[focal]

Originally Posted by 13beamer

i knew about the compartment but not that it had a way to hold it up! Now thats cool! I noticed last week when I had a loaner from the dealer that the GT models stay up themselves as they have a gas shock to do so.

that's a good trick to know. just went to my car..it's not magnetic though. there is a mechanical latch that catches the cover.

[COKen]

If the catch stops working, all you need to do is pull the cover a bit toward the rear of the car. The catch depends on the cover being in the correct location.

[BMWbill]

Just learned this from another thread and I do not believe it has been mentioned yet here, and it really should be:

If you have a 2014 car with NAV plus an iPhone, holding the voice command button on the steering wheel rather than a quick tap will bypass the normal BMW voice recognition system and activate Siri instead, using the bluetooth mic to listen and stereo speakers to answer you. For me this is the most useful piece of tech yet out of all the new F30 features as I use Siri all the time. Now if you are driving 155 mph and suddenly want to know the capital of Thailand, you're set. Or, you can play a song, text your wife, tell siri, "Wake me up in 15 minutes" etc… Actually texting someone verbally and legally and having Siri read the reply will probably come in handy.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

Just learned this from another thread and I do not believe it has been mentioned yet here, and it really should be:

If you have a 2014 car with NAV plus an iPhone, holding the voice command button on the steering wheel rather than a quick tap will bypass the normal BMW voice recognition system and activate Siri instead, using the bluetooth mic to listen and stereo speakers to answer you. For me this is the most useful piece of tech yet out of all the new F30 features as I use Siri all the time. Now if you are driving 155 mph and suddenly want to know the capital of Thailand, you're set. Or, you can play a song, text your wife, tell siri, "Wake me up in 15 minutes" etc… Actually texting someone verbally and legally and having Siri read the reply will probably come in handy.

Oh nice good to know.

It's also useful for calling someone on the go. I'd imagine using Siri is more reliable than the standard BMW voice recognition system for making phone calls.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

Just learned this from another thread and I do not believe it has been mentioned yet here, and it really should be:

If you have a 2014 car with NAV plus an iPhone, holding the voice command button on the steering wheel rather than a quick tap will bypass the normal BMW voice recognition system and activate Siri instead, using the bluetooth mic to listen and stereo speakers to answer you. For me this is the most useful piece of tech yet out of all the new F30 features as I use Siri all the time. Now if you are driving 155 mph and suddenly want to know the capital of Thailand, you're set. Or, you can play a song, text your wife, tell siri, "Wake me up in 15 minutes" etc… Actually texting someone verbally and legally and having Siri read the reply will probably come in handy.

Will the prior years get an update? Siri will work through my car, but I have to activate from the iPhone Home button.

[BMWbill]

Originally Posted by snowghost

Will the prior years get an update? Siri will work through my car, but I have to activate from the iPhone Home button.

I am the furthest from an expert on this topic but this blog article from last june states that Apple worked with BMW and other car brands to put forth this "eyes free" siri integration on 2014 models:
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/06/07/...14-bmw-models/

Not sure if this coding would be added to previous years via a software update but if it involves Apple working with BMW the chances seem slim.
However, you can always buy this Mobile Home stick-on button:
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Home-Co.../dp/B009WRNSF6

[OC40]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

I am the furthest from an expert on this topic but this blog article from last june states that Apple worked with BMW and other car brands to put forth this "eyes free" siri integration on 2014 models:
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/06/07/...14-bmw-models/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.macrumors...mw-models/</a>

Another macrumors "frequenter."

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

Just learned this from another thread and I do not believe it has been mentioned yet here, and it really should be:

If you have a 2014 car with NAV plus an iPhone, holding the voice command button on the steering wheel rather than a quick tap will bypass the normal BMW voice recognition system and activate Siri instead, using the bluetooth mic to listen and stereo speakers to answer you. For me this is the most useful piece of tech yet out of all the new F30 features as I use Siri all the time. Now if you are driving 155 mph and suddenly want to know the capital of Thailand, you're set. Or, you can play a song, text your wife, tell siri, "Wake me up in 15 minutes" etc… Actually texting someone verbally and legally and having Siri read the reply will probably come in handy.

Sweet! I'm ditching my android for the iPhone 6 phablet coming out in a few months. I don't know how to quit you Siri!

[BMWbill]

Originally Posted by OC40

Another macrumors "frequenter."

You know it! Every penny that has paid for my little collection of BMW toys I have earned using a Mac, and that is why my BMWs all sport apple stickers. (Although they are hidden on my motorcycles) I'm not a fanboy though. I am from way before they invented fanboys.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

You know it! Every penny that has paid for my little collection of BMW toys I have earned using a Mac, and that is why my BMWs all sport apple stickers. (Although they are hidden on my motorcycles) I'm not a fanboy though. I am from way before they invented fanboys.

Nice! I love that site. However, it is difficult to read through the comments. The trolls are out of control!

[nfwb11]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

I am the furthest from an expert on this topic but this blog article from last june states that Apple worked with BMW and other car brands to put forth this "eyes free" siri integration on 2014 models:
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/06/07/...14-bmw-models/

I am even further from an "expert" but this is my experience with 2014 F32:

Yes, the Siri function is helpful and certainly more efficient than the iDrive but keep this in mind… some of the Connected Drive / Office aspects of the F32 (and other 2014 models I would imagine) do NOT play well with the iPhone. I can get into my calendar and some apps (FB, Twitter, Wiki, Pandora, etc) IF the phone is connected via USB, however, functions like e-mail and text-to-speech do NOT work. According to BMWNA they are working on it, but they admit it's an issue; one that most people don't know about until it's too late -- probably because they have an entire (misleading) ad campaign highlighting the text-to-speech function.

Certainly not material enough that I would have bought something else had I known, but important information nonetheless.

Originally Posted by ///M235i

I don't know how to quit you Siri!

Neither does Joaquin:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

I am the furthest from an expert on this topic but this blog article from last june states that Apple worked with BMW and other car brands to put forth this "eyes free" siri integration on 2014 models:
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/06/07/...14-bmw-models/

Not sure if this coding would be added to previous years via a software update but if it involves Apple working with BMW the chances seem slim.
However, you can always buy this Mobile Home stick-on button:
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Home-Co.../dp/B009WRNSF6

Not sure what the Mobile Home would get me. If I press the Home button on the iPhone I can talk through the car's mic and speakers.

[BMWbill]

Yeah it would allow you to keep phone in pocket or under arm rest. First World Problem.

[nfwb11]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

… First World Problem.

Exactly!

Perhaps a helpful link:

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte....aspx#view_all

[OC40]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

Yeah it would allow you to keep phone in pocket or under arm rest. First World Problem.

Best place for the phone, IMO, is in the space between the seat and the extender (sport seats).

[Pungschter]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

If you have a 2014 car with NAV plus an iPhone, holding the voice command button on the steering wheel rather than a quick tap will bypass the normal BMW voice recognition system and activate Siri instead, using the bluetooth mic to listen and stereo speakers to answer you. For me this is the most useful piece of tech yet out of all the new F30 features as I use Siri all the time. Now if you are driving 155 mph and suddenly want to know the capital of Thailand, you're set. Or, you can play a song, text your wife, tell siri, "Wake me up in 15 minutes" etc… Actually texting someone verbally and legally and having Siri read the reply will probably come in handy.

This also works for my Galaxy Note 3 and S Voice.

[casualDIYer]

Originally Posted by carconvert

Have a CDN luxury line w/premium package and I dont see a pin sized hole under the mirror

I believe you need the ECM mirror (i.e. the mirror that dims automatically when bright lights are shone on it from cars behind you.

Do you have the ECM mirror?

[synclastica_86]

I'm sure this has already been mentioned: you can activate Siri by holding the voice command button for 3 secs.

When I was driving home just now, I used used it to ask Siri abt tmrl's weather. My wife said that these functions are retarded. So I asked Siri again...

Me: Is my wife retarded?
Siri: I'm positive.

I had a grin on my face and my wife then forced me to activate Siri again...

Wife: Is my husband retarded?
Siri: I don't think so.

I was laughing so hard that I almost had to pull over.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

Seems like every day there is something I learn about this car or find a new feature. I don't know if there is a thread or if I should read the manual but I like hearing about other people's experiences.

Today I was in the trunk and found out where the battery and fuses are! And also some handy tools like a screwdriver that has Philips and Flathead as well as the tow hook.

There is also a button on the trunk itself to open it.

In another thread I learned the 1-8 buttons could be programmed as anything.

Anyone else find other interesting/neat things?

Here is my contribution. This is for your iphone.

1. Hold down the power switch at the top of your iphone. 2. Depress the round button on the lower middle face of the iphone.

You just took a picture of your screen. Anything on your iphone is now in your picture folder!

Try it! This is awesome!

[OC40]

Originally Posted by BMWrules7

Here is my contribution. This is for your iphone.

1. Hold down the power switch at the top of your iphone. 2. Depress the round button on the lower middle face of the iphone.

You just took a picture of your screen. Anything on your iphone is now in your picture folder!

Try it! This is awesome!

That is old school!

[Thlian]

I always thought the "docking" of the trailer hitch was electromechanical locked and I had to lock in "trailer" position by hand. But to my amusement (I just LOVE those gadget stuff), it`s a full electrical positioned hitch! Thumbs up for that, I`ve always been used to a detachable trailer hitch done by hand. And the result is that you never bother taking it off again

[joedoe]

Originally Posted by BMWrules7

Here is my contribution. This is for your iphone.

1. Hold down the power switch at the top of your iphone. 2. Depress the round button on the lower middle face of the iphone.

You just took a picture of your screen. Anything on your iphone is now in your picture folder!

Try it! This is awesome!

What it has to do with BMW?