[joony79]

I'm bout to get the verizon razor and I'm very excited to have my phone connected to my car by bluetooth, but I'm just curious whether it works well without the docking cradle...
I wanted to install the docking cradle, but it was just too much as I found out in this forum... so keep me informed~~

[RedBirdRuss]

My BB 7290 works great without the cradle. I get a connection each and every time with my BB on my belt clip.

[e90driver]

works great, so long as you have CIP 20...

[joony79]

I do not have the CIP20 update cuz it doesn't sound like I need one from viewing many discouraging threads... so I don't know about that... but if it's essential for bluetooth activity, then I'll try and get it! ^^

[triton.]

Bluetooth works great, I usually have my phone in my jacket in the trunk and it works fine. The wording is strange though for pairing. It would seem like the car has to fine the phone when you sync it for the first time when in realitiy you have to have the PHONE SEARCH FOR THE CAR.
I can see people getting confused by this.

[E90 Enthusiast]

I was in the same boat as you, and found the cradle too cost prohibitive for my tastes. No problems whatsoever with pairing, reception, etc. The pairing issue seems to be more phone model related rather than whether you have a cradle or not.

One warning - my phone battery drains FAST when linked via bluetooth, just sucks the life right outa there. That would be one nice feature about the cradle, is the charging capabilities...

[puck724]

bluetooth works just great with me. the last update i had was 19.2

[drfoster]

I think you only need CIP20 w/non-iDrive cars.

My 325i (Sport/Premium/Steptronic/non-iDrive) was built 09/05 and my T-Mobile RAZR had many problems until I got the CIP20 update. Since then, everything has worked flawlessly. My wife has the same phone and both are paired to the car. When she takes it, her phone connects and address book downloads without a hitch. When I take it, which is most of the time since it's my commuter, my phone connects and the address book downloads without a hitch.

I just leave my bluetooth on my phone on all the time and keep it in my briefcase. I never worry about any more. It just works.

[irowharderthanyou]

Does anyone know if the cingular razor (GSM) works well with bluetooth?

[Arkansas3]

i didn't think they had a cradle for the razr yet, but to answer the previous post, the cingular razr works well with blootooth

[irowharderthanyou]

i didn't think they had a cradle for the razr yet, but to answer the previous post, the cingular razr works well with blootooth

Thanks for the info about the cingular razor. Didn't want to get the phone with a 2 year contract and have it not work.

[mike20022]

Does anyone have the craddle here? Do you think the craddle is giving you better reception in any way?

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by joony79

I'm bout to get the verizon razor and I'm very excited to have my phone connected to my car by bluetooth, but I'm just curious whether it works well without the docking cradle...
I wanted to install the docking cradle, but it was just too much as I found out in this forum... so keep me informed~~

In a BT environment the only differences in using (if available) cradle or not are:

1) external antenna connection, it may help when intensity of electromagnetic field is very poor
2) power supply recharcing

[puck724]

i dont think there will be a cradle for the razr. a member brought up a good point in that the locations of the port on the razr is pretty inconvenient.

[joony79]

Thank you very much... I appreciate all your comments~~
and I still haven't used the bluetooth yet cause I couldn't get to my car in about 2 days... I'll see and let you know how it works^^
by the way I got the navi and idrive w/ voice command so maybe i don't need the cip20 update for my bluetooth...

[drkeng]

although just an old e46er, my Razr works great with bt. I keep a $30 or whatever charging cord in the car and try to plug the phone in most of the time (especially longer drives), because as noted above, having bt on drains battery power. sometimes I leave the phone charging in the car overnight so I don't have to turn it off or remember to take it with me. Looking forward to the e92, however

[sdorn]

Originally Posted by joony79

I do not have the CIP20 update cuz it doesn't sound like I need one from viewing many discouraging threads... so I don't know about that... but if it's essential for bluetooth activity, then I'll try and get it! ^^

I have the Verizon Razr, and the bluetooth doesn't work for shit. It only connects like one out of every five or six times I get in the car. I am taking my car in tomorrow morning to get the software upgrade so that it will start working properly.

Also, the dealer told me there is no cradle for the Razr because it is so thin and it uses a USB port for power.

[hunt55]

My phone works great now that I have the CIP20 fix and the signals are usually very good. But, there is an interesting warning on page 152 of the owner's manual concerning use of devices in the car without the cradle or direct connection to an outside antenna. I also noticed a sticker on the left top of my windsheld with the same warning.

This is leading me to have the cradle installed. My dealer has quoted me a price of $395.00.

[outoftheblue]

What's the warning say?

[sdorn]

Originally Posted by outoftheblue

What's the warning say?

Here is what it says.

Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones (including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna) or transceiver
equipment (e.g. C.B., walkietalkie,
ham radio or similar) may cause
extensive damage to the vehicle,
compromise its safety, interfere with
the vehicle's electrical system or affect
the validity of the BMW Limited
Warranty. See your BMW center for
additional information.

[Arkansas3]

oh me. i would guess that maybe 5% of bmw owners out there have the cradle for their phones, yet use them everyday in their cars. i don't see how it could possibly invalidate your warranty or screw anything up.

[sdorn]

No kidding. But it gives them a nice built in excuse to refuse warranty service. They would have to show that the device you were using actually caused the damage, though. I have no idea how a cell phone could damage a car's electronics.