I sometimes see the word "car phone" on the I drive screen on the lower left side of the screen. I am wondering what this means considering the fact that I don't have a car phone set up in my car.

 

Good question! I have the same iDrive screen, with "Car Phone" along the bottom even though I have no phone other than the one built in for BMW Assist. Could it be that one? Anyway, I'm bringing my car in next week for fuel line clip recall and an oil change, so I'll ask the service tech, though I doubt they will know!

 

My car also shows this from time to time. I have programmed one of my steering wheel buttons to be "next entertainment source" (not 100% sure thats what its called as I am at work and the car is at home) and I can hit that, and change it to the radio station, sat channel, etc. Kinda a workaround I guess... I just wish I could take the SIM out of my GSM phone, and cut on the car phone... (since it seems bluetooth isn't going to come around anytime soon.)

 

I thiink it means that bmw assist is active. I have a cell phone in mine and when it's in the eject box, the "car phone" message is replaced with "portable."