Voice Dialing - Voice Phone Book help needed!

[M3Ron]

Ok...need an assist. Just picked up my '09 M3 DCT yesterday and uploaded my iPhone phonebook into the car no problem. Then read in the manual, that the car can have its own separate Voice Phone Book of up to 50 numbers with voice dialing.

The manual says to hit the talk button and then say "Save Name". (p. 173 of manual) to save a name and then number into the Voice Phone Book maintained by the car. It flat out won't work for me. It keeps doing other commands - anything but that.

I really would love this voice dialing feature to work so I can say frequently dialed names and then have it recall rather than try to guess what I am saying from my iPhone phonebook. I have too many contacts in my iPhone for the car to pull up my iPhone contacts by voice properly.

Any help would be appreciated! This is driving me crazy trying to get it to work!

[Technic]

Originally Posted by M3Ron

Ok...need an assist. Just picked up my '09 M3 DCT yesterday and uploaded my iPhone phonebook into the car no problem. Then read in the manual, that the car can have its own separate Voice Phone Book of up to 50 numbers with voice dialing.

The manual says to hit the talk button and then say "Save Name". (p. 173 of manual) to save a name and then number into the Voice Phone Book maintained by the car. It flat out won't work for me. It keeps doing other commands - anything but that.

I really would love this voice dialing feature to work so I can say frequently dialed names and then have it recall rather than try to guess what I am saying from my iPhone phonebook. I have too many contacts in my iPhone for the car to pull up my iPhone contacts by voice properly.

Any help would be appreciated! This is driving me crazy trying to get it to work!

The separate Voice Phonebook only applies when you do not have iDrive with the Assist. The Voice Phonebook that you have now it is supposed to "read" the names in your iPhone phonebook directly, without the need of training/saving. It is a more "advanced" voice recognition than the one in the Assist.

Have you tried just saying "Dial" followed by the name of somebody of your phonebook?

[M3Ron]

Wow...didn't gather that it was a non iDrive phonebook from the manual. Thanks so much for solving that mystery.

I have tried dialing names from my iPhone phonebook. Perhaps I have too many contacts (a few hundred) so it seems pretty confused at least 50% of the time and picks the wrong name. I'll go to plan B and add a few contacts with just first name that I call often and try it that way.

Thanks so much for the assist. I sincerely appreciate it.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by M3Ron

Wow...didn't gather that it was a non iDrive phonebook from the manual. Thanks so much for solving that mystery.

I have tried dialing names from my iPhone phonebook. Perhaps I have too many contacts (a few hundred) so it seems pretty confused at least 50% of the time and picks the wrong name. I'll go to plan B and add a few contacts with just first name that I call often and try it that way.

Thanks so much for the assist. I sincerely appreciate it.

That should work...

[ColoCane]

Great thread. I've had the same problem and tried to use the manual with the exact same result (don't worry M3Ron, you're not alone!!!).

I also have the '09 with iDrive and full iPhone integration. Each of my Outlook contacts were effectively transfered to the iPhone, and then my iDrive (each time I get in the car). Question... under most of the names , there are 2-3 numbers listed (home, work, cell). How do I clarify the voice command for the correct number?

I.E: Lets say I have "Bob Jones" in my phonebook and there are 3 numbers... do I say, "Dial... Jones, Bob, cell"? I haven't gotten it to work yet.

Thanks, Technic.

[M3Ron]

Thanks for making me realize I'm not crazy ColoCane! They definitely need a correction in the manual. Great question on the multiple number issue. Hopefully, Technic knows!

[Technic]

As ColoCane, the sucker does not discern between numbers of the same name by voice, although it displays all possible entries under that name in the screen for you to choose...

[ColoCane]

I still can't get it to work... so I've been going the "Dial Number" route. Of course I have to know the number I'm dialing off hand.

Using the above example, if I go "Dial Jones, Bob" the reply is usually "Redial List" or get a list of voice commands. No go.

[mdernst]

Originally Posted by ColoCane

I still can't get it to work... so I've been going the "Dial Number" route. Of course I have to know the number I'm dialing off hand.

Using the above example, if I go "Dial Jones, Bob" the reply is usually "Redial List" or get a list of voice commands. No go.

This sequence works fine for me (and I have about 300 entries):

Say "Phonebook"

Response "Phonebook"

Say "Jones ... Bob"

Response "Would you like to call Jones ... Bob?"

Say "Yes"

Response "Number of the Entry?"

Say "Three" (It will show you all the phone numbers you have stored for that name on the screen - assuming you want to dial the 3rd one in the list, say "Three".)

Response "Did you say Entry Three?"

Say "Yes"

It dials...

Mike

[ColoCane]

Thanks, Mike! I will give it a shot.

Add-on question: If I have 3 numbers, as you say, are they typically in an order? I.e.; work number, home number, and then cell number? If they are, then I'd know by saying "3", I'm dialing that individuals cell phone.

I know they have separate icons, but don't recall a specific order.

Thanks again for your help...

[ColoCane]

Ah, nevermind, your saying it displays all 3 first... then you say, "3".

Got it. Thanks.

[Subw00er]

Just give up, the voice recognition sucks. I wish I could remap that button, its useless!

[mdernst]

Originally Posted by ColoCane

Ah, nevermind, your saying it displays all 3 first... then you say, "3".

Got it. Thanks.

Let me know how it works for you. I actually find that for dialing my phone contacts it works quite well.

Mike