Hands on with the Bentley Flying Spur (Bluetooth)
The Bentley Flying Spur is Bentley’s four-door version of the popular coupe. Drastically changing the technology inside for the better made me want to take a more in depth look at what this car has to offer. Unlike the GT you no longer have to use a peasant Nokia phone as your car phone. Throwing away the standard Pop-Port connector and adding Bluetooth could not be a more welcome change. It gets better. This isn’t just bluetooth here, this is rSAP Bluetooth. Should I stop? No way. The Bentley Flying Spur also provides a SIM card reader in the armrest which works so flawlessly a tear started to roll down my face. The menu and GUI might not be the prettiest thing in the world, but it does what Bentley does best; keep it simple, keep it classy, and have it work perfectly. Click on for some more explanations of how this technology integrates into the car and more pictures than you probably care for.
This is the LCD screen that controls the Bluetooth. Beneath it is a simple directional wheel to select your options.
Here is the SIM card slot I was referring to. Simply drop the card right in, and your good to go! It uses the built-in antenna in the car so your reception is improved by at least 2-3 times.
This is the main control screen throughout the car. You can read text messages at anytime but you can’t compose one. I know, sad.
Oh look, a message from Bentley
On the steering wheel there are many different controls from voice commands, send/end key, select wheel, and the obvious volume buttons.
Here is the display you are most likely to look at while driving. It offers a slimmed down version of the main screen shown earlier.
If I may be so bold, I will take this opportunity to elaborate on the way rSAP works and why BlackBerry technology is not automatically compatible with the rSAP system. As is alluded to in the URL link you forwarded, BMW do have Blackberry compatibility. I have been do-ing some research with our Infotainment engineers, and we have been speaking directly with Blackberry,from whom we learned that BMW does not use rSAP technology, but Blue-tooth; rSAP being a more sophisticated technology utilising elements of Bluetooth technol-ogy. There are various advantages in text display and phonebook downloading etc. that make rSAP the more integrated solution for us. There is no rSAP 2.0, rSAP’s latest version is 1.0, which we use. Bluetooth is indeed on version 2.0, and it that which makes it compati-ble with the aforementioned BMWs .
There is no generic ‘fix’ for making Blackberry work in a solely rSAP system, but we have learned that they are working on an rSAP kit. However, in the shorter term, my friends in En-gineering are endeavouring to come up with a solution for you, and they have one or two ideas that I will update you with as soon as I have more information.
I do genuinely appreciate your comments about the system, and I hope you will under-stand when I say that phone technology is somewhat of a poisoned chalice. Were we to offer a simpler Bluetooth system, there would always be people who would say that we should offer rSAP as it does offer advantages even though the phone range may be more limited at the outset. Conversely, other people say that we should offer a system where every phone (within reason) is compatible. Phones are introduced at a bewildering rate and we test as many as we can; I also enclose a document that explains the Hands Free Profile and SIM card reader reader methods of phone usage (also mentioned on the URL you forwarded), apologies if you have read them before.
Very interesting. I can see their point, but maybe they could deliver a system, that works in two or more different ways, and with simple firmware updates support new standards as they evolve? I am sure that Bentley would have thought of that. But, to not support the BlackBerry is a bit short sighted, imho. I would imagine that they must be one of the most popular platforms for the ‘typical’ Bentley customer.
Changing the topic slightly: Does anybody know if you can make telephone calls through Wi-Fi, using say the Apple iPhone? Might be cool to get an inbuilt internet connection fitted to the car, then use Wi-Fi to receive and make calls and emails etc. Just a thought, but it would be kind of neat, plus as a chauffeur company our clients can use their laptops and other mobile devices in the car, which would be a nice bonus. Doesn’t fix the hands-free issue though.
I have just seen the full transcript of your post above John, it wasn’t there when I first looked. You did very well to get that response!
I can confirm that the Nokia E65 works. (which is not listed) Problem is the day after I set it up, someone left the car unlocked, and some enterprising individual stole the Nokia AND the iPod which was installed in the car! Grrrh, at least they didn’t damage the car though.
ichauffer- you stated that the Nokia E-63 worked well in the Bentley. My experience with it was that it worked, but it would freeze up frequently when I got out of the car and I had to remove the battery and let it reboot before it would work again. Have you experienced that?
@alan – I got the E65, not the E63. We didn’t notice any problems, but then again, it was stolen the night we hooked it up. So, it may not be as reliable as we thought it was. All the Nokia phones we have tried with the phone have worked so far though.
On the 2005 GT, I have the voice button but the dealer tells me that it did not work till 2006. Seems strange to me that bentley would put labelled buttons on the steering wheel 2 years ahead of when the button would work! Anyone else hear of this?
Thanks
R Dulay
I believe that voice dial key on an ‘05 is “software upgradable” if I recall…Could be wrong though
Chauffeur, I’ll run the CL AMG or DTM CLK against your bent any day.
“Industrial strength engineering”.
Please.
Ah, let the challenges and silliness begin. Meself, I find my wifes’ Bentley to be a very satisfying car. I get my racing fix on the track–I’m doing an 18 event, 15 track swing around North America ( http://www.allaluminumtour.com ) and the Bentley figured large in that since we drove it cross country to reconnect with my trailer (Nero) and car (Peyote) in Virginia (VIR). What a fun car to rip across the middle of this country in. 140 MPH as effortlessly as 35. Massages from the seat while you drive. Solid, solid, solid, tons of power, and over 20MPG. What more could you ask.
My daily driver is a 360 Spider, but I’d rather drive the wife’s car if the trip is more than 300 miles. You arrive with an ass you still feel.
@August – I stand by my statement. The AMG’s are fine cars. My friend is a track instructor for Mercedes World, UK. He thinks they are awesome, but he also loves the Continental too. Horses for courses.
@PonoBill – “Ah, let the challenges and silliness begin.” lol
Is there an official Bentley list of USA comatible phones and PDA’s in existance anywhere?
Yes, here it is as at March 2007 approx.
Nokia
6100
6200
6220
6610
7210
7250i.
6230
6610I
3100
3120
Bluetooth Compatible Phones
Nokia
6021
6230
6230i
6810
6820
6822
7280
9300
Additional as at March 2007
6111
6270
8800
8801
9500
Vertu
Ascent
Siemens
SK65
S65
S66
ST65 (SP65?)
March 2007
CX75
M75
Thanks for the info, John Dover
I do believe most NokiaS40/S60 Phones will work. Nokia offers a PDA e62 or try the new broadband n95.
2008 MY for bentley will have new upgrades on the phone systems as well as that sweet new front end on the GT.
Enjoy the day.
Brian
do any decent phones work with Verizon?
I see in the letter from Bentley to John Dover that Bentley were due to revert after hearing back from their engineering department. Any news?
Yes, bad news, they can’t make it work with BlackBerries.
If you have a specific phone in mind I can give you the name & email address of the chap at Bentley to contact.
If Bentley can’t make their Bluetooth work as well as a $30 Bluetooth headset, perhaps I need to buy a Rolls-Royce (BMW) instead?
Jerry- No need to buy a Rolls. You can buy a Volkswagon that will work with all of the great phones today. Bentley blew it BIG TIME!!
i have just returned to the site and see the same questions being asked re compatibality
no problem with the Nokia 630o i have the European version with 900 mg–new U S version out this week with 850–fully compatible
I just took delivery on a new ‘07 Cont. GT, and had some rather interesting results involving the Bentley bluetooth hookup.
I got the same (negative) results from two totally different phones – a blackberry 8800 (GSM, AT&T) and a Motorola Maxx V6 (CDMA, Verizon). Both phones would pair with the Bentley’s bluetooth system, and both would allow the car’s system to initiate outgoing calls. But the car would drop its bluetooth connection with each phone between 5 and 20 seconds after the called phone started ringing. The cell phone itself would continue with the call as if there were no bluetooth connection, but the car acted as if I had instructed it to hang up – the previously-chosen audio would come on, etc.
And most interesting, if I take the sim card out of the BB and put it in the Bentley’s card receptacle (a laborious process involving, among other things, a pair of tweezers) the car phone worked perfectly. But doing that every time I get into and out of the car is ridiculous.
Further pointing up how stupid and unnecessary this is, my Maybach paired with both phones instantly, downloaded their address books flawlessly, etc.
What a mess!
The Nokia 61i will work. Its a smartphone (email) and has rSAP mode for its bluetooth. A very good competitor to the blackberry and it works in the Bentley
A Parrot 3100 works in a Bentley with a BB 8800, and it works better than the Bentley OEM equipment. It downloads the address book from the phone (not just the info in the SIM) and the voice activation technology is MUCH better than the Bentley. No need to “train” the equipment for every name, and it recognizes voice commands and names, instead of endlessly repeating “Pardon” whenever you give a command. I wouldn’t go back to the Bentley system even if Bentley or RIM solves the compatibility problem.
BTW, the place to put the Parrot in a Bentley Continental is in the ashtray between the front seats. It fits in there perfectly, and it doesn’t show when the ashtray cover is closed.
That’s very useful info thanks. I didn’t realise that everyone has trouble with the voice commands. Being a Jilly Cooper fan I have followed her view that ‘pardon’ is a much worse word than ‘f-ck’ to which I am often reduced with the Bentley system.
I’ll investigate Parrot right away.
John-
Regarding the Bentley phone system’s (very English) “Pardon?” response ….
During one of my early attempts to use the Bentley phone system, I realized that I had somehow managed to shut everything off, so that that I heard neither music nor phone. Being alone in the car, I remarked to myself aloud, “Boy, do I have this thing f**ked up.” The car immediately responded, “Pardon?” I almost drove off the road laughing.