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      01-06-2019, 11:52 PM   #1
E92_James
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Help with how to start Combox retrofit

Let's start with saying I have one of the model years that is probably the worst when it comes to features (2010.. no alarm wiring, base audio, etc.)

Anywho, my car happens to have the usb (6FL) and normal telephone bluetooth, teleservices, and what not.

I've searched about a basic straight forward combox retrofit and I still can't find any answers to my questions..

What exactly do I need to buy besides a Combox? Is there anywhere where I can buy a pre-made wiring harness that will plug into the combox, I really don't want to mess with harnesses and wiring myself.

I really don't care for the BMW apps and all that extra stuff, I just want bluetooth audio streaming and JUST usb audio with album art to work fine.

I'm really tired of these lightning extension cables breaking on me for my overpriced bmw splitter. I also really miss the album art feature that was in my 435i.


I've seen a couple of comboxes fairly cheap on eBay, so if I get my hands on a non gps combox bn2000, what else do I really have to just get?
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      01-07-2019, 12:51 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32_James View Post
Let's start with saying I have one of the model years that is probably the worst when it comes to features (2010.. no alarm wiring, base audio, etc.)

Anywho, my car happens to have the usb (6FL) and normal telephone bluetooth, teleservices, and what not.

I've searched about a basic straight forward combox retrofit and I still can't find any answers to my questions..

What exactly do I need to buy besides a Combox? Is there anywhere where I can buy a pre-made wiring harness that will plug into the combox, I really don't want to mess with harnesses and wiring myself.

I really don't care for the BMW apps and all that extra stuff, I just want bluetooth audio streaming and JUST usb audio with album art to work fine.

I'm really tired of these lightning extension cables breaking on me for my overpriced bmw splitter. I also really miss the album art feature that was in my 435i.


I've seen a couple of comboxes fairly cheap on eBay, so if I get my hands on a non gps combox bn2000, what else do I really have to just get?
You can buy wiring adapters for your TCU which I guess you have.

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-BMW-Mul...3-cf361e515ede
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      01-07-2019, 02:01 AM   #3
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there is simple rule
if you can learn how to code new option to your car, then you can repin old 54-pin connector to new 26-pin connector for combox
so you'll need any combox bn2000, idrive and 26-pin socket
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      01-07-2019, 06:02 AM   #4
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Try the tune2air. It will add what you need. Not sure about album art though.

https://www.amazon.com/Bovee-Bluetoo...s=bmw+tune2air
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      01-09-2019, 12:59 PM   #5
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I thought about tune2air but it does the same thing like my current bmw splitter cable. Anywho, I bought the combox off ebay, right now I need a plug n play harness that goes from my TCU and Mulf to the combox, and it seems that nobody at all has any of them, I contacted bimmerretrofit and they don't have the harness. I also can't find a single one that'll ship to the US and work with my car (having both tcu and mulf) anyone got any ideas? I really don't want to mess with the wires especially if I want to revert to stock in the future.
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      01-09-2019, 04:57 PM   #6
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I had the tune2air before the combox and noticed little to no differences. If you can't find the adapters, rewiring is not that bad. It is only 10 pin moves so you can move back to stock if you take good notes. Ignore the rows in red except for pin 2 which may be used rather than pin 1.
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Last edited by smass; 01-09-2019 at 05:04 PM..
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      01-11-2019, 06:49 PM   #7
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I think I have the harness adapter under control now. My next problem is, I still don't have a clear answer on this.. what adapters do I need, because I heard I need a certain FAKRA cable to connect to the double connector on the combox, another thing, what adapter do I need for the bluetooth to make it fit (besides cutting the fin on the combox)
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      01-12-2019, 06:22 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32_James View Post
I think I have the harness adapter under control now. My next problem is, I still don't have a clear answer on this.. what adapters do I need, because I heard I need a certain FAKRA cable to connect to the double connector on the combox, another thing, what adapter do I need for the bluetooth to make it fit (besides cutting the fin on the combox)
The double connector is the antenna/gps for the sos/assist. That service can't be retrofired so there is no reason to hook up the double connector. The bluetooth antenna slides right on once the combox plug fins are removed.
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      02-05-2019, 09:42 PM   #9
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I've completed the combox retrofit today, and boy was that a dumb thing to do outside in the dark, anyways, it went well, and I coded the car. Everything went super smooth especially the coding part. Turns out my CIC is on firmware C13, which I guess is one of the nice firmwares from what I've heard, everything works as it should, the rfsupplier FAKRA cables work good.. not gonna lie, the way the cables are set up right now, everythings all angled and just shoved into place, I might cut the straps the cables are on and route them individually to their spots.

Besides that, everything works perfectly, too bad album arts are only through usb, but hey, I got bluetooth streaming now, something I missed from my 435! Now all I have to retrofit is the Alpine Hifi system I have and Logic 7 subs to replace that HORRIBLE base audio system
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      09-16-2021, 02:31 PM   #10
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Hi guys

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I don't think there's any point in opening a new one.
I have a 2008 E92 with no multimedia system and no phone pre-installation. I retrofitted the bluetooth (as I've done in several cars), but it turns out that the two MULF2 High+USB I have with me are broken. I also have a combox and what I would like to know is if it is possible to replace MULF2 with combox to use it for calls
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      09-17-2021, 02:40 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vfilipe View Post
Hi guys

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I don't think there's any point in opening a new one.
I have a 2008 E92 with no multimedia system and no phone pre-installation. I retrofitted the bluetooth (as I've done in several cars), but it turns out that the two MULF2 High+USB I have with me are broken. I also have a combox and what I would like to know is if it is possible to replace MULF2 with combox to use it for calls
Using the information posted above regarding re-pinning the plugs, and assuming the combox is a used unit, then yes it's possible. You'll just need to code in the $6VC code to CAS & FRM and then the VO to CIC and MEDIA.
This will get the basic operations up and running.
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      09-20-2021, 10:51 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavesZed View Post
Using the information posted above regarding re-pinning the plugs, and assuming the combox is a used unit, then yes it's possible. You'll just need to code in the $6VC code to CAS & FRM and then the VO to CIC and MEDIA.
This will get the basic operations up and running.
Thanks DavesZed

So, I replaced the 54-pin plug with the 26-pin plug and I added $6VC to the VO in CAS and NFRM. I only used the pins 1 and 2 for power, 14 for ground and 11, 12 and 25 for mic.
After that I coded 2RAD (professional CD73) as I don't have CIC or any multimedia system.
I can access the phone menu on the radio display and navigate the menus but I can't do more than that. I cannot pair the mobile phone even though the mobile phone can detect the combox. On two occasions, after encoding the 2RAD I managed to pair the mobile phone (I entered the pin in the radio and activated the permissions on the mobile), but when making a call the sound was not transmitted to the radio and when I turned it off and on again, it was not possible to re-pair.
Whenever I start the car and access the phone menu the bluetooth is disabled and asks to be activated, but when I press the BT-ON button it takes a long time to activate.

I still removed the $644 option from the VO, just to test, but the same behavior remained.
I can't encode MEDIA module because I don't have any fiber optic head, only OBD cable.
Maybe the radio isn't compatible - it's a professional (CD73) manufactured in 2008 and the combox is a BN2010 manufactured in 2013 (PN: 9257151)

Last edited by vfilipe; 09-20-2021 at 11:01 AM..
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      09-20-2021, 02:42 PM   #13
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you will not get any benefit from combox with professional radio which you cannot get with more cheaper mulf2high
while there is such LCI configuration with LCI Professional radio and combox, the bluetooth streaming function will not be available.
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      09-20-2021, 03:49 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ptpending View Post
you will not get any benefit from combox with professional radio which you cannot get with more cheaper mulf2high
while there is such LCI configuration with LCI Professional radio and combox, the bluetooth streaming function will not be available.
In this case, it's not a question of taking benefict of a combox in detriment of a MULF2. Combox didn't cost me money and the goal would be to use it instead of MULF2 to make calls, I don't care about the bluetooth streaming.
If it doesn't work, then yes, I have to spend money to buy a used MULF2
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      11-25-2021, 03:43 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vfilipe View Post
Thanks DavesZed

So, I replaced the 54-pin plug with the 26-pin plug and I added $6VC to the VO in CAS and NFRM. I only used the pins 1 and 2 for power, 14 for ground and 11, 12 and 25 for mic.
After that I coded 2RAD (professional CD73) as I don't have CIC or any multimedia system.
I can access the phone menu on the radio display and navigate the menus but I can't do more than that. I cannot pair the mobile phone even though the mobile phone can detect the combox. On two occasions, after encoding the 2RAD I managed to pair the mobile phone (I entered the pin in the radio and activated the permissions on the mobile), but when making a call the sound was not transmitted to the radio and when I turned it off and on again, it was not possible to re-pair.
Whenever I start the car and access the phone menu the bluetooth is disabled and asks to be activated, but when I press the BT-ON button it takes a long time to activate.

I still removed the $644 option from the VO, just to test, but the same behavior remained.
I can't encode MEDIA module because I don't have any fiber optic head, only OBD cable.
Maybe the radio isn't compatible - it's a professional (CD73) manufactured in 2008 and the combox is a BN2010 manufactured in 2013 (PN: 9257151)
Had you troubles with microphone?
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