[Charles549]

I find several references to the feature but in typical BS BMW fashion there's nothing telling us how.

[TSMC55]

I don't think it is an included feature.

My workaround is to have an echo dot in the small shelf on the back of the centre console and an app on my phone which turns on my phone's wifi hotspot whenever my phone connects to the car's bluetooth.

It works well and lets me control my house and office while driving, as well as set voice reminders when necessary.

[Charles549]

Originally Posted by TSMC55

I don't think it is an included feature.

My workaround is to have an echo dot in the small shelf on the back of the centre console and an app on my phone which turns on my phone's wifi hotspot whenever my phone connects to the car's bluetooth.

It works well and lets me control my house and office while driving, as well as set voice reminders when necessary.

It just became available with the latest update to the Connected Drive app on iPhone.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/10/02/v...ide-bmw-models

[TSMC55]

Wow. That will be much better than my work around. Hopefully it comes soon.

[ScottMZ3]

I hope it is available soon as well. We use Alexa to control a lot of stuff in the house so it would be nice. It seems like it should have been available mid-2018 based on the press info. I asked my CA about it yesterday and he said he hadn’t heard anything about it at all.

[avengerboater]

I have Alexa added to my Android Connected Drive app. It works, but all it can do is lock/ unlock the car and send trips to the car.

Pretty much things that i can already do on the Connected Drive app. So, it isn't very useful to me. Maybe if or when BMW will add remote start to Alexa.

[760Lifan]

There are two aspects in regards to vehicles and Alexa.

Controlling vehicle functions through Alexa is one, controlling Alexa commands from within the vehicle (which, IMO, is the more important one), the other.

While I can't control any featurs of my Audi Q7 through an Alexa-device, I have an Alexa Tab installed in my vehicle, giving me full control of its features. It is connected to my vehicle's WiFi hot-spot for data and the Tab is transmitting audio to the speakers via the vehicles AUX-input. Power is provided by USB-port.

My Lincoln can be locked/unlocked and started through my Alexa-devices (in my home) and has an App over the Nav-screen that connects over my cell for data. It provides Amazon music-info (cover-art, song-info etc.) on the screen which I obviously don't have on the Audi.

BMW is supposed to offer a similar integration like Lincoln where the screen in the vehicle becomes some sort of Alexa Show-screen.

Now, if BMW does not introduce this or sticks to their "iPhone-only" philosophy, it would be interesting to know if the G05 still has an AUX-input and a USB-plug at the same location like the Audi has...

[TSMC55]

Originally Posted by 760Lifan

...it would be interesting to know if the G05 still has an AUX-input and a USB-plug at the same location like the Audi has...

If it has an Aux-in port, I have not been able to find it. There was one in the centre console for the F15, but not in the GO5.

I have ordered a bluetooth transmitter and will connect a dot to the car that way.

It would be very nice if they integrated it similar to the Lincoln.

[mnewnam]

You couldn't pay me to use Alexa, especially with my vehicle... and I advise all my clients against it and recommend other options if they want voice control of their homes... giving up personal information and security for literally a gimmick isn't worth it IMO.

[ScottMZ3]

FYI, I called the Genius line today at BMW and they indicated that Alexa isn't yet available in the cars. The Connected Drive dev team is still ironing out issues with the in-car app and hope to have it released soon. His best guess was 1-2 more months and be available via an OTA update to the available in-car apps.

I asked about the note in the iPhone app "new features" details that said it is now available and he said that the update to the App just added support for it to the App itself, but the in-vehicle piece of the puzzle is still forthcoming.

So MAYBE we will see it soon!

[bigrobb2]

Originally Posted by ScottMZ3

FYI, I called the Genius line today at BMW and they indicated that Alexa isn't yet available in the cars. The Connected Drive dev team is still ironing out issues with the in-car app and hope to have it released soon. His best guess was 1-2 more months and be available via an OTA update to the available in-car apps.

I asked about the note in the iPhone app "new features" details that said it is now available and he said that the update to the App just added support for it to the App itself, but the in-vehicle piece of the puzzle is still forthcoming.

So MAYBE we will see it soon!

I hope that update will add the in car "climate rules" app for the seats and steering wheel too.

[Charles549]

Originally Posted by ScottMZ3

FYI, I called the Genius line today at BMW and they indicated that Alexa isn't yet available in the cars. The Connected Drive dev team is still ironing out issues with the in-car app and hope to have it released soon. His best guess was 1-2 more months and be available via an OTA update to the available in-car apps.

I asked about the note in the iPhone app "new features" details that said it is now available and he said that the update to the App just added support for it to the App itself, but the in-vehicle piece of the puzzle is still forthcoming.

So MAYBE we will see it soon!

That explains it. BMW is looking silly about so much and delivering too little. Wouldn't be an issue if they didn't sell us something they don't have.

[DiamondGraphite]

This video by a BMW representative does a great job demonstrating Alexa in iDrive 6.x. Is this form of Alexa currently available in iDrive 6 or 7?

[Charles549]

Originally Posted by DiamondGraphite

This video by a BMW representative does a great job demonstrating Alexa in iDrive 6.x. Is this form of Alexa currently available in iDrive 6 or 7?

It would excellent if they managed to include the Alexa feature in my $100,000 2019 X5 but i guess I need to buy a 3 series to get it.

[LexxM3]

Zombie thread, be re-born :-).

Anyone succeeded pairing an Echo Dot (2nd gen) to X5 where X5 is effectively a Bluetooth speaker? Both the Dot and the car see each other, but refuse to pair with "pairing unsuccessful, remove, and try again".

3/2019.45 iDrive, no issues with iPhone pairing and staying connected reliably here on the iPhone 8. And this Echo Dot pairs fine to other standalone Bluetooth speakers otherwise. Just not the X5.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Zombie thread, be re-born :-).

Anyone succeeded pairing an Echo Dot (2nd gen) to X5 where X5 is effectively a Bluetooth speaker? Both the Dot and the car see each other, but refuse to pair with "pairing unsuccessful, remove, and try again".

3/2019.45 iDrive, no issues with iPhone pairing and staying connected reliably here on the iPhone 8. And this Echo Dot pairs fine to other standalone Bluetooth speakers otherwise. Just not the X5.

Bumping my own post. With recent renewed interest in Alexa for the X5, perhaps someone has any ideas about my BT pairing problem?

[Paladin1]

There's actually an Echo Auto now - bluetooth or Aux connection, compact form factor (about 1" x 3"), USB charging. Still in Beta, but suspect soon commercial. Trialed in my Audi, but used the Aux connector, and worked variably well. Normal voice commands in Alexa work much better than the native voice commands, as you probably know, but most of the familiar Alexa commands seem to work.

[buze]

Thead revival!
LexxM3 have you ever managed to pair the audio and make it work? I'm pondering an Echo Input to put in the car... primarily since BMW seems to be completely incapable of delivering Spotify (or Alexa, or OTA updates.. etc etc etc).
Basically I'm pretty much giving up on giving me anything working anytime soon, and a small echo to use as a spotify client would be a great workaround!

[Paladin1]

BMW can't seem to get their own remote app to work reliably. So standing by with less than guarded optimism.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by buze

Thead revival!
LexxM3 have you ever managed to pair the audio and make it work? I'm pondering an Echo Input to put in the car... primarily since BMW seems to be completely incapable of delivering Spotify (or Alexa, or OTA updates.. etc etc etc).
Basically I'm pretty much giving up on giving me anything working anytime soon, and a small echo to use as a spotify client would be a great workaround!

No, I have not been able to BT pair an Alexa puck to the car and haven't heard any other suggestions on this. But I am still on 3/2019.45, and it seems like I really should update (waiting until the camera R/D switching bug in 7/2019.xx is fixed) — perhaps later Alexa and/or BMW software solves the pairing issue.

[TSMC55]

You can use a bluetooth transmitter which plugs into the echo dot line out and connect that as a bluetooth audio input on idrive. You can then stream music from the alexa unit.

I have it plugged into the power supply behind the centre console and the dot sits in the little tray. My phone is set to turn my hotspot on when it connects to the car's bluetooth.

It is not the most elegant solution and you need to speak loudly for Alexa to hear you, but it works.

[buze]

I've ordered an Echo Spot for £15 on black friday, I'll try to hook it up next week.