Bluetooth Retrofit Microphone problem (Interesting Problem!) - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

jreich · 06-20-2009, 11:42 AM

I am in the process of completing my bluetooth retrofit and ran into a problem. I got a TCU from ebay that was from the same year/model as my e92 335. The FZD was from an 06 330Ci (didnt color). I put everything together and the MIC doesnt appear to be working. I can connect my phone to the system and If I call someone if will automatically transfer it to the BT system. The only problem is I can hear there voice, but I cannot speak to them. So me being risky, I pressed the SOS assist button and BMW Assist picked up the phone and I could hear the guy talking, but I could not speak to them. They couldnt track my current position as well.

Next I looked at the back of the FZD and noticed there were only 2 wires in the 3 plug connection, I have a feeling I am missing a wire for the microphone.

Granted MICs can be a 2 or 3 pin connection, I am fairly confident this is a 3 pin device. So I looked at the wiring harness and found this :

This is a pic from the bimmernav DIY for BT with a 3rd clear wire

This is the plug to the TCU that I believe is the MIC connection with the 3rd clear wire:

I performed a continuity test and the wires that are at the TCU are not the same wires that the MIC is plugged into. The FZD unit I have had two MICS...one I believe would be for the Navigation system, and one for the TCU.
Questions are:
Has anyone encountered this problem before?

Where does the bundle of wires go after the MOST junction box? I'm thinking I can follow that shielded harness and find where it goes.

Do you think BMW can fix this without me digging into it? I'm assuming this is an error on their part because they didnt "PRE WIRE" the car properly.

jimk · 06-21-2009, 01:52 AM

There was a member that had the same issue. I think the answer was to re-arrange the microphone pins at the lower right audio junction section around the passenger area.

jreich · 06-21-2009, 10:38 AM

Can you please elaborate? I traced the 3 wires that are coming from the TCU.... I believe the clear wire is a ground/shielding connection and not really necessary. So this makes the MIC a two pin connection. I traced the MIC connection from the FZD and it gets routed along side the passenger side air bag and it disappears by the fuse box. Now the 3 pin connection going to the TCU goes along the driver’s side and cuts under the front drivers seat and looks like it goes toward the radio. I don’t know for sure, but there might be 2 separate MICS, one for voice control for the NAV system (I don’t have navigation) and one is for the Assist/TCU. I got a multimeter and tried testing continuity between the MIC wire at the FZD and the TCU, but they are not the same yellow/black wires. The clear wire becomes just a loose wire in that shielded connection, which makes me believe it’s a ground. I am SO CLOSE!!!! I got my phonebook uploaded to the Bluetooth system and everything...I just have NO MIC! I have a really only Sony Ericsson z520a; I'm surprised it was able to sync properly. I also tried taking out the radio with no luck.

VP Electricity · 06-21-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jreich

I'm assuming this is an error on their part because they didnt "PRE WIRE" the car properly.

I don't see why you need him to elaborate... sounds like there is a post on it. Do you have the wiring pinout of the TCU? That is how you will see what to do.

The 3rd "clear" wire is the shield ground. You have it, it seems to be floating. Pretty sure that's not gonna solve your problem.

VP Electricity · 06-21-2009, 10:45 AM

Have you read this thread?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...icrophone+pins

jreich · 06-21-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

Have you read this thread?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...icrophone+pins

I have, but Evan @ Tischer said my car was good to go for the BT retrofit. I have read the "main” retrofit page and haven't seen anyone run into this problem. The pdf's jimk has are for 1 series (probably similar for 3 series). I saw the schematic for the car system and its peripherals and how there is one MIC, junctioned to the TCU and the CIC. I will look behind the glovebox and try to locate this junction box. I really want to know if everyones MIC has the 3 wires going to it, or just 2 like mine. The salvage yard I went to took out the FZD and I was unable to go back there to see what the connections were.

jreich · 06-21-2009, 01:46 PM

Great Success!!!!!

So I just have to take the glove box out, the bracket holding the glove box and a small screw driver to flip the connector tabs open and swap clear from pin 4 to 3. yellow 5 to 1 and black 6 to 2.

I am having trouble with the "dial name" function. I dont know if it is because my phone is 3-4 years old or what, but I can "dial number" just fine. I called my parents and they said the clarity is good too, so looks like this was a great success. Thanks jimk for the pdf info! If you already have a programed TCU, you dont even need the SOS button FZD, just a MIC. My BMW Assist works, but I think it would need to be reprogrammed for it to work properly. When I used to a couple of days ago the guy said I was in Ohio.

Technic · 06-21-2009, 02:38 PM

jimk · 06-21-2009, 04:15 PM

Nice. Now we need to uncover the MULF High Bluetooth mystery. Will let you know if coding with either the dealer or Autologic is possible soon.

oldwarhawk1 · 08-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Thanks for posting this. I just completed a bluetooth retrofit and had the exact same problem -- everything worked except the microphone. I had the dealer install the kit and the technician initially thought I had a bad wiring harness in the car. I printed out your post and emailed it to the dealer. Theh tech swaped the cables at the junction box behind the glove box as you suggest and viola! the mic starting working.

Two questions. One, does your name command work? I can voice command a number and that works, but if I voice command a name the system responds with "phone book empty" even though my contact list all downloaded.

Second, does your BMW assist work? My dealer said I didn't have the proper wiring for assist, but "assist" shows up in my menu so I'm not entirely sure I got correct information on that point.

Thanks again for your post. No telling how long it would have taken to complete my install without it!

enforcerman · 08-07-2009, 07:42 PM

THe phone book w/ the voice assist is different from your phone. You have to add those w/ your voice in the car. I'm assuming you DONT have idrive.

oldwarhawk1 · 08-07-2009, 08:38 PM

Correct. No idrive. No bluethooth manual either!

enforcerman · 08-07-2009, 11:20 PM

Ok. Then try this:

http://www.e38.org/BMW-03_00-Voice-Control-en.pdf

For the most part that will work.

oldwarhawk1 · 08-08-2009, 11:12 AM

Thanks, Eforcerman. I'll check that out, but your earlier tip did the trick. I figured out how to create a voice phone book by accessing the voice "help" command.

Everything seems to be working now. This retrofit was pricey, but it works and for me was definitely worth it.

enforcerman · 08-08-2009, 04:44 PM

Once you have a name in the phone book, all you have to say is "Name" after you press the button. Then wait for it to prompt you for the name.

marconi118 · 12-14-2009, 11:38 AM

do you know where is located the mic in the E93 cabrio ????

Technic · 12-14-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marconi118

do you know where is located the mic in the E93 cabrio ????

I think that it is somewhere in the steering column...

kepowers · 09-07-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jreich

Great Success!!!!!

So I just have to take the glove box out, the bracket holding the glove box and a small screw driver to flip the connector tabs open and swap clear from pin 4 to 3. yellow 5 to 1 and black 6 to 2.

I am having trouble with the "dial name" function. I dont know if it is because my phone is 3-4 years old or what, but I can "dial number" just fine. I called my parents and they said the clarity is good too, so looks like this was a great success. Thanks jimk for the pdf info! If you already have a programed TCU, you dont even need the SOS button FZD, just a MIC. My BMW Assist works, but I think it would need to be reprogrammed for it to work properly. When I used to a couple of days ago the guy said I was in Ohio.

Hi jreich,

Thanks for the helpful info. I've been scouring these forums for a couple of weeks now - and performed the successful retrofit (using TCU and FZD from ebay and other parts from Tischer). Unfortunately everything seems to be working except for the microphone.

After reviewing your thread - I removed the glovebox panel and found the audio junction box where the microphone pins need to be rearranged. I was too afraid to swap any parts out because I could not tell what slots are assigned to which holes. In other words - you mention to move "clear from pin 4 to 3. yellow 5 to 1 and black 6 to 2." - but I could not even determine that mine were originally in that order.

Plus - I was having a terrible time reaching the junction box to make the changes.....

Any advice? I thought about removing the kickrest in addition to the glovebox - but even if I find a way to more freely access the wires I still cannot identify why slot corresponds to which number.

Thanks again!

06-20-2009, 11:42 AM	#1
jreich Private First Class Drives: montego blue 335 coupe MT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 121 iTrader: (0)	Bluetooth Retrofit Microphone problem (Interesting Problem!) I am in the process of completing my bluetooth retrofit and ran into a problem. I got a TCU from ebay that was from the same year/model as my e92 335. The FZD was from an 06 330Ci (didnt color). I put everything together and the MIC doesnt appear to be working. I can connect my phone to the system and If I call someone if will automatically transfer it to the BT system. The only problem is I can hear there voice, but I cannot speak to them. So me being risky, I pressed the SOS assist button and BMW Assist picked up the phone and I could hear the guy talking, but I could not speak to them. They couldnt track my current position as well. Next I looked at the back of the FZD and noticed there were only 2 wires in the 3 plug connection, I have a feeling I am missing a wire for the microphone. Granted MICs can be a 2 or 3 pin connection, I am fairly confident this is a 3 pin device. So I looked at the wiring harness and found this : This is a pic from the bimmernav DIY for BT with a 3rd clear wire This is the plug to the TCU that I believe is the MIC connection with the 3rd clear wire: I performed a continuity test and the wires that are at the TCU are not the same wires that the MIC is plugged into. The FZD unit I have had two MICS...one I believe would be for the Navigation system, and one for the TCU. Questions are: Has anyone encountered this problem before? Where does the bundle of wires go after the MOST junction box? I'm thinking I can follow that shielded harness and find where it goes. Do you think BMW can fix this without me digging into it? I'm assuming this is an error on their part because they didnt "PRE WIRE" the car properly.
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08-07-2009, 07:42 PM	#11
enforcerman The Man Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 333 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	THe phone book w/ the voice assist is different from your phone. You have to add those w/ your voice in the car. I'm assuming you DONT have idrive. __________________ 2007 328i (01/07 Production) Monaco Blue Modifications: Blacked out Kidney Grill \|\| Bluetooth Retrofit \|\| Ipod Retrofit \|\| Rear Power Outlets \|\| Euro Switch \|\| Blacklines

08-07-2009, 11:20 PM	#13
enforcerman The Man Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 333 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	Ok. Then try this: http://www.e38.org/BMW-03_00-Voice-Control-en.pdf For the most part that will work. __________________ 2007 328i (01/07 Production) Monaco Blue Modifications: Blacked out Kidney Grill \|\| Bluetooth Retrofit \|\| Ipod Retrofit \|\| Rear Power Outlets \|\| Euro Switch \|\| Blacklines

08-08-2009, 04:44 PM	#15
enforcerman The Man Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 333 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	Once you have a name in the phone book, all you have to say is "Name" after you press the button. Then wait for it to prompt you for the name. __________________ 2007 328i (01/07 Production) Monaco Blue Modifications: Blacked out Kidney Grill \|\| Bluetooth Retrofit \|\| Ipod Retrofit \|\| Rear Power Outlets \|\| Euro Switch \|\| Blacklines

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06-21-2009, 01:52 AM	#2
jimk Captain Drives: 2006 530i SP Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: 1961 Stout Street, Suite 1823, Denver CO 80294 Posts: 623 iTrader: (4)	There was a member that had the same issue. I think the answer was to re-arrange the microphone pins at the lower right audio junction section around the passenger area.

06-21-2009, 10:38 AM	#3
jreich Private First Class Drives: montego blue 335 coupe MT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 121 iTrader: (0)	Can you please elaborate? I traced the 3 wires that are coming from the TCU.... I believe the clear wire is a ground/shielding connection and not really necessary. So this makes the MIC a two pin connection. I traced the MIC connection from the FZD and it gets routed along side the passenger side air bag and it disappears by the fuse box. Now the 3 pin connection going to the TCU goes along the driver’s side and cuts under the front drivers seat and looks like it goes toward the radio. I don’t know for sure, but there might be 2 separate MICS, one for voice control for the NAV system (I don’t have navigation) and one is for the Assist/TCU. I got a multimeter and tried testing continuity between the MIC wire at the FZD and the TCU, but they are not the same yellow/black wires. The clear wire becomes just a loose wire in that shielded connection, which makes me believe it’s a ground. I am SO CLOSE!!!! I got my phonebook uploaded to the Bluetooth system and everything...I just have NO MIC! I have a really only Sony Ericsson z520a; I'm surprised it was able to sync properly. I also tried taking out the radio with no luck.

06-21-2009, 10:45 AM	#5
VP Electricity Banned Drives: 2007 E91 328 xi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon Posts: 3,091 iTrader: (3)	Have you read this thread? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...icrophone+pins

06-21-2009, 01:46 PM	#7
jreich Private First Class Drives: montego blue 335 coupe MT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 121 iTrader: (0)	Great Success!!!!! So I just have to take the glove box out, the bracket holding the glove box and a small screw driver to flip the connector tabs open and swap clear from pin 4 to 3. yellow 5 to 1 and black 6 to 2. I am having trouble with the "dial name" function. I dont know if it is because my phone is 3-4 years old or what, but I can "dial number" just fine. I called my parents and they said the clarity is good too, so looks like this was a great success. Thanks jimk for the pdf info! If you already have a programed TCU, you dont even need the SOS button FZD, just a MIC. My BMW Assist works, but I think it would need to be reprogrammed for it to work properly. When I used to a couple of days ago the guy said I was in Ohio.

06-21-2009, 02:38 PM	#8
Technic Major General Drives: 2012 E92 M3, 2010 CC Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ft Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 9,854 iTrader: (13) Garage List 2004 M3 [0.00]

06-21-2009, 04:15 PM	#9
jimk Captain Drives: 2006 530i SP Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: 1961 Stout Street, Suite 1823, Denver CO 80294 Posts: 623 iTrader: (4)	Nice. Now we need to uncover the MULF High Bluetooth mystery. Will let you know if coding with either the dealer or Autologic is possible soon.

08-07-2009, 05:57 PM	#10
oldwarhawk1 Registered Drives: 2008 328xi; MT; sport; CW Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for posting this. I just completed a bluetooth retrofit and had the exact same problem -- everything worked except the microphone. I had the dealer install the kit and the technician initially thought I had a bad wiring harness in the car. I printed out your post and emailed it to the dealer. Theh tech swaped the cables at the junction box behind the glove box as you suggest and viola! the mic starting working. Two questions. One, does your name command work? I can voice command a number and that works, but if I voice command a name the system responds with "phone book empty" even though my contact list all downloaded. Second, does your BMW assist work? My dealer said I didn't have the proper wiring for assist, but "assist" shows up in my menu so I'm not entirely sure I got correct information on that point. Thanks again for your post. No telling how long it would have taken to complete my install without it!

08-07-2009, 08:38 PM	#12
oldwarhawk1 Registered Drives: 2008 328xi; MT; sport; CW Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Correct. No idrive. No bluethooth manual either!

08-08-2009, 11:12 AM	#14
oldwarhawk1 Registered Drives: 2008 328xi; MT; sport; CW Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Thanks, Eforcerman. I'll check that out, but your earlier tip did the trick. I figured out how to create a voice phone book by accessing the voice "help" command. Everything seems to be working now. This retrofit was pricey, but it works and for me was definitely worth it.

12-14-2009, 11:38 AM	#16
marconi118 Captain Drives: 06/07 e93 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: europe Posts: 904 iTrader: (0)	do you know where is located the mic in the E93 cabrio ????