iPhone Cradle

[Lyons]

Folks, I have a few questions relating to the phone cradle slot in the armrest.

Firstly, does it work independently of the bluetooth system? I gave up on getting my OEM bluetooth working last year, but its just occurred to me that I could perhaps get an iphone cradle to plug my phone into and get handsfree calls working this way. But is the handsfree/cradle side of things separate to the bluetooth side?

Assuming they are separate...I believe they only made a cradle up to the 3GS for the E53, does anyone know if you use a 30 pin to lighting adapter on the jack of the 3GS cradle, could you make it work on a later iPhone?

If anyone happened to have an old 3GS cradle lying about from yesteryear and would be willing to assist in my investigations let me know!

[Lyons]

Or can the old school car phone even be fitted and calls diverted through it?!

[Greydog]

My Asus padphone doesn't like the BMW Bluetooth but an older HTC connects with no issues so I just leave the HTC in the car turn it on when I get in and the Asus off all calls divert to the HTC it works really well phone book and text.
The Samsung I tried would connect but drop calls then I left the phone in my coat in the boot one day and it worked with no issues so I moved the bluetooth antenna up behind the back seat it helped but still not good. The HTC and my wifes Motorola and one of my sons Iphone all work just just the Asus that doesnt get on with BMW.

[Colin]

the last phone that i got connected to the X was an IPhone 4 ,  And when i changed to the 6 it was a step too far  so changed the head unit to an Alpine    happy now

[Lyons]

If I didn’t have Nav o would change the HU, but I dread the thought of running the ISO extension cable from the boot to dash!

[Horizon]

I had to run a cable from the boot to the dash on my X3 for my dedicated towbar electrics. Don't worry it was an Hour of a job, mostly tucked away under the door / carpet trim.
Well doable , even for the non diy er.

[Lyons]

I did it for the ipod cable of the intravee, but my car to do list is long enough already  :'(

[Lyons]

I spent last night looking at head units, thanks guys!!

Colin what fascia adapter did you go for? Did you get a Steering Wheel adapter too to allow control via the buttons?

[Colin]

Yes steering wheel buttons all work on it    The fascia adapter  speakers  and head unit were fitted by Audio Advice  Portadown  ,  terrific guys