12-06-2021, 05:38 PM | #1 |
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Late 2021 Review of BimmerTech MMI Prime on E70
Full disclosure: I am pretty anal when it comes to the quality and consistency of these types of retrofits on my cars. Most people probably won't be bothered by some of the stuff listed below, but it's stuff I would have wanted to know before buying this unit (and for the most part haven't seen on other's reviews).
This review is for the BimmerTech CarPlay/MMI Prime retrofit on my 2011 BMW X5 (CIC, TCU, MULF, no combox, 360 camera) running MMI software version 3.1.1.4. I am testing using a couple iPhone 11 Pros running iOS 15.1. Note that I am using wireless CarPlay for this review. I imagine many of my gripes would be rectified by using the wired CarPlay, but I don't want to have to plug in my phone every time I drive. The Good:
The Not-So-Good:
I spoke with BimmerTech support about this issue. After testing and fiddling with some of the system settings, they ended up sending me a replacement unit. After installing the new unit, I encountered the exact same behavior. This leads me to believe it is not a hardware problem. Last edited by uberchris; 12-15-2021 at 01:01 PM.. |
12-11-2021, 10:40 PM | #2 |
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My experience since September has been quite similar. I too was sent a replacement model when I had complaints about the lack of a seamless experience like I've had on rental cars. Their promotion implies that the device will simply allow you to enter the vehicle, start and drive away and for me that just isn't the case.
And I would have preferred if the wired option were a real option that they plan for the the USB cable to come through the center console instead of just poking out the dashboard. I've moved mine to a discreet area in the footwell as I prefer an OEM look. One difference with yours is that I use an Android phone. I've come up with a work around for the delay at initial start which can sometimes take up to 10 -15 mins at a time to activate in my case -- as soon as I start the engine I pick up my phone and manually select the MMI Prime system on bluetooth. In less than 10 secs the system starts including music. This works about 95% of the time or better and even though it's an extra step, by making the connection regular it comes across as seamless. Passengers don't notice that this isn't a regular feature of my X5. If I could get this function to work - connecting to MMI Prime on Bluetooth manually -- before I'm actually in the vehicle I'd likely less notice the extra step. I've also discovered that instead of pressing the voice activation command button on the steering wheel, I press the jog switch for about 5 secs and the MMI prime prompts me to speak a command and carries it out. If I use the voice activation switch on the steering both the MMI Prime and the BMW system tries to respond. As for the sound I did a lot of adjustment with the MMI prime audio settings and the BMW's to get a sound experience that I'm very satisfied with. My up switch on the steering wheel does play the previous song and the down plays the next song -- which to me seems counter-intuitive. As for extra phones, my X5 comes with an "additional phone" option allowing two phones to be connected at one time and I use this approach for the "other" regular passenger. My situation is unique in that the vehicle is almost never driven without me being in it as either a driver or passenger. I'd give the system overall a B+. It does work, it's just that it promised to be more. |
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02-05-2022, 08:03 PM | #3 |
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Update:
I recently received a AAWireless Adapter from IndieGogo. I bought it for our Mercedes but its actually not driven much and I wondered since the device worked so well in the Mercedes, how would it work in the X5? Amazingly. This device turns the Bimmertech device into the thing Bimmertech advertised it could be. Plugging in the adapter makes the Bimmertech device think that you're hard-wired changing the performance markedly better! Within seconds of getting in the vehicle -- even before you can get the phone out of your pocket Android Auto is up and running. No need to do anything to the phone at all. It just works. I'm using velcro to hold the device in place in the passenger footwell just under the glove box area. With AA Wireless, I now give the system an A! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My experience since September has been quite similar. I too was sent a replacement model when I had complaints about the lack of a seamless experience like I've had on rental cars. Their promotion implies that the device will simply allow you to enter the vehicle, start and drive away and for me that just isn't the case. And I would have preferred if the wired option were a real option that they plan for the the USB cable to come through the center console instead of just poking out the dashboard. I've moved mine to a discreet area in the footwell as I prefer an OEM look. One difference with yours is that I use an Android phone. I've come up with a work around for the delay at initial start which can sometimes take up to 10 -15 mins at a time to activate in my case -- as soon as I start the engine I pick up my phone and manually select the MMI Prime system on bluetooth. In less than 10 secs the system starts including music. This works about 95% of the time or better and even though it's an extra step, by making the connection regular it comes across as seamless. Passengers don't notice that this isn't a regular feature of my X5. If I could get this function to work - connecting to MMI Prime on Bluetooth manually -- before I'm actually in the vehicle I'd likely less notice the extra step. I've also discovered that instead of pressing the voice activation command button on the steering wheel, I press the jog switch for about 5 secs and the MMI prime prompts me to speak a command and carries it out. If I use the voice activation switch on the steering both the MMI Prime and the BMW system tries to respond. As for the sound I did a lot of adjustment with the MMI prime audio settings and the BMW's to get a sound experience that I'm very satisfied with. My up switch on the steering wheel does play the previous song and the down plays the next song -- which to me seems counter-intuitive. As for extra phones, my X5 comes with an "additional phone" option allowing two phones to be connected at one time and I use this approach for the "other" regular passenger. My situation is unique in that the vehicle is almost never driven without me being in it as either a driver or passenger. I'd give the system overall a B+. It does work, it's just that it promised to be more. |
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StradaRedlands4950.50 |
02-06-2022, 07:41 AM | #4 |
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I have no need/desire to venture where you two have... however enjoy reading the write-ups.
On the "backward" button controls for PREV and NEXT song... I am not sure which way the OP was describing as he did not specify, but CarFan you state: "My up switch on the steering wheel does play the previous song and the down plays the next song -- which to me seems counter-intuitive." The stock e70 buttons work as you describe - Up is PREV, Down is NEXT. The reason this is different from some other devices we use (like my BT headset I use when working out) is that when you are looking at the stock iDrive screen it lists the songs from top to bottom, so of course if you press Down, it goes to the NEXT song. Up goes back up one song. This is how I think of it so it makes sense when using those buttons. It makes sense to me that these buttons are wired this way and continue to work in this way even with the unit installed.
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10-02-2023, 04:23 PM | #5 | |
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10-02-2023, 10:32 PM | #6 |
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I had the MMI, i didnt have the issues that the other guy had, it was ok but i went with an android screen and setup, far easier and costs half as MMI.
buy here, and yes they all ship from china, WhatsApp support is good as well. i am not affiliated https://www.ugode.co.uk/ |
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12-16-2023, 06:57 PM | #7 | |
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Dresses up the X5 nicely. Passengers assume that its OEM and it works fairly seamlessly. |
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12-16-2023, 07:21 PM | #8 | |
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