[fyonn]

heya folks,

I've got a 2006 e90 330d which I bought second hand recently. the idrive/bluetooth firmware has never been updated (is this the progman version?). anyway, my iphone 3g doesn't connect to it and I went in asking if BMW could update the firmware to the latest version so I could get my phone working.

they said that they won't do it for free but there is a deal whereby as long as the car is in the manufacturers warranty, I can pay the pound equivalent of €99 and BMW will fund whatever it costs to get my car up to the latest firmware version. normally this is the cost of the labour involved, but apparently it will stretch to a new car computer if required. apparently it's not a well known about offer so you have to ask for it, and they'll only do it once per year of the warranty.

anyway, he told me all this about 5 weeks ago and I went in today to book the car in and get it done. after some talk behind the scenes, it looks like this month is the last month the offer is on. it may be extended or changed, but if so, the dealers will only find out in October. it may also not be extended.

anyways, my car is booked in on tuesday for the upgrade to be done, the car needs to be in for 2 days apparently while they see if they can do the upgrade easily, or if it's new CCC time. if so, they need to call into BMW to get them to fund it.

so basically, if anyone else wants to take advantage of the offer, call your BMW dealer now just a heads up.

dave

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by fyonn

heya folks,

I've got a 2006 e90 330d which I bought second hand recently. the idrive/bluetooth firmware has never been updated (is this the progman version?). anyway, my iphone 3g doesn't connect to it and I went in asking if BMW could update the firmware to the latest version so I could get my phone working.

they said that they won't do it for free but there is a deal whereby as long as the car is in the manufacturers warranty, I can pay the pound equivalent of €99 and BMW will fund whatever it costs to get my car up to the latest firmware version. normally this is the cost of the labour involved, but apparently it will stretch to a new car computer if required. apparently it's not a well known about offer so you have to ask for it, and they'll only do it once per year of the warranty.

anyway, he told me all this about 5 weeks ago and I went in today to book the car in and get it done. after some talk behind the scenes, it looks like this month is the last month the offer is on. it may be extended or changed, but if so, the dealers will only find out in October. it may also not be extended.

anyways, my car is booked in on tuesday for the upgrade to be done, the car needs to be in for 2 days apparently while they see if they can do the upgrade easily, or if it's new CCC time. if so, they need to call into BMW to get them to fund it.

so basically, if anyone else wants to take advantage of the offer, call your BMW dealer now just a heads up.

dave

Do you have iDrive? Search the forum for problems associated with the Progman. If any have ever arisen then complain about that; the most notable one is the missing arrow display. Then the software upgrade is covered under warranty.

[vivekk]

You need to be a little careful here, Dave.

I'm in a similar position to yourself, regarding iphone 3G contacts not syncing with my car.

A PUMA was submitted to BMW Germany by my dealer on Wednesday & I'm waiting to find out what they say.

To put it simply, a Progman (software) update alone may not guarantee that your iPhone 3G will definitely sync with your idrive, as there is a slim possibility that this could also be hardware related.

The problem is that there are currently 13 generations of BMW bluetooth hardware (ULF) modules, the latest being introduced in May 2007. Strangely, not all of these provide the same bluetooth profiles, which are required to pair & transfer contacts from different mobiles.

I thought a Progman software update alone would be sufficient to update the ULF module & have the 3G transfer its contacts to the car. The dealer is unsure about this, as are BMW, so my PUMA request is now awaiting an answer.

Another problem is that the 3G is not currently on the BMW bluetooth compatibility list, even though I know it works fine with the E9x, produced after September 07 & with Progman 30.x.x +.
It is listed on the BMW US website, but without any particular firmware listed.
This has the effect of BMW UK not really giving a toss as to why any particular 3G won't sync its contacts with any particular E9x.

I'm sure your dealer is quite happy to upgrade your Progman version to the latest V31.x.x, which was released on 9/9//08. However, there is no way whatsoever they can guarantee it will give you the outcome you want- syncing your contacts with the idrive.

If it works, then great, but if it doesn't, will they carry out any further update(s) until it does work, without charging you any extra? Personally, I doubt it.


I've posted a number of times about means of getting Progman updates under warranty, without being charged- you just need to know what to complain about, the effect of which is to force the dealer to upgrade to the latest Progman version without charge.

I've been posting on scoopz iPhone 3G & BMW contact sync thread- have a look at it if you need more info.

All the best.

Viv

[hmi1750]

Just wondered, if no i-drive or bluetooth, like my car, is it worth getting update? Or is there no such thing... will it smooth out the driving more etc?

Thanks,

Sorry to just post in this thread.

[fyonn]

Originally Posted by vivekk

You need to be a little careful here, Dave.

I'm in a similar position to yourself, regarding iphone 3G contacts not syncing with my car.

that's not my position. my position is that I can't get my iphone 3g to conect to the car in any useful way. it connects, then disconnects, then connects, then disconects etcetc. this repeats until I get bored.

I'm actually not as bothered about the phonebook syncing as I intend to mount the phone in a brodit holder on the dash somewhere anyway, so I'll be able to see who an inomcing call is from, and make the call form the phone itself.

right now I'd just like to be able to make and receive calls via the car bluetooth kit. from my research, there seems to be people using iphone 3g's successfully with cars about my age and even earlier. some with 5 series seem to be using iphone 3g's successfully with 2004 cars.

I hadn't considered a bluetooth hardware issue I must admit, but the car BT kit does work successfully wiht my work nokia phone fine, including address book sync.

Originally Posted by vivekk

Another problem is that the 3G is not currently on the BMW bluetooth compatibility list, even though I know it works fine with the E9x, produced after September 07 & with Progman 30.x.x +.
It is listed on the BMW US website, but without any particular firmware listed.
This has the effect of BMW UK not really giving a toss as to why any particular 3G won't sync its contacts with any particular E9x.

yes, the MT has already told me that without the phone being on the dealers own compatibility papers (even BMW UK's site doesn't mean squat apparently) then they can't guarantee compatibility, but being as this is probably/potentially the last time I can take advantage of the offer, I thought it was worth doing. esp as they said that the deal means that BMW will fund whatever else is required to bring me up to the latest software version, even if that means a new car computer (which would be nice, but I'm not pinning my hopes on it)

Originally Posted by vivekk

I've posted a number of times about means of getting Progman updates under warranty, without being charged- you just need to know what to complain about, the effect of which is to force the dealer to upgrade to the latest Progman version without charge.

hmm.. I'll have to take a search through the archives then, see if I can find something that's not working

I have to admit, I'm really hoping that it's a software issue.

dave

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by fyonn

that's not my position. my position is that I can't get my iphone 3g to conect to the car in any useful way. it connects, then disconnects, then connects, then disconects etcetc. this repeats until I get bored.

I'm actually not as bothered about the phonebook syncing as I intend to mount the phone in a brodit holder on the dash somewhere anyway, so I'll be able to see who an inomcing call is from, and make the call form the phone itself.

right now I'd just like to be able to make and receive calls via the car bluetooth kit. from my research, there seems to be people using iphone 3g's successfully with cars about my age and even earlier. some with 5 series seem to be using iphone 3g's successfully with 2004 cars.

I hadn't considered a bluetooth hardware issue I must admit, but the car BT kit does work successfully wiht my work nokia phone fine, including address book sync.



yes, the MT has already told me that without the phone being on the dealers own compatibility papers (even BMW UK's site doesn't mean squat apparently) then they can't guarantee compatibility, but being as this is probably/potentially the last time I can take advantage of the offer, I thought it was worth doing. esp as they said that the deal means that BMW will fund whatever else is required to bring me up to the latest software version, even if that means a new car computer (which would be nice, but I'm not pinning my hopes on it)



hmm.. I'll have to take a search through the archives then, see if I can find something that's not working

I have to admit, I'm really hoping that it's a software issue.

dave

The bluetooth connection certainly works fine with Progman v27.x.x and above & certainly with car builds after September 05.

No hardware modification is necessary to the car & in my experience, there is no connection drop when using firmware 2.0.0 & above on the 3G.

All the best.

Viv

[quattrogmbh]

Regarding the connect, then disconnect, try removing any quick dial entries you have configured. I had the same issue with constantly connecting and disconnecting and removing the quick dial entries resolved it.

[fyonn]

Originally Posted by quattrogmbh

Regarding the connect, then disconnect, try removing any quick dial entries you have configured. I had the same issue with constantly connecting and disconnecting and removing the quick dial entries resolved it.

do you mean the favourites page (page 1) of the phone app on the iphone?

I'll give it a try but I hope it's not that, I use that to dial numbers by far more than using the contacts list...

dave

[fyonn]

Originally Posted by quattrogmbh

Regarding the connect, then disconnect, try removing any quick dial entries you have configured. I had the same issue with constantly connecting and disconnecting and removing the quick dial entries resolved it.

I tried deleting all the entries on my favourites list but the phone still disconnects regularly, so it's not that.

Originally Posted by SoYank

Do you have iDrive? Search the forum for problems associated with the Progman. If any have ever arisen then complain about that; the most notable one is the missing arrow display. Then the software upgrade is covered under warranty.

heh, the problem is that I've not found anything yet that isn't working. I've had a search through the forums for problems, but I've not experienced any of the issues that other people talk about. but I guess, if I have to pay a few quid for the upgrade then it won't brake the bank.

the only thing I've noticed is that for my, the interface is not the fastest thing in the world.

so I'm hoping that an upgrade will make my iphone bluetooth work, and will make the interface faster.

I think it's a shame that the new look main menu has lost the little background graphics that I like with my version, but hey, it's not gonna stop me going for the upgrade.

dave

[fyonn]

FYI folks,

I've collected my car now, re-paired my iphone 3g and it now seems to work flawlessly. it pairs and stays paired, access to the phone book works and shows all my contacts and I successfully made a phone call. not received one yet, but I'm sure it'll be okay.

I don't know what software version I'm on now but I would assume it's the latest. not sure how to check, but certainly the menu's look different and it feels a bit quicker. not had a full wander through the menu's yet.

now I need to get my new brodit 3g iphone cradle installed and wired up...

anyway, I'm now happy.

dave

PS. BMW haven't billed me for the work yet as they don't know how to invoice me for work priced in euro's. they let me take the car anyway, and they'll phopne me later to pay over the phone...

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by fyonn

FYI folks,

I've collected my car now, re-paired my iphone 3g and it now seems to work flawlessly. it pairs and stays paired, access to the phone book works and shows all my contacts and I successfully made a phone call. not received one yet, but I'm sure it'll be okay.

I don't know what software version I'm on now but I would assume it's the latest. not sure how to check, but certainly the menu's look different and it feels a bit quicker. not had a full wander through the menu's yet.

now I need to get my new brodit 3g iphone cradle installed and wired up...

anyway, I'm now happy.

dave

PS. BMW haven't billed me for the work yet as they don't know how to invoice me for work priced in euro's. they let me take the car anyway, and they'll phopne me later to pay over the phone...

Glad to hear it has worked.

All the best.

Viv