Choose your BMW from the Bluetooth menu on your iPhone. Your iDrive 7 screen will validate the pairing request as the two start to pair. Verify the PIN is the same on your iPhone and iDrive 7 screens, then select Yes. On your iDrive 7 screen, click the Connect to Apple CarPlay option.
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SERPRESULT
Ensure that your iPhone has Bluetooth, WiFi, and Siri turned on.
Make sure Siri and WiFi are turned on in your BMW before launching Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation.
Option 1: Enabling BMW Wireless CarPlay from the factory
Because the NBT Evo head unit with ID5 or ID6 software is required, BMW Apple CarPlay compatibility is constrained. In other words, your BMW need the most recent operating system and on-board computer. Even if your car was made in 2016, 2015, or 2014 and has modern technologies, it might only have ID4 hardware or normal NBT, which is outdated head unit hardware.
If your BMW has a head unit that is suitable, BimmerTech can activate the software to make Apple CarPlay available. If your car does not already have a WiFi antenna, you might need to add one in specific circumstances to enable the establishment of a wireless connection between your iPhone and BMW head unit. If your BMW requires one, you may check here and get it from us. Contrary to BMW, BimmerTech can activate BMW CarPlay even if your nation is not listed in Apple CarPlay’s availability list if the necessary hardware is installed in your car.
Regarding the Apple CarPlay subscription, BMW confirmed in December 2019 that owners of 2019/2020 models with the most recent iDrive 7.0 software would not be required to pay any fees. Of course, that only applies to 2018 models of newer autos. A one-time $300 fee will be applied to older BMW models. However, 2020 and later BMW models are moving forward rather than backward by finally providing free BMW CarPlay.
There are still two options to upgrade your BMW if the initial BMW Apple CarPlay activation is not supported by your car.
Activating Apple CarPlay in my BMW
You can watch this video to discover how to set up and connect Apple CarPlay on your iPhone in a BMW. The BMW X3 utilized in this demonstration has iDrive 7, therefore if you have an older or newer iDrive system, the process may be different. In order to use the advanced phone integration features of CarPlay, an Apple Lightning connector is no longer necessary, setting BMW ahead of the competition in 2916. On the touchscreen of your BMW, the Apple CarPlay interface replicates the appearance and functionality of your phone. The pages in the CarPlay user interface are identical to those on your iPhone’s display. However, there is one restriction: BMW Apps and Apple CarPlay cannot function simultaneously. Additionally, only one device may support both Apple CarPlay and the Wi-Fi hotspot offered by BMW.
BMW Navigation system and iDrive 5 or newer are required for Apple CarPlay. Additionally, an iPhone 5 or later running iOS 9.3 or higher is required. In addition, your iPhone must have Siri, WiFi, and Bluetooth turned on, as well as an active data plan. CarPlay integrates phone, navigation, entertainment, and vehicle control and information capabilities onto the central touchscreen of the BMW iDrive infotainment system.
The following are the general steps for setting up Apple CarPlay in your BMW:
- 1. Your iPhone must have Bluetooth switched ON.
- 2. Press or select COM – Mobile Devices – New Device – Phone calls and audio from the iDrive 7 menu.
- 3. Choose the BMW entry from the Bluetooth menu on your iPhone. Soon the pairing will start, and it can take a few seconds.
- 4. Verify that the PINs displayed on the iPhone and iDrive 7 are identical, then choose YES.
Apple Carplay Activation in BMW
You can, indeed! You can add Apple Carplay to a number of BMW models, including the 2018 BMW x1 and 2015 BMWs.
Do you want to use the maps, music, messaging, and Siri commands from your iPhone on your iDrive device? For customers to quickly connect their phones to the iDrive unit and use the apps they have loaded on their iPhones, Apple created the software “Apple CarPlay” for automobiles. applications for calls, messaging, music, and maps. Additionally, Apple is continuously expanding the number of apps that its CarPlay software supports. The whole list of apps that are already compatible with Apple CarPlay is available on the Apple website.
BMW Ships New Vehicles Without Apple CarPlay for the Time Being
Due to the carmaker switching its chip supplier, BMW is temporarily shipping new vehicles without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto require updated software to function on the new CPUs found in many BMWs produced this year. Dealerships are advising BMW customers who purchase a new vehicle without CarPlay to wait for an over-the-air upgrade that will add the feature “by the end of June at the latest.”
It’s unclear how many BMW models are impacted, but a lot of consumers in the UK, France, Italy, and the US have complained online about receiving new cars without CarPlay. Models that are affected have the specification code “6P1” in them.
While some BMW owners may have to temporarily do without CarPlay capability, BMW is moving chip suppliers to enhance its supply chain over the long run, which could help to alleviate component shortages in the second half of the year.
With support for Digital Key, Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, and a feature-rich dual-screen wireless CarPlay experience, BMW provides one of the most integrated experiences with Apple’s ecosystem. BMW only began providing CarPlay in 2016 and faced criticism for charging a $80 yearly subscription charge before canceling the subscription in response to the backlash.
How can I turn on Apple Play in my BMW?
- Turn on the Bluetooth, Siri, and WiFi on your iPhone.
- On your iDrive 7 interface, press COM, then click Mobile Devices.
- Now that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone, you should be able to choose your BMW.
Why doesn’t my BMW have Apple CarPlay?
Please assist! Something odd is happening with my BMW’s Apple CarPlay system. It appears to have suddenly vanished! My BMW has been leased for just over a year, and the CarPlay has been functioning well. My phone stopped being associated with my computer yesterday, and now I can’t get it to operate. Why doesn’t my BMW have Apple CarPlay?
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My God! That seems very frustrating. But it’s not that unusual for something like this to happen. There could be a number of reasons why your BMW does not support Apple CarPlay. Many drivers have reported similar problems following software updates from BMW.
Fortunately, you can try a few different things. This is what you ought to do:
- Unpair and re-pair your phone after making sure that Siri, Bluetooth, and WiFi are all turned on. You should be able to connect to Apple CarPlay, we hope. If so, connect right now. Then you ought to be prepared.
- Push the volume knob in and hold it if that doesn’t work. That should restart the computer and fix any software issues. After that, connecting to CarPlay should be simple.
- Check your phone for software updates and install them if you’re still having trouble connecting.
- By visiting to Settings > Screen Time > content & privacy restrictions, make sure CarPlay isn’t set to aRestricteda. Press Allowed Apps. If you see that CarPlay is off, turn it on. Your CarPlay should then function properly.
- For a few hours, leave your automobile in a location where you know WiFi and Bluetooth signals will be strong. Some BMWs experience problems with CarPlay simply because they are parked in garages with inadequate signal.
After doing all of that, if CarPlay is still not functioning, it may be time to bring your BMW in for a software update. If everything else fails, a system update ought to restore order.
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Has the 2017 BMW got Apple CarPlay?
Since the release of iOS 9 last year, Apple’s CarPlay, a svelte infotainment system modeled after iOS, has been able to wirelessly communicate with approved vehicles. But up until now, not a single automobile supported the function. The new 2017 BMW 5 Series, which was unveiled today, will be the first automobile to offer wireless CarPlay. Therefore, drivers won’t need to plug in their iPhone through USB to update the vehicle’s main software with Apple’s version.
“The BMW 5 Series Sedan also has CarPlay. The iDrive Controller or touch control on the screen in the car may be used to control the smartphone and any apps on it thanks to the integration of the smartphone into the system environment of the vehicle “reads the advertising for BMW. BMW is the first automaker to incorporate Apple CarPlay wirelessly.
Why the original deployment took so long is a mystery. The fact that Apple apparently prevented Volkswagen from demonstrating the technology at CES in January suggests that the company has been holding up wireless CarPlay up until now. However, with BMW’s new vehicle on board, future software upgrades supporting the capability are almost certain.
Can a 2018 BMW have Apple CarPlay installed?
Accessed through the attached drive store, the answer is yes. Additionally, you can have it remotely programmed for the car. You wouldn’t be able to add the feature if your car had the smaller screen system. I could be interested in purchasing a used 2018 BMW X3 that lacks Apple CarPlay.
BMW CarPlay is it free?
Although the German automaker BMW was an early adopter of Apple CarPlay wirelessly, it charged for the service, ranging from a $300 one-time cost to a yearly $80 price. Now that it’s free, all 2021 BMW models even have the integration of the car keys, which is a significant plus. And for all those older BMWs, upgrading a CarPlay compatible head unit is possible, albeit with some extra work and expense.