[xenon]

Sorry if this is an obvious question but I've not had CarPlay before. Let's say I pair my iPhone with CarPlay does that mean I have CarPlay "running" all the time? By that I mean supposing I'm using one of the inbuilt iDrive apps, let's say BMW's integrated NAV, can I still make and receive phone calls like I always used to in the old days when we just had a simple Bluetooth pairing? I don't actually have to be using CarPlay as such?

Again, let's say I'm using the BMW Nav - can I still stream music from my phone?

Put simply, does the CarPlay really just give me the ability to use things like Google maps, Waze etc. on the big screen?

[SecretSquid]

Hi Xenon, you can run them in tandem. You can be using iDrive Nav, Spotify on CarPlay or iDrive and also receive calls on CarPlay. It just connects to CarPlay instead of connecting like a traditional Bluetooth connection if that makes sense. I haven't encountered any issues in my short time with the car (not had the car long so new to the forum). Hope that helps.

[Sussex_G20]

Have used both idrive maps/navigation and apple maps navigation while car play connected. I have an early idrive software still so don’t get apple map directions in the HUD so cant comment on those.
My phone connects immediately on getting into car, and am able to use any music source radio/idrive, music storage (car HD) or car play at will.
I do not use waze etc but as i can select any compatible act i do not see there would be a difference.

Get occasional car play disconnect from phone but it usually reconnects and carries on directly from where it had the glitch.

[Tam the Bam]

Originally Posted by xenon

Sorry if this is an obvious question but I've not had CarPlay before. Let's say I pair my iPhone with CarPlay does that mean I have CarPlay "running" all the time? By that I mean supposing I'm using one of the inbuilt iDrive apps, let's say BMW's integrated NAV, can I still make and receive phone calls like I always used to in the old days when we just had a simple Bluetooth pairing? I don't actually have to be using CarPlay as such?

Again, let's say I'm using the BMW Nav - can I still stream music from my phone?

Put simply, does the CarPlay really just give me the ability to use things like Google maps, Waze etc. on the big screen?

I don’t use CarPlay much but it does connect every time I get into the car (with phone in my pocket). I listen to Spotify on the car option and have used google maps whilst listening to Spotify.
What is good is that ‘WHATSAPP’ Messages appear on screen (even over the BMW sat Nav screen). The messages can be read out by the iDrive and you can even respond by speaking your message.

Once my BMW sat Nav update contract runs out (3 year) depending on cost to renew. I may well use CarPlay apps for sat Nav as they work very well.

[Axeman15]

I connect my work iPhone with CarPlay and my personal iPhone with Bluetooth at the same time. Both show up on my central display with battery levels.

Press and hold the microphone button to activate Siri, calendar is available on the main screen, text messages come through which the car will read out to you when driving, Apple maps are now displayed on HUD to some degree which i don't use as i prefer BMW nav, Google maps are displayed on the main screen.

Like Tam, I listen to Spotify on the integrated car app and also like Tam, if BMW nav updates are too pricey at the end of 3 years I will use one of the CarPlay nav apps.

I've never had an issue connecting either Bluetooth phone or CarPlay, always worked first time with no drop out...touching wood now that i have said that.

Sussex_G20 mentioned car hard drive music, but I think later cars no longer have this feature which is a shame in my opinion.

[xenon]

But even though the phone is connected via CarPlay setup, you don’t have to have CarPlay running in the screen? I guess that’s what my question boils down to.
Thanks for the replies.

[Axeman15]

Originally Posted by xenon

But even though the phone is connected via CarPlay setup, you don’t have to have CarPlay running in the screen? I guess that’s what my question boils down to.
Thanks for the replies.

Not at all. I'm off to the supermarket shortly and will send you a photo

[Tam the Bam]

Originally Posted by xenon

But even though the phone is connected via CarPlay setup, you don’t have to have CarPlay running in the screen? I guess that’s what my question boils down to.
Thanks for the replies.

Correct.... you don’t need to have it in the screen. It shows CarPlay (on the main widget screen) on left side of the top line of the screen and you can select that to get to CarPlay but doesn’t interfere with what is in the screen

[xenon]

Thanks all 😎

[Axeman15]

Originally Posted by xenon

But even though the phone is connected via CarPlay setup, you don’t have to have CarPlay running in the screen? I guess that’s what my question boils down to.
Thanks for the replies.

CarPlay screen, one with nav running in CarPlay and one screen just with BMW apps. There is a shortcut to CarPlay when it is connected.

I used Apple maps for this journey and it gives turn by turn directions in HUD

[xenon]

Thanks axeman 😎

[Axeman15]

No problem

[Riccardog]

Guys, I don't use Siri on my iPhone, its switched off.

Does this mean I cannot use CarPlay? Or are there workarounds?

Thanks in advance.

[Franko666]

Originally Posted by Riccardog

Guys, I don't use Siri on my iPhone, its switched off.

Does this mean I cannot use CarPlay? Or are there workarounds?

Thanks in advance.

Siri being off will not affect CarPlay but it will if using CarPlay to read your text and WhatsApp messages out.

[Riccardog]

Thanks. I've only tried activating the CarPlay from the iDrive once, but it failed to as it said Siri wasn't active on the phone.