[jnkirk1974]

Okay, I've owned a 550i, M6 and now an i8. In all cases, the iPhone (minus basic calling) was pretty much useless.

I have tried every possible setup situation with my iPhone. Turned on notifications under bluetooth settings, made sure notifications were turned on even while the phone is on the locked screen.

Nothing.

Has anyone been able to get it to work?

[drlonline]

I'm not sure about the i8, but the iPhone works fine with my 2015 550i. The car is equipped with the Siri Eyes-Free feature, wherein one can access Siri by holding down the voice recognition button until it beeps. I can then play back and send text messages. In order to read email, the phone must be unlocked. Other Siri functions work as well, such as responding to questions. Just to be clear, though, all of these functions utilize audio only and do not display on the idrive display.

[DaveCM5]

Originally Posted by drlonline

I'm not sure about the i8, but the iPhone works fine with my 2015 550i. The car is equipped with the Siri Eyes-Free feature, wherein one can access Siri by holding down the voice recognition button until it beeps. I can then play back and send text messages. In order to read email, the phone must be unlocked. Other Siri functions work as well, such as responding to questions. Just to be clear, though, all of these functions utilize audio only and do not display on the idrive display.

I don't have an i8 but in my 2014 M5 I can read text messages on the iDrive display through the "office" selection in the iDrive main menu. Make sure it's set for "all" in the message type. I do have to send them via the Siri feature (mentioned here) by holding down the voice command button for a second rather than the quick press for in-car voice commands.

Also the phone (mine is iPhone 7) has to be set up to give the text data to the Bluetooth device (car).

[peteratmsr]

Originally Posted by DaveCM5

I don't have an i8 but in my 2014 M5 I can read text messages on the iDrive display through the "office" selection in the iDrive main menu. Make sure it's set for "all" in the message type. I do have to send them via the Siri feature (mentioned here) by holding down the voice command button for a second rather than the quick press for in-car voice commands.

Also the phone (mine is iPhone 7) has to be set up to give the text data to the Bluetooth device (car).

Yes, this also works in the i8. You don't get any kind of audible notification, but if you notice that you've received a text, then going to ConnectedDrive and then Messages (selecting "All" or "Text") will show you all text messages.

I use an Android phone. To send a text, I hold down the voice button and then say, "Ok Google, send a text to ...". I'm guessing it works the same way with iPhone/Siri.

One note: If you are one of the few people who have a Windows phone (my wife is one who loves hers), somehow when it receives a text message, the i8 Bluetooth system gives an audible announcement, "You have received a text message from XXX. Would you like to hear it?". Really wonderful, and way way way better than what either the iPhone or Android phones do. I'm not sure how/why Windows gets this right and the others don't. Weird.

[Almaretto]

Iphone and BMW Office

Emails do not work very well on Apple products. You can check compatibility.

[ian_i3S_iX]

When I bought a 330d I checked on phone compatibility and the only clear winner was the Sony Z1 (at the time). This worked fine downloaded texts and emails from the phone to the car and if you were patient enough send replies, voice was an addon which actually worked well.

My iphone 6s only will show texts on my i3/i8 when they are received and the phone is in the car, crap really considering BMW make a cradle specifically for the iphone

I understand the new Apple Apps option on new models would enable emails etc. but as I'm not in the market for a new car right now never looked into it

[MalibuBimmer]

The iPhone option is a workaround. Strange that BMW office cannot connect directly to the iPhone. Stranger still considering you pay extra for "Apple CarPlay Compatability" on some models (such as myM4). It's bizarre that BMW's apps and infotainment systems are so poorly designed for integration. I've commented before on the horrendous app interfaces. It's as if the app designers are stuck in 2005. The infotainment systems in my 2001 Merc CL55 were better.