[vp]

Why can't BMW add CarPlay and Android Auto to idrive 4.0?

It's software and in today's day and age this should be possible, even Kia has done this to 2014 models. BMW prides its idrive but a software update can't add more functionality?

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/05/19/f...-cars-via-upd/

[Arthurrs]

Likely because the hardware used in idrive 4.0 is not capable of supporting carplay. Or put otherwise, the hardware used with idrive 4.0 was designed at a time when carplay wasn't even product (remember that carplay wasn't released until 2014).

[vp]

Originally Posted by Arthurrs

Likely because the hardware used in idrive 4.0 is not capable of supporting carplay. Or put otherwise, the hardware used with idrive 4.0 was designed at a time when carplay wasn't even product (remember that carplay wasn't released until 2014).

True and possible but that would apply to other car makers as well. Other car makers like Kia provided the upgrades in 2014 models. I don't buy BMW's excuse.

[Kj_rowsell]

I mistakingly didn't do enough research when buying a second hand 3 Series. I have a 2011 Ford Fiesta that had the ability to play Spotify via AUX or Bluetooth at the switch of one button. When I tired to do this with the 3 Series it turns out you need to have the CoinectedDrive and everything to be able to use it. I myself have a thread hoping to get some advice on how to be able to play Spotify/what retrofitting I need to do..

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by vp

Why can't BMW add CarPlay and Android Auto to idrive 4.0?

Because it's the Ultimate Driving Machine. You're lucky it even has a radio.

[Arthurrs]

Originally Posted by vp

True and possible but that would apply to other car makers as well. Other car makers like Kia provided the upgrades in 2014 models. I don't buy BMW's excuse.

Depends on when the hardware of the car was designed, and likely the 2014 model uses much of the same electronic hardware that was developed at the beginning of the F30 series for the 2012 model, back when carplay was not even a consideration by the engineers designing the head unit electronics. I'm sure if the F30 started with the 2014 year model, the electronics would have been more up to date to accommodate carplay with a software upgrade, hence why some other manufacturers were able to accommodate it with a newer hardware design.

But then again, in 2013 BMW said this: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/12/w...os-in-the-car/

So maybe they jumped on the bandwagon a bit too late?

[beanbaguk]

It's not fair and it shouldn't be this way but premium cars make their money on the options list. Ford make it on the model and they compensate a Ford Fiesta with a ton of electronics, but as far as cars and driving go, unless it's an ST it's a pile of poop. I once drove a 2016 Opel Corsa and was amazed by the amount of gadgetry in the car! Driver warning aids, radar cruise control, CarPlay, Android Car, tons of stuff. But when I drove the damned thing, it was just a bag of shite. Awful car!

With BMW you are (hopefully), paying for a quality car that handles brilliantly, looks the part and is built with premium materials. The options are just that. Options to enhance the car if you want to add to the drivability.

Short of the long, not buying gadgets shouldn't have any detriment on the driving of the car.

[MSport_Jon]

Originally Posted by Arthurrs

Likely because the hardware used in idrive 4.0 is not capable of supporting carplay. Or put otherwise, the hardware used with idrive 4.0 was designed at a time when carplay wasn't even product (remember that carplay wasn't released until 2014).

I dont think so. I think its about sales. BMW has the pockets to develop and add apple car play and android auto to vehicles decently equipped. These are API's with hooks to the QNX os that exists already. All they have to do is write the interface and add a menu item and certify it. yes it does take some resources but not as much as some may think. They will not do this because these appealing features sells cars and they rather implement these resources in their newer models. Some people will sell their current same platform F car for the same F vehicle with newer tech.

[vp]

Originally Posted by MSport_Jon

I dont think so. I think its about sales. BMW has the pockets to develop and add apple car play and android auto to vehicles decently equipped. These are API's with hooks to the QNX os that exists already. All they have to do is write the interface and add a menu item and certify it. yes it does take some resources but not as much as some may think. They will not do this because these appealing features sells cars and they rather implement these resources in their newer models. Some people will sell their current same platform F car for the same F vehicle with newer tech.

Agreed, they could rewrite idrive 4.2 to include software features such as CarPlay or android auto without upgrading to the tile interface and features of idrive 5.

It is simply that they chose not to for sales reasons or stubbornness.

[Almaretto]

For Android, BMW has chosen to support apps through ConnectedDrive (Ie BMW Connected App).

For Apple, Carplay is still a separate, poorly integrated afterthought. It looks "ok" on a phone, but Cheap compared to IDrive 5/6. From hardware standpoint, HU_NBT does not even support ID5/6. Then, there are two HU_NBT2 units:

• One with 2GB of ram (ID4++)
• Second with 4GB ram (ID5/ID6).

If you force update the older unit, it results in frequent reboots.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by vp

It is simply that they chose not to for sales reasons or stubbornness.

Or they don't want to fall into the 'it's two years old and that makes it obsolete' trap that's typical of the cell phone industry...again.

[Arthurrs]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

For Android, BMW has chosen to support apps through ConnectedDrive (Ie BMW Connected App).

For Apple, Carplay is still a separate, poorly integrated afterthought. It looks "ok" on a phone, but Cheap compared to IDrive 5/6. From hardware standpoint, HU_NBT does not even support ID5/6. Then, there are two HU_NBT2 units:

• One with 2GB of ram (ID4++)
• Second with 4GB ram (ID5/ID6).

If you force update the older unit, it results in frequent reboots.

<tongue in cheek mode on>
Why won't Windows 10 work on my 5 year old PC with 4 GB of RAM???? It's just a software upgrade so it should work.... Oh it's sooo sucky and slow....
<tongue in cheek mode off>

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Arthurrs

<tongue in cheek mode on>
Why won't Windows 10 work on my 5 year old PC with 4 GB of RAM???? It's just a software upgrade so it should work.... Oh it's sooo sucky and slow....
<tongue in cheek mode off>

I cannot work with less than 6, preferably 8, so I know not. But, ram is not issue with Windows 10 compared to HDD/ disk spin.

View post on imgur.com

Now, back to your regularly scheduled thread....

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

ram is not issue with Windows 10 compared to HDD/ disk spin.

Ditch the HDD. SSD isn't just a fad. I first installed one in a Toshiba Satellite running, barely, with XP, and it totally transformed it. Ever since then when I've bought a new computer the HDD was immediately replaced with SSD, keeping the HDD only as a backup.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Ditch the HDD. SSD isn't just a fad. I first installed one in a Toshiba Satellite running, barely, with XP, and it totally transformed it. Ever since then when I've bought a new computer the HDD was immediately replaced with SSD, keeping the HDD only as a backup.

HDD are fine for Win 7. I use SSD for Win 10. I do the same, put extra disk in cd rom bay.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

HDD are fine for Win 7.

I didn't find the loading speed improvement with SSD on W7 or W10 to be as dramatic as it was with XP, but it was still halved.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I didn't find the loading speed improvement with SSD on W7 or W10 to be as dramatic as it was with XP, but it was still halved.

I have < 12 s reboot time with SSD. As great as that is, the issue is random high spin times with Win10 on HDD that temporarily freeze up computer until rpm's can cycle down.

[philbake]

Originally Posted by vp

Why can't BMW add CarPlay and Android Auto to idrive 4.0?

It's software and in today's day and age this should be possible, even Kia has done this to 2014 models. BMW prides its idrive but a software update can't add more functionality?

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/05/19/f...-cars-via-upd/

Look, isn't it really more about marketing and sales? If something's broken, and a software update will correct it, they may provide it. But I have yet to see any software update add a feature to the car. A huge percentage of these cars, when new, are leased for 3 years. Owners lease a new one and get new features. Dealers will generally only even update software if it corrects a known issue of some sort. I Know for a fact there's newer software for the ECU of my '16 428ix GC, (under warranty) but unless my car exhibits some sort of problem, BMW won't pay the dealer to update it.

[cmplaya]

The chevy cruze i just rented had comfort access on all 4 doors with the ability to press once to open one door and press again to open all doors...i wish i had that on my 60K f30

[goj]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

The chevy cruze i just rented had comfort access on all 4 doors with the ability to press once to open one door and press again to open all doors...i wish i had that on my 60K f30

Yeah, I understand that when the F30 first sold in 2011 it didn't have it but you'd think this would be one of the LCI updates to keep technology current.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

The chevy cruze i just rented had comfort access on all 4 doors with the ability to press once to open one door and press again to open all doors...i wish i had that on my 60K f30

Order the option next time.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

The chevy cruze i just rented had comfort access on all 4 doors with the ability to press once to open one door and press again to open all doors...

From the manual:
Unlocking
The settings are saved in the active profile, refer
to page 35.
Doors
1. "Settings"
2. "Doors/key"
3. Select the symbol.
4. Select the desired function:
▷ "Driver's door only"
Only the driver's door and the fuel filler
flap are unlocked. Pressing again unlocks
the entire vehicle.
▷ "All doors"
The entire vehicle is unlocked.