"Pairing Unsuccessful" iDrive

[river_rat]

My new iphone (latest SE) will not connect via bluetooth to my 640d. I can "see" the car on my iphone, but when I click to link it, it tries for a while (and the iDrive screen changes for me to input the code) but nothing happens on the phone and eventually I get the pairing unsuccessful message.

I've deleted all old phones from the iDrive, switched bluetooth on/off etc but it just won't connect. My old iphone did connect without any issues.

I can see others have similar problems from a Google search, but can't find any solution!

Any ideas?

[nordboy]

I'm not very techie, but is there the option to connect the iphone from the cars idrive? rather than try connecting the car from the phone? If that makes sense?

[BFleming]

Software update required? https://discover.bmw.co.uk/technology/software-upd...

[river_rat]

nordboy said:

I'm not very techie, but is there the option to connect the iphone from the cars idrive? rather than try connecting the car from the phone? If that makes sense?

Yes, but that is what I am doing - I click add device on the iDrive, it then shows up on my phone as BMW xxx and I click on it - then nothing!

[river_rat]

BFleming said:

Software update required? https://discover.bmw.co.uk/technology/software-upd...

Thanks - checked that and all up to date.

[Collectingbrass]

How old is the car and have you connected others phones to it (if so which phones?)

[river_rat]

Collectingbrass said:

How old is the car and have you connected others phones to it (if so which phones?)

Car is a 2012 - my old iPhone 7 connected to it no problem. Just the new Iphone SE that won't connect, even though it can 'see' the car?

[Bertrum]

I had this problem on my 2012 5 series.

To fix do as you have done, but when the thing pops up to put the code from the phone into the car, put any code you like into the car and that will then appear on the phone,

Basically it’s backwards, no idea why but it works.

[river_rat]

Bertrum said:

I had this problem on my 2012 5 series.

To fix do as you have done, but when the thing pops up to put the code from the phone into the car, put any code you like into the car and that will then appear on the phone,

Basically it’s backwards, no idea why but it works.

That worked! Thanks very much Bertrum