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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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BimmerTech Bluetooth Audio Retrofit-Success!
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02-17-2018, 04:16 PM | #1 |
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BimmerTech Bluetooth Audio Retrofit-Success!
Hi everyone! I don't post very often but I lurk frequently. I'm currently on my 3rd three series and my mom has an E83. My current 2011 335i has a build date of 03/10 and is equipped with navigation. This means: you get bluetooth but only for phone calls! Build date 10/10 and onward were equipped with a combox instead of a TCU which adds Bluetooth audio for the cars. I purchased the combox Retrofit kit from bimmertech and couldn't be happier. I was nervous at first because I prefer OEM setups but I have to highly recommend them. The custom made harness arrived only 3 days after purchase (all the way from Poland). Parts were all correct. I didn't have any instructions yet because they email them to you but by the time my package arrived and I requested them, help desk was closed for the weekend. Was able to mostly install the parts correctly. Removed the TCU and MULF in the trunk and swapped in the combox. The tech was extremely patient and has us switch around a few things in order for it to work (some plugs look the same). After two hours it was successfully coded. I can now stream music wirelessly from my phone. If you're considering this, do it. Huge improvement. They send you a cable that runs from the OBD to your laptop and remotely access your laptop for the coding. And then it's all done. One software update later and I'm ecstatic with the setup. High quality and BLUETOOTH AUDIO.
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02-18-2018, 03:32 AM | #2 |
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Drives: 2011 335is
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This would have also given you oem level Bluetooth music
Bovee WMA3000B Wireless Bluetooth Music Interface Audio Adaptor for BMW iPod integration https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0131P6P5E..._KFuIAbCBGXRJT |
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02-18-2018, 09:09 AM | #3 | |
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I have an el cheapo Bluetooth streamer that I use, but I get no functionality out of it. |
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02-18-2018, 09:14 AM | #4 |
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if you have USB audio port in armrest, yes, you can get bluetooth streaming functionality with tune2air
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E81 2007 130i 6cylinder Montego blue
Retrofits: Harman Kardon, High-beam assistant, Removable tow hitch. Auto-dim folding exterior mirrors. Lumbar support. Perfomance Brakes. |
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02-18-2018, 09:26 AM | #5 | |
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To the OP thanks for sharing your experience, I will be doing this retrofit shortly. Last edited by bmw335ie90; 02-18-2018 at 09:30 AM.. Reason: typos |
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02-18-2018, 11:02 AM | #6 | ||
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02-18-2018, 11:15 AM | #7 |
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Drives: 2011 335is
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I have it and it works flawlessly. Bluetooth is so strong, it will sometimes connect to the car when I'm in the house or inside the gym. Quality is just as good as with the y cable from bmw. It shows all the album info in the Cic, it's controlled by the steering wheel buttons and connects quickly enough that music is already playing bu the time I get in my car and start it. Plus it costs about 6 times less than retrofitting the different telemantics module and doesn't take hours to install or need coding.
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08-06-2020, 09:10 PM | #8 | |
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08-06-2020, 11:21 PM | #9 |
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If you want to do a cheap bluetooth streaming device that also gives
you usb and sd card playback as well as phone that does not use the damm aux as an audio Input. This is the one http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1499808 don't know how it displays on an idrive but it displays the same as a cd player on a pro radio. |
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08-06-2020, 11:26 PM | #10 | ||
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https://www.bimmer-tech.net/products...with-bluetooth I was able to find an old combox laying around that I verified by vin had Bluetooth audio capability. They gave me a discount on the kit cost because I didn't need the box from them. |
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08-07-2020, 06:51 AM | #11 | |
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https://www.ebay.com/p/2299505131 Which is vastly superior. |
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08-07-2020, 07:35 AM | #13 | |
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But its much clearer with more range. Bluetooth, without those additional codecs, isnt as good as a good set of cans hooked to a good DAC but that isnt what we are talking about. Were talking about a cheap DAC in a cheap bluetooth receiver from amazon, plugged into a 10 year old aux port running down parallel copper in an electrically noisy environment. By doing one of the MOST systems youre getting rid of all of that garbage. Its digital the entire way, plus those bigger powered systems likely have a better bluetooth receiver supporting more reliable bandwidth. So then your only weak point is the bandwidth and how the codec is handling it. Then the only DAC youre relying on is the one in the $1000 amp in the trunk. It sounds pretty good, volume and depth is considerably higher than MY aux jack. Although I will admit if I find one reaosnably that pays the fee for one of the more losless codecs Ill probably upgrade. But honestly it depends on your source, if youre using MP3s then its kind of moot anyway as those are lossy compressed even beyond the AAC streams. |
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08-07-2020, 08:45 AM | #15 |
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08-07-2020, 08:45 AM | #16 | |
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08-07-2020, 08:46 AM | #17 |
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08-07-2020, 08:50 AM | #18 | ||
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08-07-2020, 09:22 AM | #19 | |
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then, in theory, you would need to code to enable the CD changer because this device just takes over its slot in the chain of fiber optic devices that can be connected but mine just recognized it as a CD changer when I restarted the car. So when I want bluetooth audio I just have to set my source to CDC from the audio button. I have the emergency call button on my roof but not the service so maybe it replaced that in the chain, nobody knows since I only used that button once since I had the car (and was disappointed in the service anyway). I do recall flipping a switch on the device before stashing it to disable its phone functionality, so it only handles media. That way my phone connects to the regular BMW phone bluetooth module so the phone button works and the phone book shows on the dash. Being said Ive kind of forgot about it all. I did it a couple of years ago and havent touched anything. Havent used a CD or the aerial since, when I get in the car and start it the bluetooth receiver connects and auto-starts whatever playlist was last active in my phone and I use my steering wheel to FFW/RW. The song shows up on the head unit. |
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08-07-2020, 10:21 AM | #20 |
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All bluetooth streaming reduces fidelity .
The Aptex codec is suppose to be better but you have to have it in both the transmitter and the receiver. The BMW aux is a disaster. some people try to make it better by using a headphone DAC You can only install the Combox for streaming music if you have the newer idrive with the correct software in the idrive. There are endless threads on what people have tried on the E90post stereo sub forum. Like this one http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1002984 |
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08-07-2020, 11:02 AM | #21 | |
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Glad to hear steering wheel controls work as well, that is key! |
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08-07-2020, 11:04 AM | #22 | |
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