XSeries-forum

So Ive ordered a new X5 M50d currently due for delivery in May. I haven't added enhanced bluetooth with wireless charging or apple car play preparation.

All I'm looking for in the car is the ability to:
1) make and receive phone calls via the car display and without having to connect the phone with a wire
2) stream audio from Apple music and Napster and Audible (all on my iphone), ideally via the car display and without having to connect the phone with a wire.
3) get Siri to read out my texts and dictate and send texts using the voice buton on the steering wheel

Can anyone advise what they can and can't do in their recent f15s ie with idrive 5.0?
thanks

[quote="kenniff"]
So Ive ordered a new X5 M50d currently due for delivery in May. I haven't added enhanced bluetooth with wireless charging or apple car play preparation.

All I'm looking for in the car is the ability to:
1) make and receive phone calls via the car display and without having to connect the phone with a wire
2) stream audio from Apple music and Napster and Audible (all on my iphone), ideally via the car display and without having to connect the phone with a wire.
3) get Siri to read out my texts and dictate and send texts using the voice buton on the steering wheel

Can anyone advise what they can and can't do in their recent f15s ie with idrive 5.0?
thanks
[/quote]

I can do all that in my car and I have advanced Bluetooth and wireless charging etc.

I can't use the charging but everything else is seamless.

I can do all of what you want and I don't have the extended bluetooth.

[quote="megablade"]
I can do all of what you want and I don't have the extended bluetooth.
[/quote]

Interesting, we may be ticking option boxes we don't need!

I believe i will be able to do what i need to do without extended Bluetooth - i may not get album art on the display but that doesnt bother me.

[quote="kenniff"]
I believe i will be able to do what i need to do without extended Bluetooth - i may not get album art on the display but that doesnt bother me.
[/quote]

How much is the extended bluetooth option?

Extended bluetooth is £470 and apple car play prep (which requires EBT) is a further £235.

For less than a tenner a week for the first year of ownership I'd go with the extras.
I've just bought second hand and the cost and hassle of retrofit is crazy.
I would have happily paid more for the car as the cost of retrofit is a lot more than the cost at initial order.

Bluetooth audio streaming works on the standard option. If you didn't specify it from factory then Enhanced bluetooth can be activated via coding to allow you to connect multiple devices simultaneously and give you the office functions. If you specify Enhanced bluetooth from factory you also get an extra microphone for the passenger and an extra usb connecter in the centre console. The standard usb connector in the armrest remains. Supposedly the cars data connection is upgraded to 4G instead of 3G. Lastly you get the wireless charging sleeve in the centre armrest.

Its also been mentioned that you cannot get apple car play unless you have enhanced bluetooth. I'm not sure why this is because the hardware is mostly the same. I didnt specify enhanced bluetooth as I didnt think the £475 option was worth it. I dont plan to use carplay as most reviews say its not better than the standard professional media anyway. I cant say I've regretted not specifying it.

One option that i didn't specify and massively regret are the rear blinds. I mistakenly thought they were an accessory that could be purchased after but i'm now aware that they factory blinds are built in to the door frame. They allow you to open the window while still having the blinds up. They are very useful if you have children in the back and aftermarket blinds just don't compare. For a relatively affordable option of £200 i would definitely specified them had i known better.

Thanks. Ive had the office functions on my existing car and firstly couldnt get them to work then latterly a couple of years later I did get them to work - and used them for about 5 minutes!

My son appreciates the multiple devices - so he can subject us to his musical taste from his ipad when travelling with us... but not sure I would miss this.  ::)

The reason we need enhanced bluetooth for apple car play is that in the BMW the apple car play is done wirelessly. A lot of other manufacturers began with it being used via the usb connector.

I've thought about the rear blinds on previous cars and whilst I would def order them now if I had babies instead of children, I don't see the need now the kids are a bit older.

And finally, as to the cost... I've just been out for a walk and tried on a lovely black leather jacket. I could buy 2 of these for the price of the extras and still have them after 4 years when I sell the car......