I am getting my 545i next week (new Jersey, USA). What should buy in order to get the phone to work inside the car (which phone) and how much does it cost?

Please advise,

Thanks
Samy

 

If you want to be absolutely safe, buy the BMW phone for $525. If you don't mind putting the phone back in the bracket each time you start the car, it sounds like the Verizon V60s will work fine.

I picked the BMW phone because:

A. My business is paying for it.
B. I heard from a Verizon technician that the BMW phone has a special chip.
C. Even if the V60s is exactly the same as the BMW phone, it will be less hassle to resolve any phone issues with the dealer if everything is their responsibility.

 

If you really don't want a hassle, DON'T DO IT. You can read mine and several other posts about the problems with the phone, and I bought the BMW phone. Definitely software/interface problems that prevent you from reliably using the phone hands free and the service dept does not have a clue how to fix it. I am giving the dealer one last chance. I am leaving it there for a week while out of town. If not fixed I am asking for my money back and getting the new Verizon bluetooth hands free system that should be out by mid August.

 

My v60s (on Verizon) does not require putting back to the eject box each time, as wolverine described. So my recommendaiton would be asking your dealer to install eject box and reprogram the TCU with the "Verizon" phone options (which cost me $355 including the matgereials). It might take the dealer a while to figure out if they have never done this before.

So far my v60s works 100% as the user manual described.

-khl

 

I have the BMW phone, it was installed by the dealer. The cost was outrageous but it works very well. Voice recognition, mutes cd/radio when a call comes in, download of phonebook all work great. With a 6-speed manual my hands are already busy. The hands free is the only way to go.

 

I have the Verizon V60 and it works well. My dealer installed the cradle upon delivery and I have had no problems with it. It stays in the cradle and works as described in the owners manual also.

The only complaint is that my wife says when she calls me she hears an echo of herself when she is talking. Sounds great to me in the car though.