Cradle Hell

[THE TECH]

Not sure if you had read above, but I also tried using the Self-diagnosis tool on BMW Connected app and I get an error every time that it cannot communicate with the vehicle.

Gonna do the restore now and see if that changes anything. What are you thinking the restore will do?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Yes, it is an AT&T version. Since the cradle will charge the phone, at some point the phone will be at 100% charge.

I will try restoring the phone to see if that makes any difference.

That's the problem... somehow either the cradle is not charging enough to keep the iPhone connected or the iPhone charging itself is defective. There's a voltage level threashold for USB iPhone connection, anything below that level will disconnect.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Technic

That's the problem... somehow either the cradle is not charging enough to keep the iPhone connected or the iPhone charging itself is defective. There's a voltage level threashold for USB iPhone connection, anything below that level will disconnect.

Well, the cradle has already been replaced and I have the same issue so I would think we could rule the cradle itself out right?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Well, the cradle has already been replaced and I have the same issue so I would think we could rule the cradle itself out right?

It could be the baseplate or anything related to charging connections. Or as simple as a malfunctioning Combox, but that is unlikely.

[THE TECH]

Did the Restore and charged to 100%...still doesn't work.

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by Technic

Is your iPhone from AT&T?

If so try either:

- plug your iPhone while it is 100% charged
- restore completely your iPhone via iTunes.
- another iPhone

I have seen this issue with AT&T iPhones and the Combox while using the baseplate USB port via the cradle. It is a current draw issue that forces the iPhone to connect/disconnect.

There should not be any problem with the standard USB port. If so then most probably the Combox is acting up.

I've seen this problem before also on non At&t phones. It ended up being the combox. Bmw have to raise a puma and get permission to change the thing. Its a right fiasco.

[THE TECH]

Anything else I can personally check before escalating it to the dealer?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

Did the Restore and charged to 100%...still doesn't work.

Regardless of the USB port used? If so then it is dealer time, unfortunately.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Technic

Regardless of the USB port used? If so then it is dealer time, unfortunately.

The USB port has worked perfectly with no issues. The cradle is the only issue.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

The USB port has worked perfectly with no issues. The cradle is the only issue.

The only way for you to test if in fact the Combox or the cradle/baseplate/cable are malfunctioning is to swap the LVDS cables at the Combox itself.

The black socket cable goes directly to the USB port; the blue socket cable goes directly to the baseplate. The difference between the blue and the black sockets is that the Blue enables video.

Swapping the cables -the USB port will be connected to the baseplate USB port and viceversa- can tell you if any of the cables from the Combox to the ports are defective, if the cradle is defective or again the Combox blue port is defective and therefore the Combox is defective.

For example, if after swapping the cables at the Combox suddenly the cradle works fine but the USB port becomes defective then the blue connector output is defective.

The problem of swapping the cables is that the LVDS cable connector housings themselves are indexed differently. You could shave the plastic tabs and make them universal however that would void your Combox warranty if found out.

That's the reason that I have an universal interface LVDS cable for testing so I can swap this type of cable without permanent modifications.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Technic

The only way for you to test if in fact the Combox or the cradle/baseplate/cable are malfunctioning is to swap the LVDS cables at the Combox itself.

The black socket cable goes directly to the USB port; the blue socket cable goes directly to the baseplate. The difference between the blue and the black sockets is that the Blue enables video.

Swapping the cables -the USB port will be connected to the baseplate USB port and viceversa- can tell you if any of the cables from the Combox to the ports are defective, if the cradle is defective or again the Combox blue port is defective and therefore the Combox is defective.

For example, if after swapping the cables at the Combox suddenly the cradle works fine but the USB port becomes defective then the blue connector output is defective.

The problem of swapping the cables is that the LVDS cable connector housings themselves are indexed differently. You could shave the plastic tabs and make them universal however that would void your Combox warranty if found out.

That's the reason that I have an universal interface LVDS cable for testing so I can swap this type of cable without permanent modifications.

So really, there is no way for me to check the connections without modifying the connector housings? How much is the universal cable?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

So really, there is no way for me to check the connections without modifying the connector housings? How much is the universal cable?

The universal cable was made to order and I do not have any more of them, sorry.

Just go to the dealer, most probably they are going to perform the same test but by swapping a Combox.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Technic

The universal cable was made to order and I do not have any more of them, sorry.

Just go to the dealer, most probably they are going to perform the same test but by swapping a Combox.

Yeah I checked the cables. They definitely won't swap without some "massaging".

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Technic

That's the reason that I have an universal interface LVDS cable for testing so I can swap this type of cable without permanent modifications.

Is this piece of hardware all that is needed to get cradle functionality out of the USB port + 30 pin cable?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by SamS

Is this piece of hardware all that is needed to get cradle functionality out of the USB port + 30 pin cable?

No, I use this custom cable for testing so I do not have to permanently modify the OEM cables.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Technic

No, I use this custom cable for testing so I do not have to permanently modify the OEM cables.

So, the ability to enable cradle functionality out of the USB port is just coding?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by SamS

So, the ability to enable cradle functionality out of the USB port is just coding?

There are two separate USB ports -the actual USB port and the cradle USB port- with two major differences: the cradle/baseplate USB has also video hardware support and because of that then it requires more current draw than the current provided by the actual USB port. Thus the baseplate supplies its own power supply to the phone independenly from the Combox.

The coding and hardware is done if you got the 6NR from factory.

You just need to give BMW some $200 for the cradle if you want that video and heavier duty charging support.

[THE TECH]

No way to check the connections via DVM? You have any interest in letting me use that cable you have if I pay shipping both ways?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

No way to check the connections via DVM? You have any interest in letting me use that cable you have if I pay shipping both ways?

Sorry, I do not lend any of my tools as I use them all the time in customer cars...

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Technic

There are two separate USB ports -the actual USB port and the cradle USB port- with two major differences: the cradle/baseplate USB has also video hardware support and because of that then it requires more current draw than the current provided by the actual USB port. Thus the baseplate supplies its own power supply to the phone independenly from the Combox.

The coding and hardware is done if you got the 6NR from factory.

You just need to give BMW some $200 for the cradle if you want that video and heavier duty charging support.

Thank you for the explanation. I do have the cradle and 6NR. Fortunately, everything works OK for my car.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by Technic

Sorry, I do not lend any of my tools as I use them all the time in customer cars...

Understood. Thanks anyway.

[drew313]

Did you ever get this problem resolved?

I am also having problems trying to get the cradle to work on my car. I've updated the software using the center console USB port and I'm using an iPhone 4S with latest iOS. The center console USB port works perfectly with the Apple cable. I can get Pandora and BMW Apps working just fine.

I've tried 5 different media cradles at my dealer and it looks like there are at least two hardware versions of the cradle (v2.0 and v3.0).

Cradle #1: Hardware v2.0 (4/11). Does not charge the phone and ConnectedDrive does not detect the phone. BMW Apps diagnostic says connection failed.

Cradle #2: Hardware v2.0 (5/11). Charges the phone but ConnectedDrive does not detect the phone. BMW Apps diagnostic says connection failed.

Cradle #3: Hardware v2.0 (7/11). Charges the phone and ConnectedDrive Plugin sees the phone and I get the nice iPod out screen. I can navigate through my music but there is no audio at all. No audio with the Pandora app nor BMW Web Radio. I also deleted the Bluetooth pairing but that didn't make a difference.

Cradle #4 and #5: These were ordered by the dealer so I think they would be the latest. Hardware v3.0 (8/11). Same behavior as #3.

The dealer says they've never seen this problem before but at least they were nice enough to let me try out several cradles. Could it be a compatibility issue with the 2012 models?