[BWTX540i]

Having some frustration with Spotify. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to get it to star more reliably?

I have a 2018 540i with connected and connected+. Current version of software on iDrive and phone for all apps. I have an iPhone 6, paired with the car, set up to stream music over Bluetooth, set up for apps, etc.

When I get in the car, I have the BMW Connected app and Spotify open and running on my phone (I believe I read that you need to have the apps open). I start the car, and shortly thereafter the car links up with phone and the BMW connected app. At this point I can select BMW connected in my iDrive and see the apps, calendar, etc. At this point it’s hit or miss.

Sometimes Spotify shows up and sometimes it does not. If it does, and I click on it, sometimes is starts playing Spotify and all is good. Sometimes it says, “app loading”, but it never finishes loading. Sometimes it starts playing the 1st song in my iTunes music on my phone instead of Spotify (and it restarts this song a few times). When f I look on my phone, Spotify is open and playing, and it says its connected to my car. To get this to work, I have to close out of Spotify on my phone, and then open it again, and then it usually works. I set a memory button for Spotify thinking maybe this would help, but when I press the button it works sometimes, but usually it says “function not available”.

I notice that Pandora almost always pops in the BMW Connected menu (or media menu) really quickly, and I don’t even have the Pandora app open on my iPhone. Should I not have the Spotify app running on my phone until AFTER the phone is connected to the car? Or do I need to have it open, but does Spotify just take longer to load and connect than Pandora or the other apps? Or should I not try to run Spotify via Bluetooth, and just connect my iPhone to the USB cable instead (which I assume means I need to go into manage devices and turn off BMW Apps and/or stream music?)

[Tony_Soprano]

I share your frustrations, I have the exact same problem. Spotify used to work flawlessly until one of its many updates. Like you I have tried many combinations to get it to work. The only way that I can definitely get it to work is to restart the phone. Another annoyance I have is the progress bar under the album art no longer accurately reflects what is remaining of the song. It fluctuates constantly.

[bojler]

Do you have CarPlay activated in your car? It should solve your problem, I'm using Spotify daily via CarPlay (iPhone X) and it's working without any problems.

[BWTX540i]

I don’t have CarPlay. Just connected and connected+.

[Canuck99]

Regarding the first song of your iTunes music - this happens to me a lot when I'm searching for specific music. So this is not just a Spotify related problem it is a big bug in the BMW iDrive.

[bojler]

TX540i, Almaretto can help you with CarPlay activation, message him if interested - https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/me...?userid=298007

[Miamiboyca]

Spotify updates constantly break something else, their QA engines suck.

Good thing is if you're a paying member you can email them for support and get the big on their list. Eventually they do fix it.

It's not much, but at least you know you're not alone.

[BWTX540i]

Glad to know it’s not just me. I think partly I am just impatient and expect it to connect quickly. As an interim I’ve deleted Pandora as I don’t use that , and at least it doesn’t start up first now. One less thing to load. Tried BMW Genius hotline but they weren’t any help. Also downloaded a blank song as the first song in my iTunes library so I don’t get annoyed when iTunes starts playing.

[timmahh]

I had some issues originally, but right now things are OK (sometimes delays in commands, i.e. next track might take 5 - 10 seconds). The car detects Spotify and Audible as installed on my phone; I don't launch them manually (and spotify detects iDrive, popping up a disclaimer in the app). I am running the iOS 12 developer beta though. Spotify did release a funky update a while back that made things a pain in the ass.

[leath31]

is there a way to get the apple car play without having to pay the subscription?

[Stefan83]

Originally Posted by bojler

TX540i, Almaretto can help you with CarPlay activation, message him if interested - https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/me...?userid=298007

I'll try that.. thanks

[530iDriver]

When I first got the car back in March, Spotify worked flawlessly. However after a few updates of the app, Spotify no longer launches properly and if it does, there is nonsound coming out of the speakers. I have to circle back via mode button so sound is restored. Very weird and frustrating. Pandora works a little better and that's what I find myself using more these days.

I updated the iDrive's firmware to the latest and greatest and did improve somewhat but Spotify doesn't work as well as it used to when I bought the car.

IHeartRadio works well, but generally speaking, the BMW apps integration is still half baked and needs work.

Heck, these days I don't mind listening to local HD radio stations or even popping in a forgotten CD from my collection!.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Canuck99

Regarding the first song of your iTunes music - this happens to me a lot when I'm searching for specific music. So this is not just a Spotify related problem it is a big bug in the BMW iDrive.

Yes I experience this as well. I believe the problem is also coming from the iOS side as it appears the embedded Music app is fighting for bandwidth and wants to automatically default to it ahead of the other supported apps like Spotify and Pandora. I believe this is intentional in part of Apple to force to use their Music services which also includes a paid subscription service.

[TK - 421]

When using Spotify I found that if you connect the cable via USB to listen, then disable Bluetooth audio for your phone as they conflict.

One question I have is that Spotify looks different, more basic than on my F36, eg I can’t thumbs up or down tunes? Can’t add them to my saved playlists etc? Screen looks very sparse of control which I find odd?

Am I missing something here? Or is the G30 version more basic than the older ID4/5 versions?

[BMW_Sweden]

Hey guys.
I had A LOT of issues with Spotiy in my G30
I had to switch between iDrive spotify, iDrive bluetooth audio and apple carplay all the time..
App would just be "loading" many times..


First make sure "apps" is selected in the iDrive phone config.

Second: This worked PERFECTLY for me (so far).. Delete Apple MUSIC app from your iPhone.. Success!!

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by BMW_Sweden

Hey guys.
I had A LOT of issues with Spotiy in my G30
I had to switch between iDrive spotify, iDrive bluetooth audio and apple carplay all the time..
App would just be "loading" many times..


First make sure "apps" is selected in the iDrive phone config.

Second: This worked PERFECTLY for me (so far).. Delete Apple MUSIC app from your iPhone.. Success!!

Thanks for the tip. I'll try removing the Apple Music app as I don't really use it much.

Spotify used to work great when I first got the car earlier this year but the integration became buggy after one of the many updates. Recently, it was decent again but since the last 2 or so updates it has reverted back to be useless. It requires manual intervention from the phone for it to work and that tells me the integration with iDrive is broken again.

My unsolicited piece of advise is this: if you have a version of Spotify that works half decent with your iDrive, just leave it alone for as long as you can and don't update.

Very frustrating. This is a prime example of the proverbial rabbit hole of integrating factory infotainment systems with third party apps that keep changing all the time. It is just to much of a moving target if you ask me.

[bmhewett]

Yes, I agree, it worked fine but now it doesn't display the songs

[Nuny]

Had the same problem with Spotify, try to install old version 8.4.78, works fine again in my 540i

[gooselee]

FWIW, this may not just be an iDrive issue. After a Spotify update about a month ago (Android phone), it stopped working on the aftermarket Kenwood head unit I have in my 4Runner. I reverted to a prior Spotify version and it worked again with no problems.

What's funny is in the new version if I opened/started Spotify on my phone and then told the car to just play Bluetooth audio, it would work fine, albeit with the more limited generic bluetooth interface. But I could still pause/play/skip tracks within the playlist or station.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by gooselee

FWIW, this may not just be an iDrive issue. After a Spotify update about a month ago (Android phone), it stopped working on the aftermarket Kenwood head unit I have in my 4Runner. I reverted to a prior Spotify version and it worked again with no problems.

What's funny is in the new version if I opened/started Spotify on my phone and then told the car to just play Bluetooth audio, it would work fine, albeit with the more limited generic bluetooth interface. But I could still pause/play/skip tracks within the playlist or station.

Crappy Spotify app

[I L33 I]

Hi all

I've just taken delivery of a 67 plate 530D.
Google brought me here as I was looking how to use Spotify and being an Android user, things don't look great it seems?
Is the best option to use an iPhone and Carplay (don't even know if mine has that so will have to check), failing that are there any other recommendations? Third party software perhaps?

TIA

[r1cero]

You could use old version of spotify from mirrorapk once it was available and even then it would be hit or miss whether it will actually work.

But, there's this AAIdrive app which they say performs it all and better