I retracted an iOS 9.3.4 update because after I sent it through my iPhone 6S would not work with my 2016 Highlander Bluetooth phone system. I am in no rush to update my iOS based on this. I was lucky enough to still be able to claw back the update and everything is working fine again.
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iPhone 7 and BMW Owners Experiencing Bluetooth Audio Issues
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Over the past two weeks, an increasing number of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users have experienced Bluetooth audio issues in vehicles. The majority of users experiencing problems appear to be BMW owners, regardless of model, but other vehicle brands such as Hyundai and Kia appear to be involved in limited cases.
The issues range from audio cutting out to connectivity issues with infotainment systems. BMW users in particular report being able to stream music for about 5-10 seconds, at which point the ConnectedDrive system freezes. Fixing the system requires restarting the iPhone, but the issue reemerges once the connection is reestablished.
MacRumors reader YachtMac posted in our discussion forums:Apple Support Communities member Chandy911 echoed the same problem:MacRumors reader PorscheRain:BMW itself has acknowledged the issues and said it is working with Apple to ensure iPhone 7 compatibility in its vehicles:Apple has seemingly told some customers the fix will be included in an upcoming software update. The issue is still present on iOS 10.1 beta. BMW owners are recommended to update to the latest version of ConnectedDrive as a preparative measure. BMWs equipped with CarPlay do not appear to be affected.
These types of issues have been seen before. In 2014, some users experienced trouble pairing their devices to their vehicles via Bluetooth after upgrading to iOS 8 or purchasing a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Apple fixed the issues in iOS 8.1. Similar issues affecting some iPhone SE users were addressed in iOS 9.3.2.
Article Link: iPhone 7 and BMW Owners Experiencing Bluetooth Audio Issues
1 week old Landrover Evoque MY17 iPhone6S+ IOS 10 experiencing the same problems, BT audio curts out every couple of minutes..
My car Bluetooth (not BMW) still works fine with iOS 10.
My OTHER Bluetooth—Jabra headphones—is shot to hell! I have to un-pair and re-pair multiple times a day, sometimes reboot the phone, and sometimes I just can't get audio even then. I have 2 models and one is worse than the other.
Definitely another round of Bluetooth issues. Hope it's fixed soon. (Also bad timing if headphone issues affect the new wireless-audio iPhone 8! But mine's a 6+.)
My OTHER Bluetooth—Jabra headphones—is shot to hell! I have to un-pair and re-pair multiple times a day, sometimes reboot the phone, and sometimes I just can't get audio even then. I have 2 models and one is worse than the other.
Definitely another round of Bluetooth issues. Hope it's fixed soon. (Also bad timing if headphone issues affect the new wireless-audio iPhone 8! But mine's a 6+.)
Probably unrelated, but my 6+ has stopped announcing the prompts from Google Maps unless, oddly, and infuriatingly, I am in the middle of a conversation using Bluetooth. 
And the audio prompts stop again after I hang up.
And the audio prompts stop again after I hang up.
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/09/29/iphone-7-bmw-bluetooth-audio-issues/
You are dead on target. I have lot 10 hours of my life and visited BMW dealership and Verizon store (7 times) and ordered replacement phones thinking iPhone was a dude.
Of course everyone has been beyond clueless.
My wife has a Toyota RAV4 and is experiencing freeze up issues as well. She just paired with her Toyota a few hours ago.
We already traded in our iPhone 6 models so we have been downgraded effectively and quite miserably.
Apple should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this phone.
The most loyal customers are getting F'ed over by this crap.
Thanks for article confirming my misery.
Jon
You are dead on target. I have lot 10 hours of my life and visited BMW dealership and Verizon store (7 times) and ordered replacement phones thinking iPhone was a dude.
Of course everyone has been beyond clueless.
My wife has a Toyota RAV4 and is experiencing freeze up issues as well. She just paired with her Toyota a few hours ago.
We already traded in our iPhone 6 models so we have been downgraded effectively and quite miserably.
Apple should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this phone.
The most loyal customers are getting F'ed over by this crap.
Thanks for article confirming my misery.
Jon
My car is a Toyota. (What year is hers?) I'll try the Bluetooth audio. Maybe it's not just the 7's? I never had issues with the Bluetooth prompts before, but it's been quite a while since I've used them... But still could be unrelated. It's just odd that it works as strangely as it does...
Thanks funny, my iPhone 7 works incredibly well with my Tesla Model S including calendar updates, contact list, music and of course, phone calls.
Likely a BMW issue (as usual) rather than an iPhone 7 issue.
Likely a BMW issue (as usual) rather than an iPhone 7 issue.
When mine connects everything seems to be working fine, but that's like a couple times in & out of the car until the dreaded 'connection failed' message pops up! And I NEVER had any bluetooth issues with any of my other iPhones in this car for the past 5 years (6s, 6, 5s, 5, 4)
It is unclear what the root cause is...
BT in your BMW with your brand new Iphone 7 is broken.... The world is over.... We should all just die now
I am the owner of a 2015 BMW M235i. I recently purchased an iPhone 7 Plus and experienced these same problems. I paired my new iPhone to my BMW and got about 1 minute into playing when the playing stopped. Repeated attempts to unpaid and repair failed.
Today I tried something different. Hope it helps others (see attached image)
1. Erase the BMW bluetooth connection from the iPhone.
2. Erase the iPhone bluetooth connection from the BMW.
3. Resync both. You'll likely find that you're having the same issues.
4. At the screen that presents USB/Bluetooth/AUX connection options (Set Wireless Device Via), select "Connections".
5. You'll see your phone listed in under "Connected:"
6. Press the physical iDrive options button.
7. Deselect "Audio" and leave "Telephone" selected. Select OK.
8. The iPhone will unpair and the source will change.
9. Renter the previous screen and select "Audio". Select "OK".
10. Bluetooth audio returns to works again, business as usual.
Today I tried something different. Hope it helps others (see attached image)
1. Erase the BMW bluetooth connection from the iPhone.
2. Erase the iPhone bluetooth connection from the BMW.
3. Resync both. You'll likely find that you're having the same issues.
4. At the screen that presents USB/Bluetooth/AUX connection options (Set Wireless Device Via), select "Connections".
5. You'll see your phone listed in under "Connected:"
6. Press the physical iDrive options button.
7. Deselect "Audio" and leave "Telephone" selected. Select OK.
8. The iPhone will unpair and the source will change.
9. Renter the previous screen and select "Audio". Select "OK".
10. Bluetooth audio returns to works again, business as usual.
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There are many makes and models, of cars, experiencing Bluetooth problems with iOS 10. It's not confined to BMW or the iPhone 7. My 2015 Honda Civic went form working perfectly to a **** show - immediately following the iOS upgrade.
Let's hope the hot mess of Bluetooth, in iOS 10, doesn't mess with your Tesla's autopilot... Oh wait. I forgot. Tesla doesn't have any problems with their stuff... Shhh. Tesla will just disable the safety features via an over-the-air upgrade. Can you say missing fingers ?
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I have an iPhone 5S, and iOS 10 broke the Bluetooth in my car (Honda Civic). And yes, it does suck.
You are a hero!
I just followed your steps on my 2016 340i and now my BT audio is working perfectly. Thanks for the tip.
(Saw your post over on Bimmerfest also.)
You are a hero!
I just followed your steps on my 2016 340i and now my BT audio is working perfectly. Thanks for the tip.
(Saw your post over on Bimmerfest also.)
Glad to help. I've contacted BMW Genius via email so they can disseminate this information as widely as possible.
I've done most of it while I've been trying but I'll have a go later on, fingers crossed
I followed the above steps and it seems to be working, we'll see if it stays that way.
That's awesome. Hope it keeps working for you. It's been working for me for about 3 days now.
Over the past two weeks, an increasing number of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users have experienced Bluetooth audio issues in vehicles. The majority of users experiencing problems appear to be BMW owners, regardless of model, but other vehicle brands such as Hyundai and Kia appear to be involved in limited cases.
The issues range from audio cutting out to connectivity issues with infotainment systems. BMW users in particular report being able to stream music for about 5-10 seconds, at which point the ConnectedDrive system freezes. Fixing the system requires restarting the iPhone, but the issue reemerges once the connection is reestablished.
MacRumors reader YachtMac posted in our discussion forums:Apple Support Communities member Chandy911 echoed the same problem:MacRumors reader PorscheRain:BMW itself has acknowledged the issues and said it is working with Apple to ensure iPhone 7 compatibility in its vehicles:Apple has seemingly told some customers the fix will be included in an upcoming software update. The issue is still present on iOS 10.1 beta. BMW owners are recommended to update to the latest version of ConnectedDrive as a preparative measure. BMWs equipped with CarPlay do not appear to be affected.
These types of issues have been seen before. In 2014, some users experienced trouble pairing their devices to their vehicles via Bluetooth after upgrading to iOS 8 or purchasing a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Apple fixed the issues in iOS 8.1. Similar issues affecting some iPhone SE users were addressed in iOS 9.3.2.
Article Link: iPhone 7 and BMW Owners Experiencing Bluetooth Audio Issues
I have similar issues at my iPhone 6S Plus, and other iPhone models:
It seems the bluetooth for my Honda Civic 2016 Touring model is having a lot of issues. One of the problems I'm facing is this one:
- When I'm at a call conversation over bluetooth, suddenly the sound gets messy, with a little distortion, I found out that if I transfer the call to the iPhone, and then back to the car's bluetooth the sound becomes clear again. This problem do not happen at any Android phone I have tested so far, and it occurred with other iPhone models as well.
- The other problem concerns playing WhatsApp voice messages over any bluetooth using any iPhone model, the sound is messy, it works pretty bad, I discovered that if I play a video message before, and then play the voice message it works well. But whenever I close the app, I need to repeat the process to have the voice message sound played correctly.
2015 BMW 228i here. No joy...
It seems almost any restart, removal, ranting and raving will get it to work for awhile. Soon after it goes back to losing the connection, skipping, stopping and losing the audio connection. Only Apple can fix this one.