I'm asking this question under the assumption that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

My 2007 R56 has the phone answer & hang up buttons on the steering wheel however when I enter the stereo menu I don't see the telephone option to pair my smartphone. I guess my question is if I have the buttons on the steering wheel does that mean I should have the Bluetooth telephone option?

In NH a law goes into affect on 7/1/15 stating you must use hands-free device to talk on the phone while driving. I plan to install a 3rd party device if the factory Bluetooth connection is not an option.

Thanks
Bert

 

Punch in your vin here -

http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

to see if you have hands free. And you're correct, just because you have the buttons on the wheel doesn't necessarily mean you have hands free..

 

The phone options are seperate from the stereo options, if you hit the menu button on the right hand side of your center controls the very first option should be "Phone", you can scan and pair to bluetooth phones there.

 

correct me If I'm wrong all R56 came with the phone buttons but that doesn't mean you have Bluetooth I was told if you have Bluetooth you will have a USB next to your AUX input

 

As others have said, it's entirely possible to have Bluetooth / phone connection buttons, and no Bluetooth. My 2012 is that way. And a good indicator that you have it is either the radio display, or the presence of a USB port next to the audio-in connector.

 

Well that answers my question. I don't have either the phone option or the USB option.
Can anyone suggest a good Bluetooth device to use?

 

I've heard good things about the pirate system

 

The microphone on a lot of smartphones is good enough that I've had plenty of success with just the aux cable. I know it's not as sexy, but it's cheap!

 

Here some more info:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-usb-port.html





We have dug into this before

 

I've used the Kinovo BTC-450 for a couple of years, works perfectly and unobtrusive. I velcro'd the microphone / control button just below the key receptacle.


This one:


http://smile.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTC45...eywords=kinovo


$50 or so. I tucked the excess wire under the rubber cubby mat, and ran the mike cord in that groove on the left of the console. Bonus: has a swell USB charger also.

 

Not the case. My R56 JCW was ordered with neither the radio or cruise buttons nor the phone buttons. However it did come with a steering wheel.

I used a jawbone bt earpiece in this car and it was far superior to the radio interface bt option in my other mini. And it was much cheaper than retrofit.

 

Motorola makes some great blocks that work without the earpiece.

 

wow how much did they charge for that wheel option your speaking of?!