[RCtennis3811]

While one of our BMWs is in for routine maintenance, I've been given a X1 with the 8.8" iDrive 6 infotainment system. It's pretty much the same thing as what I have in the 2018 X3 other than a smaller screen from what I can see. And while poking around the ConnectedDrive screen, I see this car has onboard Alexa integration!

[IMG][/IMG]

Has anyone gotten this on their X3s with iDrive 6? I'm wondering if it's just a newer build of the OS that enables it or if BMW really did mean only vehicles produced after a certain date would have it enabled.

[Alias1431]

Freshxdough might know.

[ANM8]

It's on my 2019 M40d, but try getting it to work..!!!!!

[Redbaron1973]

Friend has enabled this on his ID6 4er.... Dunno if it exists on ID7 - cant see anything on the X4..

[RCtennis3811]

Thought I'd throw in more pics of it on this X1 with iDrive 6. Funny how the tutorial pics show a steering wheel for iDrive 7 cars!

[Kay0002]

Anyone with ID6 successfully able to use alexa in the car?

Some Examples:
-play music
-add items to shopping list
-ask general questions

[The.bands]

Have it on my 2019 X3 but can't get it to work.

[fdpxfunix]

2018 X3 iDrive6…. Alexa works fine. Only enabled a few weeks ago, but can’t remember the full process. Do some Googling and you’ll find instructions. Alexa is part of my Connected Drive Booster package though that I’ve just renewed.

I can turn our master bedroom TV on from the car. That’s the future.

Seriously though… thinking of installing an Alexa enabled light switch near the front door so I can turn on the outside/inside light as I approach the house.

J.

[Kay0002]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

2018 X3 iDrive6…. Alexa works fine. Only enabled a few weeks ago, but can’t remember the full process. Do some Googling and you’ll find instructions. Alexa is part of my Connected Drive Booster package though that I’ve just renewed.

I can turn our master bedroom TV on from the car. That’s the future.

Seriously though… thinking of installing an Alexa enabled light switch near the front door so I can turn on the outside/inside light as I approach the house.

J.

Thanks for confirming. I am fairly confident I set it up correctly (was pretty simple). In the Alexa app I see myBMW is linked and in iDrive I followed the setup actions and the screen w/o issues. When I use the mic and say any Alexa command, bmw responds along the line of "function unavailable". I mostly want to use Alexa to control playing music in the car via my various streaming apps.

[RCtennis3811]

Seems like it's only available outside the US for ID6 cars. It's not showing up in our 2018 X3 nor is it saying it's available in the MyBMW app.

[fdpxfunix]

Ok, so.... I take it all back. Mines stopped working.

It was 100% working 1 week after I renewed my Connect Drive subscription (6th May), but last night (19th) Alexa just doesn't work. I keep getting the Alexa is not enabled in your car pop up screen.

I've been through a complete disconnect/re-connect of my phone this morning. I've tried connecting via CarPlay and Bluetooth. Made sure when using Bluetooth, the 'Apps' box is ticked and then confirmed in the 'My BMW' phone app that 'Device Connection' was showing green and connected, and that the Alexa App was available in the cars Connected Drive menu.

Everything looks fine, but each time you say... Alexa, do something ...I get the same not enabled screen pop up. Even logged the car out of Connect Drive and back in, and updated the BMW services… no change.

I'm not so sure this is anything I'm doing wrong, and more like something at the remote end has screwed up, or something related to my Connected Drive subscription renewal and the software level of my iDrive6.

I have noticed 2 random things though...

1) When I wanted to use voice control 2 weeks ago, I just had to click the button once. It didn't matter what I said (Navigation, Map, Send a message ...or even... Alexa) iDrive took me to the right place. As of last night, I'm now having to do a short click if I want 'Car' related stuff, and a long click for 'Phone' (via CarPlay / Siri) related stuff.

2) When connected via CarPlay and I hit the voice button... there's now strange Internet URL looking text under the microphone in the dash. That wasn't there a week ago... I think.


I'll go through a full reset when I get time later. Disconnect phone, logout Connected Drive, remove Alexa setting from 'My BMW' phone app, remove the phone App... and then set it all up again.

Very annoying as the first time setup worked like a charm. I tested out a lot of Alexa stuff between 6th and 13th May and it just worked.

J.

[The.bands]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

Ok, so.... I take it all back. Mines stopped working.

.

Exactly what mine did, had it configured and it worked. Next time I get in the car it isn't working anymore.

[Kay0002]

The capability is supposed to work in the US (not sure all the models that have it, but mine does).

Sounds like I'll have to take it in for service 😒

Appreciate everyones feedback. If anyone happens to get it working, please report back!

[fdpxfunix]

I’ve been in my car for hours trying different things to get Alexa working. Haven’t gone as far as resetting iDrive, as I don’t really want too.

As of now… the car thinks Alexa is installed in Connected Drive, the My BMW app is connected to Alexa, and in the Alexa app I see a device called “Mr's BMW Group – Amazon Alexa Car Integration”. The car is logged into Connected Drive and other apps are working.

When I say “Alexa”… Connected Drive thinks about it and know what I’ve said, otherwise it wouldn’t throw a message regarding Alexa. This to me just feels like a software bug or a stuck setting somewhere.

At this point I’m giving up. I’ll keep checking it over the next few weeks… as it may just start working again.

J.

[fdpxfunix]

Bit more info… I can see 1 voice entry in my Alexa voice history that was recorded via “Mr's BMW Group – Amazon Alexa Car Integration” when I asked… Alexa what’s the time.

It looks like it worked and replied with the time, but the car didn’t reflect that.

J.

[Kay0002]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

Bit more info… I can see 1 voice entry in my Alexa voice history that was recorded via “Mr's BMW Group – Amazon Alexa Car Integration” when I asked… Alexa what’s the time.

It looks like it worked and replied with the time, but the car didn’t reflect that.

J.

Hey, thanks. Definitely, sounds like an iDrive bug.

[RCtennis3811]

Originally Posted by Kay0002

The capability is supposed to work in the US (not sure all the models that have it, but mine does).

Sounds like I'll have to take it in for service 😒

Appreciate everyones feedback. If anyone happens to get it working, please report back!

It's supposed to work in the US if you have an iDrive 7 vehicle. The G01 X3 launched in the US with iDrive 6.

[Kay0002]

Originally Posted by RCtennis3811

It's supposed to work in the US if you have an iDrive 7 vehicle. The G01 X3 launched in the US with iDrive 6.

It's compatibile with 6 and 7. The app also tells you if your vehicle is compatible. The issue is the festure isn't working in idrive (at least for 6)..