General Android auto wireless help
- Thread starter Leanne89
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General Android auto wireless help
Hi & welcome! Personally I’m not up to scratch on newer 500s software but I’m sure if it’s Bluetooth it should connect wirelessly I know older cars like mine had issues connecting the iPhone but with a brand new car I would have thought they would have ironed out the issue saying that not all phones will be compatible.. have you paired your phone with the car?
That's a triumph of optimism over reality. Back when the first cars launched, Blue&Me wasn't integrated with the then-current iPhone range; you had to spend about £70 on a hastily cobbled together adapter to play music at all, and even then, it couldn't do much. You still needed to select music using the phone, which would be illegal now. Many of the other 'phones on the market then wouldn't even connect. Despite Microsoft's involvement in Blue&Me, it wouldn't work at all with Windows Mobile.
Even when it did work, you always felt just one software update away from the whole thing collapsing.
Most folks now who want something better forget about trying to tweak Blue&Me & just buy aftermarket kit. Quite a few of the modules on older cars have stopped working by now anyway.
If I bought a new Fiat today, my expectations regarding integration with other technology would be low, and I'd likely still be disappointed.
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I completely agree with you JR one of the many reasons I ripped my blue & me out! And replaced with a good value pioneer aftermarket! I liked blue & me .... or should I say I liked the idea but it was not reliable and quite basic by today’s standards I’ve not seen the newer 500s head unit in action and I’m surprised they have not upped their game concerning tech & phones connectivity saying that it’s likely a cheap system hence issue after issue!
forzaf1
Member
My 2020 BMW 8 series is wireless but the misses Range Rover Evoque 2019 needs to be plugged in via USB.
I know it's not directly related to the 500 but gives you an idea that not everyone does it.
I know it's not directly related to the 500 but gives you an idea that not everyone does it.
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Needs to normally be plugged in regardless of the vehicle marque.
It does in my Kia, and family members Honda.
It does in my Kia, and family members Honda.
TrevC
Established member
Yep, phone has to be connected via a USB cable in my 2018 Hyundai too. Does Android Auto work wirelessly in any newer cars? Apparently it doesn't work at all in the new electric VW ID3, so be happy you bought a Fiat!
Nothing works well in the new VW ID range, they haven’t even fished writing the software for them
Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay will be available on the new electric 500, which has a new UConnect system (on some spec levels) but otherwise it only works with a wired connection on Fiat cars. I have it on my 2018 Tipo, which shares the same 7" UConnect screen as most new 500s (not the smaller 5" screen that the 2015 face-lift was first available with - that doesn't have compatibility for Android Auto or CarPlay at all).
Blue&Me was absolutely hopeless for music playback and I never got it to read a text message. However, as a wireless phone system I will credit Fiat. It was available as standard on a 500 costing £10k new at a time when a mates new Golf GTI costing over £20k had to make do with an aftermarket Parrot Bluetooth kit. Even the Parents 2017 Qashqai which had Bluetooth Audio Streaming didn't have voice recognition, so considering Fiat had Blue&Me available from 2006 and standard on many models, I think they deserve some praise. The current UConnect system with 7" seems good enough to me to not even bother with Android Auto.
Blue&Me was absolutely hopeless for music playback and I never got it to read a text message. However, as a wireless phone system I will credit Fiat. It was available as standard on a 500 costing £10k new at a time when a mates new Golf GTI costing over £20k had to make do with an aftermarket Parrot Bluetooth kit. Even the Parents 2017 Qashqai which had Bluetooth Audio Streaming didn't have voice recognition, so considering Fiat had Blue&Me available from 2006 and standard on many models, I think they deserve some praise. The current UConnect system with 7" seems good enough to me to not even bother with Android Auto.
TrevC
Established member
Indeed. I only ever used Blue and Me for hands free phone operation and it was very good, with excellent recognition of voice commands. This was on a 2011 500 Lounge.
