iPhone cradle - advice please
Discussion
Have you used the iDrive menu to switch Bluetooth music on? It could be set to just use bluetooth for telephone use.
I have an F10 with everything you need to make the full mecia cradle work but after a week using one i returned it.
1). The cradle makes your iphone really really really hot.
2). I have a rubber bumper case and taking it on and off was too much of a faff.
3). Telephone reception strength was not improved and was actually worse in some locations.
4). Using the idrive knob to navigate your podcasts/music library is less intuitive than just usung the touchscreen on the device.
5). The cradle system means he device doesn't pick up where you left off so midway through a podcast you end your journey and when you get back in and reconnect you have to scrub to the middle of said podcast again. If you can remember which podcast it was.
6). If you get a text message you need to take the phono out of the cradle to read and respond.
7). Its a pain to just check something like a shareprice app when the phone is under your left elbow in a cradle.
8). I tended to forget the phone and leave it in the car arm rest!
So in the end i just use Bluetooth audio and it works a charm. Cradle was a waste of time and money. Don't bother.
I have an F10 with everything you need to make the full mecia cradle work but after a week using one i returned it.
1). The cradle makes your iphone really really really hot.
2). I have a rubber bumper case and taking it on and off was too much of a faff.
3). Telephone reception strength was not improved and was actually worse in some locations.
4). Using the idrive knob to navigate your podcasts/music library is less intuitive than just usung the touchscreen on the device.
5). The cradle system means he device doesn't pick up where you left off so midway through a podcast you end your journey and when you get back in and reconnect you have to scrub to the middle of said podcast again. If you can remember which podcast it was.
6). If you get a text message you need to take the phono out of the cradle to read and respond.
7). Its a pain to just check something like a shareprice app when the phone is under your left elbow in a cradle.
8). I tended to forget the phone and leave it in the car arm rest!
So in the end i just use Bluetooth audio and it works a charm. Cradle was a waste of time and money. Don't bother.
converted lurker said:
Have you used the iDrive menu to switch Bluetooth music on? It could be set to just use bluetooth for telephone use.
I have an F10 with everything you need to make the full mecia cradle work but after a week using one i returned it.
1). The cradle makes your iphone really really really hot.
2). I have a rubber bumper case and taking it on and off was too much of a faff.
3). Telephone reception strength was not improved and was actually worse in some locations.
4). Using the idrive knob to navigate your podcasts/music library is less intuitive than just usung the touchscreen on the device.
5). The cradle system means he device doesn't pick up where you left off so midway through a podcast you end your journey and when you get back in and reconnect you have to scrub to the middle of said podcast again. If you can remember which podcast it was.
6). If you get a text message you need to take the phono out of the cradle to read and respond.
7). Its a pain to just check something like a shareprice app when the phone is under your left elbow in a cradle.
8). I tended to forget the phone and leave it in the car arm rest!
So in the end i just use Bluetooth audio and it works a charm. Cradle was a waste of time and money. Don't bother.
I didn't even know that was an option but as I've said, it really doesn't bother me. Nevertheless, I'll check all the same. As for the rest, well yes, the iDrive isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot safer than trying to do all those things you suggest whilst driving (not suggesting that's what you do but I'm sure you know what I mean).I have an F10 with everything you need to make the full mecia cradle work but after a week using one i returned it.
1). The cradle makes your iphone really really really hot.
2). I have a rubber bumper case and taking it on and off was too much of a faff.
3). Telephone reception strength was not improved and was actually worse in some locations.
4). Using the idrive knob to navigate your podcasts/music library is less intuitive than just usung the touchscreen on the device.
5). The cradle system means he device doesn't pick up where you left off so midway through a podcast you end your journey and when you get back in and reconnect you have to scrub to the middle of said podcast again. If you can remember which podcast it was.
6). If you get a text message you need to take the phono out of the cradle to read and respond.
7). Its a pain to just check something like a shareprice app when the phone is under your left elbow in a cradle.
8). I tended to forget the phone and leave it in the car arm rest!
So in the end i just use Bluetooth audio and it works a charm. Cradle was a waste of time and money. Don't bother.
Retrofit?
As the cradle is over £150 anyway you're part way there.
Trust me, if I can fly an aeroplane through a thunderstorm whilst talking to ATC and pushing buttons I think I can tap my share price app whilst cruising down the M1. I can also read a text message and glance at Google Maps live traffic data which is a lot better than the BMW data.
I think BMW have made a complicated hash out of their bluetooth connectivity and smartphone interactivity in general. Not enough staff training, not enough customer clarity not enough info in general. They were too busy gaming the fuel consumption tests I guess.
As the cradle is over £150 anyway you're part way there.
Trust me, if I can fly an aeroplane through a thunderstorm whilst talking to ATC and pushing buttons I think I can tap my share price app whilst cruising down the M1. I can also read a text message and glance at Google Maps live traffic data which is a lot better than the BMW data.
I think BMW have made a complicated hash out of their bluetooth connectivity and smartphone interactivity in general. Not enough staff training, not enough customer clarity not enough info in general. They were too busy gaming the fuel consumption tests I guess.
converted lurker said:
Trust me, if I can fly an aeroplane through a thunderstorm whilst talking to ATC and pushing buttons I think I can tap my share price app whilst cruising down the M1. I can also read a text message and glance at Google Maps live traffic data which is a lot better than the BMW data.
Can I watch if you ever say that to a copper who's just pulled you for doing so?Jon1967x said:
converted lurker said:
Trust me, if I can fly an aeroplane through a thunderstorm whilst talking to ATC and pushing buttons I think I can tap my share price app whilst cruising down the M1. I can also read a text message and glance at Google Maps live traffic data which is a lot better than the BMW data.
Can I watch if you ever say that to a copper who's just pulled you for doing so?Do you ever adjust the temperature in your car? Activate the headlights? Interrogate the navigation equipment?
Is any of that an offense? No. Nor is updating your shareprice App or refreshing your Google maps traffic data on a smartphone sat facing you in the cupholder. It's just another control screen amongst three or four others in the car. In 140,000 miles of driving with an iPhone on British roads I've yet to be pulled for it.
My point was the cradle is a pain in the ass that reduces the functionality of the smartphone.
Bluetooth streaming every time.
Is any of that an offense? No. Nor is updating your shareprice App or refreshing your Google maps traffic data on a smartphone sat facing you in the cupholder. It's just another control screen amongst three or four others in the car. In 140,000 miles of driving with an iPhone on British roads I've yet to be pulled for it.
My point was the cradle is a pain in the ass that reduces the functionality of the smartphone.
Bluetooth streaming every time.
converted lurker said:
Do you ever adjust the temperature in your car? Activate the headlights? Interrogate the navigation equipment?
Is any of that an offense? No. Nor is updating your shareprice App or refreshing your Google maps traffic data on a smartphone sat facing you in the cupholder. It's just another control screen amongst three or four others in the car. In 140,000 miles of driving with an iPhone on British roads I've yet to be pulled for it.
My point was the cradle is a pain in the ass that reduces the functionality of the smartphone.
Bluetooth streaming every time.
No it doesn't. I have all the functionality I need.Is any of that an offense? No. Nor is updating your shareprice App or refreshing your Google maps traffic data on a smartphone sat facing you in the cupholder. It's just another control screen amongst three or four others in the car. In 140,000 miles of driving with an iPhone on British roads I've yet to be pulled for it.
My point was the cradle is a pain in the ass that reduces the functionality of the smartphone.
Bluetooth streaming every time.
mudy said:
Hi - does anyone know what they do exactly? I've just bought an x5 and want to be able to fit mine or my wife's iPhone 5s into the cradle - I'm happy to buy one but aside from charging what does one do please?
If you're going to stick with the same phone for a while, the cradle can make sense. Also if you have reception issues (and your car has an external Antenna which the cradle connects to) I can somewhat understand it may be a necessity.But in general they are expensive, often arrive late in the day and a USB cable or Bluetooth can do most (if not all) things without having to get a cradle and then change it every time you change your phone. I just connect my phone via Bluetooth, or if it needs a charge via USB (turn it upside down in its sleeve to access the port on the phone and have bag in the armrest to slip it into so it doesn't rattle around). Job done for me and when I switch to the iPhone 6 I won't have a useless cradle and long wait for BMW to pull their finger out and release a new cradle :/
5to1 said:
If you're going to stick with the same phone for a while, the cradle can make sense. Also if you have reception issues (and your car has an external Antenna which the cradle connects to) I can somewhat understand it may be a necessity.
But in general they are expensive, often arrive late in the day and a USB cable or Bluetooth can do most (if not all) things without having to get a cradle and then change it every time you change your phone. I just connect my phone via Bluetooth, or if it needs a charge via USB (turn it upside down in its sleeve to access the port on the phone and have bag in the armrest to slip it into so it doesn't rattle around). Job done for me and when I switch to the iPhone 6 I won't have a useless cradle and long wait for BMW to pull their finger out and release a new cradle :/
His option for Bluetooth streaming may be stuffed as it's a Jan 2010 car and it wasn't around then, his only options are cable/cradle really. You're right though, the cradles aren't cheap and if you're one of these people who changes phones regularly then it could work out very expensive.But in general they are expensive, often arrive late in the day and a USB cable or Bluetooth can do most (if not all) things without having to get a cradle and then change it every time you change your phone. I just connect my phone via Bluetooth, or if it needs a charge via USB (turn it upside down in its sleeve to access the port on the phone and have bag in the armrest to slip it into so it doesn't rattle around). Job done for me and when I switch to the iPhone 6 I won't have a useless cradle and long wait for BMW to pull their finger out and release a new cradle :/
Osinjak said:
His option for Bluetooth streaming may be stuffed as it's a Jan 2010 car and it wasn't around then, his only options are cable/cradle really. You're right though, the cradles aren't cheap and if you're one of these people who changes phones regularly then it could work out very expensive.
Oh I missed that, I'd still go with a cable, the 6 is almost upon us and one never knows when they'll be tempted to swap 
Alternatively hold out for a couple of months, there may be some 5s cradles popping up on ebay in Sept/October I just sent this to my dealership. Bear in mind my car was bought new in May this year:-
Dear Service Manager
I bought my F30 335d XDrive new in May this year. Among the options I took the Enhanced Bluetooth telephone with USB & Voice. I also bought a snap in adapter for my Iphone 5 – part number 84 21 2 289 717 .
I took the car back to the dealership a few weeks after purchase as the Bluetooth was not working properly and having spoken with BMW customer services I understood that it needed a software update. Your dealership checked and assured me that the current version (mn-2.38.15, tn-2.38.15) is the very latest available from BMW.
The problems are as follows:-
Phone in Cradle -> incoming call connected to car thru Bluetooth-> Accept call -> unable to hear caller and they cannot hear me (in fact I can just about hear as the voice comes from the phone not the car speakers). This does not happen on outgoing calls, they work ok.
Phone in Cradle-> media-> Bluetooth icon says not connected-> no device connected for Bluetooth media.
Phone out of Cradle->disconnect then re connect Bluetooth-> everything works ok. I can then replace the phone in the cradle and everything works fine until I next stop the car and need to do it all over again to get everything working.
I would add that my wife and I both have Iphone 5’s and the problems are the same with both handsets.
Presumably there is a fix for this or could the adaptor be faulty?
Dear Service Manager
I bought my F30 335d XDrive new in May this year. Among the options I took the Enhanced Bluetooth telephone with USB & Voice. I also bought a snap in adapter for my Iphone 5 – part number 84 21 2 289 717 .
I took the car back to the dealership a few weeks after purchase as the Bluetooth was not working properly and having spoken with BMW customer services I understood that it needed a software update. Your dealership checked and assured me that the current version (mn-2.38.15, tn-2.38.15) is the very latest available from BMW.
The problems are as follows:-
Phone in Cradle -> incoming call connected to car thru Bluetooth-> Accept call -> unable to hear caller and they cannot hear me (in fact I can just about hear as the voice comes from the phone not the car speakers). This does not happen on outgoing calls, they work ok.
Phone in Cradle-> media-> Bluetooth icon says not connected-> no device connected for Bluetooth media.
Phone out of Cradle->disconnect then re connect Bluetooth-> everything works ok. I can then replace the phone in the cradle and everything works fine until I next stop the car and need to do it all over again to get everything working.
I would add that my wife and I both have Iphone 5’s and the problems are the same with both handsets.
Presumably there is a fix for this or could the adaptor be faulty?
I think I have made some progress.
If I put the phone into the cradle as soon as I get in the car the Bluetooth does not seem to connect properly so no music streaming and incoming calls not coming thru the car speakers.
If I let the bluetooth connect before putting it into the cradle all works well and I can then add it to the cradle to keep the phone charged and improve reception.
So should I live with it like that or take it into BMW as arranged on Monday?
As it is a brand new car with enhanced bluetooth I really think Bee Em should do better.
If I put the phone into the cradle as soon as I get in the car the Bluetooth does not seem to connect properly so no music streaming and incoming calls not coming thru the car speakers.
If I let the bluetooth connect before putting it into the cradle all works well and I can then add it to the cradle to keep the phone charged and improve reception.
So should I live with it like that or take it into BMW as arranged on Monday?
As it is a brand new car with enhanced bluetooth I really think Bee Em should do better.
hi - mine as stated above is an Oct 09 build registered in jan 10 so no enhanced bluetooth. The cradle was 'only' £88 but it charges - bluetooth handles the phone calls handsfree and transfers contacts - it's not perfect but I'm pretty happy plus the x5 is an amazing car all round.
I'm due an phone upgrade in april next year so a little while to go yet -
I'm due an phone upgrade in april next year so a little while to go yet -
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff