BMW ConnectedDrive not working

[user-removed]

Plan

Premium

Country

Belgium

Device

Nexus 6P

Operating System

(iOS 10, Android Oreo, Windows 10,etc.)

My Question or Issue

So I have a BWM 1 series for about a week now and was able to connect spotify without any problems until it stopped working once i got back in my car two days ago. It still shows up in my apps, and sometimes I can click it and continue to the next screen but it doesn't load any further than that. I also get a notification on my phone that it's connected.

The problem started when I used the spotify app on my computer and connected to Sonos. But I already changed it in the computer app so the music plays from my computer itself.

The funny thing is that it does play spotify from my phone connected via bluetooth, just not from the app that's in the list.

Any idea how I can fix this? Already tried to reinstall the app, open the spotify app through the connected drive app, and disconnect/reconnect my phone.

[dan1431]

Admittedly, I am not a programmer nor a QC person, so I truly have zero clue how long something like this should take to fix, though my gut says it should be quicker than it is seemingly taking Spotify.

With that said, I am not surprised by the lack of any sort of updates from Spotify, that is just part of life today when dealing with most companies, especially digital ones. They are more than capable of collecting money each month, but keeping end users in the loop when an issue is reported they fail miserably at al.

It is not just Spotify, Google is another example of being poor at communications when it comes to issues with their products.

I spoke to BMW of North America about the issue and they really did not have much to add other that they are aware of the issue. I asked if they had reached out to Spotify and the answer was and I am quoting here, "at my level I would not know, I would assume so, but again at my level that sort of info is not shared with me". He also explained that BMW of North America would have to also forward the issue to BMW AG as they really control the cars software and he would imagine that BMW AG would also have reached out to Spotify, "but again at his level that sort of info would not be shared with him".

So, where does that leave me (and by extension all of us experiencing this issue?), well not any closers than any of us where before, but at least as many folks are being made aware of the issue as possible.

My advice keeping calling BMW and keep contacting Spotify, eventually they will get it fix, it just feels like we are all waiting for Godot in the meantime.

[Hepworth]

BMW 420d

Pro Nav 

iOS 12.1.4

Spotify Premium

Spotify hasnt been working in Connected Drive for months. Absolutely disgusting behaviour from Spotify if you ask me. Clearly they do not care after reading this thread. Enough is enough I am going to cancel my subscription and go to Deezer

[gooselee1]

For folks who have been contacting BMW and not getting anywhere, be aware that this isn't BMW's issue to fight. The breakdown of Spotify integration with car head units is fully on Spotify's side.

Since the November 2018 Spotify app update, I've had connection issues on at least a half dozen different vehicles/head units. Brand new BMW, older Toyota with aftermarket head unit, and several rental cars. None of them work with the new app. Additionally, whatever Spotify broke back then also made Android Auto stop working on the head units I've had with that feature.

Rolling back to an older version of Spotify resolves all issues - both Spotify connection and Android Auto. I do work in software development and testing and it is obscene that after four months, someone at Spotify has not been able to review the changelog for the version in question and regression test to identify the flaw. All this says to me is that they aren't actually working on it.

At this point I've abandoned Spotify and am just using Google Play Music over vanilla bluetooth. Not as fancy of an interface, but completely reliable.

[Wesley83]

I confirm that rolling back to a previous Spotify release seems to "fix"
the problem. However that's an unacceptable workaround, especially for
owners of a premium account.

[dan1431]

A good friend of mine is also experiencing this issue and he is beyond livid as he spent big money on his i8 and BMW is essentially washing their hands of this issue as they just blame Spotify.

He joined the Spotify BETA program and we met for coffee this morning and he said that beyond the fact that the issue has not be resolved as of yet, Spotify does not provide any sort of change notes with their updates, so he has no idea what if anything is fixed in each of the BETA updates.

He has reported the bug through the Spotify BETA system (they say that that will not respond) as well and just wants it fixed, but it seemingly is either something that Spotify cannot address or they are taking theie time in doing so.

[danhusan]

+1

[PartyyyPooper]

What is the planning? when will this be fixed?

[emilime]

Hello, since the direct contact with the developers is not enough I opened a thread on twitter:

https://twitter.com/emilime/status/1096691905159680001

another attempt to speed up the fix of this bug...

[danhusan]

If I put the phone in the car and start spotify it will only show up as a USB device, the integration is dead. However if I leave the phone connected in the car, turn the car off and leave for 5 - 10 minutes it will work when I come back. Not really usuable in this state...

[bubblybrooko]

Started a thread for the BMW connected issue I am having as it different from the others on this thread but was asked to add here so here goes on my version of the issue 🙂

Premium plan

iphone 5SE and iOS 12

About 2 months ago the Spotify BMW connected functionality in my car stopped working properly.  The option to select Spotify no longer appears in the multimedia menu as an option despite the connection assistant confirming that the apps are loaded.  I connect the phone via a USB cable to the car and can still play from Spotify through this connection.  However there is no integration, all I can do is skip tracks forward and back on a playlist already playing.  No Spotify menu or playlist options.

Has anyone else experienced this or know get the Spotify functionality working properly?

Thanks

[AshAlex34]

bubblybrooko please go through the thread, the "workaround" is mentioned several times.

[AshAlex34]

bubblybrooko please go through the thread, the workaround is provided several times.

[Dvazriel]

Even the old version only works sporadically. Cmon Spotify get your stuff together. 

How hard is to diff the last working version and find out what changed and fix it?

[jariolle]

Yes, everyone following this forum knows the workaround, but that is not the solution. Running an old version is not a solution for me.

What I can't understand is that as Spotify knows the problem also, so what is the reason for a such big change that has been made breaking the whole functionality. And even more, what is preventing fixing this? There has been several months time for the job, so obviosly this has not not been in scope of any fixing project. 

[katakrack]

The same thing happened to me with the S9, I updated the android version and now with the version of spotify 8.4.77.779 I can not get the spotify integration in Idrive

[Danimadama]

Really can't understand why a fix takes so long. Same happened with my F39 BMW X2. The old app integrated fine with idrive, but since the update all I get is a blank screen. I know that walkaround, but not happy with it. I think at least BMW should stop promoting Spotify integration, since that is a lie.

[marmarpab]

New update and.... the same problem Spotify with connectdrive NOT WORKS!!!!!!! I'm really tired, not news, not notifications and never respond to end user. This is a premium service? 

I still the issue since November!!!!

[HendrikRhl]

Still having the issue on the new spotify alpha.

Really embarassing...

[groove2spotify]

eventually i found a workaround and maybe this helps Spotify to detect the real bug

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Other-Partners-Web-Player-etc/BMW-Connected-and-Android-9-issue/m-p...

[emilime]

@groove2spotify very interesting, i'lI try tomorrow!