[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Android Auto Comes to BMW

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Updated with video demo look:

BMW to offer wireless integration from mid 2020.

Munich, Germany- December 11, 2019... The BMW Group is extending the reach of seamless connectivity in its vehicles with the introduction of Android Auto ™ starting in mid 2020. Android Auto, the latest digital and user centric service addition to BMW will allow customers to connect their Android smartphones wirelessly with their vehicle and, in doing so , enjoy access to useful informati on like suggested destinations and upcoming appointments just when it is needed.

Plug & play out, wireless in
Android Auto is a simpler, safer way to use the smartphone in BMW vehicles , making it easy to access music, media and messaging apps. The wireless connection makes the process of linking up an Android smartphone to a BMW extremely user friendly with a simplified interface Added to which, Android Auto is integrated directly into BMW’s fully digital cockpit , meaning that customers can view all important information not just on the central Control Display but also in intelligently adapted form in the instrument cluster’s Info Display as well as in the Head Up Display , where it appears directly in the driver’s driving direction.

The Google Assistant on Android Auto makes it easy to get directions, keep in touch and stay productive . Many of our customers have pointed out the
importance to them of having Android Auto inside a BMW for using a number of familiar Android smartphone features safely without being distracted from the road, in addition to BMW’s own functions and services,” says Peter Henrich, Senior Vice President Product Management BMW. “We will offer this service to our customers starting in July 2020."

Patrick Brady, Vice President of Engineering, Google: “We are excited to work with BMW to bring wireless Android Auto to their customers worldwide next year. The seamless connection from Android smartphones to BMW vehicles allows customers to hit the road faster while maintaining access to all of their favourite apps and services in a safer experience.”

Android Auto in a BMW will be demonstrated live for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 and will be will be available for customers in 20 countries from July 2020 for all vehicles with BMW Operating System 7.0.

Please click this link to see the list of smartphones that support Android Auto with a wireless connection.

[alex2364]

Looks like it's finally coming next year.

[Poochie]

Cool, one less thing for folks to complain about..

[Conissah]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Looks like it's finally coming next year.

So basically it still screws over those of us that have new BMW's. By the sounds of it, my 2020 M2C won't get AA. Boooooo

Fairly certain AA is MUCH easier to integrate than AC, as the latter requires some extra hardware, if I remember correctly.

[ThugzZ BunnY]

FINALLY! I have so many clients that assume since we have carplay we have android auto.

[secretanchitman]

Nice - I'm sure this will make a lot of people happy. Also cool to see this work on the HUD as well!

[JRobUSC]

That’s interesting news, and it works with HUD and the instrument cluster. That’s the main reason I don’t use CarPlay, since it currently doesn’t. When is that changing?

[Weiner0123]

I hope this marks the beginning of OTA updates!!

[FCBayernFTW]

Originally Posted by ThugzZ BunnY

FINALLY! I have so many clients that assume since we have carplay we have android auto.

Eventually they had to make it available for "general population" 😎😂

[-EndOfAnEra-]

That's fantastic! With the integration of the dashboard and HUD, I wonder if it will be possible for someone to write an app which will being back a classic analog BMW dashboard. Pretty much the only real issue I have with the G series cars.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

That’s interesting news, and it works with HUD and the instrument cluster. That’s the main reason I don’t use CarPlay, since it currently doesn’t. When is that changing?

Hopefully around the same time as Apple added support for HUD in iOS 13.

[unluky]

I have not looked in a while, but does anyone do an add on for wireless Android that you do not have to give up something else on the iDrive to get?

[unluky]

I have not looked in a while, but does anyone do an add on for wireless Android that you do not have to give up something else on the iDrive to get?

[bagekko]

As long as its "free", I have paid too many AC charges because the car on the lot we bought had it, hasn't been an Apple product in my household in a very long time. Sure bake it into MSRP or whatever, just don't like seeing a option line I don't want or use.

Still not really a fan of AA or AC, not much benefit in my eyes.

[rgao007]

Does anyone know if 2019/2020MY cars with iDrive 7 and LCP will be updated to support AA? I can't imagine there would be a difference in hardware considering BMW already uses wireless CarPlay.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by rgao007

Does anyone know if 2019/2020MY cars with iDrive 7 and LCP will be updated to support AA? I can't imagine there would be a difference in hardware considering BMW already uses wireless CarPlay.

No difference in hardware?

Certainly you jest.

Look at NBT EVO which went from iDrive 4 to iDrive 5 to iDrive 6 in the course of 3 years. There are at least 7 Hardware versions/changes over the same period in the HeadUnits.

Originally Posted by Railgun

Give 'em time...

They will complain they cannot retrofit.

[Nahlem]

The biggest problem with any wireless connection is it ain't stable as wired connection, for me using Bluetooth/car play vs using the USB port, there is a significant drop to audio quality when listening to music from sources like spotify or google music.

Could be my imagination or not but i have tested this out in the garage with as little background noises as possible and tried both and the audio from USB wired connection vs the Car play/Bluetooth and imo there is an enormous in difference, now this could be fixed with the newest Bluetooth coding that is coming soon but i doubt we will see that in BMW cars anytime soon, so for me the USB sound > Bluetooth Sound any day of the week for now until the new Bluetooth codecs come but i don't think we will see that in any BMW car until 2025 or so.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by Nahlem

The biggest problem with any wireless connection is it ain't stable as wired connection, for me using Bluetooth/car play vs using the USB port, there is a significant drop to audio quality when listening to music from sources like spotify or google music.

Could be my imagination or not but i have tested this out in the garage with as little background noises as possible and tried both and the audio from USB wired connection vs the Car play/Bluetooth and imo there is an enormous in difference, now this could be fixed with the newest Bluetooth coding that is coming soon but i doubt we will see that in BMW cars anytime soon, so for me the USB sound > Bluetooth Sound any day of the week for now until the new Bluetooth codecs come but i don't think we will see that in any BMW car until 2025 or so.

Bluetooth has limited bandwidth so quality is not as good.

Steve Wozniak has complained about this for years.

Google it.

[FreeDarko]

So cars like the M2 Competition will not work with Android Auto?

Don't understand how wireless Apple Carplay can work work the previous iDrive but they can't do it with for Android.

[phillyd2]

I'm on Apple but congrats to you Droid guys. What does "Plug & play out" mean?

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Nahlem

The biggest problem with any wireless connection is it ain't stable as wired connection, for me using Bluetooth/car play vs using the USB port, there is a significant drop to audio quality when listening to music from sources like spotify or google music.

Could be my imagination or not but i have tested this out in the garage with as little background noises as possible and tried both and the audio from USB wired connection vs the Car play/Bluetooth and imo there is an enormous in difference, now this could be fixed with the newest Bluetooth coding that is coming soon but i doubt we will see that in BMW cars anytime soon, so for me the USB sound > Bluetooth Sound any day of the week for now until the new Bluetooth codecs come but i don't think we will see that in any BMW car until 2025 or so.

Good point, factually, the quality of wireless Bluetooth audio steaming VS a wired connection is a drastic difference in audio quality.

CD quality is even superior over a wired connection.

What new "newest Bluetooth coding" are you referring to BTW?

[JayPichardo]

YES!!!!!!