How to Retrofit a Bluetooth TCU to your car

My car as you all know is a pre-facelift E66 and it did not have Bluetooth functionality at all.

It had the standard Telephone system where you had to insert a SIM card in the front drawer to activate the on-board telephone system. There was also a 'brick of a handset' in the front drawer wasting valuable space and another 'brick of a handset' in the rear centre arm rest.

I had previously removed the handset and all the connections from the front drawer (I will re-link that video to this Thread) and gained that space. I was able to purchase the insert that goes in that drawer and now it is the same as a 'facelift'. This was done in preparation for me retrofitting Bluetooth.

I also installed the Bluetooth cradle into the centre console as well. I was able to re-use the wiring that used to go to the front drawer and re-route that to the Bluetooth Cradle in the centre console. All that wiring goes back to the TCU in the Trunk, so it was ready to go!

Then I have removed the old TCU (I did this at the same time I was doing the Trunk Lid repair Videos) and made the necessary alterations to the wiring and connectors in the trunk to allow me to connect the BMW Bluetooth TCU.

Of course I then used my 'cheap chinese Dashsoft Tool' to re-code the MMI to enable full Bluetooth functionality. If you have the basic Business Bluetooth in your car, the MMI can be recoded to give you full Bluetooth funtionality as shown in this video.

In this video I am demonstrating my iPhone connected to my car and everything working.

Instructional videos on the conversion are coming shortly.
Ace

......

And the other added bonus is that because I have retrofitted the BMW iPod kit to my car, I can also plug my iPhone into that and play music from my iPhone.

The BMW iPod kit charges my phone whilst it is plugged into that and I can listen to music or still use my iphone because the phone part is Bluetoothed to my car.

If I don't want to play music from my iPhone and use my iPod instead for music, I can put my iPhone in the front drawer that is now empty after removing the old phone system handset, or I can insert my iPhone into the cradle in the centre console and it can charge there too.

Ace

Nice work! However, I wonder what the benefits of this system are versus CPT8000 or CPT9000?

Hey Ace this is great work.
I am on the hunt now for a TCU
Do you have a PN for the update TCU??

Originally Posted by AceFX

My car as you all know is a pre-facelift E66 and it did not have Bluetooth functionality at all.

It had the standard Telephone system where you had to insert a SIM card in the front drawer to activate the on-board telephone system. There was also a 'brick of a handset' in the front drawer wasting valuable space and another 'brick of a handset' in the rear centre arm rest.

I had previously removed the handset and all the connections from the front drawer (I will re-link that video to this Thread) and gained that space. I was able to purchase the insert that goes in that drawer and now it is the same as a 'facelift'. This was done in preparation for me retrofitting Bluetooth.

I also installed the Bluetooth cradle into the centre console as well. I was able to re-use the wiring that used to go to the front drawer and re-route that to the Bluetooth Cradle in the centre console. All that wiring goes back to the TCU in the Trunk, so it was ready to go!

Then I have removed the old TCU (I did this at the same time I was doing the Trunk Lid repair Videos) and made the necessary alterations to the wiring and connectors in the trunk to allow me to connect the BMW Bluetooth TCU.

Of course I then used my 'cheap chinese Dashsoft Tool' to re-code the MMI to enable full Bluetooth functionality. If you have the basic Business Bluetooth in your car, the MMI can be recoded to give you full Bluetooth funtionality as shown in this video.

In this video I am demonstrating my iPhone connected to my car and everything working.

Instructional videos on the conversion are coming shortly.
Ace

......

ACE my buddy you must have been reading my mind
Now this is the topic I been waiting for
I'll be watching this close .

Originally Posted by JimmyW

Nice work! However, I wonder what the benefits of this system are versus CPT8000 or CPT9000?

Yeah, what's the difference? I have a CPT thingy. Does the TCU give any additional functionality?

What is CPT Thingy?

AceFX I don't mean to get off topic but can you provide the link to the "Chinese Dashsoft" for me I am interested in doing some programing and NCSExpert is not as user friendly as I hoped and no one seem to want to offer any help so can you hook a brotha up? lol

GMC i think ace is using this
http://www.ecusells.com/goods.php?id=2292
Thats the one i am ordering

The website is www.ecusells.com and it is the 4in1 device. I use it with Dashsoft 2.1.0.

I looked up about CPT and it would appear you lose BMW Assist and it would also appear to be an American Phone system only upgrade...... I think??? Any advice?

With the TCU update, I still have BMW Assist and BMW on-line etc....... I was not aware of CPT8000 or CPT9000 until it was mentioned in this Thread.

Ok, I just read all about the CPT8000 and I think retrofitting the TCU is a better solution.

1. I get to keep my BMW Assist which is an automatic call system to emergency services if you are unlucky enough to get hit, or you can manually call emergency services if you are under threat. You lose this with the CPT Thingy.

2. I can plug my iPhone 4 into the cradle and it can charge etc..... you lose this if you put the CPT Thingy in.

So I am happy I did the TCU retrofit.....

Originally Posted by AceFX

Ok, I just read all about the CPT8000 and I think retrofitting the TCU is a better solution.

1. I get to keep my BMW Assist which is an automatic call system to emergency services if you are unlucky enough to get hit, or you can manually call emergency services if you are under threat. You lose this with the CPT Thingy.

2. I can plug my iPhone 4 into the cradle and it can charge etc..... you lose this if you put the CPT Thingy in.

So I am happy I did the TCU retrofit.....

& 3

I don't think the CPT update works for cars outside the US of A.. So a much needed and requested retrofit for those outside the US..

Originally Posted by AceFX

I sent the file , you should have mail

Got it....many thanks

Originally Posted by crombo97

GMC i think ace is using this
http://www.ecusells.com/goods.php?id=2292
Thats the one i am ordering

Thanks for the info

Originally Posted by AceFX

The website is www.ecusells.com and it is the 4in1 device. I use it with Dashsoft 2.1.0.

I looked up about CPT and it would appear you lose BMW Assist and it would also appear to be an American Phone system only upgrade...... I think??? Any advice?

With the TCU update, I still BMW Assist and BMW on-line etc....... I was not aware of CPT8000 or CPT9000 until it was mentioned in this Thread.

Thanks Ace, does the kit come with the software (Dashsoft)?

According to the website it's supposed to come with several programs but when my kit arrived there were no CD or DVD with programs in the package...

Fortunately Ace found it in his heart to share his copy of Dashsoft with me!

Just haven't had the chance to start playing around with it yet...
Need a warm garage to work in! Don't really feel like working outside on the driveway when it's below freezing...

Thats weird........ when I bought the item it came with the software. I wonder why they are not sending the software with it. If anyone needs a copy just PM me

come on ACE the waiting is killing me . LoL

Hey PAPER sorry man, we have been having floods and hail storms and even twisters the last couple of days...... check the world news and you will see.

I am putting together a clear description of how I did the wiring change to fit the new TCU. Did you see the video in the thread I posted to re Bluetooth?

You can see I have it connected..... oh here it is anyway..

The wiring change wasn't hard. Did you respond to my questions re what is in your car now?

Ace

Originally Posted by AceFX

Hey PAPER sorry man, we have been having floods and hail storms and even twisters the last couple of days...... check the world news and you will see.

I am putting together a clear description of how I did the wiring change to fit the new TCU. Did you see the video in the thread I posted to re Bluetooth?

You can see I have it connected..... oh here it is anyway..

The wiring change wasn't hard. Did you respond to my questions re what is in your car now?

Ace

Yes I saw the video , I did respond to your message .
My car came with the Motorola phone & I have the
BTUM 8000 in my car right now . I do have the newer
cradle & newer TCU to put in .

Ace, as I have a Bluetooth TCU (BMW Everest, made by Motorola) but with the Business Telephone (pairs only with BMW handset), assuming I can change the coding to allow pairing with any phone, which modules do I have to recode? Just the MMI, and/or the TCU, others?

There are two parameters, PORTABLE_BT and BLUETOOTH_HANDY, both set to inactive, but they appear in the MMI trace file as well as the TCU file when I read the modules with NCS Expert.

Only the MMI command line 3002.
Bluetooth exists in your TCU, you just don't have FULL ACCESS to it from the GUI....the MMI.
By changing the coding in line 3002 of the MMI, you can change your ACCESS to the Bluetooth from 'limited' (BMW Business) to 'FULL ACCESS' of the Bluetooth in your TCU.......does that make sense????

Ace