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      03-24-2010, 12:34 AM   #1
andy92782
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Failing Bluetooth interface?

More and more lately every time I make or receive a call via Bluetooth in my car, the audio quality has a ton of static. It's as if voices cut in and out. The caller on the other end complains about the same from my voice. It didn't used to be like this; it's as if the performance of the Bluetooth module is deteriorating over time. It's not specific to my particular phone or my phone company either. You can pair another phone to the car and it will sound lousy as well, even with full signal strength. Anyone else noticed this or had to have the BT module replaced under warranty?
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      03-24-2010, 11:18 AM   #2
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That's the EXACT same problem that I've been having. Mine's gotten so bad that if I move the phone around the cabin, it'll lost bluetooth connection.

It's most likely the Bluetooth TCU in the trunk. When I was testing mine out, I put the phone in the trunk right next to the TCU unit, got back in the car, and was able to make crystal clear calls. My guess is that you have the same issue. I'm taking it in for service next week at Irvine BMW, so hopefully it'll get resolved.

I'm guessing your BMW assist isn't working either, then?
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      03-24-2010, 07:04 PM   #3
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Let me know what the outcome is from your dealer visit. I never use BMW Assist so I wouldn't know about that, but I use the Bluetooth phone function all the time and it's almost unusable now!
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      03-24-2010, 07:34 PM   #4
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I'll keep you posted!
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      03-26-2010, 02:57 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deanmc View Post
That's the EXACT same problem that I've been having. Mine's gotten so bad that if I move the phone around the cabin, it'll lost bluetooth connection.

It's most likely the Bluetooth TCU in the trunk. When I was testing mine out, I put the phone in the trunk right next to the TCU unit, got back in the car, and was able to make crystal clear calls. My guess is that you have the same issue. I'm taking it in for service next week at Irvine BMW, so hopefully it'll get resolved.

I'm guessing your BMW assist isn't working either, then?
The TCU is in the trunk indeed, but the BT antenna is in the steering column area. So putting the phone in the trunk actually worsened the BT signal, if anything. There is no need to put the phone that close, anyway. You can have it anywhere inside the cabin.
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      03-26-2010, 04:14 AM   #6
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Having the same problem sometimes. If u have an iPhone try putting the connection to the phone then back to Bluetooth and see if it clears up. My BMW assist doesn't work anymore when I press it, it just says connecting and never connects.
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      03-26-2010, 08:14 AM   #7
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The BT antenna is in the trim, just above the foot rest on the drivers side.
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      03-26-2010, 07:46 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vadim View Post
The TCU is in the trunk indeed, but the BT antenna is in the steering column area. So putting the phone in the trunk actually worsened the BT signal, if anything. There is no need to put the phone that close, anyway. You can have it anywhere inside the cabin.
Right, that most likely means that the antenna or the antenna cable is bad.
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      03-29-2010, 09:03 AM   #9
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God!

I have been having the same problem with my Blue tooth since I upgraded to i Phone 3gs from the original. I am on Day 3 of my car in service and they will not upgrade the blue tooth programing claiming that there is no diagnosable problem.

GRRR....

Any thoughts?
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      03-29-2010, 09:58 PM   #10
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I believe this is a known issue with latest iphone firmware...
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      03-31-2010, 09:05 AM   #11
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So I got my car back after 4 days in service and got the "it's a known issue with this version of the iPhone software."

Does anyone know of any workarounds until either BMW or Apple get off their butts and fix the issue?

I cannot believe that in a day where I can stream just about anything to my phone, that I cannot get the my car's blue-tooth to work with my phone?
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      03-31-2010, 09:49 AM   #12
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only known way is to jailbreak your phone and roll it back 3 versions.. sucks I've been battling the same issues
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      04-01-2010, 12:33 PM   #13
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deanmc, any updates on this?

FYI, I have a Blackberry Curve 8330, not an iPhone. There were no firmware updates anywhere to anything, just steady degradation of the audio performance over time.

One other quirk I've noticed: while driving down the road minding my own business, the car/phone combo will suddenly mute the stereo and initiate a call to a random number in my phone book. WTF?!?! This has happened a couple times in recent months.
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      04-01-2010, 01:29 PM   #14
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Andy, sorry, not yet. I was hoping to take my car in for service this week, but wasn't able to. I'll probably bring it in next week. BTW, I don't have an iphone either, so it's not a phone related problem.

What dealership to you usually go to for service?
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      04-01-2010, 04:06 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deanmc View Post
Andy, sorry, not yet. I was hoping to take my car in for service this week, but wasn't able to. I'll probably bring it in next week. BTW, I don't have an iphone either, so it's not a phone related problem.

What dealership to you usually go to for service?
Cool, no problem. I've been taking my car to Crevier.
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      04-01-2010, 10:03 PM   #16
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i thought i was the only one with this problem! its driving me nuts!

my dad & i share the car... i have an iphone, my dad has a blackberry... the blackberry connects sometimes to the bluetooth in the car, but then the connection gets lost. the iphone doesn't pick up the bluetooth signal anymore.

if anyone gets an answer to this issue, would like to hear what happens! i need my bluetooth! lol
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      04-03-2010, 09:37 AM   #17
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wasnt this addressed with this:

SI B 84 08 09
Communication Systems May 2009
Technical Service

SUBJECT
Telephone: Poor Voice Quality at Landside End


MODEL
E60, E61 (5 Series)

E63, E64 (6 Series)

E82, E88 (1 Series)

E90, E91, E92, E93 (3 Series)

F01, F02 (7 Series)

Vehicles produced from 2/28/07 to 2/27/09 equipped with ZPP (Premium Package) or SA 639 (BMW Assist™)


SITUATION
The person on the landline hears an echo and reverberation when the customer makes a hands-free call from the vehicle. The voice quality on the landline is generally poor (low volume or interference). This situation affects all phones except the Apple iPhone 3G. Refer to SI B84 04 09 for information about the Apple iPhone 3G.

CAUSE
A very sensitive audio algorithm in the TCU (Telematics Control Unit) has caused a signal overload. The interaction with other audio components results in the situation described above.

PROCEDURE
Perform diagnosis using ISTA, and work through any test modules for any related faults.

Program the vehicle with the latest version of ISTA/P. The problem was corrected with the release of ISTA/P 2.33.0. For information on programming and coding with ISTA/P, refer to CenterNet – Aftersales Portal – Service-Workshop Technology – Vehicle Programming.

WARRANTY INFORMATION
Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Defect Code: 84 11 21 39 00

Labor Operation: Labor Allowance: Description:
Refer to KSD Refer to KSD Refer to KSD


For iPhone


SI B 84 04 09
Communication Systems June 2009
Technical Service

This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B84 04 09 dated March 2009.

designates changes to this revision

SUBJECT
The Landside Person Finds the Caller Speaking from an iPhone 3G Hard to Understand


MODEL
E82, E88 (1 Series)

E90, E91, E92, E93 (3 Series)

E60, E61 (5 Series)

E63, E64 (6 Series)

F01, F02 (7 Series)

E70 (X5)

E71 (X6)

Vehicles produced from 2/28/07 to 8/30/09 equipped with ZPP (Premium Package) or SA 639 (BMW Assist™)


SITUATION
The person on the landside cannot hear the driver speaking, or can only hear him or her very faintly or poorly.

Sometimes the driver may only be heard intermittently. An Apple iPhone 3G with software 2.2 or 2.2.1 is used.

CAUSE
Apple iPhone software Bluetooth handling

PROCEDURE
Do not replace any parts or update the vehicle software.

Update the Apple iPhone software to OS 3.0 (available from Apple).

After the phone software update, it may be necessary to delete the iPhone paired to the vehicle and then pair it again, in order for the phone to operate properly.
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      04-03-2010, 07:27 PM   #18
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Takl about coincidence. My iPhone 3g AND blackBerry cure 8320 both stopped connecting to the car today. I did have an alignment done today........but they shouldn't have messed with any of this.
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      04-07-2010, 09:17 AM   #19
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So I heard back from my Service Adviser yesterday and they still have no fix for this issue. I BEGGED them to reprogram my TCU, but since the second part of that service bulletin says not to, they will not do it. So I am playing the waiting game.

I have called BMW customer support to register a complaint and suggest that any of users that are experiencing these issues do so, especially since the iphone 3gs is listed as one of the supported phones. I think the best bet is sending as much noise up the chain as possible, since the squeaky wheel always gets the oil, and having working in the retail automotive business for many years, I know that the factory does take these complaints seriously.

I am going to make yet anouther call today and just keep putting pressure on the issue until they resolve it.
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      04-07-2010, 09:05 PM   #20
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YES!!!!

So I figured out what the problem was. You won't believe this, but turns out that the mechanic working on my car last time FORGOT TO PLUG THE BLUETOOTH ANTENNA BACK IN!

I didn't get a chance to take it in, but after reading the above post that the antenna was located somewhere near the steering column, I looked around on the internet and found out that the antenna is actually on the lower driver's side kick panel. The kick panel was easy to open, three torx screws, and lo and behold, the antenna was unplugged. I had a brake pedal and steering column issues the last time I took the car in, and I guess the @#$!@ guy working on my car forgot to plug the BT antenna back in when he reattached the panel.

I hope this is your fix too, Andy!

BTW, if you take the kick panel out, make sure you slide it back into the tab near the top by the accelerator side. Thanks for all your input, and good luck everyone.
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      04-09-2010, 10:44 AM   #21
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Great news, thanks for the update! I'll check the connector in my car although there was never any work done in and around the steering column so I don't have any reason to suspect it'll be loose... I have a feeling I'm going to wind up with one of those things that clips on the sun visor, just like the rest of the "unsophisticated masses". :P
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      04-13-2010, 04:46 PM   #22
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Bluetooth - when it pairs - sounds like a Dalek!

My car (E91) went in to have the rear load cover actuator replaced. Everything bluetooth wise working fine untill I pick it back up - now, my phone won't pair, neither will two others unless it is in the centre console pocket forward of the arm rest (this is the one position I've found) If it does manage to pair, it looses connection if moved, it has even shown some random device names on both the phone name and the BMW ##### device name. If when connected Itry to make a call, it's like a brief episode of Dr Who with the Daleks... So, does anyone know if the TCU? is near the right hand rear quarter panel area, does the antenna run from there on E91's? I seem to live at the dealer since owning the car, this is yet another problem.

Edit: - Just had a look around the passenger side footwell, looks like they've had trim removed from there - I know as the havn't bothered putting it back properly, I had clipped it in once before when I first had the car, so I know it was fitted correctly. Two bluetooth devives have been connected that are nothing to do with me, and weren't there previous to taking car in and also, there's a fibre optic cable complete with cover hanging down under the glove box - I'm not best pleased with them..

Last edited by DazJ; 04-13-2010 at 05:52 PM.. Reason: Updated info...
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