[AndreyT]

I'm looking at two BMW Professional radios with built in Sirius, Bluetooth and USB support. Externally both look like those typical new "Made in Czech Republic" BMW Professional units with that extra USB connector in the back. Neither radio has MOST connectors in the QuadLock.

However, the part number label on one radio says 6512 9302171-01 "Sirius, Bluetooth" and on the right it says "COMBOX / BMWRCD". Another radio's label says 6512 9263480-02 "Sirius, Bluetooth" and on the right it just says "BMWRCD".

What is the importance of that "COMBOX" bit on the former radio's label? What exactly does it mean in this case? Is there any difference in compatibility between these two radios?

[ctuna]

Do you have a car that uses Most Bus?
If you have L7 you need most bus for the amp.

Combox has something to do with bluetooth music.
I think there is an explaination of the combox retrofit
in the bluetooth thread. I also have read this is only
a idrive/nav option.

[AndreyT]

No, no L7. My car does not have MOST bus, so in that respect my original BMW Professional radio matches these two alternative ones. My original radio has no USB and no Bluetooth, which is why I'm considering a replacement.

As for Combox... The purpose of Combox, if I understood it correctly, is to serve as [part of] external implementation of Bluetooth/USB/iPod support. And it connects to the main headunit through MOST. And this is why I'm asking this question: the radio in question has no MOST and has Bluetooth/USB/iPod is already built into it. How does Combox fit into that picture? What is the point of mentioning Combox on the label? And, more importantly, will it work in my car?

Also, both replacement radios I'm talking about (including the one that says "Combox" on the label) are radios with ordinary two-line display. Which means that both are intended for no-Navi cars.

[ctuna]

Retrofit for Radio described in this link
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687463
Sounds like you wouldn't have to do the
Build date jiggle with the newer car.
Technic told me the Pro Radio was not capable of combox.
even the new ones at least its not offered in the US
without Idrive/Nav.
Also I thought all US Cars have Most Bus.
Although I am aware that the Euro Cars don't.
Where are you looking at these radio's?
There is one guy that had Hi Fi and most bus that
put one of the newer radio's in and disabled the most
bus.

[AndreyT]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Retrofit for Radio described in this link
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687463

Yes, I saw it. Unfortunately that thread does not answer the question of compatibility (considering how many versions of BMW headunits seem to exist out here).

Originally Posted by ctuna

Sounds like you wouldn't have to do the
Build date jiggle with the newer car.

Hopefully.

Originally Posted by ctuna

Also I thought all US Cars have Most Bus.

Most cars have MOST, but not all of them. Mine is an US car, ordered without any electronic options at all. Just sport package, leather and split rear seat. Cars like that come without MOST even in US.

Originally Posted by ctuna

Where are you looking at these radio's?

eBay

Originally Posted by ctuna

There is one guy that had Hi Fi and most bus that put one of the newer radio's in and disabled the most
bus.

Well, my radio has no MOST and the ones I'm considering have no MOST either, so I hope MOST won't be an issue.

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Do you have a car that uses Most Bus?
If you have L7 you need most bus for the amp.

Combox has something to do with bluetooth music.
I think there is an explaination of the combox retrofit
in the bluetooth thread. I also have read this is only
a idrive/nav option.

ff topic:

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by AndreyT

No, no L7. My car does not have MOST bus, so in that respect my original BMW Professional radio matches these two alternative ones. My original radio has no USB and no Bluetooth, which is why I'm considering a replacement.

As for Combox... The purpose of Combox, if I understood it correctly, is to serve as [part of] external implementation of Bluetooth/USB/iPod support. And it connects to the main headunit through MOST. And this is why I'm asking this question: the radio in question has no MOST and has Bluetooth/USB/iPod is already built into it. How does Combox fit into that picture? What is the point of mentioning Combox on the label? And, more importantly, will it work in my car?

Also, both replacement radios I'm talking about (including the one that says "Combox" on the label) are radios with ordinary two-line display. Which means that both are intended for no-Navi cars.

It would appear the latter has built in 6FL.