Does The 2012 6 Series Have BMW Apps? Let's Find Out!

Luxury vehicles today are like smartphones on wheels, with advanced apps, crystal clear touchscreens, and intuitive voice controls that make driving simpler and more enjoyable. Integrating your smartphone seamlessly with your BMW has become an expectation in the modern luxury market.

But this wasn’t always the case. Just a decade ago in 2012, connected technology in cars was still in its infancy. So what was the app and tech experience actually like in the 2012 BMW 6 Series? Did it have any apps or connectivity features at all?

The short answer is yes – the 2012 6 Series did have BMW Apps capability through the standard iDrive system. However, it was limited compared to today’s models and lacked some of the seamless smartphone integration and larger displays we now expect.

This article will explore what tech features were available in the 2012 6 Series, including a look at BMW Apps, Bluetooth, navigation, and other connected capabilities. We’ll also compare the 2012 BMW tech to the latest 6 Series models to see how far in-car innovation has come.

BMW Apps in the 2012 6 Series

One of the biggest tech features introduced for BMW models in the early 2010s was BMW Apps. This provided access to a limited selection of apps and internet-based content directly through the car’s iDrive display screen.

The 6 Series offered compatibility with many of the BMW Apps available at the time, including:

Web radio – Streaming radio stations and podcasts
Wikipedia – Built-in access to Wikipedia content
Facebook – Read Facebook posts and write comments by dictating
Twitter – View Twitter and tweet updates through dictation
News – Receive constantly updated news headlines
Weather – Local weather forecasts and radar maps
Sports scores – Live updates on sports games in progress
Calendar – Sync meetings and appointments from Google or iPhone calendar
Images – View images and slideshows from devices or cloud storage
Office functions – Read, edit, and dictate emails and documents.

These apps provided useful connectivity and content, especially for the time. However, functionality was still quite limited compared to the seamless smartphone integration systems of today.

Unlike modern Apple CarPlay or Android Auto which effectively mirror the apps from your smartphone onto the BMW display, the BMW Apps platform was restricted to just those apps specifically developed for BMW. The 6 Series Apps library in 2012 consisted of less than 20 apps, whereas CarPlay and Android Auto give access to the full catalog of iPhone or Android apps.

Additionally, BMW Apps required connecting your phone via Bluetooth or USB cable to access internet-based functions. The 6 Series lacked the built-in 4G LTE data connection that most modern BMWs include, which allows for unlimited high-speed internet access without tying up your phone.

So while ahead of its time in some regards, the 2012 6 Series was still limited to a narrow selection of apps, no native mirroring capability, and depended on your phone’s data plan for connectivity on the go.

Bluetooth and Phone Connectivity

In addition to BMW Apps for content, the 2012 6 Series also included standard Bluetooth technology for connecting your cell phone wirelessly. This allowed for handling calls through the car’s speakers and microphone.

After pairing a compatible Bluetooth phone, the 6 Series could:

Make and receive hands-free calls through the vehicle
Download your phonebook to display contact names
Stream audio over Bluetooth from your phone’s music library or apps

Bluetooth quality and voice pickup in the 2012 model was reasonably good for the time, providing clear call quality from the handsfree system.

One notable limitation was needing to pair each phone individually, without today’s ability to store multiple phone pairings or quickly switch between devices. The process of repairing a phone or connecting a new one required deleting old pairings and re-linking from scratch.

Still, Bluetooth allowed for reasonably convenient hands-free use of your smartphone in the 2012 6 Series. But seamless integration and switching between multiple devices wouldn’t arrive until later generations.

Navigation System

The 2012 BMW 6 Series also came equipped with a built-in navigation system with traffic updates as a standard feature. This provided turn-by-turn directions, POI search, dynamic routing, and map data without needing a phone connection.

Some specifics on navigation in the 2012 6 Series:

The central display measured 10.2 inches with a 800×480 resolution screen
Traffic updates showed flow and congestion to adjust routes dynamically
Speed limit info displayed current posted limit on roads
Points of interest included ratings, reviews, photos from Google Local Search
Voice input for address and POI searches

This was quite advanced navigation for 2012 model years. However, the screen size was small and resolution noticeably pixelated compared to the latest BMW displays.

Newer 6 Series models now feature expansive 12.3 inch high-definition touchscreens with multi-gesture control. This makes viewing map directions on the 2012 navigation system feel dated. Voice controls were also relatively limited and required sticking to specific speech commands.

But for its time, the 6 Series navigation delivered an effective factory option for turn-by-turn guidance and traffic avoidance. Technology has simply continued improving by leaps and bounds over the past decade.

Comparing 2012 vs Newer Model Years

When you go through the main tech features and capabilities available in the 2012 BMW 6 Series, it was reasonably well-equipped for its era:

Limited BMW App integration
Standard Bluetooth for hands-free calling
Built-in navigation with dynamic traffic routing
Voice control system with some command options

However, the connectivity and interaction experience feels extremely dated compared to a modern 6 Series. Some examples of tech now standard across BMW’s lineup:

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Today’s 6 Series models include full iPhone integration via Apple CarPlay and compatibility with Android Auto. This allows you to access and control essentially any app on your smartphone through the BMW’s touch display or iDrive controller. Voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant also provide advanced hands-free help.

The seamless mirroring of your iPhone or Android device makes the old BMW-specific Apps seem primitive. You can now use any navigation, music, messaging, audio books, podcasts, and utility apps from your smartphone on the vehicle’s screen.

Larger high-resolution touch displays

As mentioned previously, the 2012 6 Series had just a 10.2 inch 800×480 pixel display. BMW now fits stunning widescreen digital displays up to 12.3 inches with super high-resolution and multi-touch capability. This makes viewing maps or any content so much clearer and more intuitive.

Faster charging and WiFi hotspot

With just Bluetooth and no built-in cellular, connectivity in the 2012 model relied on your phone’s data plan. Modern BMWs include 4G LTE with WiFi hotspot ability, allowing any wireless device to get online. The 6 Series can now provide high-speed data access independent of your phone.

Fast charging via USB-C ports is another convenience now standard across BMW models that wasn’t available in 2012.

Improved voice assistant

Voice control has expanded exponentially, from the basic hands-free functions of a decade ago to today’s natural language smart assistants. Newer 6 Series models have the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to understand natural voice commands for music, navigation, vehicle functions and more. You can even give it a custom name!

Summary

It’s clear the 2012 BMW 6 Series provided some good technology for its time, including BMW Apps, Bluetooth phone functions, dynamic navigation, and voice controls. This provided an advanced in-car experience years ago.

However, the connectivity and interaction just can’t compare to today’s 6 Series models. The latest generation offers seamless smartphone mirroring through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, vastly larger high-resolution touchscreens, built-in 4G LTE data, USB-C fast charging, and intelligent voice assistants.

While innovative in the early 2010s, the apps and tech capabilities of the 2012 6 Series definitely show their age compared to modern BMW luxury. In just about 10 years, the entire paradigm has shifted in terms of design, connectivity, and interactivity.

So in summary – yes, the BMW 6 Series did offer apps and tech features even back in 2012. But the capabilities were limited, and connectivity depended on your phone. It’s astonishing how far in-car technology has come in just one decade. The 6 Series experience today feels lightyears ahead.