Carplay wireless phone delay issue

11-26-2024

I'm sure peeps have been having issues holding a conversation while on carplay. I'm to the point where there is about a 20 sec delay when I am on a phone call. Got so bad the other night that my mom cussed me out because she thought I was pranking her. I have to turn off carplay and either use the phone speaker or connect via Bluetooth. Not always that easy while I'm driving.... 2021 X5

It got so bad today while I was talking with Verizon tech support, that they're gonna send me a new iPhone 15. I don't think it's the damn phone, it has got to be the wireless function. With that being said, wireless is much faster than BT, so why are BT calls fine but wireless calls suck after 10 mins, and worsen when you travel through a dead spot or weak signal area.

So... Is it a BMW carplay issue or an apple carplay issue??!!

I don't think I ever had this problem with my 2016 X6, but I'm thinking the X6 did not have wireless carplay... I was using a Samsung android back then (android auto)

11-26-2024

I've always noticed a 2-3 second lag between the phone and carplay output. For instance, skipping a song takes a few seconds between press and audio impact. I've never seen it take longer than that though. I believe Carplay uses both BT and wireless in tandem but not sure what functions are done through each.

11-26-2024

Ok good to know I'm not the only one experiencing this. My M60i is my first BMW and when I initially received the vehicle I thought something was wrong with my Apple Carplay or Bluetooth. Anytime I was choosing a song to listen to on youtube and would select it, I would notice a lag between me selecting a song and the audio output on the iDrive system. Or even when I turned the car off and closed the youtube app. The song would play for another second or so before turning off as well.

12-01-2024

I am experiencing the same issue in my 2021. I don’t take too many calls while I’m driving but in my experience, the longer the call goes, the longer the delay. My friend and I timed it and he clocked 7 seconds. Most times on short calls, it’s not too bad but I can tell that I’m not in sync with the caller.

I’ve used this same phone with CarPlay in a GLC (wired) and Civic (wireless) and have not experienced this issue, although I have not tested it in those cars since before iOS 18.

12-02-2024

Hmmm...I rarely have a phone convo in the car longer than a few minutes so I can't say I have experienced that. The delay always seems to consistently be a few seconds and has been that way in BMW's I've had ever since it went wireless. I just accepted it as normal...I haven't had another brand vehicle with carplay wireless to compare.

12-02-2024

MY21 45e

I haven’t experienced any delays during media playback or phone calls. I’ve always used CarPlay and am amazed at the number of problems other folks have. CarPlay has been solid for me since day one (knock on wood)

12-02-2024

nZtiZia wrote
MY21 45e

I haven’t experienced any delays during media playback or phone calls. I’ve always used CarPlay and am amazed at the number of problems other folks have. CarPlay has been solid for me since day one (knock on wood)

So you have zero delay when you are playing audio via carplay and hit a command (pause, skip, etc.) and it responds as quickly if playing car based audio? This is my 4th BMW with wireless and they all have had a delay of a few seconds and I always have the latest phone and keep iOS updated.

12-02-2024

So you have zero delay when you are playing audio via carplay and hit a command (pause, skip, etc.) and it responds as quickly if playing car based audio? This is my 4th BMW with wireless and they all have had a delay of a few seconds and I always have the latest phone and keep iOS updated.
i wouldn't say it's "zero" delay but nowhere near a "few seconds" as you experience. in fact, response time is less than a second for me

iPhone 14 Pro iOS 18.1.1
iDrive 11/2023.50

same experience on my 2023 530e running 07/2024.30

08-21-2025

Snave01 wrote
Hmmm...I rarely have a phone convo in the car longer than a few minutes so I can't say I have experienced that. The delay always seems to consistently be a few seconds and has been that way in BMW's I've had ever since it went wireless. I just accepted it as normal...I haven't had another brand vehicle with carplay wireless to compare.

I have used wireless CarPlay in a Honda HRV and an Acura ADX. No phone issues on those cars, only in the BMW. I have also had it happen though less often without CP connected, just standard BT.

09-16-2025

Bucho wrote
I don’t take too many calls while I’m driving but in my experience, the longer the call goes, the longer the delay. My friend and I timed it and he clocked 7 seconds. Most times on short calls, it’s not too bad but I can tell that I’m not in sync with the caller.

Same here for me, I work in my car and am on the phone constantly and it gets SO bad where it sounds like I’m just talking over everyone because the delay is terrible. I am really hoping for a fix.

I have a 2022 540 and an iPhone 16, all up to date but the problem is brutal, I do like car plat but hate this issue.

04-10-2026

Try this.... not a "fix", but it helps... When you suspect lag, switch to speaker, then back to carplay... it'll reset to no lag.... at least for a few more minutes.

04-10-2026

Yup... That's exactly what I've been doing

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Carplay wireless phone delay issue