10-23-2020, 10:41 AM | #1 |
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CarPlay and BMW Assistant confusion
I just picked my car up yesterday and have been loving getting acquainted with the features of iDrive 7 and Apple CarPlay. I can vouch for the fact that music definitely sounds better over CarPlay than bluetooth connected through iDrive. I'd like to keep using CarPlay for this reason, however when I try to prompt the car with voice commands "Hey BMW" etc, even pushing the microphone button on the steering wheel, the car tells me that function isn't available as long as CarPlay is connected...?!??
I prefer the BMW iDrive nav to the Apple Nav, and can't seem to bridge the proverbial gap. Any ideas?
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10-23-2020, 02:04 PM | #2 |
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I have only 10 days of experience, but I initially struggled with the Car Play/Idrive. I use Car Play, so that I can hear and dictate outgoing text messages only.
When I hit the home button, my system reverts back to The BMW IDrive system. I am able to do everything including Navigation. The exception is that I have to push the Car Play at the top when I wish to make a call or text. I would not mind making calls using Idrive, but it looks like it forces me into Car Play. Make sense? I love my new X5. I am still figuring out all the features. |
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10-23-2020, 05:21 PM | #3 | |
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And, yes, I'm loving the car too. Just a bit frustrated with the learning curve I guess
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Current: '23 G87 M2 6MT / '21 G20 330d / '18 Brabus Smart Gone: '21 G05 X5 M50d / '18 MB C63s (632hp) / '16 F80 M3 6MT (570hp) / '09 F01 750i / '16 Abarth 595 Competizione (202hp) |
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10-23-2020, 07:16 PM | #4 |
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Hey BMW should work fine. When doing it, in addition to the various commands you can start and stop navigation. In addition to destinations it will give you gas, restaurants, etc.
Try saying "Hey BMW", when it responds then say "Navigate to xyzzy". When using the button to summon, make sure you are doing a quick press since a long press calls CarPlay. |
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10-23-2020, 09:58 PM | #5 | |
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In Belgium it is "hey Siri" and "hello BMW" Maybe that's why it doesn't work all the time? |
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10-24-2020, 10:50 AM | #7 | |
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10-30-2020, 04:49 AM | #9 | |
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BMW deactivated the long press....so if you had BMW idrive as your NAV / music etc a long press would not summon Siri and vice versa. I was really annoyed because I liked idrive to take care of coms, NAV etc but, for music I way prefer Siri as it’s recognition engine is much better. (I wasn’t using CarPlay, just Siri to load up my music choices and playlists...which don’t work well with idrive) I had the dealer contact Germany over this and the feedback was that it was confusing for some owners to have two assistants and so they decided to separate out the functionality...Siri on CarPlay and BMW assistant on idrive OS. I even had a coder try and reinstate the functionality, their feedback was that the lines of code in the module related to the short / long steering wheel button press was no longer present. I know your question relates to using voice activation to summon Siri / BMW assistant but, if you understand BMW’s implementation rationale you’ll see why what you’re trying to do doesn’t work. To validate my point, switch over to idrive (not CarPlay) and say ‘Hey BMW’...I’m sure you’ll find that the BMW assistant springs into action. It’s annoying because I find the BMW Assistant to be very good, waaaay better than Audi’s version, who’s the automotive equivalent of the village idiot Last edited by Baron G15; 10-30-2020 at 04:59 AM.. |
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10-30-2020, 05:47 AM | #10 | |
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G05, i-step 07/2020.25, iOS 13.4, car configured for CP With CP connected, and even on-screen, I can single press for BMW assistant, and long-press for Siri. Works every-time. So I can start idrive navigation with a short-press voice command, and then any siri command with a long-press. Can also start idrive nav via favourite short cut buttons, even with CP active. I don't use the i-drive only connected scenario principally as the BMW nav sucks in the UK, and it's not really necessary, so maybe that's the difference? If you have an iPhone, maybe the solution is to actually use CP connected, even if you prefer idrive for most things? I find it a perfect blend, and can still use idrive NAV if required, even with CP front-of-house. |
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10-30-2020, 06:52 AM | #11 | |
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10-30-2020, 01:51 PM | #12 | |
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After 11/19 update this functionality was deactivated. Long pressing the steering wheel button whilst idrive is the primary interface (ie carplay not running) no longer calls up Siri / smartphone digital assistant. I believe Apple call this function Siri eyes free I was particularly unhappy about it and went back to the dealer and asked for the function to be reactivated.....they went back to Germany and the response was the one I posted above about how it was confusing for owners to have two assistants. Maybe this hasn’t been deactivated on X5’s but, it definitely has on G15 8 series....more than happy to make a little video to demo it. The only other explanation I can think of is that if the cabin is quite and you say ‘hey Siri’ it often works....because the phones mic has picked up the request, not the car’s mic. |
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10-30-2020, 01:54 PM | #13 | |
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10-30-2020, 02:25 PM | #14 |
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10-30-2020, 02:26 PM | #15 | |
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https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1640028 |
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10-30-2020, 02:57 PM | #16 | |
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Like you I also prefer the way idrive handels phone calls and searching in contacts etc with the Idrive controller. And I also don't like that I can't navigate to my IPhone contacts in idrive navigation anymore when in CP mode. I am connected in CP mode to have Siri on the steering wheel button for reading texts. I couldn't see all songs in my playlist in idrive mode but in CP it is ok. I would also prefer to be connected in Idrive mode with Siri on the wheel button. |
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10-30-2020, 03:09 PM | #17 | |
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10-30-2020, 03:51 PM | #18 |
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After switching between the two for 18 months I've dumped idrive entirely now.
I use google and apple maps for navigation, YouTube music for songs, Plex/YouTube for video, Siri for calls and messaging (WhatsApp, Facebook, text) and it all integrates perfectly. After living with the bmw idrive system since inception, it's been a tough breakup, but it just can't compete with CarPlay. |
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10-30-2020, 07:25 PM | #20 | |
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