USB port charging problem with iPhone 6

bobbydigital · 08-13-2015, 09:12 PM

I notice that when my iPhone 6 is low on battery (eg. <5%), even if I have it plugged into the USB port in the arm rest, the battery will still drain down. This doesn't happen when the iPhone is at say 20-% or higher.

My guess is that the phone draws more amperage/charge when it's low on power and I also have background apps running which adds to the problem.

However it's crazy that the USB port in a 2025 car cannot accommodate this. My other guess is that the armrest USB port is 1A whereas the iPhone 6 and 6 plus can charge at 2A.

Anyone else notice this problem?

I could fix this by getting a cigarette lighter USB charger with higher amperage but then I lose USB connectivity to idrive which I use daily for spotify control.

Any ideas?

bri1042 · 08-17-2015, 05:41 AM

I gave up charging on that port and put a plug-in charger in the power outlet in front of the drink holders. A friend uses his USB port for charging and didn't get why I was having a problem. It appears that his Enhanced USB is higher power than my basic USB. He can run 2.5" HDD's for music off of his and I can't off of mine, too.

Dang3r · 08-17-2015, 08:47 AM

Ahem...my manual says clearly DO NOT USE THE USB OUTLET FOR CHARGING. Maybe the voltage output is beyond the detection border of cellphones, dunno. Use the cigarette lighter port w/adaptor into the fwd console.

Anchored · 08-17-2015, 10:26 AM

500ma is the output of that port. WAY LESS then your phone requires.

it is a data transfer port and that's all.

bobbydigital · 08-17-2015, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anchored

500ma is the output of that port. WAY LESS then your phone requires.

it is a data transfer port and that's all.

My phone charges, albeit slowly, as long as the battery is over 20%. This must mean the power draw of the phone is higher when low battery life.

I can't believe a 2915 car over $25k who of ever include a data only USB port. Makes zero sense.

If the enhanced USB option equips the car with higher powered USB ports then that is a reason to get that $500 feature.

zinner · 09-01-2015, 12:23 PM

USB ports are limited to 500ma by the spec, they 1/2 A ports are detected by the device when the data pins are shorted. You can buy charging cables with the data shorted out, that might help, but then no data between car and phone.

Not sure about iphone but the Androids will tell you if it's changing via USB (500ma) or AC (1/2A)

jbo · 09-01-2015, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbydigital

I notice that when my iPhone 6 is low on battery (eg. <5%), even if I have it plugged into the USB port in the arm rest, the battery will still drain down. This doesn't happen when the iPhone is at say 20-% or higher.

My guess is that the phone draws more amperage/charge when it's low on power and I also have background apps running which adds to the problem.

However it's crazy that the USB port in a 2025 car cannot accommodate this. My other guess is that the armrest USB port is 1A whereas the iPhone 6 and 6 plus can charge at 2A.

Anyone else notice this problem?

I could fix this by getting a cigarette lighter USB charger with higher amperage but then I lose USB connectivity to idrive which I use daily for spotify control.

Any ideas?

It's likely an issue with the charging cable you are using. Are you using an apple certified lightning cable or an aftermarket one? Either way, try swapping out for another fresh cable and that should resolve the problem. Of course you can also always try restarting iDrive and your phone but I doubt that will do anything. I picked up a 3ft cable from Amazon and it handles data and charges perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/Certified-iXCC...9WRWAMYVGTB0EW

D3bian · 09-21-2015, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dang3r

Ahem...my manual says clearly DO NOT USE THE USB OUTLET FOR CHARGING. Maybe the voltage output is beyond the detection border of cellphones, dunno. Use the cigarette lighter port w/adaptor into the fwd console.

Hmmm, that's dumb of BMW ... Most smartphones will start charging anyway once they're connected to a USB port

... I hope that my 2016 car will not have this issue ...

RalphyBMW · 09-21-2015, 11:52 PM

Mine works just fine, must be 2A as it will even charge an iPad. 2014 car, pro nav, don't have EBT but coded it in.

D3bian · 09-23-2015, 11:10 AM

Thanks for the info RalphyBMW

You've made my day

08-13-2015, 09:12 PM	#1
bobbydigital Lieutenant 136 Rep 498 Posts Drives: 2015 BWM 435GC Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	USB port charging problem with iPhone 6 I notice that when my iPhone 6 is low on battery (eg. <5%), even if I have it plugged into the USB port in the arm rest, the battery will still drain down. This doesn't happen when the iPhone is at say 20-% or higher. My guess is that the phone draws more amperage/charge when it's low on power and I also have background apps running which adds to the problem. However it's crazy that the USB port in a 2025 car cannot accommodate this. My other guess is that the armrest USB port is 1A whereas the iPhone 6 and 6 plus can charge at 2A. Anyone else notice this problem? I could fix this by getting a cigarette lighter USB charger with higher amperage but then I lose USB connectivity to idrive which I use daily for spotify control. Any ideas?
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08-17-2015, 05:41 AM	#2
bri1042 Brigadier General 5931 Rep 3,288 Posts Drives: 2021 IOMG M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	I gave up charging on that port and put a plug-in charger in the power outlet in front of the drink holders. A friend uses his USB port for charging and didn't get why I was having a problem. It appears that his Enhanced USB is higher power than my basic USB. He can run 2.5" HDD's for music off of his and I can't off of mine, too.
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08-17-2015, 08:47 AM	#3
Dang3r Schmollbraten 12512 Rep 1,985 Posts Drives: M4CPC // HP4 Comp. Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Liandri Central Core iTrader: (0)	Ahem...my manual says clearly DO NOT USE THE USB OUTLET FOR CHARGING. Maybe the voltage output is beyond the detection border of cellphones, dunno. Use the cigarette lighter port w/adaptor into the fwd console. __________________ Citizen of ///M - Town, where too much is just right Some say, that my scrotum has its own small gravity field and when Im slowing down that brake lights come on at my buttox
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08-17-2015, 10:26 AM	#4
Anchored Banned 64 Rep 197 Posts Drives: E39 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	500ma is the output of that port. WAY LESS then your phone requires. it is a data transfer port and that's all.
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09-01-2015, 12:23 PM	#6
zinner Major 559 Rep 1,127 Posts Drives: `17 X5 35d/`15 335i/`18 M550IX Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	USB ports are limited to 500ma by the spec, they 1/2 A ports are detected by the device when the data pins are shorted. You can buy charging cables with the data shorted out, that might help, but then no data between car and phone. Not sure about iphone but the Androids will tell you if it's changing via USB (500ma) or AC (1/2A)
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09-21-2015, 11:52 PM	#9
RalphyBMW Captain 165 Rep 942 Posts Drives: F31 330d xDrive MSport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: West Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	Mine works just fine, must be 2A as it will even charge an iPad. 2014 car, pro nav, don't have EBT but coded it in. __________________ 2016 F80 M3
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09-23-2015, 11:10 AM	#10
D3bian New Member 6 Rep 24 Posts Drives: F30 - 318d - Red Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 318d [0.00]	Thanks for the info RalphyBMW You've made my day __________________
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