Snap in phone adapter

[Chillihead 0]

Hi all, newbie here.  Is there any benefit of using the snap in adapter over a standard iPhone connecter in the USB port?

[CarMad 716]

I 'think' using the snap in connector it uses the aerial on the roof but I'm sure I read somewhere that you need an extra option for it to do that and its a specific cradle. 

[NewNiceMrMe 3,144]

Huge differences.

It integrates differently with iDrive and one of the things it'll do for a start if you get hold of an old iPhone 3GS is.....play videos from the iPhone on the iDrive screen.

It must be a 3GS though.  Other iPhones won't do it.

I keep a 3GS permanently in the adaptor in addition to an iPhone 6 via the USB port.  The 3GS provides all the media and updates I want, is used for Connected Drive services, etc. 

The iPhone 6 is there purely for incoming/outgoing calls.

[jimdiesel 625]

Not quite true MrMe. Since late 2014 all BMWs come with the necessary hardware (comms box) that was previously part of the extended blue tooth option to allow full intergration without the snap in cradle.  The cradle is still only part of the extended Bluetooth option but the only additional functionality this option now gives is signal through the car Ariel and an additional passenger side microphone. 

I can play videos through the usb on my 2016 car from my 3GS. 

[Chillihead 0]

2 hours ago, jimdiesel said:

Not quite true MrMe. Since late 2014 all BMWs come with the necessary hardware (comms box) that was previously part of the extended blue tooth option to allow full intergration without the snap in cradle.  The cradle is still only part of the extended Bluetooth option but the only additional functionality this option now gives is signal through the car Ariel and an additional passenger side microphone. 

I can play videos through the usb on my 2016 car from my 3GS. 

Thank you all, I can play video through the USB, it's not really a feature that I would need, I am intrigued by the external aerial though, is there not a lightning cable with the female end of the snap in connector?

[NewNiceMrMe 3,144]

Well, well, well, see, you learn something new every day!

I stand corrected.