BMW's 2017 5 Series Sedan to be first car with support for wireless CarPlay
BMW on Thursday took the wraps off its upcoming 5 Series Sedan, and in doing so announced the model will be one of the first cars to boast Apple's wireless CarPlay infotainment solution when it ships in February.
As is the German automaker's wont, the new 5 Series Sedan comes crammed with loads of technology serving both the driveline and in-cabin creature comforts. Inside, optional assisted driving modes, adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display, and voice and gesture control meet what could be the first shipping iteration of wireless CarPlay.
"And smartphone integration has been further improved - from Apple CarPlay (which, in a first for a carmaker, has been incorporated fully wirelessly), to inductive phone charging and the WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices," BMW says.
CarPlay links to BMW's iDrive system, which in the 5 Series throws telephone, navigation, entertainment and car function information onto a central 10.25-inch touchscreen. Drivers interact with the system via the iDrive Touch Controller, voice commands, gestures, or direct taps on the screen. While left unmentioned in the press release, it is assumed that CarPlay takes over part or all of the widescreen display when activated.
Unlike traditional CarPlay iterations, the version set to debut in next year's 5 Series is completely wireless, meaning users can take advantage of available iOS 10 features without fumbling for a Lightning cable. Alongside wireless CarPlay, buyers can add on options like a Wi-Fi hotspot and a Qi-based inductive phone charger (iPhone users can buy an official BMW wireless charging case for their iPhone 5/5s and 6/6s models).
After years of going without, BMW finally jumped on the CarPlay wagon in May when it announced plans to roll out two vehicles with support for Apple's infotainment augmentation.
BMW isn't the only automaker looking to integrate wireless CarPlay into its lineup. Volkswagen, for example, was ready to showcase the technology at CES in January, though Apple reportedly nixed those plans.
Wireless CarPlay debuted in a beta version of iOS 8 last year, later arriving as an official feature in iOS 9. Like the original wired CarPlay system, Automakers have been slow to adopt the wireless technology.
As is the German automaker's wont, the new 5 Series Sedan comes crammed with loads of technology serving both the driveline and in-cabin creature comforts. Inside, optional assisted driving modes, adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display, and voice and gesture control meet what could be the first shipping iteration of wireless CarPlay.
"And smartphone integration has been further improved - from Apple CarPlay (which, in a first for a carmaker, has been incorporated fully wirelessly), to inductive phone charging and the WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices," BMW says.
CarPlay links to BMW's iDrive system, which in the 5 Series throws telephone, navigation, entertainment and car function information onto a central 10.25-inch touchscreen. Drivers interact with the system via the iDrive Touch Controller, voice commands, gestures, or direct taps on the screen. While left unmentioned in the press release, it is assumed that CarPlay takes over part or all of the widescreen display when activated.
Unlike traditional CarPlay iterations, the version set to debut in next year's 5 Series is completely wireless, meaning users can take advantage of available iOS 10 features without fumbling for a Lightning cable. Alongside wireless CarPlay, buyers can add on options like a Wi-Fi hotspot and a Qi-based inductive phone charger (iPhone users can buy an official BMW wireless charging case for their iPhone 5/5s and 6/6s models).
After years of going without, BMW finally jumped on the CarPlay wagon in May when it announced plans to roll out two vehicles with support for Apple's infotainment augmentation.
BMW isn't the only automaker looking to integrate wireless CarPlay into its lineup. Volkswagen, for example, was ready to showcase the technology at CES in January, though Apple reportedly nixed those plans.
Wireless CarPlay debuted in a beta version of iOS 8 last year, later arriving as an official feature in iOS 9. Like the original wired CarPlay system, Automakers have been slow to adopt the wireless technology.
Comments
If so, we can snap them back in when the iPhone "7S" is released next year.
(Inductive charging, front/rear glass panels, etc.)
Now that it's here, it feels like too little, too late. The interior styling and engine has remained largely identical for nearly five years years, yet prices have gone up 15%-25% in the past couple of years (despite the dollar appreciating). Even the exterior styling -- except for the nice-looking set of headlights -- is identical to my 2013 model. Essentially, it looks the same, has the same engine and horsepower, but for a substantially higher price tag. Meanwhile, companies like Mercedes Benz (solid implementation of CarPlay), Volvo (solid implementation of CarPlay), and Jaguar (poor on the CarPlay front) have made huge design strides.
I think I'll pass. It may be time to switch brands.
I don't want to find out too late that I needed some silly option that I didn't realize was missing.
When we we bought our SUV from the same dealership two years ago they thought I was talking about Bluetooth calling. Literally knew nothing about CarPlay, even though MB had "signed on".
Aside: another point of frustration is Disctronic (adaptive cruise control) is supposedly backordered. Meanwhile, a co-worker just bought a new Ford Explorer with adaptive cruise control and CarPlay and had no issues.
If it doesn't mention CarPlay as either being standard or as an option, it probably means that it is not available. For example, it seems to be not available in the GLC models when I took a look.
Edit: Just read a review of the m240 and sounds like fun to drive, no question.
I wish Honda,Toyota,Subaru,Ford,GM,etc starts adding solid Carplay support to all of their popular models like upcoming 5-series
Also, we had briefly considered either a GLE or GLS but I don't want to have 2 SUVs at the same time (my wife gets a new vehicle every two years and I take her hand-me-downs. She's currently driving an ML and I'm driving a 535. So now I'll get rid of the 535, which I really like, and take the ML and she will get the new E. Two years from now I'll take the E and we'll replace the ML with a new SUV). Looking at those now, neither of them lists CarPlay as an option either. So everything I was looking at didn't mention CarPlay at all and searching for "CarPlay" gives no results on their website.
I'd pay a fair price for it, as it is a pay option now on the 17 models.But to not offer it is bad business.
I just had my car in for service yesterday, and when dropping it off, my service advisor laughed when I asked. He said they had over 200 requests and the Brainless Bavarians remain silent.
Buying a used car is dodgy, I know. From that perspective I totally get buying new. But generally a high mileage car is not necessarily a problem. A high mileage car that has done highway miles and been maintained according to the book, is likely a better car than one that has been used for short journeys with half the mileage. So a newish car with high miles can be a very good deal. Most of the wear on a car happens when the engine is cold, so many short journeys are bad news.
I always thought the best way to buy a car would be to buy an end of lease car in Florida. One that an older person have been running for three or four years. The roads are good, the weather is good, and if it is a high end model you likely have someone with money who has had it well maintained. The mileage is probably quite low and they likely have not been trashing it. I have never done it but it sounds like a good plan to me