Usb retrofit

Gavinboyle93 · 08-04-2019, 05:26 PM

Recently bought an early 2010 E91 LCI wagon. It has idrive and Bluetooth for phone calls. I've included pictures of the idrive and the module in the rear. I currently have a 3.5mm in the centre console.
What I would love to do is install a usb in order for me to play music from my phone eliminating the need to lift it to change tracks while driving.

What are my options to do this?

I've got no experience coding so ideally would prefer to stay clear of having to bring it in to a garage but understandably coding is a big thing on these.

ctuna · 08-04-2019, 11:01 PM

I don't think USB allows music from the phone with steering wheel
controls you need streaming bluetooth for that, at least with the OEM
solutions (Combox)

If you have a car that accepts the CD cassete changer the following
gives streaming Bluetooth , usb stick playback sd card playback and
phone.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...ight=bluetooth

No matter what you do it will require some work.

Gavinboyle93 · 08-06-2019, 05:58 PM

Excuse my lack of knowledge but the combox is the unit in the rear isn't it? If so, is it the ones that are grille shaped on the top? And do these all allow Bluetooth streaming?
If I got one of those is it just plug and play or would it need coded too?

Dpc2u · 08-06-2019, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavinboyle93

Excuse my lack of knowledge but the combox is the unit in the rear isn't it? If so, is it the ones that are grille shaped on the top? And do these all allow Bluetooth streaming?
If I got one of those is it just plug and play or would it need coded too?

A combox retrofit is not plug and play. It requires some rewiring and quite a bit of coding. You can get a retrofit kit and have it all remotely coded, but it isn't cheap. If you have no coding experience, you would need to do a lot of research before tackling it yourself.

anazir · 08-07-2019, 08:02 AM

I've always connected my iPhone 7 to the USB port using the Apple Lightning Cable within the armrest of my E90 LCI 323i, music always played and I could control tracks etc. using the steering wheel controls, the phone charged as well. Since my car is non-iDrive, I could access the phone as an iPod on the audio section.

This has worked for me for the past 6 months really well, up until yesterday. For some reason, the cable suddenly stopped charging the phone and the music stopped playing. Tried plugging in another cable, and it did charge the phone, but audio wouldn't work, I then tried plugging in a USB stick, but the car wouldn't detect it at all.

08-04-2019, 05:26 PM	#1
Gavinboyle93 New Member 0 Rep 14 Posts Drives: BMW E91 Touring Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Belfast iTrader: (0)	Usb retrofit Recently bought an early 2010 E91 LCI wagon. It has idrive and Bluetooth for phone calls. I've included pictures of the idrive and the module in the rear. I currently have a 3.5mm in the centre console. What I would love to do is install a usb in order for me to play music from my phone eliminating the need to lift it to change tracks while driving. What are my options to do this? I've got no experience coding so ideally would prefer to stay clear of having to bring it in to a garage but understandably coding is a big thing on these. Attached Images
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08-04-2019, 11:01 PM	#2
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,103 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	I don't think USB allows music from the phone with steering wheel controls you need streaming bluetooth for that, at least with the OEM solutions (Combox) If you have a car that accepts the CD cassete changer the following gives streaming Bluetooth , usb stick playback sd card playback and phone. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...ight=bluetooth No matter what you do it will require some work.
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08-06-2019, 05:58 PM	#3
Gavinboyle93 New Member 0 Rep 14 Posts Drives: BMW E91 Touring Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Belfast iTrader: (0)	Excuse my lack of knowledge but the combox is the unit in the rear isn't it? If so, is it the ones that are grille shaped on the top? And do these all allow Bluetooth streaming? If I got one of those is it just plug and play or would it need coded too?
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08-07-2019, 08:02 AM	#5
anazir Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 323i M Sport Package Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	I've always connected my iPhone 7 to the USB port using the Apple Lightning Cable within the armrest of my E90 LCI 323i, music always played and I could control tracks etc. using the steering wheel controls, the phone charged as well. Since my car is non-iDrive, I could access the phone as an iPod on the audio section. This has worked for me for the past 6 months really well, up until yesterday. For some reason, the cable suddenly stopped charging the phone and the music stopped playing. Tried plugging in another cable, and it did charge the phone, but audio wouldn't work, I then tried plugging in a USB stick, but the car wouldn't detect it at all.
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