Set-up my "free" Wifi Hotspot today, pretty useless

Joe-BMW33 · 04-27-2021, 08:23 AM

I was messing with the car and thought I would try Screen Mirroring. This led me to the required activation of the BMW Wifi Hotspot first. So I did that and saw I get it for free for 3 months or 3GB's, whichever comes first. Free is good because I have no intention of paying $20 a month (with discount) when I have 5G unlimited on my phone that screams and can also be a hotpot.

But the mission was to see if I could get screen mirroring to work. Sad to say, iOS devices are not supported, which is interesting because BMW is somewhat of a Pioneer for the first built in wireless carplay offering and they don't support the android version of carplay, but they don't support airplay. So if you have an Android you can screen mirror, but you can't use the Android play thing.

LogicalApex · 04-27-2021, 12:37 PM

Apple doesn't allow the support of AirPlay 2 in CarPlay so BMW is limited there. Apple probably sees it as a safety thing.

The WiFi hotspot is one of those things that will be useful to a few people, but not most. I have it at $15/m and should cancel it. My T-Mobile plan includes 40GB of 5G tethering on my iPhone and works very well. But some people are still stuck on AT&T and whatnot where tethering is expensive or restricted.

I haven't bothered with it as WiFi calling works with it so it can act as a sort of signal alternative when I'm out of T-Mobile range. But honestly, I'm in the category that don't need this either.

04-27-2021, 08:23 AM	#1
Joe-BMW33 Major General 7284 Rep 6,712 Posts Drives: '18 M550i\|'21 X5\|'03 540i Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 VW Tiguan [0.00] 2015 Infiniti QX60 [0.00] 2021 BMW X5 [0.00] 2003 BMW 540i [0.00] 2018 BMW M550 [10.00]	Set-up my "free" Wifi Hotspot today, pretty useless I was messing with the car and thought I would try Screen Mirroring. This led me to the required activation of the BMW Wifi Hotspot first. So I did that and saw I get it for free for 3 months or 3GB's, whichever comes first. Free is good because I have no intention of paying $20 a month (with discount) when I have 5G unlimited on my phone that screams and can also be a hotpot. But the mission was to see if I could get screen mirroring to work. Sad to say, iOS devices are not supported, which is interesting because BMW is somewhat of a Pioneer for the first built in wireless carplay offering and they don't support the android version of carplay, but they don't support airplay. So if you have an Android you can screen mirror, but you can't use the Android play thing. __________________ 2018 M550ix\|Carbon Black\|Dinan Modifications\|2003 540i\|Jet Black\|M-Sport\|2021 X5 Mineral White Prior BMW's: 1987 325e\|1993 740i\|1998 740il\|2001 530i\|2002 745li\|2007 750li\|2006 750li\|2001 530i\|2012 535xi\|
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-27-2021, 12:37 PM	#2
LogicalApex Colonel 2024 Rep 2,945 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW 530xe Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Farmington, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 530xe [0.00]	Apple doesn't allow the support of AirPlay 2 in CarPlay so BMW is limited there. Apple probably sees it as a safety thing. The WiFi hotspot is one of those things that will be useful to a few people, but not most. I have it at $15/m and should cancel it. My T-Mobile plan includes 40GB of 5G tethering on my iPhone and works very well. But some people are still stuck on AT&T and whatnot where tethering is expensive or restricted. I haven't bothered with it as WiFi calling works with it so it can act as a sort of signal alternative when I'm out of T-Mobile range. But honestly, I'm in the category that don't need this either.
	Appreciate 0 Quote