A easier and safer way to use the smartphone with Android Auto is by plug-and-play out, wireless.
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Now, your Android smartphone’s app content can be displayed on a BMW.
Next-generation smartphone integration. In the Digital Instrument Cluster and the Head-up Display, BMW can now show content from Android apps. Android Auto simply requires the first pairing of your smartphone with your BMW; it doesn’t require a cable connection. The apps operate and look exactly like they do on your phone. Could anything be simpler?
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Because everyone wants to use video streaming, have access to popular navigation apps, or get the most out of their other favorite iOS/Android programs, it can be challenging to avoid using your smartphone while driving. Although it’s not particularly simple to do with a BMW, there are solutions, and BimmerTech will assist you in putting them into practice.
Consider screen mirroring devices as a starting point. Apple TV3/4 models with SmartView support iPhone screen mirroring. There is SmartView HD Flex, an Android screen mirroring option that is also compatible with Apple devices. Generally speaking, these upgrades offer WiFi screen mirroring. They enable you to screen share any content appearing on your smartphone while the BMW stereo is playing (the signal comes through an AUX port).
You should enable Enhanced Bluetooth (software activation) or add Combox Media PnP Retrofit if your only interest is audio streaming (hardware upgrade). These two items make sure you have access to the BMW Bluetooth audio streaming feature as well as the ability to pair two Bluetooth devices and play music from your phone via a USB cord. Please be aware that the Enhanced Bluetooth package’s contents are completely dependent on the BMW model and the kind of smartphone you own. Therefore, before making a purchase, visit the official BMW website and see what the Enhanced Bluetooth upgrade offers.
If audio streaming is not the end of your hopes for integrating your BMW smartphone, there are still other solutions available. BMW CarPlay activation, which enables you to use your preferred iPhone apps on the screen of your BMW, is available if you have the most recent iDrive system (NBT Evo ID5/ID6). BMW’s support for Apple CarPlay is, however, fairly constrained. For this reason, researching CarPlay MMI Prime Retrofit is also an excellent choice. While it offers the same functionality and BMW CarPlay apps, it also offers extra functions that the original software couldn’t claim.
Android users can also rejoice because Android Auto MMI Prime is one of the possible upgrades. This innovative retrofit allows you to use programs from your Android mobile, such as Spotify, Google Maps, Messenger, and others, on the iDrive screen. You can use all the standard BMW controls to navigate and control the software because BMW Android Auto is fully integrated with the system.
Identify your vehicle to find out if it is compatible with any of the following upgrades: Android Auto for BMW, the BMW CarPlay retrofit, or screen sharing solutions.
Adding extra apps to your car
Despite this, many iOS and Android apps are still incompatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. Furthermore, BMW insists that Android Auto will only be offered for BMWs with iDrive 7.0 and newer, despite the fact that it has started to offer CarPlay-compatible head units (which can be retrofitted in some older models). In light of this, upgrading your head unit aftermarket is your only option if it’s an older model, unless you’re content with the built-in iDrive system.
A customized solution might be the ideal choice for Android users who are unimpressed by what iDrive has to offer or iOS users who want to access a larger selection of apps. You can use all your mobile apps with smartphone casting or mirroring without compromising the iDrive system’s functionality. Due to the fact that Google Assistant can be used to control Android Auto to a considerable extent and that it is available as a standalone smartphone app, this method can be used to add Android Auto to BMWs without touchscreen displays.
On the other hand, an aftermarket CarPlay or Android Auto head unit is likely to offer better integration with your BMW if you’re comfortable with the selection of apps offered through CarPlay and Android Auto, covering most of the mainstream apps you’re likely to use in your car. You don’t even have to decide between CarPlay and Android Auto with BimmerTech’s CarPlay MMI Prime because both are preconfigured and ready to use. CarPlay/Android Auto MMI Prime is a versatile choice with lots of capabilities, including full integration with the iDrive system, both major third-party systems, and no subscription fees.
However, the greatest choice ultimately depends on what you want to do in your BMW.
What does the BMW Smart Device Integration mean?
Your mobile devices, smart home technologies, and your vehicle’s intelligent interfaces are all effortlessly integrated into a full driving environment via BMW ConnectedDrive.
What distinguishes the BMW Connected app from the My BMW app?
Every each generation of BMW apps has injected more technology into the driving experience, further fusing your personal life with that of your car. This generation was no exception. Except that the most recent premiere was meant to be a wink to the drivers of electric cars.
My BMW remote app enhanced their overview and broadened their operational range while the BMW Connected app started to enable remote access to car statistics, executing upgrades to the on-board software, or controlling specific vehicle operations. It provides direct access to service facilities, significantly improves plug-in hybrid and all-electric model functions (displays electric range, charging status, tracking of charging history, programming of charging in a time slot, etc.), and provides more practical use of maps and navigation (e.g. convenient vehicle location, sending routes from the app to BMW Maps).
What does in-car smartphone integration mean?
It’s simple to connect to and use your phone in the car thanks to smartphone integration. For instance, the center display of the vehicle allows you to utilize the phone’s apps and use the music player, navigation, and other services.
Can I use my phone to start my BMW?
With the BMW Digital Key and BMW Digital Key Plus, go keyless. The key fob for your car can be replaced with an iPhone, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy smartphone that is compatible. To lock and unlock, simply touch it to the driver-side door handle. To start the engine, place your device in the wireless charging tray.
Can I add Apple CarPlay to my BMW?
With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, we can upgrade a wide range of OEM entertainment systems made by BMW.
You can display certain apps from your phone on the OEM car screen using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which are both included into our interfaces. The most well-known apps are Maps, Waze, Spotify, WhatsApp, and others.
Additionally, our kit has a screen mirroring feature that allows you to see whatever is on your phone on the dashboard screen.
If my BMW has Apple CarPlay, how do I know?
Among the most popular vehicles on the road today, BMWs are prized for their cutting-edge technology.
Apple CarPlay is one of such features. With it, you may use the BMW’s dashboard screen to access the apps on your iPhone.
Several inquiries about this function will be addressed in this article, along with information on its availability across the whole BMW lineup.
BMWs with iDrive 5 or later equipped have Apple CarPlay available. Since 2019, BMW has offered this as a free upgrade on newer vehicles equipped with iDrive 7.
One feature that many potential BMW owners find to be quite appealing is Apple CarPlay.
Continue reading to find out which BMWs support Apple CarPlay and how to add it to a BMW that doesn’t currently have it.
What distinguishes BMW iDrive from Apple CarPlay?
Apple’s foray into the infotainment market, CarPlay, makes it simple to use iOS apps on the iDrive display in your BMW. CarPlay is an obvious answer for iPhone users who want to stream music through Spotify or Apple Music, compose and receive WhatsApp messages while driving, or replace the native maps provided by BMW with Waze. Without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road, you may make calls, ask Siri for directions, skip to the next song, and more.
Increased safety is the apparent result; Siri is typically more powerful than the BMW native voice command, and with the iOS app ecosystem supporting it, you’re unlikely to miss out on things you need. Additionally, you will be able to utilize the same Siri instructions that you do on your iPhone, which adds to the familiarity factor.
Only iPhone users can use CarPlay; if you have an Android phone, you’ll need Android Auto, which has many of the same capabilities. In a moment, we’ll examine it in more detail.
Does the Wi-Fi in a BMW need a fee?
The BMW ConnectedDrive connectivity plan includes unlimited pleasure surfing at LTE speed among other features. You need a phone provider with wireless charging and at least the most basic Connected Package option to use this service.
Does integrating smart devices imply Apple CarPlay?
In case you are unfamiliar with these two smartphone integration apps, Apple Carplay and Android Auto essentially accomplish the same task. For simpler and safer usage while driving, they both mirror smartphone apps onto the infotainment system in your car.
Both devices will show data such as music apps, chat apps, calls, text messages, GPS maps, and more. Additionally, both systems are available on the majority of modern automobiles (model years 2015 and newer), and they can be connected wirelessly or via a USB port. However, the majority of the parallels end there because Android Auto cannot be used on an iPhone and vice versa.
How can I tell what model of BMW iDrive I have?
The iDrive system’s navigation is a crucial component that makes getting from A to B simple. But since roads and sites of interest constantly change, it’s critical to maintain your BMW’s GPS maps updated if you want to get the most out of your iDrive.
Many of the most recent BMW models include over-the-air (OTA) map updates, which use the vehicle’s integrated SIM card to automatically download the most recent map data. The procedure in these automobiles is comparable to updating your smartphone to the most recent iOS or Android version; all you have to do is restart your car after your iDrive has downloaded the data.
For vehicles that do not allow OTA updates, a manual upgrade is necessary. Previously, updating BMW navigation maps required changing a DVD holding the map data. More newer vehicles include built-in hard drives that hold the data, allowing you to update your map by overwriting the hard drive’s contents. You can accomplish this with BMW by connecting a USB stick with the updated map data to the USB port in your vehicle.
It’s a good idea to determine which map version you need, which relies on your iDrive system, before purchasing a new BMW map. Use the settings menu when your iDrive navigation is open to navigate to “Navigation system version,” where you can see the region, version, and year of your current GPS data.
When does BMW ConnectedDrive end?
Select automobiles will no longer be supported for ConnectedDrive services starting in February 2022 due to cellular carriers’ phase-out of the 3G network.