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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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Next GEN I-DRIVE Retrofit
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07-23-2009, 01:07 PM | #199 | |
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As for minimum qty, if you only need 1 or 2 sometimes its easier going through a FE or local sales rep to get you a sample, but in all likelyhood they (the connector manufc) wont have them in stock. That tends to be the motive behind minimum orders.
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07-23-2009, 01:27 PM | #200 | |
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Plan 2 also depends of what is needed to perform in step 1A. If swapping the TCU requires a new iDrive code version and it works then the new controller may work if at the end is proven that it is the GSM TCU the issue that does not allow the new controller to work with the "old" iDrive. The USB connection is needed if you want to download songs in the HDD thru memory sticks, but if you are not interested in that then is no biggie as you can import songs using CDs. The US maps can be downloaded into the HDD as well by DVD's. Most probably I will have the P/N of this cable anyways by the end of next month, so this is a non-issue. If you can get all this to work then you will be set to whatever retrofit method is discovered to install the new iDrive in a pre-MY2009 M3. The P/N in the OEM HiFi amp connector is a Tyco P/N, not a BMW part. It is not available at the dealer level, only at depo/repair/exchange level. Even the pins in that connector are proprietary. |
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07-23-2009, 02:36 PM | #201 | |
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The OEM amp connector that I'm talking about is the male connector at the amp itself, not the female connector at the car audio harness. That's the reason that there is no BMW P/N for it as this is part of the OEM amp itself, so I have to contact Tyco directly as the P/N printed is from them. BMW does not sell individual parts of this OEM amp. I would say that the TCU that applies to us is the GSM/US, not because it just says so but it looks that Canadian TCUs are managed by a different cell carrier than the USA. My TCU label says GSM/US... |
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07-23-2009, 03:13 PM | #202 | ||||
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Having said all of that, the real question is how the TCU comes. Does it come with a SIM card? Is it activated? Does BMW need to associate it to your account? All of those things are important. Coding it to the car shouldn't be hard, it's getting BMW to associate it to your vehicle that I'm unsure about. It may just be that it comes activated and talks to the BMW server with it's VIN, in which case it's likely nothing would need to be done. Otherwise, I'm not so sure. Trial and error is the only good way to figure this out...
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07-23-2009, 04:16 PM | #203 | |||
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It is my understanding that when you get your car programmed, Progman/ISTA/P looks for particular components by P/N database and then decides the software version to be installed. According to the OP of the thread linked with the controller problem, his dealer tried upgrading the iDrive firmware several times to no avail... the new controller still did not work with the "old" iDrive. Thus is could be very possible that the CDMA TCU has to be swapped first with the GSM TCU, the iDrive re-programmed with the version that supports this TCU and then the new controller should work. Too many "coulds and possibles", but you get my drift.... . Quote:
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What could be done -and pretty quick and simple- is a swap between installed TCUs to see what could happen. In other words, take a MY2008 with a CDMA TCU and a MY2008 with a GSM/US TCU, unplug the respective TCUs and install them in the opposite car. Then sit down and watch what will happen after turning the car on... |
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07-23-2009, 04:17 PM | #204 | |
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07-23-2009, 05:37 PM | #205 |
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07-23-2009, 06:40 PM | #206 | ||
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That said, it's very possible that the modem comes activated under a special BMW account, and its also possible that it sends the VIN info with any contact requests. If this is the case, they probably don't need to re-enter any info into their database, as the modem would not be associated with a car. If it is, it's much trickier. Quote:
Although I will say that your test unfortunately won't work. There is a variable that needs to be set in the CCCAPPL that tells it to look for a GSM TCU. Then you need to set a similar variable for BMW Online. Only after that will it search for a GSM TCU.
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07-26-2009, 05:29 PM | #207 |
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Way too confusing....
Since i've been following and mildly posting on this thread since the beginning i'll go ahead and ask how's it looking? I can definitely see that there's been some improvement but are we anywhere close to making this a reality? |
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07-26-2009, 07:04 PM | #208 |
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My order of the HD screen/CIC cable and the glovebox USB socket is in backorder (expected); no USB cable P/N is known yet. Without these cables there is no way that anybody can buy the rest of the parts to even try to see if they at least turn on when connected, much less to ask for the FSC codes.
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07-26-2009, 09:06 PM | #209 | |
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07-27-2009, 02:21 AM | #210 | |
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Without having actually seen the back of a CIC unit in real life, is the LVDS cable just a Fakra cable with a different locking connector on it? I've seen a few different pix of the back CIC connectors - the LVDS, ethernet, and USB connectors all look the same (all 2-wire? - is that possible?) I know the LVDS is "special" because of the shielding, but at heart according the the docs it is just a 2-wire cable. I'm wondering for "testing" purposes if a fakra cable with the plastic connector removed will plug in?! ...just a thought.. |
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07-27-2009, 06:44 AM | #211 | |
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At least I would like to get an used monitor cheap, that's the most expensive part if bought new ($2000). The CIC could be used as well, but my idea is to buy it new at the dealer so the CIC will come "clean" from any other programming and thus I can officially request the FSC codes without any arguments -like, no FSC codes because it is an used CIC, or simply that I will need a refurbished CIC from the dealer anyways to obtain the FSC codes. Unless I can get a CIC for less than $500 there is no point in getting one used. Something tells me that this retrofit will work like yours did, some programming here and there and that's it. But definitely I need to get the FSC codes... |
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08-01-2009, 11:10 AM | #212 | |||
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This won't work in a car that came with CCC-based iDrive. I cited the reasons for this much earlier in the thread.
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08-02-2009, 10:19 PM | #213 | |
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So this is a lost cause? |
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08-02-2009, 10:51 PM | #214 |
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More or less, yes. There is always a slight chance that there might be a way of circumventing one or two things here but as BMW has tied what works in a car more and more closely to the VIN as the years have gone by, ...
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08-03-2009, 11:03 AM | #215 |
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I would not say that this is a lost cause... just yet.
Remember that Booster4075 retrofitted an iDrive to a non-iDrive E90, that he switched a HiFi output to a Top HiFi output in a CCC, that he changed the Vehicle Order of his E90 and that he obtained a set of FSC codes from BMW itself. If you ask your local dealer right now they will tell you that all those changes and retrofits are impossible. Yet they were all accomplished and are fully functional in Booster4075 E90. Can this be replicated with a CIC iDrive? The fact of the matter is that the main issue here is obtaining FSC codes for a non-CIC VIN. Technically, it should not be any other architectural/design issue blocking this swap and swapping is always simpler than a full retrofit. Sooner or later somebody -I hope that CIC salvage parts will show up in a couple of months for sale- will try to swap components and then we will all finally know for sure how that went. |
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08-03-2009, 11:29 AM | #216 | |
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Did I miss this? Please point to it - thanks!
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08-03-2009, 11:30 AM | #217 |
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08-05-2009, 07:37 AM | #218 |
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08-05-2009, 05:01 PM | #219 | |
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What I read in that forum of yours does not say so explicitly, only shows the photo of the CIC/screen being on in the workbench. So the only thing that I can get out of it is that somebody either cracked the FSC codes or simply that as long as there is no physical connection of the CIC to the car (to verify VIN and FSC codes compatibility) it will turn on with 12V power. |
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08-06-2009, 07:51 AM | #220 | |
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I am still looking for my own '07 335i, I will talk with them more precisely when I will get it. I am planning to buy hardware form them and get their help on installing the set. Let's see : ) |
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