[danny929]

Hey,

So i have BMW apps in the car and purchased the iphone4s snap in adapter. I feel like the adapter is useless as all options work fine via the USB cord. What benefits does the adapter provide.

Also does anyone here experience bugs with the iPhone phone book, in addition to bugs with the recent call list.

[islandnipper]

The media adaptor (if that's the version you have) is meant to allow more video integration (e.g. a video option on the iPhone menu) on 2012 model year cars (according to the BMW 2012 press release of earlier this year).

I presume that the Apple cable doesn't connect the shark-fin antenna either...

I must admit, I find the cradle quite handy as it frees up a little more room in the armrest (where I also have an iPod plugged in to the USB for more music and video capacity).

I haven't had any problems with the phone book or call lists.

[rhinosaur]

Originally Posted by islandnipper

The media adaptor (if that's the version you have) is meant to allow more video integration (e.g. a video option on the iPhone menu) on 2012 model year cars (according to the BMW 2012 press release of earlier this year).

I presume that the Apple cable doesn't connect the shark-fin antenna either...

I must admit, I find the cradle quite handy as it frees up a little more room in the armrest (where I also have an iPod plugged in to the USB for more music and video capacity).

I haven't had any problems with the phone book or call lists.

Where can I find this press release? I am buying an F11 this year and was wondering what are the details/changes.

In addition, I was told that there are more than one type of iPhone snap-in adapters for the F10/F11. Is that true?! Any details would be appreciated.

[Bimmernerd]

According to my dealer there are two snap-in adapters available for iPhone. The simpler one does not provide any benefits besides getting rid of the USB cable. As I understood it you don't get better reception either as Apple does not support it? This however sounds strange, need to verify if it's true. Maybe someone knows this?

The more expensive media adapter lets you play videos stored on the iPhone on the iDrive/Navi screen.

My dealer actually told me that the simpler adapter did not provide any benefits, because of this I use the USB cable instead.

[joey5622]

from what I know, there are three different adapters

1. just to charge the phone
2. to charge, play music and improve signal
3. to charge, improves signal and plays music and videos

* to people that have the media adapter, is it worth it or should i just buy the music one?? i'm thinking of getting one but have been hearing mixed reviews... kind of just want it because it seems stupid that the car has so much functionality that is being kept from us......

[itf joegun]

For our F11 I received the Music Adapter as gift from my dealer (I have a 4S). But unfortunately it is useless. Cover art is not transfered, so I will switch to the media one, also to have better iPod integration, because of the video function you see the iphone display in the inboard monitor. I hope I am right...

[martin mustang]

Originally Posted by Bimmernerd

According to my dealer there are two snap-in adapters available for iPhone. The simpler one does not provide any benefits besides getting rid of the USB cable. As I understood it you don't get better reception either as Apple does not support it? This however sounds strange, need to verify if it's true. Maybe someone knows this?

The more expensive media adapter lets you play videos stored on the iPhone on the iDrive/Navi screen.

My dealer actually told me that the simpler adapter did not provide any benefits, because of this I use the USB cable instead.

Your dealer is talking non sense, the reception is definitely better with the snap-in, often when going for a small journey I don't plug in the phone, and the minute I do I can see a clear increase in the reception bars on the screen. The basic snap-in may not make sense from a cost point of view, especially if you mainly hung around areas with good reception, but if like me in the country side I went for the media one to make it worth the investment, on top of the reception side.

[darrko]

So the media cradle is only good for vehicles optioned with 6NF, right?

[Bimmernerd]

Originally Posted by darrko

So the media cradle is only good for vehicles optioned with 6NF, right?

As I have understood it yes, otherwise you need to retrofit it.

[islandnipper]

Originally Posted by Bimmernerd

As I have understood it yes, otherwise you need to retrofit it.

That's as I understand it too.

I've just looked at my original order and the phone preparation is described as "mobile preparation for iPhone" - I know that had to include 6NF, but I'm not sure whether there's anything else in there too (besides the media adaptor).

Incidentally, for the person asking about the 2012 press release, it was on this site about August / September last year. I can't find it at the mo, but I'll keep looking: I'm pretty certain it was a news item rather than on a forum thread (may have linked to a pdf?).

[ZAKSM3]

I lose sync with my iphone4 using the cradle. I have been to the dealer and they said there is no issue. Yeah right, I'm just making it up for no reason.

[eskdale]

I have a 2012 F11 with all the options fitted, and can confirm that there are 3 types of Snap in Cradles.

The iphone does not have an external antenna connector but the snap in's work by improving the signal using a proximity antenna in the cradle. It works a bit like the GSM Glass antennas.

Basic - Phone fucntions only - that is it charges the phone connection is still via BT
Music -
Media - This adds Video from the iphone and also the plugin option which displays a screen on the idrive which is controlled by the iphone rather than BMW. Apple control this display and if apple update this then you will see the changes on the idrive without BMW doing anything. This is the only way to get genius playlist.

With the latest options in the car you can have the BMW apps and music and album art using the standard white cable that comes with the iphone no snapin needed.

There are 3 cradles for the iphone 3/3GS and another 3 for the iphone 4/4S
There is also one for the ipod but this is Music only and I can not see any point in this as the white USB cable does more.
There are also revisions of the Media cradles - with -0X after the part no on the bottom of the cradles. I know some of the earlier ones had an over heating problem and later ones have a fan in them. What the other mods are I don't know but would be interested if anyone else does.

I have a 3GS in a Media cradle ( -02 version) which works fine except if I leave the iphone plugged into the cradle while I'm in the office all day it is totally flat when I return to the car. I only use the iphone for the music and the BMW apps, not as my main phone. It appears that the cradle discharges the phone faster than when it is out of the cradle. Anyone else experience this?

[ZAKSM3]

Does anyone else have an issue with losing sync with the iPhone4 using the media cradle? I lose the connection between my car and the iPhone regularly. Using the USB port this never happens.

[rhinosaur]

If I use only the USB cable to connect the iPhone, will I have access to the advantages of the more advanced snap-in adapter? Well, except for augmenting the antenna signal...

The thing is that I will probably change to the new iPhone when it is launched next summer. Seeing that the new model will surely have a new form factor, I was thinking of using a standard cable to connect my 4S to the car until a new snap-in adapter would be released by BMW.

[eskdale]

As per the other thread you will loose the Plugin feature and Videos as well as the assistance to the signal from the external antenna.

You could of course keep your 4S to use in the cradle as your music source when you get your new phone it will probably be quite some time before BMW have a cradle for the next version of the iphone.

[rhinosaur]

Originally Posted by eskdale

As per the other thread you will loose the Plugin feature and Videos as well as the assistance to the signal from the external antenna.

You could of course keep your 4S to use in the cradle as your music source when you get your new phone it will probably be quite some time before BMW have a cradle for the next version of the iphone.

Ok, thanks!

[pharding]

It works great with the shark fin antenna. The reception is definitely better with fewer dropped calls.