[martyl]

From looking at the 2014 order guide, it appears that Enhanced Bluetooth is no longer a stand alone option. It was a $650 option for 2013. Anyone have any insight into this? Thanks.

[Pauleebe]

Options and packages change from year to year.

It's bundled with tech package now I think.

[bavarianboar]

Originally Posted by dwalls90

Options and packages change from year to year.

It's bundled with tech package now I think.

So u can't get Bluetooth without tech package now?

[ZheHbKa]

on 335 it is standard option, us spec

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by bavarianboar

So u can't get Bluetooth without tech package now?

Regular BT is standard, but yes, if you want enhanced BT (BT audio) it is now only available as part of the tech package for 2014.

The list of stand-alone options has gotten much shorter.

[JasonX4MComp]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Regular BT is standard, but yes, if you want enhanced BT (BT audio) it is now only available as part of the tech package for 2014.

The list of stand-alone options has gotten much shorter.

Its also bundled with Navigation as a stand alone option as well

[mntbiker]

This is disappointing news!

[Pauleebe]

Originally Posted by mntbiker

This is disappointing news!

Probability of this being even an option is really low, but you could always see if there are 13's left.

[mntbiker]

Well, actually I am going to get a 435i... so maybe the enhanced will be standard on the 4er. I think I saw something about this somewhere in another thread... Maybe this is the push I need to get the Tech Pkg.

[JasonX4MComp]

Originally Posted by mntbiker

Well, actually I am going to get a 435i... so maybe the enhanced will be standard on the 4er. I think I saw something about this somewhere in another thread... Maybe this is the push I need to get the Tech Pkg.

Its the same way in the 4 Series

[martyl]

Thanks for all the responses. Disappointing move by BMW though I can certainly live without it.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Regular BT is standard, but yes, if you want enhanced BT (BT audio) it is now only available as part of the tech package for 2014.

The list of stand-alone options has gotten much shorter.

Is Bluetooth audio the streaming of the music on your phone/music player via Bluetooth to the cars' radio? Asking because I just have regular Bluetooth and I can certainly hear what people say when I use it to talk on the phone, and because I don't know what "Bluetooth audio" means.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by martyl

Thanks for all the responses. Disappointing move by BMW though I can certainly live without it.

Yes and no. More and more BMW are putting into packages, while not offering as stand alone, options which are overpriced to begin with. They have to sell them sometimes, so bundling them in to packages with things folks will want and pay for becomes the only way to sell some of the things in the volumes necessary to be worth BMW's investment in them.

Look at the Technology Package. The two major things in it -- nav and HUD, if one judges by the hardware needed to support the elements of the package -- used to be sold independently for $2100 and $1300, yet the package has more stuff than that in it (such as the $650 enhanced Bluetooth and the $250 BMW Apps) and sells for less than the combined price (E9x era) of both. I know tech gets cheaper each year, but that much in just one year? I doubt it. So folks who just have to have HUD -- and they would be early adopters of that tech -- will also spring for the other stuff in that tech package. It's a good deal for them, because overall they are paying less than they would have had to in the past. For the rest of us, it may not be such a good thing.

[Weaselboy]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Is Bluetooth audio the streaming of the music on your phone/music player via Bluetooth to the cars' radio? Asking because I just have regular Bluetooth and I can certainly hear what people say when I use it to talk on the phone, and because I don't know what "Bluetooth audio" means.

Yes, exactly. Standard BT just gives you the phone audio.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Yes, exactly. Standard BT just gives you the phone audio.

Very disappointing. This should be std on a car of this class and price not bundled in a very expensive package. Ford Fusion rentals have Bluetooth audio as std these days.

[Bimmerfestool]

I would say it's good news if you were planning on getting the tech package anyway. I was never going to spend 650 on top of the tech package just to stream music from my phone (will never use this anyway). For BMW to charge 650 for this WAS the disappointment. Now I agree that it should be part of the car standard.

[pcbrew]

The problem with BMW's hardware is that the advanced BT only comes with the wireless communication module for BMW Assist and that only comes bundled with a 4-year subscription plan, hence the $650 price.