[Thumperx]

For about a year now, I wanted to enable the phone capabilities in my car. After reading several threads on the topic and talking with Jason of Tischer who dissuading me from installing the OEM phone retrofit due to cost and complexity. ("Get yourself a parrot system. It's simple to install and far cheaper") I enjoy a challenge. I must thank member Marius for his help in clarify what will be needing for my system work, and fellows E92'ers Jimmy W. and Lazd for their contributions.

For those who may be not clear about how this system works, the Bluetooth is meant to be used for the phone system and not for use of music content stored on the phone. But the USB/AUX can be used for playing stored music content from the iPhone to Professional head unit.

My car's build date is 5/07, and it's a non iDrive with the SA640 pre-wire option though. Being pre-wired and having the professional head unit is most instrumental in making this system work. FYI, the car does not have the SOS Assist or USB (SA644) pre-wiring.

Anyway for a year now, I've read most of the threads and gather all the components that I may need for my phone system's endeavor. Since I did not need BMW's SOS Assist system, which meant that not needing the TCU unit. I learned the MULF2 high comes in two variation models. One for just Bluetooth phone system and the other also includes the utilization of the USB plug located in the center arm rest. This later option needs an additional FAKRA cable & plug which is located next to the Bluetooth antenna input on the MULF.

A year ago I bought a phone system (PN 84640404247, not realizing BMW produced various retrofit phone kits) which had most of the components I needed. This kit includes: eject box, wiring, and interface components for non-Professional radio cars (these vehicle were/are mostly pre'07 or standard cars). In this kit, I was able to use the Bluetooth antenna (84506928461), microphone (84316938762), and eject box (51167118054). The rest of the components I will not be using.

Overtime and figuring out which components I needed: iPhone cradle (8421215868301), MULF2 High electronic unit (84109207360), MULF bracket (65159135687), FAKRA cable (white 61119129360, black 61119129361), USB hub, USB/AUX plug unit (84109237654) and 54 pin MULF plug (61136920074).

Mentioned in the PDF manual, I could not understand why I needed the USB Hub. Short story, it works with the other USB plug unit which is located in the glove box. Forum member Marius informed me, "[I] didn't need pre-wire SA 644. but 640 is fine. [I] would just need to add $644 to VO (vehicle order)". He added, "the plugs are different -USB has the white and MULF has black. However [I] can use Dremel to trim one side of plug (depends if [I] ordered the white or black cable) and connect it. If [I] didn't want to use a Dremel, then [I] would need to buy USB Hub and two wires black and white, plus you need to make by yourself (you cannot buy it separately) power cable which goes from MULF2 to USB Hub".

So I nixed the HUB hub. and ordered the cable. It turns out there's a simple extra key notch on the white end plug. I simply dremeled the small key off, voila, it fits to plug to the MULF!

Some time ago, I removed the trunk floor and gained access the wiring harness in the bottom trunk area. I wanted to check the fitment of the 54 pin plug to the MULF. As reported in other passed threads, the white provided plug does not fit into my blue plugged MULF. So I ordered the correct one. Picked it up. check it, and viola it fits!.

So tomorrow I will spend some time installing all these items and will be following the instruction manual for 84640398 229 & 65410445465 kit. Planning to share my experience with you guys and I hope for the best. Once everything is in, next stop will be coding!

Then coded the car with a blank .man file. Allow car to go to sleep. PLug in antenna, and see if I can pair phone. We'll see...

[RazRokz.!]

Originally Posted by Thumperx

For about a year now, I wanted to enable the phone capabilities in my car. After reading several threads on the topic and talking with Jason of Tischer who dissuading me from installing the OEM phone retrofit route due to cost and complexity. ("Get yourself a parrot system. It's simple to install and far cheaper") For me, I enjoy a challenge and installing OEM equipment where ever possible. I must thank member Marius for his help in clarify what will be needing for my system work. Also fellow E92er, Jimmy W. and Lazd for their contributions.

For those who may be not clear about how this system works, the Bluetooth is meant to be used for the phone system and not for use of music content stored on the phone. But the USB/AUX can be used for playing stored music content from the iPhone to Professional head unit.

My car's build date is 5/07, it's a non iDrive with the SA640 pre-wire option though. Being pre-wired and having the professional head unit is most instrumental in making this system work. FYI, the car does not have the SOS Assist or USB (SA644) pre-wiring.

Anyway for a year now, I've read most of the threads and gather all the components that I may need for my phone system's endeavor. Since I did not need BMW's SOS Assist system, which meant that I did not need the TCU unit. I learned the MULF2 high comes in two variation models. One for just Bluetooth phone system and the other also includes the utilization of the USB plug located in the center arm rest. This later option needs an additional FAKRA cable & plug which is located next to the Bluetooth antenna input on the MULF.

A year ago I bought a phone system (PN 84640404247, not realizing BMW produces many various retrofit phone kits) which had most of the components I needed. This kit includes: eject box, wiring, and interface components for non-Professional radio cars (these vehicle were/are mostly pre'07 or standard cars). In this kit, I was able to use the Bluetooth antenna (84506928461), microphone (84316938762), and eject box (51167118054). The rest of the components I will not be using.

Overtime and figuring out which components I needed, I tracked down: iPhone cradle (8421215868301), MULF2 High electronic unit (84109207360), MULF bracket (65159135687), FAKRA cable (white 61119129360, black 61119129361), USB hub, USB/AUX plug unit (84109237654) and 54 pin MULF plug (61136920074).

For the longest time, I could not understand why I needed the USB Hub. Short story, it works with the other USB plug unit which is located in the glove box. Marius informed me, "[I] didn't need pre-wire SA 644. but 640 is fine. [I] would just need to add $644 to VO (vehicle order)". He added, "the plugs are different -USB has the white and MULF has black. However [I] can use Dremel to trim one side of plug (depends if [I] ordered the white or black cable) and connect it. If [I] didn't want to use a Dremel, then [I] would need to buy USB Hub and two wires black and white, plus you need to make by yourself (you cannot buy it separately) power cable which goes from MULF2 to USB Hub".

So I nixed the HUB hub. and ordered the cable. It turns out there's a simple extra key notch on the white end plug. I simply dremeled the small key off, voila, it fits to plug to the MULF!

Some time ago, I removed the trunk floor and gained access the wiring harness in the bottom trunk area. I wanted to check the fitment of the 54 pin plug to the MULF. As reported in other passed threads, the white provided plug does not fit into my blue plugged MULF. So I ordered the correct one. Picked it up. check it, and viola it fits!.

So tomorrow I will spend some time installing all these items and will be following the instruction manual for 84640398 229 & 65410445465 kit.
Planning to share my experience with you guys and I hope for the best. Once everything is in, next stop will be coding!

Then coded the car with a blank .man file. Allow car to go to sleep. PLug in antenna, and see if I can pair phone. We'll see...

how much was this?

can you control the ipod with the swc?

I want to do this as well but I dont have the usb setup in my car...

[Thumperx]

Originally Posted by RazRokz.!

how much was this?

can you control the ipod with the swc?

I want to do this as well but I dont have the usb setup in my car...

Ha! $10 bucks is too much, but I have spent too much overall. At this point and at eBay prices, I've spent $330. I've could have cut this down by a third if everything went smoothly. Coding will cost me $80 per feature.

Thanks SuperJ for the clarification. I was scratching my head what does SWC mean. (hahahaha) Yes, the main focus is the be able to use these features via the SWC. Also iPod abilities are interfaced via the USB and Y cable.

The USB setup is the the 6FL. My friend Jimmy is congruently working on the same install issue. So follow these PDFs....

[superjay]

SWC=Steering Wheel Control

[jwong77]

Hey Ant, thanks for the thorough writeup. I've just placed an order for all of the parts listed, minus the ejext box and phone cradle. I'm looking forward to putting this all in!

[Thumperx]

Originally Posted by jwong77

Hey Ant, thanks for the thorough writeup. I've just placed an order for all of the parts listed, minus the ejext box and phone cradle. I'm looking forward to putting this all in!

Thanks Jimmy. Head gasket blew (long story and not my fault), so car is in the shop presently. I will get the Bluetooth module in once I get it back.

Good to hear you got your parts. Maybe we can get together and install our components at the same time and place, eh?

[jwong77]

Sounds good, I'll let you know when the parts get in.

[Rob_doos]

Thanks for the info. I'm planning to do just the USB retrofit to my 2011 E91 in Austria. Hoping that the parts are reasonably priced from the dealer. I'll update with my results.

[JimVR4]

Originally Posted by Thumperx

Thanks Jimmy. Head gasket blew (long story and not my fault), so car is in the shop presently. I will get the Bluetooth module in once I get it back.

Good to hear you got your parts. Maybe we can get together and install our components at the same time and place, eh?

Coding is not that hard. You can get a cable for around $100 and DIY. I just started coding and I managed to do everything I wanted including adding heated seats to my VO.

[Thumperx]

Originally Posted by JimVR4

Coding is not that hard. You can get a cable for around $100 and DIY. I just started coding and I managed to do everything I wanted including adding heated seats to my VO.

Hmm, so Jim would you like to help us out in the coding part? We're local.

[jwong77]

Just an update, I've been able to route the cables to the MULF2, the bluetooth antenna, and to the USB/Aux socket. I've checked the mic wiring behind the globebox, and it appears that if you have the SA640 wire through option on your car, then you don't need to do anything there.

I'm going to schedule an appointment on monday to get everything coded, and hopefully have some good news afterwards.

I need to make one correction the parts listed above, the USB/Aux socket PN is not 84109237654, but the correct one is 84109237653. The difference being that the 84109237654 has a six pin female connection, where as the 84109237653 has the 4 pin connector. On my car, the factory plug was the 4 pin male, so the correct pn is 84109237653.

Here is a link to all of the different types of sockets that are available for our cars.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=61&fg=35&hl=2

[Gossypiboma]

Any updates? I am wanting to do the same thing and in my research there are a hundred different opinions on what is needed, if its possible, etc...

[Thumperx]

Thanks Jimmy for your updates. FYI Jimmy and I have been working together on his car first, and he has made more progress than me.

Jimmy, I now understand why I should be using the 4-pin instead. But, in which setup or system does the 6 pin be used?

Hang in there BigBoosting, we're finishing up.

[jwong77]

Hey Anthony, luckily I am having a harness custom made for the 6 pin socket. If you take the same route as me and have a harness custom made, just specify that the socket is the 6 pin type. This only applies to those of us without the SA 644 option (prewire for both bluetooth and USB). For those who have the SA 644 option, you'll need to check to see what type of wiring is there. The harness I'm referring to takes the audio from the AUX part of the socket and routes it to pins 4, 5, 22, and 23 on the TCU connector in the MULF module. This must be the audio input on the MULF, and I imagine, and this is just a wild guess, that the audio then gets passed to the head unit via the MOST bus connection from the MULF unit.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what the 6 pin type of socket is for.

[Gossypiboma]

From the PDF files above. If you don't have the retrofit harness, then where do you get wires A5, A6, and A9-A12 that plug into the MULF unit?

Are those same wires already run to the rear of car with the pre-wire SA640 option?

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

From the PDF files above. If you don't have the retrofit harness, then where do you get wires A5, A6, and A9-A12 that plug into the MULF unit?

Are those same wires already run to the rear of car with the pre-wire SA640 option?

I'm not sure about A5, and A6 because they were already there on my car due to the SA 640 option. A9-A12, I had custom made, and according to the pdf, they run from the Aux portion (either 4 pin or 6 pin connection depending on which socket you have) to the MULF at pins 4, 5, 22, 23. However, after doing some more searching, I found the BMW part for the wire here: http://parts.bmwofsouthatlanta.com/products/Wiring-set-AUX-1830MM/1400499/61116939453.html

[BroImAwesome]

Once everything is properly installed with the retrofit and coded, do you have the same features? Hen your pair the phone does the phone book show up on the professional radio?

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by jwong77

I'm not sure about A5, and A6 because they were already there on my car due to the SA 640 option. A9-A12, I had custom made, and according to the pdf, they run from the Aux portion (either 4 pin or 6 pin connection depending on which socket you have) to the MULF at pins 4, 5, 22, 23. However, after doing some more searching, I found the BMW part for the wire here: http://parts.bmwofsouthatlanta.com/products/Wiring-set-AUX-1830MM/1400499/61116939453.html

Sorry for the long reply, but if anyone can answer these questions and/or confirm my understanding of the parts and install that would help not only me but others out who are searching for help.

Thats good news for me sine I have the SA640 pre-wire, so I should have A5 and A6 in the trunk. But, A5 and A6 are suppose to come from the USB hub, I am assuming I do not have a USB hub since I do not have the factory BT or 6fl option? Is my assumption wrong? Does my car have the USB hub even though my car has no factory use for it?

To break this down, I need:
MULF module and bracket
BT antenna
OEM USB/AUX unit
54-pin blue connector
Connection line from USB to MULF
Connection line from AUX to MULF for wires 4, 5, 22, and 23

And thats all the parts correct?

Now to sum up the install:
Install the BT antenna and connect its cable to the MULF
Install the USB/AUX unit
Run the connection cable from the USB portion of the unit the the MULF
Run the connection cable from the AUX portion of the unit to the 54-pin blue MULF plug...(This is possibly the part number you just posted)
Re-pin 54-pin blue plug for microphone..black wire to slot 19,yellow wire slot 1, and the clear wire to slot 21

Two issues though:
Now, the PDF file shows a diagram for powering the MULF, does this need to be retrofitted to or will the MULF already have a power source from the white TCU plug that was swapped to the 54-pin blue MULF plug?

Also, the PDF file shows you have to move a couple fiber optic cables on some sort of junction box. I have never seen anyone mention that, but it is in the PDF?

And last, get the car coded by BMW or someone with the knowledge and hardware to do so.

I miss anything or not understanding something correctly?

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by BroImAwesome

Once everything is properly installed with the retrofit and coded, do you have the same features? Hen your pair the phone does the phone book show up on the professional radio?

I hope so, I really have my fingers crossed on this one.

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

Sorry for the long reply, but if anyone can answer these questions and/or confirm my understanding of the parts and install that would help not only me but others out who are searching for help.

Thats good news for me sine I have the SA640 pre-wire, so I should have A5 and A6 in the trunk. But, A5 and A6 are suppose to come from the USB hub, I am assuming I do not have a USB hub since I do not have the factory BT or 6fl option? Is my assumption wrong? Does my car have the USB hub even though my car has no factory use for it?

To break this down, I need:
MULF module and bracket
BT antenna
OEM USB/AUX unit
54-pin blue connector
Connection line from USB to MULF
Connection line from AUX to MULF for wires 4, 5, 22, and 23

And thats all the parts correct?

Now to sum up the install:
Install the BT antenna and connect its cable to the MULF
Install the USB/AUX unit
Run the connection cable from the USB portion of the unit the the MULF
Run the connection cable from the AUX portion of the unit to the 54-pin blue MULF plug...(This is possibly the part number you just posted)
Re-pin 54-pin blue plug for microphone..black wire to slot 19,yellow wire slot 1, and the clear wire to slot 21

Two issues though:
Now, the PDF file shows a diagram for powering the MULF, does this need to be retrofitted to or will the MULF already have a power source from the white TCU plug that was swapped to the 54-pin blue MULF plug?

Also, the PDF file shows you have to move a couple fiber optic cables on some sort of junction box. I have never seen anyone mention that, but it is in the PDF?

And last, get the car coded by BMW or someone with the knowledge and hardware to do so.

I miss anything or not understanding something correctly?

I think your just missing the microphone for the bluetooth on your list.

As far as I know A5 and A6 are supposed to be the power and ground for the MULF, at least thats what I'm reading from the PDF.

Yeah, I had to reroute the fiber optic cables, they are behind the driver side rear seat. If you pull off the cushion thats in the corner (not the part that folds down) then you'll see the junction.

I'm getting the car coded remotely by a member of e90post.

I know theres alot that could go wrong here, so I'm really keeping my fingers crossed.

[snoozee]

Originally Posted by jwong77

I think your just missing the microphone for the bluetooth on your list.

As far as I know A5 and A6 are supposed to be the power and ground for the MULF, at least thats what I'm reading from the PDF.

Yeah, I had to reroute the fiber optic cables, they are behind the driver side rear seat. If you pull off the cushion thats in the corner (not the part that folds down) then you'll see the junction.

I'm getting the car coded remotely by a member of e90post.

I know theres alot that could go wrong here, so I'm really keeping my fingers crossed.

A5 and A6 are power for the USB hub. if you look at the connection diagram and table, you'll see A2 has the same signals as A5 and A6. So this means that A5 and A6 are drawing power from the MULF to supply power to USB hub which is connected by A2.

the power supply for the MULF should be P6 and P7

[snoozee]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

Sorry for the long reply, but if anyone can answer these questions and/or confirm my understanding of the parts and install that would help not only me but others out who are searching for help.

Thats good news for me sine I have the SA640 pre-wire, so I should have A5 and A6 in the trunk. But, A5 and A6 are suppose to come from the USB hub, I am assuming I do not have a USB hub since I do not have the factory BT or 6fl option? Is my assumption wrong? Does my car have the USB hub even though my car has no factory use for it?

To break this down, I need:
MULF module and bracket
BT antenna
OEM USB/AUX unit
54-pin blue connector
Connection line from USB to MULF
Connection line from AUX to MULF for wires 4, 5, 22, and 23

And thats all the parts correct?

Now to sum up the install:
Install the BT antenna and connect its cable to the MULF
Install the USB/AUX unit
Run the connection cable from the USB portion of the unit the the MULF
Run the connection cable from the AUX portion of the unit to the 54-pin blue MULF plug...(This is possibly the part number you just posted)
Re-pin 54-pin blue plug for microphone..black wire to slot 19,yellow wire slot 1, and the clear wire to slot 21

Two issues though:
Now, the PDF file shows a diagram for powering the MULF, does this need to be retrofitted to or will the MULF already have a power source from the white TCU plug that was swapped to the 54-pin blue MULF plug?

Also, the PDF file shows you have to move a couple fiber optic cables on some sort of junction box. I have never seen anyone mention that, but it is in the PDF?

And last, get the car coded by BMW or someone with the knowledge and hardware to do so.

I miss anything or not understanding something correctly?

if your car does not come with 6FL from factory, chances is there is no USB hub installed. you'll need to get the hub as well cos the OEM harness uses the hub as the connection point between the USB/Aux in plug and the MULF. of cos, you can bypass this if you decide to do some wire splicing and joining.

take a look at page 19 of the PDF for how the wires are actually joined between the devices.