Spotify integration on a F13 2012 with CIC and

SpikySimonW · 07-01-2022, 01:19 PM

Hi,

Coming back to a car I've had for years and now trying to understand its Spotify integration options - back when it was my daily drive I wasn't a Spotify user - now I am.

It's got the CIC HU (2012 vintage), 'Pro' system (I believe "TopHiFi" as it was known back then?), the combox and the Enhanced Bluetooth/USB interface or whatever it was called, "BMW Apps" - basically all the possible related options available back then.

When I plug in a USB cable into the centre console/armrest from my iPhone and fire up Spotify, after a short wait (30-60 seconds?) I get a dedicated Spotify logo that pops up as a music source and from within here the integration is reasonably good (inc. access to my library, playlists, artwork on the screen etc). Works fine and with the added bonus of my phone being charged too, only downside is having to plug it in each time.

I can also seem to play Spotify via Bluetooth though when I do this I don't see the Spotify logo popup and without the integration (library access, playlists, artwork etc) - best way I can describe it is like a 'dumb' wireless AUX input! Well, maybe not quite so dumb - I still get track name and artist display on the screen, and can still skip ahead/back etc, but it is not the 'full fat' experience of when plugging in.

So, my two questions:

1) Am I doing it wrong somehow: is there a way to get the full Spotify integrated experience via Bluetooth?
2) Separately, in terms of audio quality: recognising my source is indeed streaming/downloaded Spotify (albeit set to high/highest quality) is there much difference in sound quality between USB and Bluetooth?

Thanks.

ps. yup indeed it would be all much easier with CarPlay but that wasn't a thing back then.. though it seems "BMW Apps" was almost a forerunner to this!

MoFoHo · 07-04-2022, 03:42 PM

You seem to be wondering a lot of the same things as me!
I'm running a 2014 640d here in the UK. I use YouTube Music as my streaming app of choice, and bluetoothed to the car, I get the same 'dumb' streaming options to the car...
... track skip and that's about it! I have to pre-select my playlist before starting my journey. I'd love to be able to select playlists from a proper app on the screen.
A search on YouTube about the snap in adapter (search for "snap in adapter BMW & Mini"), I found a video that did indeed seem to offer this more advanced type of functionality. Thing is, the phone needed an older BMW app, that simply will not work with the car now. And, it not only needed a wired connection, but utilising an expensive snap in adapter to boot!

07-01-2022, 01:19 PM	#1
SpikySimonW Enlisted Member 2 Rep 36 Posts Drives: F13 640d \| E60 M5 \| E66 730d Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oxford, UK iTrader: (0)	Spotify integration on a F13 2012 with CIC and Hi, Coming back to a car I've had for years and now trying to understand its Spotify integration options - back when it was my daily drive I wasn't a Spotify user - now I am. It's got the CIC HU (2012 vintage), 'Pro' system (I believe "TopHiFi" as it was known back then?), the combox and the Enhanced Bluetooth/USB interface or whatever it was called, "BMW Apps" - basically all the possible related options available back then. When I plug in a USB cable into the centre console/armrest from my iPhone and fire up Spotify, after a short wait (30-60 seconds?) I get a dedicated Spotify logo that pops up as a music source and from within here the integration is reasonably good (inc. access to my library, playlists, artwork on the screen etc). Works fine and with the added bonus of my phone being charged too, only downside is having to plug it in each time. I can also seem to play Spotify via Bluetooth though when I do this I don't see the Spotify logo popup and without the integration (library access, playlists, artwork etc) - best way I can describe it is like a 'dumb' wireless AUX input! Well, maybe not quite so dumb - I still get track name and artist display on the screen, and can still skip ahead/back etc, but it is not the 'full fat' experience of when plugging in. So, my two questions: 1) Am I doing it wrong somehow: is there a way to get the full Spotify integrated experience via Bluetooth? 2) Separately, in terms of audio quality: recognising my source is indeed streaming/downloaded Spotify (albeit set to high/highest quality) is there much difference in sound quality between USB and Bluetooth? Thanks. ps. yup indeed it would be all much easier with CarPlay but that wasn't a thing back then.. though it seems "BMW Apps" was almost a forerunner to this! Last edited by SpikySimonW; 07-02-2022 at 05:27 AM..
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07-04-2022, 03:42 PM	#2
MoFoHo Private 27 Rep 67 Posts Drives: BMW M6 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M6 [7.00]	You seem to be wondering a lot of the same things as me! I'm running a 2014 640d here in the UK. I use YouTube Music as my streaming app of choice, and bluetoothed to the car, I get the same 'dumb' streaming options to the car... ... track skip and that's about it! I have to pre-select my playlist before starting my journey. I'd love to be able to select playlists from a proper app on the screen. A search on YouTube about the snap in adapter (search for "snap in adapter BMW & Mini"), I found a video that did indeed seem to offer this more advanced type of functionality. Thing is, the phone needed an older BMW app, that simply will not work with the car now. And, it not only needed a wired connection, but utilising an expensive snap in adapter to boot!
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