I need to chime in as well. I am having the programming done on Monday for a TCU that I installed. Here is what I've done and discovered so far;
1. Bought a used TCU off ebay for $200. Installed it in the trunk but did not get the bracket. I set it under the trunk floor panel on some heavy rubber instead. I had some confusion about the fiber optic cables. I installed a Sirius module a month ago and had to deal with the cables that I originally moved. What I discovered is that the modules are "pass through" with the fiber optic info. In other words, the info/data/audio flows from the head unit to one module then another and finally loops back to the head unit. It took me some time to understand why there was only one pair of cables coming from the head unit going to the junction block.
Once that was hooked up, before anything else, I got an SOS error message on my info center. I was happy to see the TCU was at least recognized to be "in the loop" if you will. Not working but at least not DOA.
2. Purchased the FZD (overhead console) from LKQ for $30 because I needed the SOS button on it.
3. Purchased the bluetooth antenna and microphone from Ann Arbor BMW.
4. Installed the parts from 2 and 3 and the error msg. went away and the SOS light comes on with the rest of the switches. No indication of bluetooth though.
I spoke to my SA at Erhard BMW in Farmington Hills, Michigan and he said the system will crash several times trying to complete the retrofit unless the car has been completely updated recently. Mine has and he said it should crash just a couple of times. Basically what he means is the download does not completely finish and boots itself off the system and they have to start over. They are charging me $234 for labor (2 hours) and no more.
If the programming works, I will be in it for just under $600. It's a lot for bluetooth but I will have the BMW Assist in case there is an emergency and that could be priceless so the money is not an issue. I will post Monday night and let you know how it went. Crossing my fingers!
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