First of all hi all.
I find this forum very educative. It is a good source of solutions, if not final then at least showing a direction.
Some might find this post a bit long but I'm sure those stuck with similar system to mine would appreciate it. Sorry for bragging again about Bluetooth in early F10-s but I just want to show you my motives and motivation for finding a resolution.
Very recently I swapped my beloved Honda Accord DTCI 2.2 for approved used BMW 535i, configured with sporty gearbox, some active suspension stuff, traction control and all those bits you need for sporty driving, well kept and with low millage. Car manufactured in June 2010. I did that because I'm no longer commuting. My driving pattern has changed and nowadays I hardly get the engine into the temperature during my daily trips. That would have killed the DPF in Honda in no time, hence the change.
I love the handling of the BMW. The configuration of the car is perfect... apart from one tiny detail - the wretched smartphone integration (missing).
As you can imagine, it is difficult to come across petrol BMW within certain budget with such a nice configuration, so I can't/don't want to JUST swap it into another car. However, the enhanced Bluetooth is quite important to me because I listen to multitude of internet radios, typically unavailable on FM or DAB. During my short daily trips I constantly run a radio app on my iPhone and I only want to get to the car, start it and (conditionally) press a button to continue the streaming to the car stereo. In age of BT 4.0 (and 5.0 coming soon) fiddling with cables means two steps backwards, out of question for me.
My conspiracy theory for the above is as follow: close to 2010 BMW is coming with brand new car platform (F10. F11, F05) which supposed to be equipped in all singing-and-dancing multimedia module/system (among other nice things of course). Their multimedia developers are staying behind with the design, delivering slowly circuit after circuit or chunks of the software, so early F10-s go with reduced functionality of the head unit/CIC/combox. A business decision is made to sell the new stuff as options (typical) in the new production and also do some retrofits, here however, despite leaving behind USB for software updates, there is big reluctance to do those upgrades by services, as there is no knowledge and training for the service people, available, so the upgrades are very often long, laborious and uncertain - involving often the factory specialists. Another business decision is made - let's move on and don't upgrade pre 09/2010 cars anymore. It is only few tens of thousands of cars involved and some chunk of them already upgraded - not sustainable anymore.
Is this how is been? Is there any BMW insider on the forum to comment
? Or perhaps in 09/2010 there was a substantial hardware change to the computer which makes all the further software upgrades completely incompatible with the older one? Can anyone comment on this - it would help me (and others) to make more informed decision.
I found few relevant excerpts on this forum:
"The USB on the left hand side inside the glove, (of a RHD car) was deleted a year or so after launch - it was only used for software updates, a function which can now be done through the USB in the center armrest."
and then:
"The USB socket in the glovebox is a feature of CIC - it is the service port used for music transfer and map updates. It was removed on cars with NBT."
All that would imply that software upgrade is possible on my car, it is just no one wants to do it? Why?
Anyway...
This is my car spec with respect to the multimedia: Professional Satnav option 609 with armrest USB/AUX option 6FL. My car still has got the separate USB port in the glove box. Also the normal mobile phone BT is working as expected. The phone pairs correctly and all the phone related options do work as expected. That spec implies that all necessary hardware components, needed for more modern software (including the combox), are in place. Software HASN'T GOT the Software Update option though.
So, after checking my car spec, contacting two different dealers, after reading plenty on this forum, after reading through a few american leaked out technical documents, after checking bits and pieces available on ebay, amazon and other places, I can see three routes for myself.
1. Don't bother. Get yourself OEM BT receiver, hook it up to USB/AUX in armrest and bring some remote for an iPhone (like the Satechi Bluetooth Button or similar). Price tag: ~£100. Pros: well not many: just BT streaming, car independent. Cons: makes many marvels of iDrive obsolete, car independent
. No really my way of doing things.
2. Do some DIY. Get parts/software, ask for help, code/decode/re-code what is needed until BT streaming works. Force a dealership to upgrade the head unit/CIC/combox or whatever else is there to upgrade. Price tag: ~£200 - £600 (or more if it comes to a dealer being involved). Pros: Bluetooth streaming, all the office, apps (whatever is available), etc. functions are working, possible self-updates, smartphone integration operational (e.g. controlling the iPhone from the steering wheel). Cons: if the upgrade done properly there are non (in my opinion), might come at a BIG price.
3. Rip off the whole system and bring more modern one from car dismantlers. Price tag: ~£700 - £1000 for the dismantled system, plus labor on the replacement (I may do it myself - have sufficient skills). Pros: all singing-and-dancing as required, more stuff working (e.g. WiFi, etc. - whatever comes with the set). Cons: ZERO knowledge of what might be involved apart from physically replacing the components - result highly unknown, hefty price tag.
Has anyone been through this? What was the outcome? Any how-tos?
There is plenty of info of what to do if your car is the one after 09/2010, but very little otherwise. Or perhaps I missed some posts detailing the above?
I'd like to spark some final discussion on this.
I'll try to post all the how-tos, DIY-s etc. I'll manage to find, if you guys help me by providing some info, contacts to people who are capable etc.
IS THIS A VIABLE PROJECT AT ALL??? or should I stop now
I'm in Essex, UK.
Kind regards to all