BMW iPhone 7 connectivity via USB/Ycable?

CDNBimmer · 11-06-2016, 05:42 PM

Hi everyone,

Proud new owner of a 2011 X5. Car came with a y cable for the iPhone (older gen). Went and bought the 30 pin to lightning adapter and the car reads my music perfectly.

However, no sound! Assuming because the cable with the car has a headphone jack as well. If this were a iPhone 6 or prior I assume I'd plug that in as well and we'd have music.

Does anyone know the work around or whether another adapter is available to make this work?

Thanks

Ryan5034 · 11-06-2016, 07:55 PM

Can you not use Bluetooth?

CDNBimmer · 11-06-2016, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan5034

Can you not use Bluetooth?

My Bluetooth is phone only, no audio option

smrtypants44 · 11-06-2016, 09:40 PM

you should be able to use just a usb cable into the plug in the center console, thats how it works in my e82.

CDNBimmer · 11-06-2016, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smrtypants44

you should be able to use just a usb cable into the plug in the center console, thats how it works in my e82.

Unfortunately not. The device is not recognized

CDNBimmer · 11-06-2016, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDNBimmer

Quote:

Originally Posted by smrtypants44

you should be able to use just a usb cable into the plug in the center console, thats how it works in my e82.

Unfortunately not. The device is not recognized

Here is what I get when using the standard apple lightning USB cable.

As mentioned before, the Y-cable with adapter reads perfectly and reacts to my controls, just no sound. I assume because the sound is dispersed via the headphone jack of the y cable? Now that the iPhone 7 has lightning only, I need an alternative.

ORIGIN M. · 11-06-2016, 11:12 PM

Doesn't Apple offer Y cable with the 7 to allow the 3.5 audio jack?

IF so you need that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDNBimmer

Here is what I get when using the standard apple lightning USB cable.

As mentioned before, the Y-cable with adapter reads perfectly and reacts to my controls, just no sound. I assume because the sound is dispersed via the headphone jack of the y cable? Now that the iPhone 7 has lightning only, I need an alternative.

cookiesowns · 11-06-2016, 11:20 PM

The BMW Y cable will interface and passthrough audio via the 30 pin, the Lightening to 30 pin should also support audio passthrough unless apple nerfed it recently.

Have you tested to make sure your Aux port is good, and the Y cable isn't defective?

smrtypants44 · 11-06-2016, 11:26 PM

There's a bmw lighting y cable, just get that.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/3223161...&ul_noapp=true

My guess is the apple 30pin to lightning adapter is for data only, not audio.

CDNBimmer · 11-06-2016, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookiesowns

The BMW Y cable will interface and passthrough audio via the 30 pin, the Lightening to 30 pin should also support audio passthrough unless apple nerfed it recently.

Have you tested to make sure your Aux port is good, and the Y cable isn't defective?

Aux cable works on its own.

Y-Cable works on its own.

mwickens · 11-07-2016, 02:21 AM

A I had the same Y-cable setup with the 128 I just sold (before getting my 7 Plus). There are going to be a lot of adapters involved if you can get it to work. Maybe one of these Belkin lightning splitters plugged into the phone. Into one of its lightning connectors, plug in the Apple-provided 3.5mm headphone adapter. Into the other one, plug in a lightning extension cable. Now you’re in the same situation as with a pre-7 iPhone. Good luck!

temporaptor · 11-07-2016, 12:32 PM

My iPhone 7 works just fine with the lightning to USB cable. I have a 2012 x5.
Is your idrive up to date?
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/con...re_update.html

smass · 11-07-2016, 05:21 PM

Iphone lightning will work with a combox which OP does not have. When apple switched to lightning they changed the audio to digital so you need a d to a converter. Y adapters don't have this but Combox does. Tune2air is probably the best option. https://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-WMA300...words=tune2air

I used the tune2air for the past year and it works great. I switched to combox because I got one cheap and the only real difference is I can connect and switch between multiple BT devices.

caiken · 11-08-2016, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smassey321

Iphone lightning will work with a combox which OP does not have. When apple switched to lightning they changed the audio to digital so you need a d to a converter. Y adapters don't have this but Combox does. Tune2air is probably the best option. https://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-WMA300...words=tune2air

I used the tune2air for the past year and it works great. I switched to combox because I got one cheap and the only real difference is I can connect and switch between multiple BT devices.

This. Use this.

brian5 · 11-08-2016, 01:27 PM

It can work but you need the right combination of options. See my response in CDNBimmer's other thread on this topic...

CDNBimmer · 11-09-2016, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian5

It can work but you need the right combination of options. See my response in CDNBimmer's other thread on this topic...

Solved!

Tested a different y-cable and I have audio

Thanks for all the feedback

brian5 · 11-09-2016, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDNBimmer

Solved!

Tested a different y-cable and I have audio

Thanks for all the feedback

Good to hear. It doesn't help that there are at least 9 different y-cables out there...

11-06-2016, 05:42 PM	#1
CDNBimmer Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 07 BMW 335i & 09 BMW 128i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	BMW iPhone 7 connectivity via USB/Ycable? Hi everyone, Proud new owner of a 2011 X5. Car came with a y cable for the iPhone (older gen). Went and bought the 30 pin to lightning adapter and the car reads my music perfectly. However, no sound! Assuming because the cable with the car has a headphone jack as well. If this were a iPhone 6 or prior I assume I'd plug that in as well and we'd have music. Does anyone know the work around or whether another adapter is available to make this work? Thanks
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11-06-2016, 07:55 PM	#2
Ryan5034 First Lieutenant 83 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 50i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Fargo, ND iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X5 xdrive50 [0.00] [0.00] 2011 BMW X5 xdrive 50 [0.00] 1964 Chevrolet Bel-Air [0.00]	Can you not use Bluetooth?
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11-06-2016, 09:40 PM	#4
smrtypants44 Captain 518 Rep 895 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Tulsa, OK iTrader: (2)	you should be able to use just a usb cable into the plug in the center console, thats how it works in my e82. __________________
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11-06-2016, 11:20 PM	#8
cookiesowns ;) 587 Rep 898 Posts Drives: X5 45e, 535i N54, X3 N55 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West iTrader: (0)	The BMW Y cable will interface and passthrough audio via the 30 pin, the Lightening to 30 pin should also support audio passthrough unless apple nerfed it recently. Have you tested to make sure your Aux port is good, and the Y cable isn't defective?
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11-06-2016, 11:26 PM	#9
smrtypants44 Captain 518 Rep 895 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Tulsa, OK iTrader: (2)	There's a bmw lighting y cable, just get that. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/3223161...&ul_noapp=true My guess is the apple 30pin to lightning adapter is for data only, not audio. __________________
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11-07-2016, 02:21 AM	#11
mwickens Private First Class 63 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 2017 M240i Convertible Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	A I had the same Y-cable setup with the 128 I just sold (before getting my 7 Plus). There are going to be a lot of adapters involved if you can get it to work. Maybe one of these Belkin lightning splitters plugged into the phone. Into one of its lightning connectors, plug in the Apple-provided 3.5mm headphone adapter. Into the other one, plug in a lightning extension cable. Now you’re in the same situation as with a pre-7 iPhone. Good luck! __________________ 2017 M240i Cabriolet RWD 6MT. Glacier silver/coral red, alu hex/blk trim, moonlight blk top.
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11-07-2016, 12:32 PM	#12
temporaptor Second Lieutenant 64 Rep 266 Posts Drives: 11 335D MSport / 12 X5 35d Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	My iPhone 7 works just fine with the lightning to USB cable. I have a 2012 x5. Is your idrive up to date? http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/con...re_update.html
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11-07-2016, 05:21 PM	#13
smass Lieutenant Colonel 398 Rep 1,578 Posts Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 E90 335i [0.00] 2016 F15 35i [0.00] 2003 E53 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	Iphone lightning will work with a combox which OP does not have. When apple switched to lightning they changed the audio to digital so you need a d to a converter. Y adapters don't have this but Combox does. Tune2air is probably the best option. https://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-WMA300...words=tune2air I used the tune2air for the past year and it works great. I switched to combox because I got one cheap and the only real difference is I can connect and switch between multiple BT devices.
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11-08-2016, 01:27 PM	#15
brian5 Shoot for the moon 4 Rep 105 Posts Drives: 2008 X5 4.8i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	It can work but you need the right combination of options. See my response in CDNBimmer's other thread on this topic...
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