Apple Carplay or Not?

[SaMaster14]

I've never actually been in a BMW with Apple Carplay and I was just wondering how invasive it is with iDrive.

Does it completely override iDrive and replace it with Carplay?

Thanks for any info!

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

Does it completely override iDrive and replace it with Carplay?

Yes. You can toggle between the two, but it's one or the other.

[Encanto]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

I've never actually been in a BMW with Apple Carplay and I was just wondering how invasive it is with iDrive.

Does it completely override iDrive and replace it with Carplay?

Thanks for any info!

Yes it does.

If there is an OEM Nav system that makes using CarPlay like going backwards in time then it must be the iDrive 5/6.

[CenCal X3M Comp]

I have had CarPlay since my car arrived in the US back in late September but recently started using CarPlay. This was because iOS 11 was screwed up until 11.3 came out. I’m starting to like it more and more. It does work in both environment for some services like navigation. Siri has been flawless for me, but then again, BMWs voice recognition is very good. I like how I can ask Siri for information on a place and it gives me the option to use Apple Maps or send it to BMW Navigation (I prefer BMWs Navigation). I do like iDrive’s Phone integration better. Apps such as Pandora, iHeartRadio and others are more stable in CarPlay. BMWs implementation of CarPlay uses both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. If you try it, you have to give yourself a few weeks to get used to it. Initially you may feel discouraged.

[MarbleNY]

I just ordered CarPlay, activated and immediately cancelled. BMW phone and nav is much better. Car play messages suck IMO. But according to genius you cannot get iPhone messages in BMW office. Is this true? Is there a way around this?

[IM2C]

Originally Posted by MarbleNY

I just ordered CarPlay, activated and immediately cancelled. BMW phone and nav is much better. Car play messages suck IMO. But according to genius you cannot get iPhone messages in BMW office. Is this true? Is there a way around this?

How does one order CarPlay? Thanks.

[MarbleNY]

You can order it online or just call customer service from idrive... It costs $300 for a 20 year subscription... lol

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by MarbleNY

But according to genius you cannot get iPhone messages in BMW office. Is this true? Is there a way around this?

I don't think that there's anyway to get iPhone email messages with or without CarPlay.

To get text messages, you need "Enhanced Bluetooth," and you can get that two ways. If you ordered the wireless charging option with your M4, Enhanced Bluetooth is part of that package. If you did not order wireless charging, Enhanced Bluetooth can be coded (see the DIY/coding forum for that). Either way, it is not a function of CarPlay. It is part of the normal iDrive.

[jmciver]

I have been an Apple guy for a long time but was very disappointed with CarPlay - it seemed very restrictive to me. I used it for several months for a fair shot, but was still disappointed. Also, I think the BMW iDrive interface is better for making phone calls, receiving texts, and navigation - especially with the iDrive 6 interface with the larger information tiles.

But you can get the best of both worlds. With iDrive as my main interface, I can still use Siri to access multiple functions on my phone - I haven't tried using Siri to send stuff to iDrive as mentioned above, but that even further strengthens my opinion to use iDrive with Siri in the background. If CarPlay opened up the use of more iPhone apps (i.e. truly mirroring your phone), then I might switch over to CarPlay. But I don't see Apple doing that any time soon.

[shortseller]

Tough call, no pun intended, to use Apple CarPlay since I can’t take advantage of Waze. Is there s workaround?

[ZCPM4]

Originally Posted by shortseller

Tough call, no pun intended, to use Apple CarPlay since I can’t take advantage of Waze. Is there s workaround?

iOS 12 is supposed to enable the option to use third party nav apps in CarPlay, so Google maps and Waze should be able to work then.

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by ZCPM4

iOS 12 is supposed to enable the option to use third party nav apps in CarPlay, so Google maps and Waze should be able to work then.

That is good news, fingers crossed. Thanks for the heads up!

[Professor///M]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

I've never actually been in a BMW with Apple Carplay and I was just wondering how invasive it is with iDrive.

Does it completely override iDrive and replace it with Carplay?

Thanks for any info!

I have been CarPlay's worst critic. I am a massive apple fan and I have literally DESPISED CarPlay.


I say that now tongue in cheek. I recently brought my car in for service and got a brand new X3 with touchscreen. CarPlay + Touch screen is a massive win, and I think will bring it to being more usable for BMW.


This encouraged me to give CarPlay a second chance, and I have now LEARNED how to integrate it with the BMW services that I like.


I still don't think it's worth $300, but I am more accepting of the platform and think it does have utility. In the absence of a touch screen, there's nothing that BMW's integrated services doesn't do better... except the speed of siri for text messaging.

I have started to use it for the phone, music, messages... along with BMW maps. I think it's greatest limitation is when you turn to a "split screen" and try to use car-play with BMW maps in the right side split screen it forces the split screen across the BMW so when you go into BMW's native maps, it's a split screen to whatever you set up in carplay.



So far iOS 12 Beta 1 works flawlessly with car play, although there is no ability to test third party apps yet.

I hope this is helpful from the guy who has been saying for 1 year that carplay is crap and don't waste your money

[dim635csi]

Originally Posted by jmciver

iDrive interface is better for making phone calls, receiving texts, and navigation

How do you receive texts with iDrive ?

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by dim635csi

How do you receive texts with iDrive ?

It has been a while since I did it as I remember it was not that intuitively obvious and there were some finer points (I use an iPhone). But IIRC, once you pair the iPhone to the car with BT as the primary phone (not as the secondary phone), you then need to make sure "Show Notifications" is turned on in iOS for your car (your car will be listed in the BT devices that have been paired through your phone). Inside iDrive, make sure you turn on messages. Once done, you will get a message notification on iDrive when a text comes in - it will be in the BMW messages section of iDrive.

The process is also on the forums someplace as I was able to find it a while ago with a search. Here is a thread that talks about it a bit more:

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1445120&page=2

[Hedoniste]

Google Maps is coming soon.
I like Apple Car even it should be a standard option.

[Professor///M]

Originally Posted by dim635csi

How do you receive texts with iDrive ?

First - car play must be disabled. Delete the device that is using car play


Next - resync your phone, do not enable car play.

Make sure the button that says download contacts for messaging is enabled.

After your car has synced up for the first time, go to your bluetooth menu on your phone and find your car. There should be some sort of slider to activate to enable syncing notifications.


Then your messages willl show up either in your message center, or within notifications.

Pretty much the same as every other BMW since 2007

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by Hedoniste

Google Maps is coming soon.
I like Apple Car even it should be a standard option.

Just picked up my 2018 days ago, Apple play works well for me and I think it was worth the $300. With ISO updates as well as Idrive updates it can only get better I hope.

[Capt Crunch]

Carplay is fantastic IMO. You have to buy into the whole ecosystem, but if you do, it generally works well.

[RickFLM4]

I ordered the wireless charging / enhanced Bluetooth but skipped Apple CarPlay. I had it on a loaner car and prefer iDrive without it.

[Fender150]

i had asked for it and the dealer forgot, seeing this now, seems like it doesnt matter

[instarand]

As I understand, iOS 12 supports third party apps such as google maps and waze through CarPlay. I prefer waze to the bmw maps simply because it seems a bit more up to date on traffic, gets a bit more aggressive (and creative) avoiding traffic, and because of police notifications. That said, ive actually been pleasantly surprised at how good the bmw maps is, but I do still prefer waze. Once iOS 12 is available I'm going to purchase car play and see if the back and forth of CarPlay to iDrive negatively outweighs my preference for waze.