[gsochris]

I bought my first BMW today, 2006 330i, love it! I thought that it came standard with the phone/Bluetooth built in. However, when I press the phone button on the steering wheel and by the radio, nothing happens.

I have read that only certain phones are compatible, fortunately mine is one. How can I tell for certain if in fact Bluetooth is an option on mine?

Thanks!

[froalskiner]

Go into the options, scroll to the bottom and make sure Bluetooth is enabled.

[08rookie]

play with the buttons on your radio not ur toggle...you if you hit menu on ur radio you will be able to enable bluetooth

[fdiprete]

you probably checked already, but did you pair the phone with it?

[gsochris]

Thanks for the responses;

@froalskiner: it sounds like this would be an option for the 330i w/iDrive...I don't have that.

@08rookie: I have played with the buttons (Menu and Audio). The Menu option only has BC and CONFIG, of which neither have Bluetooth under. The Audio option only have sets for music and such.

@fdiprete: You know, I just tried that, thinking that maybe my phone will just "pair"...common sense tells me that I would have to put the device (car) into discover mode...which I can't seem to find anywhere.

Oddly enough, the voice command button, and phone button on the steering wheel don't do anything when pressed. Leading me to believe that this is not an installed option on my 330i. Guess I'll have to head up to the dealership.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by gsochris

Thanks for the responses;

@froalskiner: it sounds like this would be an option for the 330i w/iDrive...I don't have that.

@08rookie: I have played with the buttons (Menu and Audio). The Menu option only has BC and CONFIG, of which neither have Bluetooth under. The Audio option only have sets for music and such.

@fdiprete: You know, I just tried that, thinking that maybe my phone will just "pair"...common sense tells me that I would have to put the device (car) into discover mode...which I can't seem to find anywhere.

Oddly enough, the voice command button, and phone button on the steering wheel don't do anything when pressed. Leading me to believe that this is not an installed option on my 330i. Guess I'll have to head up to the dealership.

Before you end up wasting a trip to your dealer, just open your trunk and remove the trunk floor cover. Look at the right of the trunk floor (closer to the right rear seat bulkhead) and check if you have a rectangular, silver box. It should have three stickers on top of it, with TCU written on each of them.

If you do not see that silver box then there is no Bluetooth in your car. You can retrofit it, though...

[gsochris]

@Technic: thank you, I'll do that.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by gsochris

@Technic: thank you, I'll do that.

This wil give you an idea of what you should be looking for, and what you could do about it if you do not have it...

[gsochris]

LOL, clearly it's not installed!

Two big blank spots with wire connectors waiting. Thanks for the pdf, very helpful.

[froalskiner]

Search for Bluetooth Retrofit. There is a thread that goes into detail with PNs and everything you'll need to install it. It looked pricey from what I remember

[gsochris]

@froalskiner: I read thru that thread after technic sent the pdf, very informative. Looks like the prices, installed, run 12-1500. Oh well, something to think about in the future.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by gsochris

@froalskiner: I read thru that thread after technic sent the pdf, very informative. Looks like the prices, installed, run 12-1500. Oh well, something to think about in the future.

It is roughly half of that -or even less if you get an used TCU- if you install it yourself. All your wiring is there, so the only thing that you need to do is to plug the components in...

[gsochris]

@technic: that's even more attractive! Do you have any recommendations on where to buy?? I read in that sticky thread to stay away from bimmernav?

btw - thank you for your help.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by gsochris

@technic: that's even more attractive! Do you have any recommendations on where to buy?? I read in that sticky thread to stay away from bimmernav?

btw - thank you for your help.

PM Evan at TisherBMW, he's a member here. For the TCU try eBay or LKQonline.com.

Refurbished TCU are some $350, so used should not be more than $200.

[TizSuperrQ]

Good luck retro fitting...

B/T is one of the features i love in the car, i live on that thing!!

[Cy3]

Op, the single most expensive part of my retrofit was the $270 of coding at the dealership. In total I completed by retrofit just a little over $500. Use salvage yards, ebay, etc. just double check your part numbers.
Install is simple and you can do it yourself following the DIY and the pdf Technic provided. Then bring it in to the dealer to have them code it up for operation 1-2 hours of labor.
The most difficult (term used lightly) is wiring up the Fiber optic box; to save you some re-work time shine a light down the optic cable in the trunk so you can visually see which to work with on the Optic box side. GLuck, DO IT!

EDIT: If you know, think, or hope that you will one day down the road add satellite radio, do this all at once or the dealer will charge you another 1-2 hours of labor for the recoding.

EDIT2: My Costs-
Salvaged TCU: $125
Overhead OEM FZU off eBay: $107
Misc Parts from BMW of Fairfax: $100 (Save money and do NOT get the back-up antenna - part not needed)
BMW of Fairfax charges a flat 2-hours of Labor for updating: $270
====================
Total Bluetooth/Assist retrofit ~$570