BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum 2017+ BMW 5 Series (G30) General Discussions Is Apple CarPlay worth $300

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-15-2018, 03:22 PM   #1
r3amir
Lieutenant
r3amir's Avatar
86
Rep
592
Posts

Drives: 2023 X2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (0)

Is Apple CarPlay worth $300

My car didn’t come with Apple CarPlay, but I can still download it from the Connected Drive for $300. Is it worth it?

I can even now read or listen to my text messages and play Pandora through my phone
__________________
2018 540i Mineral White/ Cognac
2015 435i GC Midnight Blue Metallic, Saddle Brown
2011 535i Alpine White, Oyster/Black leather
2006 325i Arctic Metallic
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2018, 04:20 PM   #2
SteveinArizona
Brigadier General
United_States
3086
Rep
4,210
Posts

Drives: BMW 530e
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Greater Phoenix

iTrader: (0)

I bought it but haven't used it yet. I viewed it as a $300 insurance policy.
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2018, 05:23 PM   #3
progmatism
New Member
2
Rep
7
Posts

Drives: 2018 540i
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Austin

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by r3amir View Post
My car didn’t come with Apple CarPlay, but I can still download it from the Connected Drive for $300. Is it worth it?

I can even now read or listen to my text messages and play Pandora through my phone
I haven't seen many positive reviews of it, even from Apple fans. Most agree that iDrive works and integrates more elegantly. I am deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem but based on everything I've seen, I'm holding off on it for now.

Also, BMW will soon be transitioning to a subscription model for CarPlay, where the first year is free and subsequent years are $80/yr. So if you're leasing it will be almost half the price to go that route. I'd at least wait for that, though I don't know when that's expected to actually take effect.
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2018, 05:31 PM   #4
Joelc
Private First Class
Canada
37
Rep
111
Posts

Drives: 2017 540ix
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

I am in complete agreement; iDrive is preferred and I too am deep in the Apple ecosystem...
Appreciate 2
TopgearLA119.50
ArchieV291.00
      02-15-2018, 06:48 PM   #5
ZigmundUK
Lieutenant Colonel
ZigmundUK's Avatar
United Kingdom
436
Rep
1,963
Posts

Drives: I20 IX M60 Oxide Grey
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NCL - UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I found Apple CarPlay much better than I drive. It's not perfect but had much better results than with idrive for things like Apple Music, podcasts, iPlayer radio etc. Bluetooth connectivity was very iffy indeed. Only issue I've had with CarPlay is with amazon audio.
__________________
Running: G30 530d M Sport (B57) Mediterranean Blue
Running: I20 IX M60 Oxide Grey
Gone: F15 X5 40d M Sport (N57) Glacier Silver, E61 520d SE Auto (N47D20) Titanium Silver, F31 330d M Sport (N57D30A) Estoril Blue, E87 120d SE Auto (M47TU2D20) Sparkling Graphite
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2018, 07:24 PM   #6
r3amir
Lieutenant
r3amir's Avatar
86
Rep
592
Posts

Drives: 2023 X2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for your replies
__________________
2018 540i Mineral White/ Cognac
2015 435i GC Midnight Blue Metallic, Saddle Brown
2011 535i Alpine White, Oyster/Black leather
2006 325i Arctic Metallic
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2018, 07:39 PM   #7
frankchn
First Lieutenant
286
Rep
369
Posts

Drives: F90 M5
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by progmatism View Post
Also, BMW will soon be transitioning to a subscription model for CarPlay, where the first year is free and subsequent years are $80/yr. So if you're leasing it will be almost half the price to go that route. I'd at least wait for that, though I don't know when that's expected to actually take effect.
Would it though? For a MY2019 3 year lease you will be paying $160 under the new model (2 renewals), and since it is a subscription it is not rolled into the lease price.

For a MY2018 3 year lease, the option is $300, but you are only paying ~40% of that (100% - residual), so it is $120.
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2018, 11:14 PM   #8
progmatism
New Member
2
Rep
7
Posts

Drives: 2018 540i
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Austin

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankchn View Post
Would it though? For a MY2019 3 year lease you will be paying $160 under the new model (2 renewals), and since it is a subscription it is not rolled into the lease price.

For a MY2018 3 year lease, the option is $300, but you are only paying ~40% of that (100% - residual), so it is $120.
Yeah, that is certainly true if he’d included it in the lease, but it sounded like he already had the car and was looking to add CarPlay, so he’d have to pay the full $300 and only get to use it for the remainder of the lease term (I don’t know if he actually leased or not).

For new leases, the upfront payment option ends up a slightly better deal presuming you’re happy with the functionality and use it the full term. At least with the trial/subscription model you can dump it without penalty if you end up hating it, which a lot of folks seem to.
Appreciate 0
      02-16-2018, 02:48 AM   #9
Zap-xpilot
Private First Class
Sweden
89
Rep
124
Posts

Drives: BMW M3 ZCP 2017, 540ix 18 G31
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Stockholm

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
not worth it in my view

I've had an extensive test of Carplay (3 weeks) in the new X3, I was curious whether to order it or not in my brand new 540iX Touring or not.
In the end I ended up switching back to idrive, even though everything we have is Apple.

I am primarily using Spotify for music, I think the app is much better through idrive - easier to come to my playlists, save, search, etc.

Also, on carplay there is no integration in HUD - no arrows for navigation, no contact names to scroll from a last-dialled perspective. You have to use Siri, which seriously sucks, in comparison with the Nuance speech recognition from BMW.

All in all, I ended up turning off Carplay. For me it was not a financial issue at all, it just was way kludgier than Idrive.
My 2c..
Appreciate 0
      02-16-2018, 04:45 AM   #10
Rob500
Enlisted Member
United Kingdom
7
Rep
34
Posts

Drives: 530i SE
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by r3amir View Post
My car didn’t come with Apple CarPlay, but I can still download it from the Connected Drive for $300. Is it worth it?

I can even now read or listen to my text messages and play Pandora through my phone
I think it is difficult to say. I have CarPlay but have currently turned it off after experimenting with it for a while. I found CarPlay very useful for controlling Podcasts and managing Texts. Without Carplay texts do not give any notification of arrival and the only way to play a Podcast is to start it on your phone and then you can't change it or switch to a different app on your phone apart from the very small number that integrate with the car.

However, when using CarPlay I found the sudden switch of interface to a completely different look and feel whenever I received a text or phone call very "jarring" and I much prefer the integration of my iPhone for phone calls and contacts without CarPlay.

Last edited by Rob500; 02-17-2018 at 03:27 AM.. Reason: corection of typo
Appreciate 0
      02-16-2018, 07:11 AM   #11
misterbixby
Private
38
Rep
66
Posts

Drives: G30 m550i
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Warsaw

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelc View Post
I am in complete agreement; iDrive is preferred and I too am deep in the Apple ecosystem...
seconded
Appreciate 1
TopgearLA119.50
      02-16-2018, 08:04 AM   #12
DavidI
Private
United Kingdom
21
Rep
77
Posts

Drives: F90 M5C LCI
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: NW London / Herts

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob500 View Post
Without Carplay texts do not give any notification of arrival and the only way to play a Podcast is to start it on your phone and then you can't change it or switch to a different app on your phone apart from the very small number that integrate with the car.
In the F10, I go to Media, <device Name>, More Media, Podcasts.
Appreciate 0
      02-17-2018, 01:12 AM   #13
robfen
Private
92
Rep
50
Posts

Drives: i4 and 550e
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ireland

iTrader: (0)

carplay definitely better for podcast and text but only if you have decent signal coverage
Appreciate 0
      02-17-2018, 03:39 AM   #14
Rob500
Enlisted Member
United Kingdom
7
Rep
34
Posts

Drives: 530i SE
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidI View Post
In the F10, I go to Media, <device Name>, More Media, Podcasts.
That menu option does not appear on mine when I go to Media, <device Name> it just starts playing the last used audio source on my phone. The only options shown are next track and previous track (or shuffle in the left side menu) which is not all that useful for a podcast!
Appreciate 0
      02-17-2018, 03:57 AM   #15
ADS-UK
Captain
ADS-UK's Avatar
United Kingdom
499
Rep
987
Posts

Drives: G30 - 530d M Sport
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Connected Drive AppStore gives regular trial offers for different services. At least that's the case in the UK. So, I suggest you try it out for yourself. I for one have no qualms about Car Play and use it daily. In my view it works well. You just have to use it for what it's good for. There's no point in using Apple Maps as an example when there's an integrated nav system in the car.
Appreciate 2
ZigmundUK436.00
r3amir86.00
      02-17-2018, 06:03 AM   #16
DavidI
Private
United Kingdom
21
Rep
77
Posts

Drives: F90 M5C LCI
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: NW London / Herts

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob500 View Post
That menu option does not appear on mine when I go to Media, <device Name> it just starts playing the last used audio source on my phone. The only options shown are next track and previous track (or shuffle in the left side menu) which is not all that useful for a podcast!
No, I can see that I wonder if you only see the more media/Podcasts option with Enhanced Bluetooth? I have it in the F10, perhaps that's the difference.
Appreciate 0
      02-17-2018, 09:04 AM   #17
bimmer_335
Major
175
Rep
1,123
Posts

Drives: 540 mSport
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: In the middle of nowhere, TX

iTrader: (1)

Worth every penny
Appreciate 1
ZigmundUK436.00
      02-17-2018, 05:00 PM   #18
Gmoney El Nene
Private
Gmoney El Nene's Avatar
52
Rep
81
Posts

Drives: 2018 540i M
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: United States

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by r3amir View Post
My car didn’t come with Apple CarPlay, but I can still download it from the Connected Drive for $300. Is it worth it?

I can even now read or listen to my text messages and play Pandora through my phone
It really is not worth it in my opinion. Yes my car has it. But I prefer using the phone through the I drive menu.
__________________

2018 540xi MSport, Med Blue/Mocha
Exec Pack, Cove Mat, HK, Carplay, Lux Seats
19"664M, Wifi, Driving Assistant
Appreciate 1
TopgearLA119.50
      02-18-2018, 08:51 AM   #19
Joelc
Private First Class
Canada
37
Rep
111
Posts

Drives: 2017 540ix
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob500 View Post
Without Carplay texts do not give any notification of arrival and the only way to play a Podcast is to start it on your phone and then you can't change it or switch to a different app on your phone apart from the very small number that integrate with the car.
I don't man to hijack this thread but how can you get texts without CarPlay through iDrive as I tried everything I could think of and could receive a single text message...wouldyou please explain to me how to do this.

Thx!
Appreciate 0
      02-18-2018, 03:22 PM   #20
Rob500
Enlisted Member
United Kingdom
7
Rep
34
Posts

Drives: 530i SE
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidI View Post
No, I can see that I wonder if you only see the more media/Podcasts option with Enhanced Bluetooth? I have it in the F10, perhaps that's the difference.
No, it's not that as I have the Enhanced Bluetooth option.
Appreciate 0
      02-18-2018, 03:32 PM   #21
Rob500
Enlisted Member
United Kingdom
7
Rep
34
Posts

Drives: 530i SE
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelc View Post
I don't man to hijack this thread but how can you get texts without CarPlay through iDrive as I tried everything I could think of and could receive a single text message...wouldyou please explain to me how to do this.

Thx!
Without CarPlay The only way I have found to do it is to use Siri by doing a long press on the microphone button which invokes Siri instead of iDrive. You can then say "Read text" and Siri will read it to you and give you the option of replying. The problem is there is no notification that the text has arrived so you don't know to ask Siri!
Appreciate 0
      02-18-2018, 04:56 PM   #22
babaikram
M6GCComp, Porsche Cayman S PDK, Peug 208 GT1 BPS
United Kingdom
512
Rep
1,280
Posts

Drives: .
Join Date: May 2015
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelc View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob500 View Post
Without Carplay texts do not give any notification of arrival and the only way to play a Podcast is to start it on your phone and then you can't change it or switch to a different app on your phone apart from the very small number that integrate with the car.
I don't man to hijack this thread but how can you get texts without CarPlay through iDrive as I tried everything I could think of and could receive a single text message...wouldyou please explain to me how to do this.

Thx!
A bit late. Turn notifications on your iPhone to Banner. On your iPhone go to setting: Bluetooth: Click on i sign on BMW and tick show notification and sync contact. You would then be able to receive messages on I drive sent when connected to I drive for iPhone. It is even better for Android you would be able to see all message on your phone on idrive and reply by dictation
__________________
Acceleration is heavenly
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:16 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST