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      09-21-2007, 02:56 AM   #1
AoshichanX
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Drives: Jet Black e90 335i
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Claremont, CA

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2007 e90 335i  [0.00]
**Bluetooth Retrofit Guide** for TCU and ULF

UPDATE 2/19/09
  1. Members have noted the shoddy service from Bimmernav. Avoid Bimmernav at all costs, order from Tischer! All links to Bimmernav have been removed.
  2. Also, the rumor of programming Bluetooth without the FZD is officially a myth. Since FZDs are roughly ~$200 I think all of us have already tried to complete the retrofit without it and we learned the hard way. Remember, FZD IS NOT OPTIONAL and is also VIN specific.
  3. Although many of the parts in this guide have been superseded but general gist is the same, as long as you follow the SIB and purchase ALL PARTS, you will be fine.
  4. For simplicity, I've decided this guide is ONLY for U.S. vehicles. For Euro-spec cars, it is only a matter of purchasing the newest ULF module + proper dealer coding.
  5. Lastly, thanks to all for the continued feedback

The following is a cumulation of research from myself and contributions from fellow forum members--most notably Technic. Thanks Technic for all your guidance!

Research/Steps Taken
09/21/07 -12/31/07 - ULF works but with German voice command. TCU is a bust.
02/06/08 - Conversation with Evan@Tischer Regarding Bluetooth Retrofit - TCU is back in the game?
02/21/08 - Ordered retrofit kit from bimmernav, expected ULF...
02/25/08 - Got package from bimmernav, got TCU instead of ULF.
02/26/08 - TCU part# from bimmernav same as the one mentioned in chat by Evan@Tischer. Found SIB Bulletin and PDF installation.
02/26/08 - Conversation with Evan@Tischer Regarding TCU Part#
02/26/08 - Dropped car off at Savage BMW
02/27/08 - Savage BMW required purchase of bracket/hex unit/loudspeaker/FZD.
02/27/08 - Evan@Tischer assures me they have done retrofit several times with only TCU swap and 2 step programming. Maybe Savage is dumb/they are really "by-the-book"
02/28/08 - Car has been retrofited with BMW Assist with Bluetooth Technology.
03/19/08 - All US cars e9x are pre-wired for "telephone preparation" (SA640). European cars do not have this option standard

TCU Retrofit
  1. Available as of September 2007; aka the factory install option: no German voice command problems.
  2. Lots of Success Stories! Prices are settling around the $900 - $1200 mark with labor included; 1 documented failure .
  3. This option requires coding by BMW dealership due to e90 MOST setup. As a reference, it took Savage BMW 3 days to get it right.
  4. Tischer supplies the TCU retrofit. Contact Evan@Tischer for further details.
  5. Tell your dealership to retrofit this TCU as per SIB 84 14 05
  6. Cost
    • TCU Module - BMW Part #: 84109171590 - $675 ($548 from Tischer but no stock...ever)
    • Microphone - $55
    • Bracket - BMW Part #: 65156937700 - $15
    • Installation and Programming Costs - $396.24 (quoted from Savage BMW in Ontario- 3 hours of programming only - no labor)
  7. FOR TCU PDF CLICK HERE

ULF Retrofit
  1. Retrofit has been known to be partially successful for U.S. Vehicles: voice command is unfortunately in German. Bimmernav attributes German voice command to a coding issue by maladroit BMW technicians. EDIT 02/19/09: Take any statements by Bimmernav with a grain of salt.
  2. With proper coding, Bimmernav claims the ULF Retrofit to be 100% operable. There has been no known documentation by a satisfied consumer to back this statement.
  3. This option requires dealer activation.
  4. The ULF supplier: roveractive.
  5. Cost
    • ULF Module - BMW Part #: 84109154358 - $675
    • Microphone - $55
    • Bracket - BMW Part #: 65156927700 - $15
    • Installation and Programming Costs - Free (quoted from New Century BMW after I referenced a certain member of this forum)
  6. FOR ULF PDF CLICK HERE

My Cost for Complete BMW Assist with Bluetooth Retrofit
  1. My car is a February '07 Production base model e90 335i with steptronic and navigation/idrive only.
  2. SA for this job is Cesar Velasquez of Savage BMW. Savage BMW has never done this retrofit before. They charged for all the parts in the SIB. If you go to Savage please make sure to purchase all your own parts! Purchase the retrofit kit from Bimmernav. Purchase the rest of the parts FZD center module, bracket, hex nuts, and loudspeaker from Tischer. That is the cheapest route for a complete retrofit.
    EDIT 02/19/09: Savage was right to charge for all parts as all parts were needed. Avoid Bimmernav at all costs. Many users have had horrible experiences. That fact that I ordered a ULF module and instead received a TCU unit should state something. I got very, very lucky.
  3. Going in, Savage assumed all they needed was the TCU since I had phone prep. Along the way they discovered I needed this part and then another part. Basically, all the parts from the SIB *pdf were required for this complete retrofit.
  4. My Bimmernav Kit
    • TCU Module - BMW Part #: 84109171590 - $675
    • Microphone - $55
    • BMW Bluetooth Antenna - Included
    • Shipping USPS Priority - $29
  5. Savage BMW
    • Bracket for Telematics Control- - BMW Part #: 65156937700 - $18.26
    • FZD - BMW Part #: 61319137523 (this is VEHICLE SPECIFIC and may be different for your car) - $268.42**
    • Hex Nut - BMW Part #: 07129906048 - $0.68
    • Nut - BMW Part #:41248147832 - $0.18
    • Loudspeaker - - BMW Part #: 65136938657 - $19.86
    • Installation and Programming Costs - $538.38 (1 hour labor, 3 hours of programming)
    • Tax - $24.02
  6. Total: $1631.48 (Vehicle option is $750 if ordered with the car )
  7. Only you can decide if this is worth it to you. SOS button works, I got a call from the operator--idrive displayed my latitude and longitude during the call. Voice command works in English. All functions work. Calls are clear. My phone is the VX8550 Chocolate 2 from Verizon. Phonebook is downloaded and synced.


**(special thanks to Evan@Tischer for this price...otherwise Savage would have charged me a good $408. also thanks to my dad for convincing me to talk to the service manager, I would have pussied out probably otherwise and get charged up the ass)


TCU




ULF



Last edited by AoshichanX; 02-20-2009 at 10:37 AM.. Reason: FZD Required + do NOT order from Bimmernav
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