[FirstBMWLA]

Was at dealer picking up my car yesterday and overheard a conversation between a SA and another customer.

The customer was wanting help to pair his phone. The SA looked up his phone and said it wasn't compatible. When the SA walked away, I asked the guy had he even tried to pair. He said no. So I told him just try and I was sure it would work.

When the SA returned she overheard us talking. She said the phone will pair but it could damage the car. She said it was fry the car's computer system and cause 1k-2k damage.

How about that claim? I think she is nuts.

[vasillalov]

Fear mongering! Typical tactics. Her mother probably told her that she can get pregnant if she sat on a dirty toilet seat...

[sngencarelli]

Incredible. Somoene giving that kind of advice shouldnt have the SA title.

[cobradac]

Politely point the SA to BMWs official position which if nothing else at least states NO PERMANENT DAMAGE WILL BE DONE TO THE VEHICLE

SI B 84 21 07
Communication Systems November 2007
Technical Service

SUBJECT
Diagnosis When an Unapproved Handset is Paired to a Vehicle


MODEL
E46 (3 Series) with Premium Package (ZPP) or BMW Assist (SA 639) from 9/04 production (325i/iA from 10/04 production)

E53 (X5) with Premium Package (ZPP) or BMW Assist (SA 639) from 10/04 production

E60, E61 (5 Series) from 9/04 production

E63, E64 (6 Series) from 9/04 production

E65, E66 (7 Series) from 3/05 production

E70 (X5) with Premium Package (ZPP) or BMW Assist (SA 639)

E83 (X3) with Premium Package (ZPP) or BMW Assist (SA 639) from 9/04 production

E85, E86 (Z4) with Premium Package (ZPP) or BMW Assist (SA 639) from 10/04 production

E90 E91, E92, E93 (3 Series) with Premium Package (ZPP) or BMW Assist (SA 639) from 3/05 production


SITUATION
The customer paired an unapproved handset to a vehicle and now has a complaint. Please use the information provided in this bulletin as guidance during the diagnosis and warranty process.

COMPATIBLE HANDSET INFORMATION
Visit www.bmwusa.com/bluetooth for a list of handsets that have passed BMW testing for compatibility. Note the following disclaimer on this web site:

"This list is provided for reference only. The mobile phones listed here have passed compatibility tests as of the date of testing and meet or exceed minimum standards established by BMW. The list is not a warranty for phone performance or functionality. BMW makes no guarantees or warrantees as to the performance of each phone while connected to your BMW via Bluetooth Wireless Technology. Furthermore, software releases by BMW, the phone supplier or the wireless carrier dated after testing might alter compatibly results. While many phones are offered with Bluetooth Wireless Technology, not all phones support the necessary profiles to work with your BMW. BMW does not guarantee availability or functionality with all wireless carriers. Functions such as synchronizing the address book and transferring a call into or out of the vehicle may function differently from phone to phone".

UNAPPROVED PHONES
"Unapproved phones" means that either the handset has not been tested, or has been tested but a problem was revealed.

Due to the length of time that it takes to validate a handset when a handset is initially available for purchase, it may not be on the compatible list, but could be added at a later date.

On some handsets, the initial handset software may have bugs which prevent normal hands-free operation and which prevent the handset from being added to the list. In some instances, the handset manufacturers are working on maintenance releases to correct issues and these may result in the handset being added to the list at a later date.

Here are some common issues seen when pairing unapproved handsets to a vehicle:

The handset constantly connects and then disconnects from the vehicle.

The phonebook does not download correctly.

The phone book never finishes downloading. The radio or Control Display is stuck on the phonebook download screen.

A phone call cannot be initiated or ended via the vehicle controls.

The phone call has ended, but the communication menu shows the call time counter still counting and the radio remains muted, even after the ignition is shut off.

No permanent damage will be caused if an unapproved handset is paired to the vehicle, but it could temporarily put the TCU into an inoperative state.

Diagnostic tips for resolving communication issues after an unapproved handset has been paired to the vehicle

The following sequential actions may be required to resolve the inoperative state:

Power down the unapproved handset and remove the handset from the vicinity of the vehicle. Wait several minutes. This will allow the internal timer of the TCU to reset. If the problem is not resolved, proceed to step 2.

Allow the vehicle to assume sleep mode. If the problem is not resolved, proceed to step 3.

Allow the vehicle to assume sleep mode and then disconnect the battery for 16 minutes.

WARRANTY INFORMATION
Any repairs made to a vehicle which appear to have been caused by an unapproved handset being paired to the vehicle are NOT a warranty issue. An example of this is when the radio is temporarily muted because the unapproved device was paired to the vehicle, but once the unapproved device is deleted from the device list, the radio functions properly.

The following is an example of what would be covered:

The customer has an unapproved handset paired to the vehicle and it has worked (with or without anomalies) for an extended period of time. Suddenly, the handset no longer pairs to the vehicle. When diagnosing the vehicle, the TCU has fault code 73, Memory Error. The unapproved device is deleted from the device list and an unsuccessful attempt is made to pair an approved phone.

All customer concerns must be verified with a compatible Bluetooth handset.

The unapproved handset must be deleted from the TCU paired device list.

After pairing an approved device to the vehicle, a short test using BMW Diagnostic tools must be performed and FASTA data has to be transmitted.

If a warranty claim is submitted and FASTA data shows that an unapproved handset was in the Bluetooth device list during the diagnostic process, the warranty claim may be subject to a denial of claim payment.

[G35to330i]

They should be fired on the spot. That's probably the most ignorant thing I've heard this week. Not bad I guess, since it's Friday though...

[Technic]

Originally Posted by FirstBMWLA

Was at dealer picking up my car yesterday and overheard a conversation between a SA and another customer.

The customer was wanting help to pair his phone. The SA looked up his phone and said it wasn't compatible. When the SA walked away, I asked the guy had he even tried to pair. He said no. So I told him just try and I was sure it would work.

When the SA returned she overheard us talking. She said the phone will pair but it could damage the car. She said it was fry the car's computer system and cause 1k-2k damage.

How about that claim? I think she is nuts.

I noticed several failures with the VW OEM Bluetooth module and the iPhone 3GS in one of the VW forums that I participate after creating a thread about a defective OEM Bluetooth module in my girlfriend's 2010 CC and her iPhone 3GS.

The OEM BT module quit working after around two weeks of getting the iPhone 3GS. The symptom was several random pops during days while in a call with a final loud pop and then the disappearance of the BT menu from the Nav system. The module got shot somehow.

After asking for any other experiences in that forum other 4 members stated the same problem with the same OEM BT module and the iPhone 3GS. All their OEM BT modules were replaced under warranty.

My OEM BT module was replaced as well and started doing my own set of tests. What I found out was that what was causing the random pops was having the WiFi enabled in the iPhone. After disabling it no more pops and no more problems with the module for the last 3 months. That the iPhone GS also got a software update in the meantime definitely helped some.

What I'm saying is that a phone does have the capability of messing up an OEM BT module when there are software bugs on either side. That's the main reason BMW tests and "approve" phones to use with their systems.

Now, from that to messing up the whole car is an ignorant exageration.