13' M3 and frusturated with BMW=>Pandora link

[trahsub]

I'm still getting used to the tech in my new-to-m3 E92. Car I bought is a 13' with premium sound and premium package, so I think it's got tech package, if that even exists?

Anyway, going the USB connection route, I need to launch Pandora from the apps screen in idrive, which is fine except that once I minimize Pandora on my iphone 5, the music stops (not unlike minimising youtube when you are watching something on your phone which stops). Annyoing since you can't get to a different app w/o the music going off. However, through repeated attempts, sometimes I guess I strongarm the system to play Pandora while enabling me tongonto other phone apps, but it seems random on how I achieve this...and I can't get the patterns or sequence down.

Any tips on how to get this right?

[BzsBimmer]

Can you get Pandora to minimize and continue playing if not hooked up to the car?
maybe it is a limitation due to the phone itself?

[BzsBimmer]

Why not BT Stream?

[Arick]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Why not BT Stream?

+1

[cme]

I have the same issue. Bad design that you can't access other parts of phone when Pandora is on. Have not been able solve this issue.
Chet

[RoshDawg]

First, make sure your software is updated (download the file from BMW update site and load it onto thumb drive, then plug into usb and update through settings in idrive). Plug in your iPhone into usb and open pandora. Then go to connected drive through idrive and scroll down to BMW apps. There should be an icon for pandora. Click that and you'll start seeing album art and thumbs up/down stuff. You should be able to go to a different app on your phone from there. Works for me on my '12 with the BMW apps option, which I believe is standard on '12-'13. Let me know if this doesn't work and I'll investigate on my car more.

[jt1k]

I feel your frustration.
I have switched to spotify. The app is great and shows songs everything works seamlessly with I drive and steering wheel controls.

[RoshDawg]

Originally Posted by Arick

+1

BT stream reduces audio quality and uses more battery! I have BT audio option disabled on my car, maybe that's also why pandora in background works for me?

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by RoshDawg

First, make sure your software is updated (download the file from BMW update site and load it onto thumb drive, then plug into usb and update through settings in idrive). Plug in your iPhone into usb and open pandora. Then go to connected drive through idrive and scroll down to BMW apps. There should be an icon for pandora. Click that and you'll start seeing album art and thumbs up/down stuff. You should be able to go to a different app on your phone from there. Works for me on my '12 with the BMW apps option, which I believe is standard on '12-'13. Let me know if this doesn't work and I'll investigate on my car more.

I'll try again, but pretty sure I follow that procedure and no such luck to keep it playjng. However, occasionally it does work, so I think there is a systematic way to work around the issue, but I haven't nailed the steps on what I'm doing when it works. It's random.