E46 Bluetooth not working with iPhone 5?

[P Ride]

Hey, I have an E46 330CI M Sport, which has the standard BMW Business CD unit with bluetooth - I've also added an auxiliary lead to the rear, which I drilled into the ashtray area. Works great.

I've paired my Bluetooth unit with my iPhone 5. The iPhone can see the BMW unit and the BMW can scroll through my phone book, but when I take a call, it doesn't work through the BMW. No sound at all.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[dtmpower]

I have the factory bluetooth in an e46 and my generic Android phone doesn't work nor does a Samsung Note.

[jayemm89]

I had similar problems - could only ever get my Android and Windows phone to work intermittently.

Some days would work perfect, but most it wouldn't at all.

[a1burns]

I spoke to my dealer about a similar issue with my newish android phone after a system update. He said my phone is too new and I would need to use an older phone. Was the only bad experience I have had with my BMW dealer but he was quite rude and didn't seem to care/get what I was saying.

[jagdeepbmw]

I too have the same problem in my 2003 E39 with my Samsung S4. Called BMW and they advised that the newer phones have the updated latest version of bluetooth which the older cars are not compatable with. You either need to use an old phone or buy a new car!!!! Or, you can change the ULF module in the car to a later version which should work but they aren't cheap. I only use my car at weekends so im not too bothered... however, it did bug me at first!

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

Technology moves in a forward direction and all the latest mobile phones have the latest versions of Bluetooth and other software related aspects. The Bluetooth module in BMW's from over a decade ago are old and compatibility with newer handsets is getting lower as time moves on. Many owners 'think' as it's bluetooth, it must work with old modules and get upset when they're told/find out it's not!

BMW released various upgraded modules over a few years that are compatible with the OEM audio setups in E39's, E46's E53's (and perhaps others) so there was the 1st generation up to the last compatible one which is the 13th generation. I think this spanned 4+ years from perhaps 2003-2007 or so. Phones from that Era are most likely going to work fully and with more of those 13 module upgrades. So one way is indeed to use a handset from that time.

Currently, the iphone has the best 'chance' of working with the one of the older BT modules. Nokia's seem to be the least compatible. Android is very new and it's hit or miss if it'll work or not, most likely that it won't. Also, it's further compounded by the fact some people with a current or recent mobile phone report theirs works and others with the same phone find it doesn't. It's then a question of finding out which generation BT module the working phone uses and then the owner finding one and trying it out with theirs.

The iPhone 6 isn't too far away now, perhaps once that's out, it might not work with any of the older BT modules..

So, it's either use a phone from the era that all works, use an iphone for the best chances of a current handset working with whichever BT module is in your car, swapping and trying out BT modules and various current handsets till you find a combo that works.

A very easy alternative is to use a bluetooth sun visor system that has voice control, the ability to read out messages, can connect to two mobile phones, compatible with modern handsets for perhaps £30-45.

Cheers, Dennis!

[dtmpower]

Now I've been looking around, would this work ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-GENUINE-ULF-BLUETOOT...