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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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.
Getting ready for Apple CarPlay(r) is a smart and quick way to use your iPhone’s functions in your automobile.
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 (like an earlier lifetime subscription). 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.
Does BMW offer Apple CarPlay support?
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. Use Apple CarPlay to connect your new BMW and Apple iPhone by following this simple step-by-step tutorial. Ensure that your iPhone has Bluetooth, WiFi, and Siri turned on.
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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Is BMW’s Apple CarPlay free?
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.
Can I add Apple CarPlay to my BMW?
With firmware beginning with iOS 7.1, Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation is available for all iPhone devices starting with the 5. You must have the optional additional ConnectedDrive Services, which include BMW apps, in order to utilize Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation in a BMW vehicle (6AK). Additionally, your BMW must be outfitted with Navi Professional.
When did BMW introduce Apple 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.
What is BMW’s price for Apple CarPlay?
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.
How can I make Apple CarPlay work?
- Connect your smartphone to the USB port in your car and check for the CarPlay icon.
- After selecting “Settings,” select “General” and “CarPlay.” Select your car from the list of “Available Cars.”
How can I get free BMW CarPlay activated?
I’d like to utilize Apple CarPlay in my BMW, but I seem to recall that it used to be somewhat expensive. Is there a way for me to obtain Apple CarPlay on my BMW for nothing?
Yes! All of Apple CarPlay’s capabilities are available for free on your BMW. BMW will stop charging users a fee to utilize Apple CarPlay as of 2020. The service is easily downloaded and connected to your car without cost.
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Why doesn’t Apple CarPlay function?
Restart both your automobile and your iPhone. Make sure Siri is turned on. Check to see if CarPlay isn’t restricted if it can’t detect your iPhone. Make sure CarPlay is turned on by going to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, tapping Allowed Apps, and then clicking OK.
Can I set up Apple CarPlay on my own?
When you have the device, you must put it in the vehicle and link it to a power source. You connect it in where a stereo would normally go to use it with a standard dash screen. The size of the replaceable audio unit for cars, according to the DIN Standard, is what is used to measure that compartment.
You can do it yourself by adhering to the manual’s directions. However, you’ll need to do a lot of preparations (such unplugging the car’s battery) and carry materials to carefully connect wires and cables. It’s crucial to have knowledge of automotive electronics. Again, if you prefer to do it yourself, a website like Crutchfield can provide an equipment list and installation instructions unique to your automobile.
Hiring a professional installation service, such as that provided by your neighborhood auto mechanic or a large retailer like Best Buy, is an easier but more expensive alternative. Dashboard screen installations typically cost around $100.