Voice commands and navigation voice instructions not working

[_Boost_]

New BMW owner here, just picked up a 2011 x35D a few days ago. So far the truck has been great, but there's two things I haven't been able to get working:

1. Voice commands- When I press the button on the steering wheel nothing happens. Do I need to enable this somewhere in the settings?

2. Navigation voice instructions- I read in the manual that the voice instructions volume can only be adjusted when it's speaking, but so far I haven't had any luck. I don't hear any instructions when using the Nav, and it doesn't pause my music like it's saying the instructions (same behavior with both keys).

Any help would be appreciated!

[heatmizr]

Interesting. I don't see a way to Activate/Deactivate Voice in any menu within the iDrive. There is a place to select a language though, make sure one is selected.
Do you even hear a tone when you press the Voice button on the wheel? Or see the little "face with sound waves" icon on the screen when you press it? Perhaps the button itself is broken?

Yes its true that the Vol control only affects what is playing at that very moment, so like some office phones with annoyingly loud ringers, you can only adjust it when it is actually talking back to you.

Sorry, I see no other details in the manual.

[_Boost_]

Originally Posted by heatmizr

There is a place to select a language though, make sure one is selected.
Do you even hear a tone when you press the Voice button on the wheel? Or see the little "face with sound waves" icon on the screen when you press it? Perhaps the button itself is broken?

English is selected as a language. I don't hear any sounds or see the face, so perhaps that button is broken even though all of the others work.

[smyles]

Are you sure you have it as a factory option?

[_Boost_]

Originally Posted by smyles

Are you sure you have it as a factory option?

I believe so. I ran my VIN and it has the following option listed:

620 VOICE INPUT SYSTEM

Here's the language settings screen, Speech Mode is grayed out (not sure if that's normal).

[smyles]

Dunno then. But for #2 navi voice instructions, make sure it's on - the circled icon toggles it on/off.

[heatmizr]

I believe that circled icon in Smyles' pic is only to control the CAR to speak Nav directions to you; not for YOU to speak iDrive commands.
OP you may want to call your dealer to ask about that line being grayed out... I will check mine to see if it is also. Does it allow you to change it?

[_Boost_]

Originally Posted by heatmizr

I believe that circled icon is only for the CAR to speak Nav directions to you; not for YOU to speak iDrive commands.
OP you may want to call your dealer to ask about that line being grayed out... I will check mine to see if it is also. Does it allow you to change it?

It doesn't give me the option to change it.

[smyles]

I wonder if the previous owner attempted to code smthg and inadvertently messed it up. I've checked mine and the Speech Mode option is not grayed out, there's Short and Full (or smthg like that) options.

[_Boost_]

Originally Posted by smyles

I wonder if the previous owner attempted to code smthg and inadvertently messed it up. I've checked mine and the Speech Mode option is not grayed out, there's Short and Full (or smthg like that) options.

Thank you for checking.

[blue dragon]

reset CIC and combox (CMEDIA) to default using ncsexpert, see if that fixes it.

[heatmizr]

Would any coding Reset done by the dealer during service accomplish this CIC reset? Or only services that involve updates to the coding as per BMW?

Yeah the "Short" or "Full" is for the Voice speaking back the command to confirm what you speak, either in abbreviated form or fully spoken out. I have been meaning to try the Short setting, should be a little quicker. Seems unnecessary to hear it back in full as you already know what YOU spoke.

[_Boost_]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

reset CIC and combox (CMEDIA) to default using ncsexpert, see if that fixes it.

I just ordered the cable yesterday, so I'll try this next week

[heatmizr]

Results??

[_Boost_]

Originally Posted by heatmizr

Results??

No change yet. I have the cable, and I almost have the software working (I went through 4 different packages found online). As soon as I get past one more error I should be able to see if there's any settings I can enable.