Does BMW Have Carplay?

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The ideal method to link your new BMW to your Apple iPhone is via Apple CarPlay, which is available on all BMW models with the iDrive 7 system.

BMW owners can now use Apple CarPlay without paying a fee.

  • For all vehicles with navigation, BMW is making Apple CarPlay the default feature without any additional fees, after charging a monthly charge for 2019 and subsequent models.
  • BMW wanted to be more respectful of its tech-obsessed customers after hearing complaints.
  • BMW is one of the few automakers to offer wireless CarPlay, albeit Android Auto is still not available, so owners already enjoy an added benefit.

BMW doesn’t frequently offer freebies, but following negative news and a large number of dissatisfied consumers, the carmaker is eliminating all payments for Apple CarPlay. It is currently working.

BMW introduced CarPlay some years ago with a straightforward but crucial feature that no other manufacturers could match: the ability to wirelessly connect an iPhone without a USB cable. For the 2019 model year, BMW changed CarPlay from a $300 stand-alone option to a subscription through its ConnectedDrive suite of app services, costing $80 per year or $300 for 20 years. For the first year, CarPlay was offered without charge to owners; however, after that, it was remotely disabled unless a subscription fee was paid.

When Apple released software updates, BMW informed C/D that it would have to charge customers for CarPlay in order to prevent compatibility difficulties with other factory-installed features. The payment was intended to cover BMW’s effort spent creating new iDrive system updates. BMW has now determined that continuing CarPlay’s free operation is a better idea.

It’s a pleasant victory for customers, especially coming from BMW, which offers a number of extras that other manufacturers provide as standard, such as proximity entry, garage-door openers, and lumbar support. Maybe this will signal the start of a new strategy.

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To do this, go to your iPhone’s settings and choose “Bluetooth.”

Takeaway

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.

Has the 2015 BMW CarPlay?

Yes, you can! 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.

Has BMW always included CarPlay?

Customers who acquire a new BMW equipped with the company’s most recent infotainment system, OS7, will automatically receive a free, unlimited membership to CarPlay.

Owners of OS7-equipped BMWs who have already paid for a one-year or three-year CarPlay package will be automatically upgraded to an unlimited membership.

But not all new BMWs have OS7; the i3 and i8, as well as the outgoing 2 Series and 4 Series, still have the company’s OS6 infotainment system installed. Customers who buy these vehicles brand-new will still have to pay a PS235 cost for CarPlay.

In July 2019, BMW became the first automaker to charge customers a monthly fee for Apple CarPlay, with prices ranging from PS85 for a full year to PS255 for three years to PS295 for unlimited use.

Since not everyone will use CarPlay, the company claimed at the time that the subscription-based business model allowed it to “keep the initial cost price of the vehicle down, but at the same time for those that do, they have a flexible offer structure after the initial year’s subscription has expired.”

CarPlay brings apps like Spotify and Google Maps into the built-in screen of the car and makes them voice-command accessible. It is intended to provide drivers with an almost hands-free experience by duplicating many features of an iPhone.

When did BMW introduce CarPlay?

In 2017, BMW released Apple CarPlay as an add-on that was only available with vehicles that had built-in navigation.

Previously an option, CarPlay is now a requirement for all BMW models with navigation systems.

You must determine whether CarPlay has been enabled on a used BMW manufactured before 2020.

It’s crucial to remember that the automobile needs a wifi antenna and head unit that are compatible. If your vehicle has the necessary configuration in place, your nearby BMW dealership will be able to let you know.

Although it’s unlikely that the technology will be put in BMWs manufactured between 2014 and 2016, a small number may do so given that retrofitting is technically doable.

Has the 2017 BMW got Apple CarPlay?

BMW CarPlay is a relatively new invention. Since it’s only compatible with 2017 and newer models, many BMW owners are unable to use it in their vehicles.

According to Apple, the full list of BMW vehicles that support Apple CarPlay as of August 2022 is as follows:

  • F20 and F21 models of the 2017–2022 BMW 1 Series
  • 2017–2022, BMW 2 Series, e.g., F22, F23, F45
  • 2017–2022, BMW 3 Series models such the F30, F31, F34, F80, and G20
  • BMW 4 Series models F32, F33, F36, F82, and F83 from 2017 to 2022
  • BMW 5 Series models from 2017 through 2022, such as the G30, G31, and F90
  • BMW 6 Series models F06, F12, F13, and G32 from 2017 to 2022
  • 2017-2022 BMW 7 Series, for example, G11 and G12
  • 2021-2022 BMW 8 Series models such the G14, G15, and G16
  • 2018-2022 BMW X1, for instance, F48
  • 2018–2022 BMW X2, such as the F39
  • BMW X3 models G01 through 2022
  • 2017-2022 BMW X4 models F26 and G02
  • 2017-2022 BMW X5 (e.g., F15, G05)
  • BMW X6 models like the F16 from 2017 to 2022
  • 2021 – 2022 X5 M
  • 2021 – 2022 X6 M
  • 2018-2021 BMW i3
  • 2019-2020 BMW i8
  • 2019-2022 BMW Z4 G29
  • 2022 i4
  • 2022 iX

Apple CarPlay can be added to vehicles without factory support with the appropriate hardware retrofit, even though it is only officially supported by cars made after 2017. Read on for a few potential solutions if you’re interested in installing BMW CarPlay (including the aftermarket alternative) in your older vehicle.

Visit our guide to F30 upgrades to learn more about retrofits for the BMW 3-Series.

Apple CarPlay is a 2016 BMW feature?

You must first choose the finest BMW CarPlay retrofit option for you. CarPlay is fully supported by the iDrive system in many vehicles made after 2016, even if it hasn’t been turned on. If that applies to you, getting a professional to unlock the built-in BMW Apple CarPlay option is one approach to activate Apple CarPlay in your BMW.

There are BMW CarPlay aftermarket options that can get you up and running if that isn’t an option—either because your BMW is a little older or doesn’t have a suitable iDrive system.

The native BMW Apple CarPlay option and aftermarket BMW CarPlay retrofits differ significantly in this regard. Android Auto is not available in older BMW CarPlay-compatible automobiles, so if you use a Samsung phone or another Android device, you are out of luck.

Additionally, aftermarket alternatives may provide extra freedom. The manufacturer CarPlay interface in older vehicles can only use a portion of the screen, but all BMW models come with full-screen mode in CarPlay MMI Prime. Unlike BimmerTech’s retrofit, which enables both wireless connection and connection via a USB cable, which can be more dependable and less draining on the battery, the OEM alternative forces you to rely solely on a wireless connection with your phone.

The BMW CarPlay upgrade from BimmerTech utilises the dashboard display already in your car and is simple to use with the iDrive controller, unlike many alternatives on the market. However, the native BMW iDrive CarPlay option may be easier to use for somebody who frequently shifts between using CarPlay and other iDrive functions.

Is Apple CarPlay available on the 2019 BMW?

The ideal method to link your new BMW to your Apple iPhone is via Apple CarPlay, which is available on all BMW models with the iDrive 7 system. For assistance connecting your Apple iPhone to your new 2019 BMW with Apple CarPlay, go to this simple step-by-step guide or watch the video above.

Whether the 2018 BMW 1 Series supports Apple CarPlay

The BMW 1 Series will get a number of visual and interior modifications starting in July 2017, which will be the second time the F20/F21 premium small hatchback is updated. The 2018 1 Series has three additional special editions in addition to the model-year improvements: Edition Sport Line Shadow, Edition M Sport Shadow, and M140i Edition Shadow.

These variants have a black kidney grille, darkened LED taillights, and black inserts in the headlights. The facelifted 2018 BMW 1 Series receives five new light-alloy wheel designs and two new exterior colors (Sunset Orange and Seaside Blue). Along with the base model, the Sport Line, Urban Line, and M Sport trim levels are still available.

The latest generation of the iDrive system, which offers the optional Navigation system Professional with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, voice control, and iDrive Controller with a touch-sensitive interface, is what has been updated most in the interior, along with a refreshed instrument panel, new materials, and a new Cognac Dakota leather upholstery variant.

A WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices, inductive charging, and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay are all available.

The 1 Series lineup remains the same, with the same selection of three-, four-, and six-cylinder gasoline engines as well as three- and four-cylinder diesels. The BMW 116i produces 109 horsepower, while the insane M140i produces 340 horsepower.

All models have the option of the eight-speed Steptronic or eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission in place of the six-speed manual transmission, with the exception of the BMW 116i, 116d EfficientDynamics Edition, and 118d xDrive. However, the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission is the only one offered with the M140i xDrive.

How can I make BMW CarPlay work?

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, select the option to connect to Apple CarPlay.