ios7 bluetooth issues with BMW

I have updated the software in my BMW 528i to the latest version with no improvement to the Bluetooth connectivity drop. I will now try driving around by deselecting the 'sync contacts' and clearing the Office cache as suggested by you.

I'll try this tomorrow too. I've tried everything else, as listed in my prior posts. Good luck to us all in solving this challenging problem.

Feedback on my software update, the BMW software update didn't work. The problem is not solved. I did turn off the sync contacts and see if this resolves the problem. The car was in a constant "trasnferring data" mode. I'll test it again this morning and If it doesn't, I'm returning my 5S and going back to the 4S while the 5S is still under warranty. Based upon the data on the Apple website both the iphone 4S and 5S use Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology. Has anyone tried the 4S with iOS7? Before I traded in my 4S, I did upgrade to iOS7 for a few weeks, I don't recall if I had any problems.

I have successfully eliminated the Blutooth disconnection problem by doing the following:

1. Forget the car telephone on the iPhone 5s bluetooth settings.
2. Remove the iPhone 5s for the bluetooth list in the car's bluetooth settings.
3. Pair the iphone with the car.
4. Immediately go to bluetooth settings on the iPhone 5s and deselect the 'Sync Contacts' option.

Once the above steps are carried out, the bluetooth connectivity will not drop during calls. However, I miss having the ability to make calls by accessing phone contacts through iDrive. Calls have to be initiated through the phone, but I find it a small price to pay for having stable bluetooth connectivity during a call.

A majority of calls I usually made are by accessing the last called numbers from the jog dial in the steering wheel and the received calls list on the iDrive screen. I missed having these functions. To get these functions back without affecting bluetooth connectivity, I turned on the 'sync contacts' option on the iPhone, then immediatly deselected the 'sync all contacts' and 'sync favourite' options. Now I get the recently called list below the odometer and the received calls list on the center console screen.

HI Suthran, I tried your steps this morning and it worked today. no dropped bluetooth on my calls today. I agree with your comments and did the same action, moving my key contacts to my favorites and then selecting sync favorites. it worked today. I'll let you know if this continues to work in a few days. thanks.

p.s. I sure wish some one from Apple is reading about this issue and comes up with a fix.

2008 BMW 328i - iPhone 5s - IOS 7.0.4

Following up on my previous post....

1. I don't have any issues wit BT dropping out. My issue is incoming and outgoing calls and whether there is any audio thru the car (even though BT is shown to be paired).

2. Receiving a call seems to be no problem. However, today, I was on a call and then a second call came in (call waiting). When I switched to the second call, the iPhone switched back to iPhone mode and the radio audio returned in the car. I will admit that I had this same problem with the iPhone 4S.

APPLE....PLEASE HELP!!

Have you updated the software in your car? Please do so if you haven't.

Can you tell me how to do that? I have a 2008 BMW 328i.

Thanks.

I do not know whether you have a USB port in your car. If you do, it should allow you to update the software using a USB drive. Please refer to your owner's manual for information on this.

This is the website where you can download your software - http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/connected_drive_services/mobile_devices/bluetoo th_software_update.html

You will have to start off my entering your car's Vehicle Identification Number usually found on your registration card. The site then gives you a list of software available. Select the most latest version and download it.

Let me know it goes.

I was banging my head against the wall for the past week. I got a new phone, downloaded the software but nothing was working.

The simple switching off of the 'sync contacts' did the trick.

Now the bluetooth works perfectly with no disconnections outside of bad cell towers.

Thank you so much for this fix!!!!

Have been having the identical problems with my 5s. Spent countless hours troubleshooting with Verizon until they finally sent me a new 5s. New phone made no difference whatsoever. Constantly dropped calls and the phone also freezes. I have to reset the phone in order to be able to make or receive a call. The bluetooth drops and then switches me to phone only with no way to switch back to hands free or even speaker - sometimes the mute and speaker icons just disappear from the iPhone application. Annoying and dangerous. I will try not syncing contacts but that removes a major capability for hands free dialing of contacts. Whose responsibiliity is it to fix this? Apple? BMW? Both? How do we get the message out. I had no issues whatsoever with my 4s - it was bluetooth bulletproof. My friends are having no problems with their new iPhones in their existing cars including Audi, Acura, Lexus, Prius.

IMHO, since there is no problem with the iPhone 4S Running iOS6 and iOS7 with the BMWs, the problem is with the iPhone 5s with ios7 combined with the way BMW implemented Bluetooth 4, which is what the iPhone 4S and 5s use. I am syncing with my short favorites list (20 entries) and it is working. The bluetooth cuts outs when trying to an update with my full contacts list which has several hundred entries. So is the BMW bluetooth bandwidth sufficient to support a voice call and contact data transfer simultaneously? Very little information has been provided by BMW on the bluetooth spec and which revisions are fully tested and supported. Until BMW fesses up to the technical community and provides the spec and support details on which bluetooth revision is supported, this will remain a problem. I have no problem with my 2009 Honda civic or my mom's 2007 Acura TSX, just the 2013 BMW X3.

thank you Shashinka. I think you're spot on. Ever since I received my 5s, my contacts take a very long time to transfer - sometimes as long as 10 minutes. I have few additional contacts since I switched from the 4s, which was bulletproof, so I think your hypothesis is a likely winner. I'll give this a try and will hope for the best until BMW takes responsibility. I also have no problems with my husband's 2012 Acura MDX or any other of my bluetooth devices. My 2012 535 is in the shop today and I'll make sure that I notify my technician and client advisor of this blog.

Here is what I received from BMW Customer Service today. Please contact them directly with any thoughts or rebuttal to this at customerrelationships@bmwusa.com. My BMW technician told me that the Comm Device on my car was showing up as having issues and they are replacing it -- not sure if that will do anything but it's worth a try.

On Jan 29, 2014, at 5:25 PM, CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com wrote:

Thank you for contacting BMW of North America, LLC regarding Bluetooth® Wireless Technology in your vehicle. I was sorry to read of your dissatisfaction.

We are continuing to work closely with Apple on the validation of the iPhone 5 for BMW vehicles and will be able to announce relevant developments in the future. Unfortunately, Apple did not distribute the iPhone 5 earlier to automobile manufacturers than to the general public, so we will address any issues of concern after our evaluation of the device. We anticipate app compatibility will continue as will the ability to access one’s song library using the BMW controls and screen. The specific feature, Plug-in, which works through BMW Apps to replicate the look of the iPhone interface, will not be available at launch. The full scope of compatibility between the iPhone 5 and BMW Group vehicles will be known once the validation process is completed, and we appreciate your patience as we work through the process.

All Bluetooth® Wireless Technology information for your vehicle is available at your fingertips at www.bmwusa.com, under the “Owners” section, “Bluetooth® Technology.” Please review the list of compatible phones and approved software versions, which have been tested for each BMW model. If your phone is not listed on our website, we cannot guarantee functionality with our Bluetooth® system.

Since our website is frequently updated, please visit www.bmwusa.com to access the most current information.

The BMW Customer Relations and Services Department is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time. You can reach us at 1-800-831-1117.

Sincerely,

Melissa Knueven

Customer Relations and Services

Representative

I recently updated to an iPhone 5S from an iPhone 4 and have become aware of the problem as described by lawdad63 in his post of 16/1. From pairing my iPhone 4 with my 2013 X5 when I picked it up from the dealer I never had a problem, but my new 5S takes about 3 minutes "transferring information..." every time I start the car; during this time any call made or taken seems to be at risk of having the bluetooth connection drop. Today I visited the BMW dealer who suggested I download and install the latest software from the BMW website - I have done this but it has made no difference. The dealer seemed to have no awareness of this problem - surprising given the content of this forum. I guess I'll try switching off Sync Contacts in the interim.