BMW android & spotify

macjohn

Have a lci f10 (was thinking of trading but the trade in prices on the "where to next" thread made he shudder!)
upgraded to enhanced bluetooth and now (via my android phone) can play an album from spotify using idrive controls. However it's only the last album I played and I can't change album - am I missing something or is this as good as it gets?

Anyone else using enhanced bluetooth and an android phone(s8 in my case)? And if so have you work arounds?

I am looking for a solution using the idrive controller - I dont want to have to touch phone whilst driving.

bambam

there's an option to have spotify show up as an app in idrive.

run bmw connected app and spotify on your phone.
it should show up as a music source on idrive.

it allows browsing your starred artists/albums.

Though, to be honest I found it pretty flaky (4 series LCI)
BMW/Spotify were slow to help, though I got an update recently saying it's now improved allegedly .

Also, probably best to have the phone charging while doing this as battery is hit fairly hard

bazz26

It depends on which version of idrive you are running too. An F10 lci 5 Series would be version 5. The F36 lci 4 Series would be version 6 which has more features.

BraveDonut

What does the enhanced bluetooth give you and how much does it cost to upgrade? (2016 F10)

thanks

R.O.R

Set the phone up to recognise OK Google even with the screen locked.

Shout at the phone to select the album on Spotify then use idrive control from there.

macjohn

R.O.R wrote: »

Set the phone up to recognise OK Google even with the screen locked.

Shout at the phone to select the album on Spotify then use idrive control from there.

Thanks a mill. Looking forward to tomorrows commute to try that and shouting at my phone!!!
Once I set up ok google! I am a complete dinosaur - I was the one guy who still thought having cds in the car was just grand!!!

Thanks again - hopefully that should work and be a good fix.
Haven't been on boards much this year but the knowledge you impart on here deserves some kind of award. I know most of it is more more high end stuff than my baby question.

macjohn

bambam wrote: »

there's an option to have spotify show up as an app in idrive.

run bmw connected app and spotify on your phone.
it should show up as a music source on idrive.

it allows browsing your starred artists/albums.

Though, to be honest I found it pretty flaky (4 series LCI)
BMW/Spotify were slow to help, though I got an update recently saying it's now improved allegedly .

Also, probably best to have the phone charging while doing this as battery is hit fairly hard

Thanks but as Bazz says below it seems that the version on mine is too old to have than functionality.

bazz26 wrote: »

It depends on which version of idrive you are running too. An F10 lci 5 Series would be version 5. The F36 lci 4 Series would be version 6 which has more features.

Thanks Bazz, you really do have an encyclopedia knowledge on bmws. Hope the 530 is still going well.
Remember chatting to you when you got it; I didn't change - mine is worth so little on a trade in now (compared to what I paid for it and versus the cost of upgrading) Maybe a 181 g30 next year - dont know yet if hybrid, diesel or petrol. Weeks of long commutes and then weeks of nothing so around 19 -21,000 km a year. Commuting mpg = 55.4, average mpg 49.1

BraveDonut wrote: »

What does the enhanced bluetooth give you and how much does it cost to upgrade? (2016 F10)

thanks

With the ordinary you just have phone bluetooth, this gives you the audio option via bluetooth as well. Click into the phone via idrive and spotify (or audio player if thats open) auto comes up.
Only have it since the weekend so others might have better explanation.
If R.O.R.s solution works out then have functionality that I would be happy with (apple works better with bmw)
I have the pro nav - so it was a very very simply update via usb that I bought on ebay for £44.99 (sterling)