[No1Cares]

I opted out of car play for these confusing/finicky reasons. I plug in my phone via usb and forget about it while I drive.

[sinbad4]

Originally Posted by jonahk

This is my first car (and my first weekend with my M2) that has CarPlay. I noticed that I can't choose a USB audio source when my phone is paired with CarPlay. Kind of a bummer as I haven't been a fan of Bluetooth audio compared to USB.

Did BMW improve Bluetooth in these 2018 LCIs where I'm just being overly anal about it, or have those of you with CarPlay ditched that format and just gone back to the "classic" USB input for higher quality?

I am not sure that wireless CarPlay does uses Bluetooth A2DP for audio, I believe Wireless CarPlay uses both Bluetooth and WiFi - BT for the connection and quick commands, WiFi for heavy data transfer. That said, I don't know by what mechanism the audio streaming is handed.

IMHO Bluetooth A2DP sucks big time (aptX, newer standard, allows uncompressed audio, but I do not think Apple supports at this time). I am curious if you notice a difference between CarPlay streaming and USB Audio streaming.

-FirstTech NMD

[M4SW]

Hi guys. I'm UK based so not sure if anybody can help on this US forum. Any help or advice much appreciated.

So having collected my new M2 I went online to the ConnectedDrive store to see what other Apps and services I could add to my car. I decided to order the Apple CarPlay Preparation for £235.00.

However, when I registered and added my car to my ConnectedDrive user area by entering the chassis number it tells me Apple CarPlay is not available for my vehicle. I thought this was odd as I've seen M2's with CarPlay, also a couple of dealers I spoke with before buying the car said it can be added via the ConnectedDrive store. That made sense too as the wording and price on the ConnectedDrive store is the same as the new car configurator wording and price.

I called BMW Customer Services and spoke with a few people and one guy in ConnectedDrive support told me that when the car was specced by the dealer they needed to add 'Enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging' in order for the Apple Carplay to work.

I'm not sure this can be right because if you spec a car on the BMW UK website configurator when you select 'Apple CarPlay preparation' in the optional equipment section it makes no mention anywhere that you need to also select the 'Enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging' at an extra £395 too in order for CarPlay to work. You can even buy the car online once you have chosen your final spec and again at no point does it state you need to also select 'Enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging' before ordering if you want CarPlay.

This doesn't make any sense to me. BMW have been no use so far and can't answer the question!

Can anybody help who has got Apple CarPlay in their M2? Did you need to spec 'Enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging' for it to work. Or has anybody added Apple CarPlay to their car through the ConnectedDrive store after they bought the car.

Any advice or help much appreciated.

Thanks.

[DanG]

In the US, the enhanced Bluetooth and wireless charging are in the Executive package which almost everyone gets. So it is hard for us to answer your question.

Sorry.

I got Apple CarPlay factory installed.

[omasou]

Read the links I provided the OP in this thread...

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...rplay+requires

[M4SW]

Thanks, guys. Not sure if this applies to European spec cars may be slightly different but I'll certainly discuss it with my dealer and see if we can get to the bottom it. Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

[omasou]

Post #5, it explains why you need WiFi and BTLE (which now make me wonder if cars w/o "enhanced BT" do not have BT 4.0?)...

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...hlight=carplay

[joec1101]

I like the CarPlay interface, albeit very slow scrolling compared to idrive, but Bluetooth just seems so damn buggy - songs sometimes keep restarting after 3 or 4 seconds of playing, rarely picks up where you left off last when you shut down the vehicle and then reconnect later on, etc etc

I for one would love to see CarPlay be able to use USB so I can ditch BT altogether.

Even iDrive BT is buggy as well...

Never cared for BT, but unfortunately I think we’re stuck with it for a long time to come... ��

[omasou]

See Post #5, CarPlay plays over WiFi not BT, which is much better than BT.

To use BT you need to switch to BMW Connect, which will not sound better.

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1346531

[M4SW]

Thanks for the info above.

I find it strange. I had CarPlay in my Golf R and Audi S3 before the M2. Both of those cars used the data from my phone (the 4G data connection) and connected to the car using a usb lead. Neither car needed to use in car WiFi or Bluetooth for CarPlay to work. As far as I was made aware the only thing you need to spec on the M2 to use CarPlay was Pro Nav, which I have as it is standard on the car. There's also no mention on the BMW website stating CarPlay must be specified in conjunction with in car WiFi.

[nomade30]

BMW’s CarPlay wireless connection requires in car WiFi and Bluetooth. Bluetooth is used for initial connection and then WiFi handles the heavy bandwidth. I know some people are using iPods with the usb connection, weird that they won’t allow that. Might need to code your car to have those extra non existing options to get it to work via usb.

[GregoryK]

160 pound or 120 if you do it yourself.

Sometimes it is just worth paying...

https://************************/colle...ctivation-pack

[joec1101]

Good info...thanks...

But no USB CarPlay in BMW cars, is that correct? That’s what I seem to find when I search for info. Apparently, CarPlay supports USB in other vehicles, but BMW chose WiFi, so no USB in our cars for CarPlay....

[M4SW]

Originally Posted by GregoryK

160 pound or 120 if you do it yourself.

Sometimes it is just worth paying...

https://************************/colle...ctivation-pack

You Sir are a legend. Great find, thank you.

Really helpful guy. I messaged him yesterday and got an answer within the hour. Discussed the process over WhatsApp and decided to proceed. He sent me the file within minutes after I paid. Followed the simple installation process which took about 10-15 minutes and now it's all up and running.

Incidentally, I don't have 'Enhanced Bluetooth' or 'Wireless Charging' either and it works perfectly.

[GregoryK]

Originally Posted by M4SW

You Sir are a legend. Great find, thank you.

Really helpful guy. I messaged him yesterday and got an answer within the hour. Discussed the process over WhatsApp and decided to proceed. He sent me the file within minutes after I paid. Followed the simple installation process which took about 10-15 minutes and now it's all up and running.

Incidentally, I don't have 'Enhanced Bluetooth' or 'Wireless Charging' either and it works perfectly.

Glad it worked out for you.

[DanG]

I am using an iPod over USB with no troubles.

[silverado]

In yesterday's WWDC keynote Apple announced that third party navigation apps will be supported in CarPlay with iOS 12. Finally!!

You can see it at 43:24 in the keynote video:

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2018/

Edit: Added a screenshot of Waze running in CarPlay.

[Saphirschwarz]

great news !

[alscks0414]

Hell yeah thats what I am talking about!
Waze!!!!!!! Finally my mommy for the option pays out.

BTW when does iOS 12 release? Sept?

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Finally I can Appreciate Bimmerpost posts from my car

[silverado]

Originally Posted by alscks0414

Hell yeah thats what I am talking about!
Waze!!!!!!! Finally my mommy for the option pays out.

BTW when does iOS 12 release? Sept?

Yes, usually September. However, not all features come out in the first release (i.e., 12.0). While I hope it does, it could also be in a later point release (i.e., some 12.x after 12.0).

[McPurrs]

Originally Posted by alscks0414

Hell yeah thats what I am talking about!
Waze!!!!!!! Finally my mommy for the option pays out.

BTW when does iOS 12 release? Sept?

Yes, September likely. I put iOS 12 on my iPad Air 1 last night and it is much faster than before. Impressed so far.