2006 5-series and IPhone

[Simon813]

Hi,

Tonight I became the proud owner of a 2006 520d M-Sport Auto Touring. It currently has phone prep which appears to consist of a cradle, microphone and button on the steering wheel. The cradle looks like it is for an old Nokia (long and slim). Any idea's on the easiest way to connect my IPhone 3GS? Is it a case of buying a new cradle or could the car have bluetooth aswell?

Also, while I'm asking daft questions, will I be able to connect an Ipod / IPhone (to play music) through the aux input on the rear of the centre console (near rear passengers air vents)?

Thanks in advance.

Simon

[phumy]

If you have iDrive then yes you can connect the phone by blue-tooth, however you will need the cradle to charge the phone, unless your happy using the cig lighter to charge. You can also use the aux point to listen to ipod music, once again accessible through the iDrive, for this you will need a male/male 3.5mm cable.

[turboman786]

How much is a cradle for an iPhone 4?are they plug and play?

[LooneyTunes]

You're talking about the cradle hidden inside the armrest, right? Not one bolted to the dash.

If it's the former, IIRC the adapters tend to be around the £50-60 mark. Basically the old one snaps out, new one in.

[Gunk]

I have had BMW Bluetooth a few years now and have used the snap in adaptors, however IMO they are very expensive and in the real world you don't end up using them that much.

With my latest BB Bold I use a normal car charger plugged into the socket under the arm rest and a blanking panel where the adaptor usually goes.

[GR4]

Look on EBay for phone adapters. People change phones or take them out of cars when they sell, so there is quite an active secondhand market. Can't remember if anyone answered your ipod question. If not, yes you can run it through aux socket but can only control volume with car controls. It you want to control your ipod fully through idrive and see track listings on the screen etc you need a proper ipod interface, which replaces the cd autochanger in the glovebox. I had the interface in my first E61, but not in my current one and have got used to selecting music with the ipod itself.

[LooneyTunes]

Gunk said:

I have had BMW Bluetooth a few years now and have used the snap in adaptors, however IMO they are very expensive and in the real world you don't end up using them that much.

I'd disagree... use mine all the time.

Keeps it charged, stops the phone flying around the car and results in less of a theft liability than leaving the phone on display if I forget to take it with me.

[Gunk]

LooneyTunes said:

Gunk said:

I have had BMW Bluetooth a few years now and have used the snap in adaptors, however IMO they are very expensive and in the real world you don't end up using them that much.

I'd disagree... use mine all the time.

Keeps it charged, stops the phone flying around the car and results in less of a theft liability than leaving the phone on display if I forget to take it with me.

I only do short journeys with my business so my phone is usually in my pocket, I have a charging dock in the office so I didn't use to use the BMW cradle that often, I can see the benefit but only if you spend a long time in the car. So this time I have not bothered with it and I certainly don't miss it.