Hi - I've got an '07 530i and I'm thinking about getting a Blackberry Tour (Verizon). It's obviously not on the BMW list of compatible phones, since they seem to only update their list once every 2 or 3 years and most of the phones on their current list are discontinued models! I've read online that some people have issues with this phone, while others don't re: pairing and proper operation. Does anyone have any experience with this? Can an imcompatible phone really screw up the iDrive system? HELP

 

Wouldn't know about the Tour and BMW's - the Blackberry Tour (9630) is a new handset hence there could be issues with Bluetooth pairing and contact transfer; Blackberry's generally have been OK in the past.

As to damaging your cars iDrive read though the attached document; it will help explain the position re non-approved cell-phone handsets and BMW cars.

SI_B_84_21_07_Communication_Systems_November_2007.pdf

 

I have no problems with my 9630 and my 535XI bluetooth

 

I just recently bought a BB Tour from Verizon and it works great with my idrive's bluetooth. Although i'm not sure if it will sync your contacts automatically since mine was previously uploaded via iphone. GL!

 

no problems with any of my BB's (8700, 8330, and my wife's 8130) ever pairing with my e60...

have had the BB 9630/Tour since it's release, no problems pairing..

get it already....

 

you can get it for $30 at wirefly.com

 

Have had nothing but problems with my Tour/'08 535 since the last software upgrade.

At first it was the usual song and dance with the SA, then I escalated it with the shop foreman, who was supposed to bring it up to the field service engineer. No progress there, so I called BMWNA and am speaking with a supervisor.

It's a recurring problem with the BB Tour and certain BMWs, depending on the software it's running. Prior to the last software rav, it was pairing fine...could see all the contacts, make calls, yada yada yada. Now...if it connects, it'll automatically go into "call mode" and the call timer is active. Moreover, when you shut down the car, the iDrive display will remain on, radio on, and there's nothing you can do to shut it off, except to kill the BT connection.

Again, this is a known problem and some people on crackberry and other forums have the same issue.

BMW's official policy is that if it pairs, then good on you, but since it's not on the "official list" then if anything screws up with the electronics, then it's not part of the warranty fix. They have 8 phones from VZW on their list. Out of those 8 phones, 4 are obsolete and there's not one BlackBerry.

Total BS, IMO. If they can't fix the problem, I'm ending 25 years of BMW loyalty.

 

+1. Got mine based on Gene's recommendations. Had no problems pairing it with my E60.....Only thing is that you may want to check if your model already has the software updated installed. Purchased mine right after the initial release, and had to update the software. It's been great ever since.

So to quote Gene, "...get it already...."

 

I was warned about the Tour and the bluetooth issues, but I thought it would be an isolated problem, but apparently, not...

The bluetooth connects fine, the full address book transfers instantly and works as intended.. now the problem is when your talking to the other party via the bluetooth in your car, you can hear them perfectly fine, but they have a hard time hearing you. This is a known issue that just about 90% of owners are experiencing which is noted on Crackberry.com forums for blackberry phones.

I'm curious to see other owners here to check their bluetooth sound by asking the person your talking to if they can hear perfectly fine or if you sound "muffled" or "distant" like your far away.

I ahve read that the next OS update should remedy this problem though.

http://forums.crackberry.com/f141/car-blue...me-well-267206/