Q: iOS 8 and BMW iDrive connectivity issues

TRY CAR PLAY ! turn it on if its off. from the restrictions in general of your setting.

if it not works , reset your network setting from general ~> reset

What BMWs currently have Apple's Carplay?

No BMW has CarPlay he is putting people on and being a bit of a wank.

With BT you have lower sound quality and lose access to all app functionality while driving such as Pandora. Also, you aren't charging the battery while driving which is a problem for those of us with long commutes.

I keep my iP6 battery charged while doing a commute on a full-day of driving with the EL smart-cord that has USB port for my iP.

BMW 320i, iPhone 5s, ios8.xx (always using latest official version). Same problem again and again. It worked fine several weeks and today again broke down!. Trying to play music via USB,  music is selected but it does not play, I have to press play in the iphone. For some reason what works for several weeks is this: in iphone reset network settings. I know this is nothing related to the "network" (nor bluetooth, nor wifi, no 3g, etc.) but it DOES work for several weeks but I avoid using the steering wheel control (so far I think it has something to do with the problem). I only use the iDrive control in the armrest area and if I stick to it, it works perfectly fine. There is some action that breaks it, my candidates are: "activating the random selection" (or what ever is called) in the car menu or selecting songs via the steering wheel control, also today I found an old post about having both iphone and car shuffle mode active at the same time. Unbelievable that nobody at apple uses BMWs connected via usb... Don't they use their products in bmws?????. USB lets me charge the phone, listen to higher quality music (compared to BT), have a nice display with album art in the car screen, see the name of the upcoming songs, playlists, etc. My 15k use suzuki swift has usb and my iphone works perfect every time!!!!.

And the last time I saw my BMW dealership (end of Nov/2014), they stated that the current firmware was from approx May 2013 with no timelines for updating. Unacceptable!

From my experience using iPhone 5C on iOS7 , iPhone 6 Plus iOS8 in either a 2012 X3 (with added USB functionality) or a 2012 320d (with BMW iphone 5 cable), I get constant issues with the iOS8 device in either car.  I have visibility of songs and playlists etc and like you music will not play or change tracks unless the phone is pressed or asking Siri (nicely) to play music.  On iOS7 I get no such issues. A hard reset sometimes fixes the issue but resorting to the radio is the only way to constantly play music!  For Apple to hold music at the centre of its operating system and culture I find it strange that these threads continue for so long without official comment.  I am also surprised that for people willing to upgrade their devices we seem to be disadvantaged vs. laggards that stay old technology.   For what it's worth I have also had problems in a Volvo XC70 hirecar using a new iPhone 5 3 months after release , resorting to a 5 year old iPod touch.  In summary I believe the issue is iOS related and look forward to another update of iOS shortly.  Keep driving your ride , don't trade yet!

I have the same issue, USB connected iPhone with IOS8 and unable to select songs via iDrive or navigate via the steering wheel controls.  Reboot the phone and it works for a while, then reoccurs.

BMW 320d MY11.

I'm blaming Apple.

I also have a similar issue.  Have a 2013 BMW X1 with latest iDrive software and iPhone 6 with iOS 8.1.3.  I plug my iPhone into the car's USB with a lightning cable.  Problem seems to start after a handsfree call via Bluetooth.  Then I can't play music from the phone and car controls don't do anything.  Only fix is to reboot the phone.  Works again until another Bluetooth call.  Never had this issue on my old iPhone 4s running iOS 7.  So I have to believe Apple changed something with iOS 8 which is causing the problem.

I have started having a similar problem with the BT connect since the latest iOS update.

Have an iPhone 6+ with iOS 8.1.3 and a late 2014 X5 50i. BT works fine EXCEPT I have lost the ability to select songs using the steering wheel scroll and HUD screen on the car. It shows the songs and I can physically select one on the screen (with a happy little tick) but the song does not change on the iPhone. This was working fine on iOS 8.1.2 and the car has not had a software change or any alterations. Has anyone else had this issue?

Cheers HyperDoc

Yes this is exactly what I have happening HyperbaricDoc with the inability to select and play songs via iDrive, you can see them and click ie put the tick next to a song but it will not play (phone connected via USB).

jbc77 says the issue happens after a phone call via bluetooth.  I need to do more testing to confirm this with my car and will report back to share with all.

I also agree that it broke with IOS8.

Hi kent_p,

Strangely the issue wasn't there with iOS 8.1.2 just the latest update has borked the function. I connect with BT and not USB (but will try that). Have done the usual phone off then on, re-paired phone with car etc etc and nothing seems to fix it. Car is only 3 m old so has latest firmware and has only buggered up since iOS 8.1.3 so it is definitely an Apple issue with the car not a car issue per se.

Its a bugger!

Cheers HyperDoc

Hi HyerDoc,

Ok these are exactly the same symptoms I have, however my MY11 320d does not support audio over bluetooth.  I have this issue via the USB Y connector.

I also did have the issue in 10.1.2. Updated recently to 10.1.3 in hope if fixing it with no joy.

Sounds like there is something common here.  ie the way IOS is interpreting the commands from the car (via USB or bluetooth) has changed in recent updates.

jbc77

Are you playing audio via USB or bluetooth?

Regards,

Kent_p

II'm playing audio over USB.