[rich]

hi, everyone. Need some help. I recently bought a new BMW with expensive in built bluetooth system in it. My 3lg handset was not compatible with the car so did not work fully. I was told by the BMW dealer that the 6230i worked on it. 3 do not do this phone, however, it is a handset where the 3 sim will work. Problem solved I thought so I went ahead an purchased one for £100. All was fine until i recieved a text from 3 sayin i was using an ilegal handset and i was breaking the terms and conditions of my contract. Does anybody know a way to stop 3 knowing i am using a non 3 handset, or atleast let me know where I can find which 3 phones will be compatible. BMW say 3 wont tell them because they want people using their own headsets, 3 say ask a dealer and the dealers just dont have a clue! What is most annoying is that I crashed my new car on the way to my BMW dealer to try an sort the problem out! haha! Can anyone help?

[Ben]

Hi rich, welcome to Talk3G.

I myself have a BMW bluetooth prep and it works with a myriad of bluetooth enabled phones. I believe it's compatible with the Nokia N80, sold by Three and many other networks, which is a 3G phone.

The 6230i is not a 3G phone and so cannot be used on the Three 3G network. You can, however, use it on any of the other UK networks.

My best advice is to sell the 6230i and upgrade to something like a Nokia N80 on Three. Alternatively, ditch Three, keep the 6230i and find another mobile network.

The choice is yours ;)

[rich]

how come 22 people looked at my question an only one was good enough to share their wisdom! thanks Ben. been back in touch with BMW an they say only 3 types of phones will make my bluetooth system work completely. 3 say "your our favourite customer in the whole world.....but we dont care!" Cheers for that! Luckily got a friend at phones 4 u an he is gonna take a load of 3 phones out to my car to check compatibility. Checked on the N80 Ben an its £599 to buy non contract! (wont be gettin that one!). On a positive note picking car up from bodyshop tomorrow,(sat), woo hoo!

[Hands0n]

how come 22 people looked at my question an only one was good enough to share their wisdom!

Cor! how much more wisdom do you want? :D

I think you're on the right track with getting your phone friend to check out a variety of handsets. Disbelieve all that 3 tell you - they have problems identifying 'arris from elbow most times. The truth is in what you can find to make work and if you've someone willing to spend the time checking out a few handsets then you're definitely going to score a positive result.

Unless the BMW Bluetooth is so cranky that it's almost broken!

[Ben]

£599 for an N80? Corr, you'd have a job, mine was about £450 months ago when they first came out ;)

Three also sell the N73 I believe, so that could be an option. I think any modern bluetoothing Nokia will have enough compatibility to be useful. Don't expect anything cocky though!

Best of luck.

[rich]

Grrr! fuming! this phone prob is takin over my life! Been in touch with 3 to reduce my contract to the lowest tariff. Cos Im on the highest they will only let me reduce to £60 a month instead of the £20 everyone else can have. That rules out gettin another contract. 3 have got me better tied up in my contract than houdini ever tied himself up!! sat in car with a few phones that dont work. looks like maybe ebay would be best bet. Again ending on a positive, got car back today.......looks mint!:) :) :) :)

[Hands0n]

One certainly has to wonder what BMW are doing with their Bluetooth implementation that makes them so incompatible with a wide range of handsets. And why! There is no mystery to Bluetooth these days - there are a couple of standards to adhere to - and those who stray from those standards often introduce incompatibilities with the mainstream. Often for entirely commercial reasons this is done on purpose. But for the life of me, I can't see why BMW would do that - they don't have any [obvious] vested interests in specific mobile manufacturers as far as I know.

[rich]

I know. it does seem strange making a bluetooth system, charging 1.5k for it as an extra cos its BMW and then only making it compatible to only 3 different types of phone. Atleast I can understand why 3 are funny, they have a product to protect. What happens when these 3 types of phone are not manufactured in a few years? Anyway been on ebay an n80 still came up at £250. Been in touch with 3 and bought an N80 as an upgrade for £148, gettin £50 a month off me line rental for first six months. Being delivered Tuesday so fingers crossed to see if it will work. Hope your right Ben! Anyway off for night out in Skegness now! woo hoo!

[Hands0n]

Personally, I would write a fairly strong letter of complaint to the BMW HQ, making certain to point out that building in incompatibilities in a Bluetooth device is short-term'ism in the extreme. As you rightly say, within a year or so the limited number of handsets that will work with the BMW BT system will no longer exist and the equipment rendered useless. A fine advertisement for BMW, Not!

[rich]

Well done 3! never fail to amaze me! ordered N80 last saturday. Rang on Tuesday to check delivery and they had me down as getting a sony erikson! Wrong Phone! They then tried to jjust say "just take the sony anyway an forget the n80"! I refused their kind offer an they informed me to refuse delivery of phone then they would send N80. That would of been great had they of even delivered the sony! Thats right folks, 3 failed to deliver the wrong phone and Im still waiting.......a week later!

[Hands0n]

Some people prefer to press rusty needles into their eyes. :D

[rich]

3 rang up yesterday to let me re-order my n80. The delightful lady put me on hold for ten minutes then when i got put through customer services they asked me for the reason for my call! I had to explain that I didnt call them an the pleasant chap just couldnt get his head as to why i was on his line! haha!

[Hands0n]

Welcome to our notwork :D