Just picked up a 2007 X5 - can't connect iPhone 6 via bluetooth - why?

[atljeremy]

I know this is an older X5 being that it's an '07 but I'm wondering if anyone has been able to connect their iPhone 6/6+ (iOS 8.3) to an older X5 (07/08/09)? If so, how did you accomplish this? Is there a firmware update that I can have the dealer install that will allow me to connect my phone? Any help/guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[mitch808]

First you need to know if you even have the right options to allow for this? Is streaming possible, or just phone calls?
Can you connect via any other device?
Android, older iOS device, Windows Phone/RT?

[atljeremy]

I have the option to pair a new phone from the settings menu and I have the phone/voice command buttons on the steering wheel. I have an old iPhone 4 that I can try to pair but according to everything I've seen so far I should be able to connect a phone via Bluetooth for hands free calling; I don't believe it'll allow streaming music in this model.

[atljeremy]

Quick update, I tried pairing an old Samsung Galaxy Nexus and that device couldn't see the X5 as being an available Bluetooth device either.

I'm charging an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 4 to try those as well. I highly suspect those will not see the X5 either. I'm thinking the Bluetooth profiles available in the current firmware of the iDrive software are so old (2007) that none of the newer Bluetooth devices will see the truck.

I'll report back after the other iPhones are charged and I've tried pairing them.

[atljeremy]

Forgot to mention that I can see that other phones have been paired with the truck in the past by the previous owner. The list consists of a couple blackberry's and some other devices.

[atljeremy]

Just tried the iPhone 4, same issue. The phone doesn't see the X5 even though I've put it into pairing mode and it tells me to look for my BMW on my phone.

[atljeremy]

So according to this site http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...hframedin.aspx when I enter my X5's vin it only shows like 10 devices (a couple REALLY old iPhones, some Blackberry's and some SonyEricsson's) as being compatible with my X5. I can't imagine this is still the case. There has got to be a firmware update to update the bluetooth profiles in the truck so that it can connect with newer devices.

Has no one tried connecting an newer iPhone (6 or 6+) to an older X5 (07/08/09)? Is this truly a lost cause or is there a firmware update that can be applied to make this work?

[lanbrown]

Your phones need to be backwards compatible. So while the new phone support a higher revision profile, they are suppose to be backwards compatible. There will be no software upgrades from BMW to add newer profiles.

Since we now know that BT is in the vehicle, it is something that you are doing that is causing the issue. I would make sure that when you enable pairing on the BMW, you also make sure that you either enable pairing on your phone as well or make sure that they are set to visible.

I would also delete the old phones listed in the BMW.

[atljeremy]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Your phones need to be backwards compatible. So while the new phone support a higher revision profile, they are suppose to be backwards compatible. There will be no software upgrades from BMW to add newer profiles.

Since we now know that BT is in the vehicle, it is something that you are doing that is causing the issue. I would make sure that when you enable pairing on the BMW, you also make sure that you either enable pairing on your phone as well or make sure that they are set to visible.

I would also delete the old phones listed in the BMW.

Yeah, I'm definitely doing it right. I've paired phones in many other cars / devices many times before. Steps I'm taking...

1) Access iDrive Settings > Bluetooth > Phone > Pair New Phone. (I'm going from memory here so this may not be the exact way to get to the pairing menu, but you get the point)
2) I choose to start pairing a new phone and the system then tells me to look for my BMW on my other device.
3) I access the bluetooth settings menu on my iPhone 6 (Settings > Bluetooth) and turn on Bluetooth.
4) The iPhone is now showing the activity indicator which indicates the phone is searching for visible devices. It's at this step that I get stuck with every single device I've tried to pair with this X5.

No device I've tried sees the X5 as a visible / pair-able bluetooth device.

[neliconcept]

My 5s is paired with my 2007 4.8, so you should be able to get the 6 working.

Your bluetooth system could be malfunctioning too...

[atljeremy]

Originally Posted by neliconcept

My 5s is paired with my 2007 4.8, so you should be able to get the 6 working.

That's good to hear. Do you know if you've ever had a firmware update or are you running the stock firmware in your X5?

[neliconcept]

Originally Posted by atljeremy

That's good to hear. Do you know if you've ever had a firmware update or are you running the stock firmware in your X5?

Not sure, I recently got it about 4 months ago.

[joe_planet]

updating the bluetooth software should be the first thing you do, not the last, get it done already

[lanbrown]

You still missed some of what I said. Good luck with your problem.

[atljeremy]

What did I miss? I am trying to pair properly and the X5 doesn't show up on any device I try to pair with it. I will try deleting the old phones still listed as being paired with the truck but that shouldn't restrict me from being able to pair new devices.

[atljeremy]

Also, I've already scheduled a service appointment for tomorrow to get this looked at. I'm thinking it's got to be something wrong with the Bluetooth in the truck. I'll report back my findings after tomorrow.

[atljeremy]

So I just got back from the dealer and they said that the TCU has some corrosion on it and would need to be replaced. The part is $498 and the labor involved in replacing it and programming it would be another $560. So in total roughly $1060 to address the Bluetooth issue.

Anyone have any recommendations? Is this worth replacing considering the corrosion they mentioned? What other issues could arise from this corrosion on the TCU? Is this a part that I could find used somewhere for less?

Thanks.

[Cattivo]

Just get a Y cable n save yourself $

[joe_planet]

find a functional second hand tcu, install it yourself and have them program it

probably save at least $600

[joe_planet]

the out this link http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782413

[atljeremy]

Originally Posted by joe_planet

the out this link http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782413

Wow, so theoretically I could hunt down a used TCU that matches the one in my X5 currently and just pop it in and go. That's awesome. Thanks for the info.

[atljeremy]

I just found a TCU on Ebay from a 2007 X5 with the exact part # I need for only $59. It's got like 78k miles on it but the seller has a 90 day money back guarantee on it so if it doesn't work I'll return and try to find another one. Fingers crossed I can just plug-n-play.