Bimmerlink, bluetooth, boost gauges, bluetooth audio questions

Joebie · 10-10-2022, 03:44 PM

I'm interested in using my phone with a bluetooth OBD dongle and bimmerlink to display boost and other important metrics on my ANDROID phone. I say android in caps because i know the iphone is popular with the BMW crowd in general, but im looking for advice particular to android.

Before I buy a bluetooth OBD, I was curious can I do that and play audio over bluetooth at the same time? Or is it one or the other? I always use bluetooth audio so i dont want to spend money on an OBD dongle only to find that i cant use both at once.

For those who have used bimmerlink, what the data refresh rate like? Is it super laggy or shown pretty well in real time like the hp/torque idrive readout? Somewhere in between maybe?

Bonus question: Is it possible by any means to get boost or other info shown on the idrive screen? I really dont care about how much hp and torque my car is making. I care about important things like boost, coolant and oil temp, afr. I dont think ive seen anyone do this, if it was possible i can only assume that everyone would have it.

thanks for any help

ZPrime · 10-15-2022, 10:26 PM

There are OBD2 dongles that use Wifi, so that might be an option if you're concerned about losing BT audio.

I believe that an app should be able to talk to an OBD2 dongle via BT while the phone also does BT to the radio... but I don't know that 100%. I can tell you that my iphone will use BT (technically, BT Low-Energy) to talk to my radar detector (V1) while also playing music over BT if I want it to. (Although most of the time now I'm using Carplay, which is actually wifi.)

Another option for boost & other info is a P3Gauge in your driver's side vent...

rllamarca · 11-01-2022, 09:06 AM

Most Android phones can connect to two or more BT devices at once, so you shouldn't have an issue. After connecting, go into the Bluetooth menu and you'll see how the phone is using each device. It should say something about "connected for calls", "connected for audio", or in the case of the OBD dongle it may not show either of those.

Apps like Torque should be able to display this info as well. IIRC you can set up whatever info you want on the "dashboard".

10-10-2022, 03:44 PM	#1
Joebie Grandmaster 768 Rep 798 Posts Drives: 2018 ///M2 6MT Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (0)	Bimmerlink, bluetooth, boost gauges, bluetooth audio questions I'm interested in using my phone with a bluetooth OBD dongle and bimmerlink to display boost and other important metrics on my ANDROID phone. I say android in caps because i know the iphone is popular with the BMW crowd in general, but im looking for advice particular to android. Before I buy a bluetooth OBD, I was curious can I do that and play audio over bluetooth at the same time? Or is it one or the other? I always use bluetooth audio so i dont want to spend money on an OBD dongle only to find that i cant use both at once. For those who have used bimmerlink, what the data refresh rate like? Is it super laggy or shown pretty well in real time like the hp/torque idrive readout? Somewhere in between maybe? Bonus question: Is it possible by any means to get boost or other info shown on the idrive screen? I really dont care about how much hp and torque my car is making. I care about important things like boost, coolant and oil temp, afr. I dont think ive seen anyone do this, if it was possible i can only assume that everyone would have it. thanks for any help __________________ Daily - 2018 Alpinweiß ///M2 6MT Exec Rain/Snow/Winter - 2011 328i 6MT Sedan - Black on Black, Sport Package Sold, But Not Forgotten - 2009 135i 6MT - Black on Black, M-sport, JB4 Last edited by Joebie; 10-10-2022 at 03:56 PM..
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10-15-2022, 10:26 PM	#2
ZPrime I INDIC8 612 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: 2018 LBB M2, 6MT Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [9.50]	There are OBD2 dongles that use Wifi, so that might be an option if you're concerned about losing BT audio. I believe that an app should be able to talk to an OBD2 dongle via BT while the phone also does BT to the radio... but I don't know that 100%. I can tell you that my iphone will use BT (technically, BT Low-Energy) to talk to my radar detector (V1) while also playing music over BT if I want it to. (Although most of the time now I'm using Carplay, which is actually wifi.) Another option for boost & other info is a P3Gauge in your driver's side vent... __________________ 2004 Matrix XRS 6MT => 2008 VW R32 DSG => 2012 Audi TTRS 6MT => 2018 BMW ///M2 6MT I'm an IT guy by trade and tech nerd by choice. I like HPDEs, parts of US Hwy 129, NC 28, and the Cherohala Skyway. I'm also a fan of aural pleasure.
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11-01-2022, 09:06 AM	#3
rllamarca Enlisted Member 20 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 2020 M2 Competition Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 M2 Competition [9.50]	Most Android phones can connect to two or more BT devices at once, so you shouldn't have an issue. After connecting, go into the Bluetooth menu and you'll see how the phone is using each device. It should say something about "connected for calls", "connected for audio", or in the case of the OBD dongle it may not show either of those. Apps like Torque should be able to display this info as well. IIRC you can set up whatever info you want on the "dashboard".
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