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BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum iDrive, Audio, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics + Coding Alexa in iDrive 6 working for anyone?

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      11-01-2020, 04:36 PM   #1
paquet
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Alexa in iDrive 6 working for anyone?

I spoke with BMW Assist about this - and they had me update 'BMW Assist' in iDrive 6 through the option button.
Didn't make any difference though - no Alexa in the BMW apps list.

Has it worked for anyone on a G30 with iDrive 6?

If it has, I'd welcome hearing of how you got it to work. Thank you
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      11-17-2020, 04:38 PM   #2
paquet
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Update on my own issue:
BMW Assist recommended taking it to the dealership for a special software update.
Dealership re-applied 'V' - no change.
They're now pursuing it directly with BMW North America to figure out why this won't work like the official BMW video to get it installed / working.
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      11-18-2020, 05:39 PM   #3
paquet
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Update 2: it's available in cars made in 11/18 or after and you need the pro nav system (which pretty much all G30's have, I believe, in the US/Canada anyway)

So I'm out of luck - just a couple of months prior manufacture.

Though I'm rather curious as to what is this 'change' - it's the same system - so did they add something in the headunit?
I honestly thought (and still think) it should just be a software enabled feature.
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      11-18-2020, 06:29 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packet View Post
Update 2: it's available in cars made in 11/18 or after and you need the pro nav system (which pretty much all G30's have, I believe, in the US/Canada anyway)

So I'm out of luck - just a couple of months prior manufacture.

Though I'm rather curious as to what is this 'change' - it's the same system - so did they add something in the headunit?
I honestly thought (and still think) it should just be a software enabled feature.
Interesting. I would have thought it was software as well. Perhaps they added more microphones to pick up the wake word?
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      11-19-2020, 05:32 AM   #5
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I can’t get this to work on iDrive 7, either....
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      11-19-2020, 06:50 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf View Post
I can’t get this to work on iDrive 7, either....
Is it even available as an option on idrive 7?
i thought that had 'hey bmw' as the wake phrase?
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      11-19-2020, 09:48 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf View Post
I can’t get this to work on iDrive 7, either....
This doesn't work on iDrive 7. They use BMW Personal Assistant there instead.

BMW Apps also don't work on iDrive 7. Where you can connect apps from your phone to iDrive like Spotify* or Stitcher and etc.

* Yes, iDrive 7 has a Spotify app in the car, but that app runs in the car's head unit and doesn't need your phone at all and uses the car's built in cell connection for its data not your phone.
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      05-17-2021, 08:44 AM   #8
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Reviving this as the new My BMW app keeps teasing me with a 'setup Alexa' only to say 'not supported'

So it got me thinking - and I'd welcome your counsel on this:

What is it looking for? Would a newer headunit resolve the issue?

I am assuming BDC has nothing to do with it - and it's all headunit
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      05-17-2021, 10:59 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packet View Post
Reviving this as the new My BMW app keeps teasing me with a 'setup Alexa' only to say 'not supported'

So it got me thinking - and I'd welcome your counsel on this:

What is it looking for? Would a newer headunit resolve the issue?

I am assuming BDC has nothing to do with it - and it's all headunit
The option appears on my iDrive 7 car in the app. I haven't tried turning it on though as I don't use Alex. So it may require the newer headunit? Would be odd though since they advertised Alexa as being a feature coming for iDrive 6 a few years back.
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      05-17-2021, 11:01 AM   #10
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Thank you - that's the thing.
Supposedly it's available for cars built after Nov 2018 - that timeframe would be for idrive 6 - that's my thinking anyway.
So i'm thinking just a newer headunit?
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      05-17-2021, 02:00 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packet View Post
Thank you - that's the thing.
Supposedly it's available for cars built after Nov 2018 - that timeframe would be for idrive 6 - that's my thinking anyway.
So i'm thinking just a newer headunit?
Not sure. BMW is the worst at giving clear information. According to their latest supported features matrix even my car shouldn't have Alexa support as that's listed as not being supported yet on the 5-Series (yet it does).

I've been dragged through their flogging lines while walking on hot coals enough to know how rarely they give accurate information... I feel like they've given me a blood letting with the whole iDrive 7 "Lite" fiasco.

https://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b...lityMatrix.pdf
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      05-17-2021, 04:15 PM   #12
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Oh yes that idrive 7 "lite" is just madness. You'd think it would be upgradeable to the full version, ostensibly, the 'lite' coming out as a preview until the full-fat idrive 7 came out.
Or so you'd think...

I'm balls deep in the Amazon ecosystem, so Alexa in the car is a big want for me.
Which has me trying to figure stuff like this out - new headunit, new 'something?' that would enable that feature.

I have to say, maybe there's not enough of a market and hence BMW doesn't give a shit, but retrofits for so many things would be most welcome.
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      05-17-2021, 06:02 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packet View Post
Thank you - that's the thing.
Supposedly it's available for cars built after Nov 2018 - that timeframe would be for idrive 6 - that's my thinking anyway.
So i'm thinking just a newer headunit?
Whoever told you Alexa would be available in November 2018 builds+, did so incorrectly.
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      05-17-2021, 06:26 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packet View Post
Oh yes that idrive 7 "lite" is just madness. You'd think it would be upgradeable to the full version, ostensibly, the 'lite' coming out as a preview until the full-fat idrive 7 came out.
Or so you'd think...

I'm balls deep in the Amazon ecosystem, so Alexa in the car is a big want for me.
Which has me trying to figure stuff like this out - new headunit, new 'something?' that would enable that feature.

I have to say, maybe there's not enough of a market and hence BMW doesn't give a shit, but retrofits for so many things would be most welcome.
Honestly, I have zero idea what was going on in Munich that lead them to do iDrive 7 "Lite". I could halfway understand if it had to be around for a few years for some reason, but it is only for 1 MY on the G30. So why not have just left it at iDrive 6 and then did iDrive 7 the next year with all the trimmings as they did? No one will ever know honestly.

You can't really upgrade the headunit easily. In theory it is possible since the iDrive 7 "lite" cars are basically iDrive 6 cars with an iDrive 7 headunit*. The challenge is BMW needs to activate the headunit which is likely a problem and there may be other stuff that needs to change in the car which would prove challenging.

I'm sure we'll see people trying it though once the MY2020 cars get a bit older and people can strip mine them to experiment with mixing MY2017-2019 cars with the headunit.

Until then though... I'd assume you can't upgrade the headunit.


* I know that is worded in a confusing manner. I guess I could have said that iDrive 7 "Lite" and iDrive 6 cars are both "SP15" cars and the LCI G30 is SP18. But that feels even more confusing somehow. The reader can indulge in whichever is clearer to them.
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      05-26-2021, 10:09 AM   #15
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What does one use Alexa for in the car? I did link either Connect or MyBMW to Alexa, and I can say "Alexa Send Unlock to MyBMW" from home. Is there Alexa functionality in the car where I can say "Alexa, turn on foyer light" for example? My house is pretty smart loaded.
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      05-26-2021, 10:57 AM   #16
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Yes - you're correct.
You'd be able to trigger scenes (or routines in the Amazon ecosystem) from your car.
My other thought is you'd also be able to use Alexa to play Amazon Music, and other stuff like asking Alexa questions.
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      05-26-2021, 11:24 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by packet View Post
Yes - you're correct.
You'd be able to trigger scenes (or routines in the Amazon ecosystem) from your car.
My other thought is you'd also be able to use Alexa to play Amazon Music, and other stuff like asking Alexa questions.
Cool, controlling my scenes from my car I would definitely be interested in. Amazon Music not so much, I already have too many music choices in the car. Apple Music, Pandora and Sirius is enough.

So if my car supports Alexa (It has a 12/2017 build date), I assume I would find the Alexa app in connected drive?
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      05-26-2021, 11:40 AM   #18
paquet
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There's the rub - from what I've been told (details in the first few posts), this feature is Nov 2018 onwards. No detail on what enables it.

The old BMW Connected app would show just the Echo speakers to let you setup the remote lock/unlock from your Echo.
The new MyBMW app shows you the Alexa functionality and reports not supported (at least for me...guessing you'll run into the same issue...)

I asked a friend with a new 2021 X1 (running iDrive 6) to check the older BMW Connected app - and that had the option to setup Alexa in the car.

iDrive 7 - no issue, it'll work.

I'm more than willing to swap out head units if they have some newer hardware component that still works for iDrive 6 and gives Alexa support - but I can't find any detail on what would be needed...
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      05-26-2021, 11:52 AM   #19
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Got excited. It was sitting there in My BMW app waiting to be connected to my Amazon account. Went through the steps only find "not supported "
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      05-26-2021, 04:29 PM   #20
paquet
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Ugh I feel your pain - and I'm sorry.

I went through the same excitement and crushing letdown with the new app.
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      11-27-2022, 04:59 AM   #21
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Due to black friday discount I've bought connected drive bundle which includes Alexa support and I can report that it is indeed functioning on my 2017 g30 with idrive6 and NBTevo Y.

With that being said, I don't see any advantage when compared to apple carplay and siri.
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      11-27-2022, 02:02 PM   #22
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as an alternative, have you tried a long press on the voice button?

This connects to my android phone and you can do some stuff through Hey google like send messages via what's app.
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