Kudos to the team at the Blue Roundel for catching onto a hot thing- before anyone else had a clue. Chalk it up to all those free thinking ideas the company's been touting in recent U.S. TV commercials.

BMW is set on making sure that its entire (North American) lineup is iPhone compatible just as the company has been keen on being iPod friendly. Indeed, BMW claims to be the first carmaker to become iPod compatible back in 2004.

To get the details on which models are or will be iPhone compliant, read the press release after the jump.

BMW ANNOUNCES APPLE IPHONE INTEGRATION COMPATIBILITY
07/09/2007

Owners Can Enjoy Hands-Free Calling and Integrated iPod Operation In Many Current BMW Models
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - July 9, 2007... BMW is pleased to announce that owners of many current BMW models will be able to enjoy integration of their new Apple iPhones™ in their vehicles from day one. In 2004, BMW was the first vehicle manufacturer to integrate the Apple iPod® into BMW vehicles and have customers take full control of their music on the road. So it seemed only logical that BMW be among the first vehicle manufacturers to ensure that owners of the new iPhone have the same ability to enjoy their music, plus the added benefits of Bluetooth® handsfree calling.

The iPhone will work as a Bluetooth-enabled cellphone on most BMW Assist-equipped models with Bluetooth handsfree-calling produced October 2004 or later (7 Series as of March 2005 production). Bluetooth technology provides a wireless connection between a compatible cell phone and the vehicle for hands-free calling. With a compatible Bluetooth cell phone, drivers can place and answer calls and select numbers from the address book by simply using the multi-function steering wheel or dashboard controls, or on some models, voice activation via Voice Command.

Access to the iPod application of the iPhone via the in-vehicle controls and central information or radio display will be possible on models equipped with the optional iPod/USB Interface. This factory option is currently available on BMW 3 and 5 Series models including M5 (as of March 2007 production) and the BMW X5 (as of April 2007 production). The iPod/USB Interface will be available on 6 Series models, including M6, beginning with September 2007 production.

The iPod/USB Interface option utilizes an adapter cable to provide full integration and functionality of an iPod or the iPhone's music player application. The cable has an iPod docking connector on one end and separate cables on the other end for connection to the in-vehicle AUX IN jack and USB connector. Full iPod menu functionality is available in the Control Display monitor or radio display on non-iDrive models.

Copyright © 2007 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPod and iPhone are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by BMW is under license.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 339 BMW passenger car centers, 334 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.