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Technical Warning to iPhone users with older 500's

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Technical Warning to iPhone users with older 500's

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jrkitching

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There have been several posts in the past few days from different folks reporting that the latest iOS update breaks connectivity with the Blue&Me system in pre '61 reg 500's.

This results in the loss of ability to play music from the phone through the car speakers and the loss of ability to charge the phone.

Pre '61 cars cannot run the latest Blue&Me firmware and it's unlikely there will be any more updates for the early cars, so there is little hope of a fix from Fiat. AIUI, it is also difficult or impossible to roll back the phone software once updated.

As yet, there is no known solution to this issue; please be aware of this before updating (or allowing your phone to update) to iOS11.

I'll edit this post if there is any further relevant news.
 
jrkitching said:
There have been several posts in the past few days from different folks reporting that the latest iOS update breaks connectivity with the Blue&Me system in pre '61 reg 500's.

This results in the loss of ability to play music from the phone through the car speakers and the loss of ability to charge the phone.

Pre '61 cars cannot run the latest Blue&Me firmware and it's unlikely there will be any more updates for the early cars, so there is little hope of a fix from Fiat. AIUI, it is also difficult or impossible to roll back the phone software once updated.

As yet, there is no known solution to this issue; please be aware of this before updating (or allowing your phone to update) to iOS11.

I'll edit this post if there is any further relevant news.
Click to expand...

What's the most current version of iOS prior to 11? It probably would be possible to roll back - as long as Apple still sign the earliee version - but then again you'd be stuck eternally on 10.x.x

This is a good warning, you've very limited resolutions on iOS and it's tempting to just hit update or accidentally let Apple do it overnight.
 
typecastboy said:
Always been Apple but sorely tempted to go android next time
Click to expand...
Please don't assume this doesn't happen with Android. I have always used Android and every time there is an update, something goes awry. Recent Oreo update sent my bluetooth connection in my Nissan Leaf into a frenzy - it has only now settled down after a further update several weeks later. Ironically, it seems that the worst offender of recent years, Microsoft, has finally worked out how to update Windows without causing significant problems.
 
chris red said:
My missus' iPhone 7 on iOS 11.2.6 works fine still with her 11 plate 500c.
Click to expand...

I suspect your missus's car has the later firmware.

Now that you mention it, the changeover point may have been '60 and not '61. Unfortunately blue&me.net seems not to be working properly just now so I can't go online to check.
 
Would a fix be to fit a later blue & me module from a later car? I know it is not the easiest of jobs, don't have this problem myself as a later 500 however might be a thought?
 
typecastboy said:
Always been Apple but sorely tempted to go android next time
Click to expand...

Will say when the galaxy S8 came out the Bluetooth 5.0 was like listening to a scratched CD on my 61 plate (none Fiat) car.

It has been fixed as time has gone on with updates to the phone itself it's now fine but it took 11 months.
 
My Samsung s8 has never been able to play music through blue and me, either by Bluetooth or plugged into the blue and me usb on our 2013 500. I just use the earphone jack.
 
I was dreading connecting my iPhone 7 now that my ‘13 500 is back. Paired together with blue and me fine and plugged in to USB plays from Apple Music and Spotify. Track info comes up in dash and on TomTom.

Is the software version in settings somewhere to see what I’m on? I’m browsing round to see what updates are available for the car.
 
Had similar isues in my Mini when iphone 4 came about. Safest way is to keep an extra phone for the car (with a dual SIM) and never touch that one for upgrades. Car industry SW upgrade cycles are a lot slower than what the phone manufacturers do (and I hate the latter for it). My stance remains that I bought a product with a defined functionality and the manufacturer should not mess around with it. Applies to the car as well as to the phone :nono:
 
Me too, my car is a 2008 500, alternatively I will sell my iPhone 8+
Apple, always a problem with something,somewhere
 
Rieste said:
Me too, my car is a 2008 500, alternatively I will sell my iPhone 8+
Apple, always a problem with something,somewhere
Click to expand...

As the car I’m currently driving is10 years old, does anyone know of a music player which will plug and play with the older Fiat blue & me system please?
 
Wish I did!
I *need* my music to play in my 500, I like the dashboard of the old (2009)) Fiat 500 too so I need a plug- in to work with my phone and Blue&me
Anyone any ideas please?
 
Mine's worked fine via USB on my 2013 500e through iOS 11, but it never played music via bluetooth because that model doesn't support the A2DP profile needed for music to sound decent. That said, I've been pretty happy with my Echo Auto setup for bluetooth and voice commands that don't involve calling people on the phone.
 
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