from both the car and the phone, reboot both of them, then re-pair them.

I Have the same problem. My iPhone 5 worked fine with my 2010 BMW. Just got a 2013 BMW 328 I, when they paired my phone it picked up my phone directory from a-d, and sometimes I can get some of my other contacts. My iPhone 4 works fine. Went to two BMW dealers both say an apple problem. Apple says no problem. I am using my recent calls as an alternative way to make calls... So I call my favorite people from the car then it is stored as recent calls. Someone else suggested using Suri to make the calls. Otherwise I love my car and still love my iphone5

My contacts would sync until the 6.1 update (ie until last night). Now it says there are none.

I am also suddenly having the same problem since 6.1 upgrade. I've tried to reset the phone but no help. I've also deleted the pairing and tried to recreate with no luck.

I took my car into BMW. They "cant find anything wrong and it's an apple problem". Anyone know how to fix this?

Same issue in my X5. My contact list only uploads to "e" in the alphabet.

My BMW dealer said remove any emoji's from my contacts.
I looked and couldn't find any.

Does anyone have an answer yet??

I am a BMW Delivery Specialist in California. I have had a few clients with similar problems. The one solution I have found is that if you are using any 3rd party application that allows you to insert graphic icons into your contact names, such as emoji, it will cause the phone book download to crash. I don’t know if this will fix all of the problems, but so far it has fixed all of mine. Remember, this can be any application that allows you to insert graphic icons into your contact list names. I don’t know if this is an Apple or BMW issue yet.

Hi Wheeler,

Thanks for the info - unfortunately it doesn't look like that's the challenge I have as I don't believe (of course I may be wrong) that I have any third party apps inserting any graphics.

That said if you've found a useful way to identify any from your customers that would be much appreciated?

My gut feeling is this is a BMW issue - my iPhone syncs fine with my wfie's car so it appears limited to my BMW only.

Adexis,

Hmmm, I haven't run accross that problem yet. What BMW do you have?

The only time I've seen the contact list display completely blank was when there was something odd about the contact list.

I do know that BMWs can be picky. More so than I would like.

Please, let me know which iPhone you have, carrier, and Make/Year of your BMW.

Thanks

Thanks Wheeler

I've got a BMW 318 2009 (September) and iPhone 5 on Vodafone UK.

I actually suspect now that the issue is to do with the number of contacts I have, mostly generated from the Microsoft Exchange Suggested Contacts list which I've noticed results in me having over 1200 contacts in total.

I'm doing a test later in the car as I've now disabled the extra suggested contacts so they're not syncing onto my phone. Hopefully my guess is correct - I've now only got 850 contacts so I think there's more chance it will cope and sync them all to the BMW.

I'll let you know how I get on though!

I found one way to make it work. Under Settings > Bluetooth > BMW >

Under Groups, ONLY select favorites. (Deselet Recents and All contacts)

Then make everyone a favorite. Has limitations, but can at least see contacts.

Thanks all for your guidance, I've managed to resolve it at least for me.

My theory does appear to be right, in my case the issue was the number of contacts in my address book. Now that i've reduced it to under 900 it works.

For anybody on Outlook 2010 you may want to look out for the "suggested contacts" option. This can inadvertantly create hundreds of contacts that get synced with your phone (and therefore your car), but they are not in the usual Outlook contact list so you may not notice them.