Will an Iphone 5s work with my 2003 BMW E53 X5 bluetooth module?

[LooneyLeon]

Hello All,

Ive got a 2003 E53 X5 with the built in Blurtooth Module.

Yesterday i managed to pair up a Samsung Galaxy 5 mini via Bluetooth to my BMW.

It all seemed to work i.e it paired up first time, showed the last callers on the screen etc. I controlled the phone via the BMW screen and managed to make a call, everything worked apart from I couldnt appear to get the sound through the X5 speakers etc (this maybe due to a setting on the phone that I didn't set correctly, I did choose Blutooth headset on it or something or other as that was the only option on the phone.

Back to my question, I understand you can use an Iphone 4s without issue via Bluetooth in the BMW, can the same be said for the Iphone 5s? I want to buy a phone that just works in my car, can you please advise, as I dont want to buy a 4s if the newer 5s will work.

Thanks Guys n Girls.

Leon

[X5Sport]

You should be able to pair it, but not all the functions will work as the capability of that BT module is a long way behind current.  Music streaming will not work at all as an example.

If you are able to it will be worth taking the car to a car phone shop with a carp park outside and ask if they can pair one to the car for you.

Richard

[CondorX5]

There were numerous BT modules brought out by BMW over the years - the older versions are a bit glitchy and some new phones just will not pair as BT has evolved quite a bit over the years.  Those with really old BT modules wanting to have a phone that "just works" in the X either need to choose an old standard like an Ericsson k800i or one of the "business" Nokias from the time - they pair seamlessly and the phone just works as intended.  Newer smart phones are a bit of a mixed bag - lots of people have issues with older BT modules, to the point they have Parrot kits fitted. Its very expensive to replace a BT module from BMW, far cheaper to have a Parrot fitted.    FWIW, my 2005 4.8is pairs seamlessly to an iPhone 4s, but the module was replaced under warranty about 4 years ago, so it was the latest version of the BT module for the time, 2010. 

[LooneyLeon]

Thanks for the replies,

Richard - Im not too bothered about the MP3 streaming side I just want the phone to work as a phone so as long as it can do that ill be happy 

Condor - Yeah good point, ive got a couple of mates with 5s guess i could give their phones a go i guess.

Fingers crossed.

[PhilT]

Hi Leon

Me & the wife both have 5S's and they pair with our 2004 E53 no problem at all. Incoming call numbers aren't always displayed on the car displays but apart from that the phones work fine - download phone book, work from steering wheel, display previous call list etc.

They only work as phones though - no music streaming or anything.

Hope this helps.

[LooneyLeon]

Great stuff Phil thanks for the info 

[iff26]

I bought 55 plate X5 recently.Also couldnt connect iPhone 5 to BT myself! Go to local BMW dealership and they will connect it for u free of charge if any additional work isnt necessary!

[X5Sport]

Remember to clear any existing pairings first, then try pairing your new phone again.

Richard

[Cockneyjanner]

I can get 2 x iPhone 4s to pair with a 2005 X5 when following the instructions, but they subsequently lose it. Do you think this is likely to need a replacement Bluetooth unit in the boot?

Has anyone got a part number for a later version of the BT unit that would fit as a direct replacement?

[X5Sport]

Have a look on Realoem for your car model and the Bluetooth modules are all listed.  I believe they are plug and play.  Still no guarantee it will work though.

Richard

[SuperG]

I just synced an i-Phone 5s with my 2004 X5 E53, worked straight away as per the BMW BT instructions. 

But I'll be damned if I can get my Galaxy S3 to work though. It connects and then drops off after a few seconds, I can manually reconnect and it still drops off. It can initiate a call from the steering wheel controls and it will start to relay a call through the speakers, but literally drops off straight away.  >:(

What do I need to connect that scan 1.4 software or whatever it's called to the car?

Cheers,

Grant

[X5Sport]

A computer running XP and the hardware.  You can do it with later OS versions and even 64-bit, but it can be tricky.

The BMW Bluetooth version is 1.1 so any phone needs to be able to support that old version.  Latest is V4 on current mobiles.  It seems to be the backward compatibility that causes most problems for users and how well the phone maker has implemented it.  Bluetooth has been a nightmare for years, despite supposedly being a single harmonised standard.  BMWs implementation in their own hardware was poor as well - hence so many TCUs and ULF modules having to be released, some just weeks after the previous one.

Richard

[rhinoman]

Our 5s's work with our 2006 car, pairing is an arse though. There is an ebay seller doing newer bluetooth models, even on an exchange basis for the newer software.

[Sy4.8is]

Yes works fine on my 2005 e53.


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