When CarPlay won’t connect, most fixes are fast—clear old pairings, confirm a few settings, and restart both sides. Use this simplified checklist. Start with the PEMP steps if your BMW uses a PEMP CarPlay MMI Prime Retrofit for BMWs or retrofit interface, then move through the BMW items.
Start here if you use a PEMP screen
Delete old connection records
- On the PEMP home screen, tap the Bluetooth icon and delete the phone’s Bluetooth record.
- On your iPhone → Settings → Bluetooth, tap the ⓘ next to the PEMP device and Forget This Device.
Reboot and reconnect
- Restart your iPhone.
- Restart the PEMP screen/unit.
- After both restart, reconnect CarPlay. If it is wireless CarPlay, use PEMP’s connect new device flow.
Confirm CarPlay is turned on
- On PEMP go to Home → Settings → Smartphone → CarPlay and turn it ON.
- If it is already ON, toggle OFF, then ON and try again.
Check the PEMP system version for support
- On PEMP open Settings → System → System Version.
- Take a photo of that screen and email it to after-sales service so the tech team can check if a newer system software update is available.
Quick settings that fix most cases
On iPhone
- Bluetooth ON and Wi-Fi ON. Wireless CarPlay uses Bluetooth to start and Wi-Fi for data.
- Siri enabled: Settings → Siri & Search → turn on Listen for “Hey Siri” and Allow Siri When Locked.
- Allow CarPlay while locked: Settings → General → CarPlay → [Your BMW] → Allow CarPlay While Locked = ON.
- If you start in a garage and home Wi-Fi interferes, try turning Wi-Fi OFF on the phone just for the initial pairing, then turn it back on after CarPlay connects.
- VPNs can block CarPlay. Disable VPN while connecting.
On BMW
- Make sure the car is Parked.
- If multiple phones are saved, pick the one you want in Mobile devices.
The clean slate method
Use this if connection issues persist or started right after an iOS or iDrive update.
- iPhone: Settings → General → CarPlay → select your BMW → Forget This Car.
- iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth → tap ⓘ next to your BMW → Forget This Device.
- BMW: Mobile devices list → delete your iPhone.
- Restart both iPhone and iDrive (see next section).
- Pair again from scratch using the steps above.
Optional last resort on iPhone: Reset Network Settings (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings). You’ll re-enter Wi-Fi passwords afterward.
Fast restarts that solve glitches
- iPhone soft restart: Power off, wait 30 seconds, power on.
- iDrive soft reset (~30 seconds): Press and hold the volume knob until the screen goes black and restarts.
- iDrive deeper reboot (~70 seconds): Keep holding the volume knob for about 70 seconds until the screen cycles twice. This refreshes more communication modules.
Neither reset erases your personal data.
Audio, screen, and navigation quick fixes
- No sound or very low volume: Confirm the audio source is your phone/CarPlay in iDrive. If needed, check External devices/AUX level and raise it to match radio volume.
- Black or frozen screen: Do an iPhone restart then an iDrive 30-second reset.
- Maps not tracking: On iPhone, enable Location Services for your navigation app and confirm cellular data is available.
Keep software current
- BMW: Check Remote Software Upgrade in iDrive (My Car → Settings → General Settings → Remote Software Upgrade) or in the My BMW app. Install updates when offered.
- iPhone: Keep iOS updated. After a major update, a clean slate re-pair often restores stability.
When to contact support
- CarPlay never appears after all steps above.
- Frequent drops, crashes, or no Wi-Fi/Bluetooth link in the car.
- Wired CarPlay only works with other phones or only wirelessly works but never wired.
Include in your message: PEMP System Version photo (if you use PEMP), your iPhone model, iOS version, what you tried (wireless/wired), and any error messages seen.
Bottom line
Work top-down: PEMP quick fix → basic settings → correct pairing flow → clean slate → restarts → updates. Most BMW CarPlay issues clear after deleting old records, restarting both sides, confirming Siri and “Allow While Locked,” and—if wired—using a proper data cable and data USB port.
