[richiro]

Hey all,

Just got the text today from the service dept, allegedly the cause of all of our connectivity issues stem from needing a new amplifier in the car.

Supposed to get it installed tomorrow, and the car dropped off on friday.

We'll see, but I did warn them that this is now the 3rd attempt to fix the same issue, and though not a real "hazardous" scenario, for me, at times it can be, can't speak for everyone else, but when the calls drop, my first inclination is to reach for the phone to hit speaker. This has caused a couple of near close calls.

Already building and saving build code for an X3 M40i if this doesn't pan out well.

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by richiro

We'll see, but I did warn them that this is now the 3rd attempt to fix the same issue, and though not a real "hazardous" scenario, for me, at times it can be, can't speak for everyone else, but when the calls drop, my first inclination is to reach for the phone to hit speaker. This has caused a couple of near close calls.

In the UK now they have changed the law that even touching a phone could get you points and a fine. Too many accidents from people looking away from the road. Personally some car setups now inc the X1 can need too much time looking off the road to control things than it used to be.

[Duncs1961]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

In the UK now they have changed the law that even touching a phone could get you points and a fine. Too many accidents from people looking away from the road. Personally some car setups now inc the X1 can need too much time looking off the road to control things than it used to be.

And yet all modern cars now have touchscreens, and to me using those (even for basics, such as adjsuting the heating) is just as bad as using a phone, and yet it must be legal to uses the carvtouchscreen is part of the car controls - crazy situation.

[Tazz]

Really, I have never had an issue with phone connectivity, wireless is more stable than wired in my idrive 8

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by Duncs1961

And yet all modern cars now have touchscreens, and to me using those (even for basics, such as adjsuting the heating) is just as bad as using a phone, and yet it must be legal to uses the carvtouchscreen is part of the car controls - crazy situation.

Yeah completely agree, we switch between the X3 and X1 and the X3 is so much easier to change things quickly and often with a single press than the multiple looks away, get into the right menu press 3 times that the X1 offers. Oh and try and speak to the car, 99% of the time it just thinks you are trying to give it directions its clueless, however ironically good at taking directions for journeys.

[spmcewen]

Sorry to be skeptical, but I feel like car mechanics are completely out of their element dealing with technology issues. I doubt the car's audio amplifier has anything to do with the bluetooth or wifi connection.

Your specific model phone and its software version has as much to do with connectivity issues and it's usually a combination of that AND the hardware in the car. Not sure what your phone details are but it might be cheaper and easier and less frustrating to just buy a new phone if you're using one that's a couple years old.

I also have a 2020 RDX and when I got it new it worked perfectly fine with my iPhone 12 and whatever version of iOS that was current then. By 2022 CarPlay barely worked. I went through the levels of Honda support and got them to admit their hardware is severely underpowered and iOS16 specifically has issues with it. I figured that was the way it was going to be forever but Apple fixed nearly all the issues on their side with iOS17.

Neither my wife's iPhone 12 or my iPhone 15 have had any issues with iOS17 and the X1.

[a few more details] - I opened a support ticket with Honda after sitting in a dealership and overhearing a conversation between the dealership and a customer about how horrible CarPlay was. I spoke up and said she wasn't the only one, mine has been horrible for over a year as well. A 3rd person in the waiting room also spoke up and said his car was the same way. Meanwhile the support rep is claiming unpairing and pairing the phone again will fix it, and I called him out on that BS. Acura knew about the issue and there was nothing they could do other than replace the entire dashboard and entertainment system to upgrade the older hardware, which they would only do if there was another hardware fault detected.

[BMWZ4]

AA FTW!

But yeah, a new amp unlikely to address CP issues. I think the manufacturers are having a difficult time keeping up with mobile phone software changes i.e. improved BT, wireless connectivity etc...less about the car manufacturer and more about the phone manufacturers

And to the OP...if you think picking up an x3m40i will resolve your issue, it's unlikely. If I'm not mistaken, mobile connectivity exists across a few models...IMO

[richiro]

I agree, the amp will likely not fix anything, this is an act of desperation.

So far with the X3 I have as a loaner, it has not dropped a single "connection" it's been about 10 days now.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by richiro

Already building and saving build code for an X3 M40i if this doesn't pan out well.

please at least wait until the next-gen X3 comes out later this year. My neighbor's X3 is only a year old and they've already had similar issues with CarPlay disconnecting or not connecting with the car... or worse, disconnecting while they were navigating on the busy afternoon rush hour interstates from Queens, JFK, Manhattan to Parsippany. (it was their first trip to the area ever) If the wife was driving by herself, it could have easily been a major safety issue. Fortunately, the husband was in the passenger seat, so he grabbed the phone and looked at the map.

The dealer(same dealer that I go to) kept their car overnight for at least 3 times to do some "repair" but the issues always came back after a while. The tech was able to duplicate and document the problem when he paired his own iPhone to the car and went on a test drive.(but with no solution as of 2 weeks ago)

unlike me, my neighbors rarely browse the internet in search for answers, so I frequently do it for them.

some examples of X3/Carplay issues... these are just recent ones on page 1 of the search result if you go to the X3 section of the Bimmerpost:

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=carplay

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=carplay

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=carplay

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=carplay

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=carplay

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=carplay

[BMWZ4]

My belief is that the mobile manufacturers keep making "improvements" to their OS that the car manufacturers can't keep up with...

For example, new BT updates to Android for OS14 caused connectivity issues in otherwise stable vehicles...new Android OS update shows up a month later, and voila, BT issue fixed.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

My belief is that the mobile manufacturers keep making "improvements" to their OS that the car manufacturers can't keep up with...

For example, new BT updates to Android for OS14 caused connectivity issues in otherwise stable vehicles...new Android OS update shows up a month later, and voila, BT issue fixed.

can't even imagine what kind of mess it will be like 5 years from now when I get a new iPhone 20.

[MontyB1]

What is the common denominator in some of this? I use CarPlay in ID7 zero issues, absolutely none no drop outs. When I've used it in the wife's car with ID8 also the same no issues at all. Both of the above are with the latest iOS release and iPhone models.

So has BMW change another component in the cars that isn't doing so well or its a car to hardware software issue of some sort, likely on the BMW side in this case.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by KosticKen

Why are you living in the car park at Ronald Reagan Airport.

I wish I can live there... but the US Park Police will probably never allow that to happen! Since as early as 1980 or 1981, that has been my favourite planespotting spot. with the scanner tuned to 119.1, I can spend hours and hours there (unfortunately, also for thousands of other locals and tourists) Parking there is totally free... and if you have a boat, there's also a boat ramp so you can put your boat in the Potomac River.(and leave your truck in the same parking lot)

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...gravelly+point


as for Boeing 737 fiasco... check my threads on Flyertalk.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by KosticKen

1. Ronald Reagan Airport ......... Parking there is totally free
2. Replacing the Amplifier will fix it.

I'm an old-timer and I still refuse to call it "Ronald Reagan" Airport. Never liked the name change. It will always be National Airport for me.

[richiro]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

What is the common denominator in some of this? I use CarPlay in ID7 zero issues, absolutely none no drop outs. When I've used it in the wife's car with ID8 also the same no issues at all. Both of the above are with the latest iOS release and iPhone models.

So has BMW change another component in the cars that isn't doing so well or its a car to hardware software issue of some sort, likely on the BMW side in this case.

I have been trying to gather more intel on what some of the patterns are but none to be found outside that iD9 works funky for a lot of models not just ours.

[richiro]

Got the car back, now they’re saying it’s a new head unit, no talk of an amplifier.

Haven’t gotten around to taking it out for a spin yet, we just got snowed on and I don’t want to find out on icy roads.

Will report when I actually drive it out.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by richiro

Got the car back, now they’re saying it’s a new head unit, no talk of an amplifier.

Haven’t gotten around to taking it out for a spin yet, we just got snowed on and I don’t want to find out on icy roads.

Will report when I actually drive it out.

icy roads? lucky... my area will probably never see any snow this winter. Stay safe. (even if you already have proper winter tires)


my iDrive8 head unit AND the entire center screen were replaced a few months ago because it displayed a static word "BMW" on a black screen... could not clear it with a hard reset(by me or the dealer) Took a while to wait for the part, but IIRC, they said the part was almost $1700 for the "head unit" and almost $2000 for the screen(dealer cost). It made me wonder what will happen if those two parts break after the 7-year BMW warranty expires.(meaning I'll be looking at well over $4000) https://u11.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...ighlight=black

although they weren't replace because of the CarPlay connection issue... I wonder if having those parts replaces was the reason that I had almost never experienced the connection since June?

[Beembar51]

I'm wondering if my very recent (within the last four days) CarPlay issues may be related to this amplifier situation. Everything was fine until last Friday. Got in my car and no CarPlay, Apple Maps, Spotify, Google Maps, etc. Rebooted the X1 and my phone (iPhone 12) and nothing. It will not connect using Bluetooth/Wireless. Nor will it work if I plug in via USB. I get a message saying "the version of Bluetooth is no longer compatible". HUH!!!!!

I do have other issues, personal not mechanical or technical, with the car. But nothing as frustrating as this.

My phone software is iOS 17.2.1. Any and all ideas or solutions will be appreciated.

[rlynn92]

Originally Posted by richiro

Hey all,

Just got the text today from the service dept, allegedly the cause of all of our connectivity issues stem from needing a new amplifier in the car.

Supposed to get it installed tomorrow, and the car dropped off on friday.

We'll see, but I did warn them that this is now the 3rd attempt to fix the same issue, and though not a real "hazardous" scenario, for me, at times it can be, can't speak for everyone else, but when the calls drop, my first inclination is to reach for the phone to hit speaker. This has caused a couple of near close calls.

Already building and saving build code for an X3 M40i if this doesn't pan out well.

Same issue on my 2024 X1 M35i. It's incredibly frustrating and probably an ID9 issue.

Anyone know if any other cars in the lineup are getting ID9 this next year? If so, I expect this to get more attention.

[Maisieruby]

My April build iX1's Carplay with ID8 has worked flawlessly until last Saturday.

Simply will not connect Carplay anymore. Hard resets, soft resets (car and phone), delete phone from both, reconnect, nothing. Will recognise Bluetooth for calls & audio, but will not connect Carplay.

Carplay works on my 2020 G05 X5.

iPhone 12, iOS 17.2.1. The ID8 version is 07/2023.53.

Very strange this started out of the blue.

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by Beembar51

It will not connect using Bluetooth/Wireless. Nor will it work if I plug in via USB. I get a message saying "the version of Bluetooth is no longer compatible". HUH!!!!!

I do have other issues, personal not mechanical or technical, with the car. But nothing as frustrating as this.

My phone software is iOS 17.2.1. Any and all ideas or solutions will be appreciated.

We have had this when we have switched phones from mine to hers. We just disconnected the phone and re-added it and all was fine again and hasn't reappeared since, probably after the last firmware to 07/23 on ID8 I think.

[Tomduck]

Spacesilver. You say “at least wait for the new X3”, I would say wait for it in one sense, that it’s a new model but in another sense it will be far more tech based than the outgoing one and therefore I can almost g’tee will have plenty of tech related gremlins. It goes with the territory now…