PSA: If you have a pre-combox M3 and want bluetooth audio...

[RudyP]

...Check out the ViseeO tune2air WMA1000.

I got this tip from an Aston Martin board, this little device plugs into the BMW iPod Y cable in your glovebox and turns your pre-2011.5 M3 into a full-fledged audio A2DP system. You get full playlist access, track names, progress bars, etc.. on your nag screen with iDrive integration. It is exactly like plugging your iPhone into the car but without having to do so. Works beautifully and simply.

BTW - no affiliation with the company, just a happy customer who has two of these things now.

[khanhdom]

it's in the car audio section, but I bought one and I didn't get the playlist and track names. Also it only works half the time. Not sure why. I am currently using an airplay device that allows me to stream the music in my car

[grantmax]

I've been patiently waiting for something like this.

OP - Do the steering wheel buttons work with this product?

[RudyP]

Originally Posted by khanhdom

it's in the car audio section, but I bought one and I didn't get the playlist and track names. Also it only works half the time. Not sure why. I am currently using an airplay device that allows me to stream the music in my car

Hmmm... Not sure why it didn't work for you. It is 100% in my 2011 (not 2011.5) M3 with my iPhone 5S. As soon as I turn on the car it starts playing from where I left off and shows me all my playlists, can even play iTunes radio stations directly through it. Absolutely no difference between having the phone physically plugged in vs. using the tune2air. Wonder if we can get more feedback from other users. Are you using the BMW Y cable that connects to the USB port and the mini jack in the armrest box?

Originally Posted by grantmax

I've been patiently waiting for something like this.

OP - Do the steering wheel buttons work with this product?

Absolutely.

Edit: phone bluetooth also still works. If you get an incoming call while playing music, it silences the music and switches to the incoming call (which you can accept or decline).

[khanhdom]

Originally Posted by RudyP

Hmmm... Not sure why it didn't work for you. It is 100% in my 2011 (not 2011.5) M3 with my iPhone 5S. As soon as I turn on the car it starts playing from where I left off and shows me all my playlists, can even play iTunes radio stations directly through it. Absolutely no difference between having the phone physically plugged in vs. using the tune2air. Wonder if we can get more feedback from other users.



Absolutely.

weird I have a 2009, not sure if that matters. I'm going to try again

[lsmkr01]

Lord almighty! If this works as you say it does you've answered my prayers. I also have 2011 and 5s.


EDIT: Just ordered it off Amazon, I'll check back when I get it to say how it works.

[jphughan]

Track information display requires that the phone support AVRCP 1.3, library browsing requires that the phone support AVRCP 1.4. But that's a nice find seeing as one of my main frustrations with the Combox implementation is that library browsing over BT Audio.

I suppose the Y cable might work even on a Combox car, though. Unless BMW reconfigured it to only accept digital audio over USB when a USB device is selected rather than falling back to the analog input.

[Someone?]

Originally Posted by RudyP

...Check out the ViseeO tune2air WMA1000.

I got this tip from an Aston Martin board, this little device plugs into the BMW iPod Y cable in your glovebox and turns your pre-2011.5 M3 into a full-fledged audio A2DP system. You get full playlist access, track names, progress bars, etc.. on your nag screen with iDrive integration. It is exactly like plugging your iPhone into the car but without having to do so. Works beautifully and simply.

BTW - no affiliation with the company, just a happy customer who has two of these things now.

Do you have a link to the Y cable thing? and it goes in the glovebox? whats in there? i have a 2011 also.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by ibmike

Do you have a link to the Y cable thing? and it goes in the glovebox? whats in there? i have a 2011 also.

Y cables can be had on eBay, Amazon, etc. BMW has a branded official one, but it's a standard thing. Here's a link to one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003P6DGMK

Your car should have come with it if it's pre-2011.5 though. And if it's post-2011.5 and has iDrive, you should have Combox.

[RudyP]

Originally Posted by ibmike

Do you have a link to the Y cable thing? and it goes in the glovebox? whats in there? i have a 2011 also.

I misspoke about the glovebox - it is not the glovebox but the center armrest storage area. The cable is a BMW part that you can buy at the dealer. Has an older iPhone (pre iPhone 5) connector on one end and splits into a USB plug and a stereo mini plug on the other end.

Looks like this:

[Someone?]

Originally Posted by RudyP

I misspoke about the glovebox - it is not the glovebox but the center armrest storage area. The cable is a BMW part that you can buy at the dealer. Has an older iPhone (pre iPhone 5) connector on one end and splits into a USB plug and a stereo mini plug on the other end.

Looks like this:

Ok thanks, yah my car is an early 2011, do they make that plug with the newer iphone 5 end (lightning wire or what ever they call it)?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by ibmike

Ok thanks, yah my car is an early 2011, do they make that plug with the newer iphone 5 end (thunder wire or what ever they call it)?

Nope, but you can buy Apple's 30-pin to Lightning adapter to add to the Y cable. One version of said adapter is just a plastic block and the other one ($10 more) includes a short length of cable, which is useful if your phone is in a case where the block might not attach.

[RudyP]

Originally Posted by ibmike

Ok thanks, yah my car is an early 2011, do they make that plug with the newer iphone 5 end (thunder wire or what ever they call it)?

If you want to use the tune2air, this is the connector you want since the tune2air has that older iPod 30 pin connector (not the lightning port). If you want to directly connect your iPhone instead, you can buy a 30 pin iPod to lightning adapter (basically what jphughan said above but you don't need it if you plan to use a tune2air)

[RudyP]

Oh, one other thing (which maybe explains khanhdom's issue above) - it took a few minutes for the thing to come up to full functionality. When I first plugged it in and synced with my iPhone, it was recognized as "external device" and would stream music but did not get track names, playlist info or any of that stuff. I had to control the music from the phone and it was like a dumb stream (and not great audio quality either). It took about half a song and then it switched from "external device" to "Rudy's iPhone" and all of the functionality was there - including iDrive controls, track/artist name, playlist management, etc...

So it seems it might need a few minutes to download a bunch of stuff from your iPhone so that it can pretend to be your iPhone to the car. Subsequent restarts do not require this learning curve - it boots right up after the initial slower start.

[Someone?]

Not sure what i was thinkn anyway, you dont need a Lightning plug cause this doesnt plug into your iphone, it plugs into the ViseeO tune2air WMA1000 via the old style plug.

[mjposner]

Okay what about 75% of the world that uses an Android phone?

[///mawana]

Even in my '08, the wma1000 works flawlessly with my iphone 5s. Only issue is if I try to repeat a song for the third time, it won't allow but forward play and volume works all the time.

Initially, I was using the Lightning adapter which I now keep in the car for charging my 5s.

[///mawana]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Okay what about 75% of the world that uses an Android phone?

It works with Androids too but no text display I think!

[Someone?]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Okay what about 75% of the world that uses an Android phone?

Android and M cars just arent a good match IMO. Apple and M works well together, ive had plenty of Android phones, they where always glitchy with the Bluetooth in all my cars.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by ///mawana

It works with Androids too but no text display I think!

OS shouldn't matter. As long as a given version of Android supports a given version of AVRCP I mentioned earlier, it should have those features. Now, whether the Android device can be controlled and browsed from the steering wheel/iDrive is another matter because I believe iDrive is only set up for Apple's control API. But if memory serves, iDrive can browse regular flash drives that have music on them, so it may work.

[OneMmmm]

Will this work with Spotify or only iTunes library? Thanks for the tip either way.

[foam]

Will this work on my 08 with CCC?

Edit: Looks like it works. How is the sound quality?