Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 3G OEM Car Bluetooth Problem

Improvement after most recent iTunes update?!

Until a couple weeks ago my 3g iphone contacts wouldnt sync with my 2007 BMW 335i (no idrive). Then the most recent iTunes update was released, and since then (last week some time), the first time i used the phone in my car after syncing, my contacts suddenly started showing up! It still doesnt work as flawlessly as before with the original iphone running 1.1.4, but that iTunes update must have done something...... 2.0.1 didnt give me any noticeable improvements.... anyone else notice an improvement after the recent itunes update?
 
My problem with bluetooth seems unchanged. My phone connects fine, but I do still have an echo on my end and the person I talk with constantly says that I'm "breaking up" throughout the conversation. It's very frusterating.
 
I'm not sure if it was the firmware update, or the fact that I turned the "Bluetooth volume" all the way up (with the volume button when you're in Bluetooth mode), but the last call I made actually didn't break up with the 2007 Prius.

I still hear a faint echo, but it's tolerable.

Have others still having the problem tried turning the "Bluetooth volume" all the way up?

Oh, and I also have an iPhone 3G compatible car charger plugged into the phone now. That could also be fixing the problem.
 
iPhone 2.0.1 will not sync address book contacts to the blue&me in my Alfa Romeo. Worked perfectly with 1.1.4 firmware.
 
The interference you're getting is most likely due to the addition of the 3G radio. It would explain why the 1st gen iPhone didn't suffer the same issue - it didn't have 3G.

I'm having all manner of issues finding car chargers and FM modulators that will work with the iPhone 3G. Almost every charger out there either causes feedback of some sort (either due to the FM mod picking up the noise or because the charger isn't shielded correctly) or doesn't charge the iPHone. Very annoying. I'm going to have to replace my head unit if this keeps up and I can't find a fix.
 
I've tried the "turn off the 3G" trick and the reception still breaks up to my callers. The echo is still there too, but it's not nearly as important to me as everyone saying that they can't hear me.
 
I'm not sure if some of you caught what I said earlier, but SOMETHING I DID RECENTLY FIXED MY PROBLEM!!!

The possibilities are:

1. The firmware update helped (which doesn't sound like it's the case).
2. Turning the "Bluetooth volume" all the way up helps.
3. The iPhone compatible charger I bought seems to fix the problem when the phone was attached.

For reference, the charger I bought was the Kensignton LiquidAux w/Remote. It's a charger with a line-out to the aux port of your car (for playing music) and it has a steering wheel-mounted remote for moving through your songs which is sweet, because while you can feel the buttons of an iPod when you're driving without your eyes leaving the road, it's nearly impossible to safely navigate songs with the iPhone touch screen!

I digress, but I'd be interested to see if any of the above fixes help anyone else with the call dropping problem.

Please give an update with status of your success if you've tried any of the same (and if different chargers help, too)! I'll try to experiment some more on my end and see if I can rule out any of the above possibilities as being the source of my fix.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I'll add myself to the list: 2008 Toyota Avalon and I have the echo with the iPhone. I previously had an HTC (Verizon) 6800 and had no problem; the echo only happens with the iphone. Because I use the push feature for e-mail, which shortens the battery life, I keep 3G turned off most of the time, but I still have the echo.
 
So I did some experimentation and it's NOT the charger that helps with the outgoing voice problems. It's either the firmware or the Bluetooth volume. The echo is still barely there, but it's faint enough not to really matter to me.
 
I was experimenting today. I think the both the phone mic and the and the car mic are picking up the sound, i.e., the phone doesn't seem to shut off the internal mic when bluetooth is being used, hence the echo. Also, moving the phone nearer the car mic made the reception much clearer on the other end, according to my test subject. I'm guessing the dual mics are sending out-of-phase signals that sound garbled at the other end, while causing an echo at my end. If I'm correct, it seems like this would be easy enough for Apple to fix. I think I'm going to try a call tomorrow while having my son hold the phone outside the car (with the windows up) once the call is connected.
 
Everytime that I turn off the car kit or go away from it I have to unpair and pair the phone with the car kit again. I read at all forums about this problem but I haven't found any solution. Any suggestion please?
 
Echo and braking up problems

It is definitely a problem with the iphone.
I for one am glad I read this thread, I was about to take the car (Avalon '08) to the dealer with the complaint.
This car had negative results when connectin the old iphone after turning the car off then back on. It would not reconect automaticaly. The new 3G solved that problem but it is apparent that it has the echo and voice brake problem.
I used the link in this thread to leave a feed to apple.
I suppose wait for an update to fix the bug.:mad::apple::eek:
My wife loves the phone otherwise, so I guess is a keeper.
 
I figured out over the weekend: this is 100% a "Bluetooth Volume" issue.

When you're in your car connected via Bluetooth, press the volume-up button until the "Bluetooth volume" is all the way up.

In my Prius it eliminated the echo and the breaking-up pretty much entirely.

I blogged about the iPhone 3G Bluetooth echo fix.
 
Volume Problem

Forgive me if I'm posting this incorrectly. I'm new to this forum. I recently bought a 2008 Prius and a new iPhone 3G. They pair up fine and all the functions work except for volume.

When I make or receive a call, the volume is very faint for the first few seconds, then starts increasing to normal volume.

When I'm making a call this means the ringing sound starts faint and increases. By the time the person answers the volume is almost normal.

However, when I receive a call, I have to say 'Hello' several times before the caller hears me and then the callers voice is faint for a few seconds. Eventually the volume is fine.

I do not have the echo problem others are describing.

I used my wife's LG Vu with the Prius and had no problem. Volume was strong right away. We both have AT&T as our carrier. The version on my iPhone is 2.51.

Does anyone have any ideas. :confused:
 
I used to the echo problem until I switched phones, but you bring up an excellent topic. I also have this low volume problem at first, just never really noticed it since the echo problem was far worse.

In any case, after I answer the phone I wait a couple seconds before saying "hello"

2008 Toyota Tundra w/ JBL & bluetooth
 
Low Volume

I found the solution to the initial low volume on the iPhone 3G and Prius using Bluetooth. In the car, after establishing a Bluetooth connection, place a call using the iPhone and set the volume up all the way on the phone (not the car). Disconned call. Next time you make or receive a call the volume will be normal right away. Someone shared this solution with me on a different forum. I hope it helps others. :)
 
I have an 08 BMW with the same issue. When making a call I turned the bluetooth volume all the way up and turn the car stereo volume as far down as possible and this helps but doesn't completely eliminate the problem. I took the phone down to the local Apple store and the G men had never heard of the problem. A call to Apple tech support claimed the problem was the bluetooth in the car not the iPhone - Yet my first gen iPhone worked perfectly with the same vehicle - At that point tech support had no answers.
 
Initial Low Volume

George Carlin said:
I have an 08 BMW with the same issue. When making a call I turned the bluetooth volume all the way up and turn the car stereo volume as far down as possible and this helps but doesn't completely eliminate the problem. I took the phone down to the local Apple store and the G men had never heard of the problem. A call to Apple tech support claimed the problem was the bluetooth in the car not the iPhone - Yet my first gen iPhone worked perfectly with the same vehicle - At that point tech support had no answers.
Click to expand...

George,
Did you try the solution I posted right ahaead of yours. 1) Initialte a call on your iPhone after it connects with the Bluetooth on your car. 2) Adjust the volume all the way up on the iPhone (volume button on left side of phone). The phone screen should show the volume maximized. 3)Leave the car phone volume (not the stereo volume) set to mid-range. 4) Hang up and initiate a new call. Volume should be OK

These instructions are for a 2008 Prius, but should work on a BMW.

Let me know the results
 
George Carlin said:
I took the phone down to the local Apple store and the G men had never heard of the problem. A call to Apple tech support claimed the problem was the bluetooth in the car not the iPhone
Click to expand...

That's pretty much the response I got at first too and it was a little irksome. I've used four other Bluetooth phones with my Prius and none of them had any issue whatsoever. It's definately an iPhone problem.

At least the guy at the Apple Store called in an exchange on my iPhone (the only thing he knew to try), but that didn't work of course.

SurfinStan, I assume you're the same dude from PriusChat.com?
 
SurfinStan said:
George,
Did you try the solution I posted right ahaead of yours. 1) Initialte a call on your iPhone after it connects with the Bluetooth on your car. 2) Adjust the volume all the way up on the iPhone (volume button on left side of phone). The phone screen should show the volume maximized. 3)Leave the car phone volume (not the stereo volume) set to mid-range. 4) Hang up and initiate a new call. Volume should be OK

These instructions are for a 2008 Prius, but should work on a BMW.

Let me know the results
Click to expand...

I tried it but I still get that Echo which annoys me greatly. The fact that Apple is playing hid and seek on this issue is not giving me a warm fuzzy feeling.
 
Echo

BolderBum, Yes, I did post on PriusChat.com also. You have to cover all bases.

George, My comments earlier pertained to low initial volume, not echo. I have found that if the volume level in my car is too high I will get an echo. I think the voice coming out of the speaker is picked up by the microphone.

On my Prius 2008 I do not get echo as long as I keep the phone speaker volume at mid-level or lower. This is not the same as the speaker volume for radio or CD. My car shows on on-screne volume control that I can adjust and hear the results. I can also adjust the default phone speaker level. Your car should have similar settings. I did read that the origional iPhone 3G had an echo problem, but forum comments about that seemed to go away by late July. I assumed a software upgrade solved that problem.

I hope this helps.
 
Anyone know how we can get the emperor to put some clothes on?

bruinboy2000 said:
My problem with bluetooth seems unchanged. My phone connects fine, but I do still have an echo on my end and the person I talk with constantly says that I'm "breaking up" throughout the conversation. It's very frusterating.
Click to expand...

I have an '09 Nissan Altima which exhibits exactly the same problem as brainboy and others. Intermittent echo, persistent problems with dropped sounds according to my unfortunate callers. The suggestions that the 3G radio is producing interference makes a lot of sense to me - the charger doesn't unless the issue is use of an approved charger vs 3rd party. I will also try to turn up the blue tooth volume on the car, but it seems like the real issue is that there is obviously a real problem here that Apple is not addressing. Before I went to this blog I naively went to an Apple store to ask for their help, since other phones worked fine in the car. The GMan, who said he was unaware of wide spread probs, ran some diagnostic and gave me a new phone saying that there were some possible gliches in my old device. So Apple has to refurb the phone and I had to resync my new phone and go through some set up steps and it did absolutely nothing! Does anyone know how to get Apple's attention on this so? I'm tempted to start an anti iPhone campaign based on their lack of support or apparent interest...
 
Have you updated to 2.2? Folks on the apple forums claim this update resolved the echo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back