Reprogramming your MMI (front screen)

Sweet Mother Mary!!... it appears a LOT has changed since I was all over this forum when I bought my 2006 in late 2010. Back then, the only way for me to connect an iphone or ipod for music was a $1,000 BMW part and it didn't appear many people were happy with it. I come lurking around a year + later and now I'm hearing I CAN connect an ipod or iphone to my car with something that works and for less $ then the dealer wants?? AND I can get DVD's to play on the front screen, not just the rear screen??

NICE!! Can someone point me to the right post to start reading and give the link to the correct parts, cables to buy?? I might not have to upgrade to a 2009 after all....How hard is it to get the MMI out of the dash?

How about this. We will give you as much info as we got, but you must post pic of that nice looking ride you pushing. Welcome back bro.

Good morning i was told your the man with the smarts on here, i bought a 2003 BMW 745LI dark grey real clean and was kept up with only 84,000 miles on it, heres what i have done so far i update the nav maps to 2010 but i want to do it all, add a option for usb and ipod and dvd and i dont understand what MMI is, but im thinking its the main menu options i want to update that as well, what all do i need and can you help i was told people could pay for your services I'm knew to all this but pretty computer educated, your help would be greatly appreciated Sir

Hi mate and welcome to the Fest.... I just wrote in your other thread.

Simple updates that you can do are what is called 'facelifting'.....no botox involved

Now, BMW, mid-model life, update or 'facelift' their cars.

So there were electronic and cosmetic upgrades done to the 745.

As Makavelifaison has pointed out and (he was the first to introduce retrofitting the MMI, followed by Medic67) there is virtually no difference between the 745 and the 750 except for the cosmetic and plug in electronic upgrades and the engine being increased from 4.4 lt V8 to a 4.8 lt V8, hence 745 = 4.4lt V8 and the 750 = 4.8 lt V8.

The MMI is the Multi-Media Interface, the screen that you look at in the middle of your dash. The MMI works together with the ASK (Audio System Kontroller....german) unit to control the Audio and Video in your car.

Updating the MMI in your car to one that is post June 2006 will give you a faster processor, better and more colourful graphics, AUX input (with a cable and 'facelifted' ASK), iPod and iPhone connectivity (with the iPod module retrofit) all contollable via the iDrive on your centre console.

The ASK unit that has the single CD slot in it, is not the radio, it is just the Audio System Kontroller. The radio is another module amongst other things. I won't write too much now, just allow time to get your head around the car.

So a quick improvement would be the MMI first. You do not need to change the ASK unit if you dont want to. The 'facelift' ASK has additional buttons on it.......thats all. You may eventually want to go the way many of us has and 'facelift' everything, to which end we are all here to help you achieve that.

So, are you comfortable with computers?

I and many others here have not needed to take our cars back to a dealer or Indy since being able to code ourselves..... and if you are comfortable with computers, then you too can maintain your beautiful car yourself without having to haemorage money from your pocket.

Ace

Hey Booshwa...... MMI is easy, but you already have a facelift.

If you want to add iPod/iPhone connectivity, you need to replace the CD Changer in the dash.

The iPod retrofit replaces the CD Changer (so last decade and you still have a single CD player in the dash anyway).

So with the iPod retrofit, you can also get the replacement dash trim to get rid of the hole once the CD Changer has been removed.

If you need instructions...... here is my thread

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...3048&highlight=

Ace

Thanks sir, very good with computers have a laptop on standby can follow directions this is my first BMW I always had caddilacs whole life this car is new to me, I need help its so advance for a 2003 my 03 Cts I thought was high tech this is BMW is something else, just point me in the right direction on what I need to download or but I will post my car pic today, thanks again

Great news...... get this...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/170566531...84.m1423.l2649

And then I will guide you from there once you get it.

Ace

I will be getting this and what u think about adding a portable hard drive, but i will need a usb to connect it to, any ideas, i really appreciate your input, i want all the facelift parts u have on yours just need to know how to get them.

You cant do a USB factory. I use the iPod interface and play songs off my iPod or iPhone, and I like to keep everything factory.

Ace

Thanks what about those facelift parts, any ideas

Hey Ace i ordered that part just now so I will be contacting you in a few days to program my car

Waiting on that piece I ordered one more question i found other ipod kits could you let me know which one do you prefer i would appreciate it...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280937652564...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200794649846...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261048029116...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400309460060...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-iPod-Kit...item4abac0d5f2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-DICE-MED...58a641&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Genuine-...33b9f5&vxp=mtr

I don't know anything about Ipod as I do not have one. If I were to get one it would be OEM only. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...21&hg=65&fg=95

+1 Rookie, there is only one OEM kit

Ace

Hey Guys, my dvd option is grayed out because my DVD disc is stuck in the drive in the trunk. Will this help me reset it?

Hey Rookie2008, I just upgraded my car and sound quality from CD to iPod is unbelievable! I'm hearing things in songs I never did before in my car. It was worth the roughly $1200.00 it cost me.
The facelift is worth every penny if you're into music. Along with all the other options it gives you...

Good deal bro! So now you have I pod or AUX?

$1200.00 is not too bad, what all you change out for the $1200.00 if you don't mind me asking?

It's an iPod. I've had my 30G iPod for over 5 years. Had it in my other cars and when I bought my early 2005, I realized there was no hookup.

Parts:
MMI 06 Nav screen
BMW iPod kit
BMW right side cover

That's all you need if you already have the iPod. Somebody to do that program stuff... Over my head.

Originally Posted by AceFX

Hey csmeance......
changing this coding adds the features to the MMI menu items.
As far as OIL level goes, my car is a pre-facelift and it didn't show OIL Level, but now I have activated that and now I have it. Also with the front seat heating, again my car being a pre-facelift, I couldn't adjust to where the heating would bias too, e.g. more to your back or more to your bum.......now I have that additional control to alter the bias of the seat heating.
Adding AUX gave me an additional input and also my car didn't have BLUETOOTH, now I do!
In the Audio section, yes, I have now FM, AM, CD, CDC(iPod), AUX, TV, DVD, PICTURE and TONE(which takes me to the L7)

Cheers

Ace

Hey Ace, does your Oil Level on your MMI actually work, or does it show the perpetual "updating" like I have and many others seem to have? Unless I missed something, it doesn't seem like anyone has answered this question or confirmed one way or another that it works in a pre-facelift car with the new MMI. If yours is working then do we all need to change out the oil level sensor or something to a post facelift e65 e66?

Thanks,

Jeff

Originally Posted by JML6278

Hey Ace, does your Oil Level on your MMI actually work, or does it show the perpetual "updating" like I have and many others seem to have? Unless I missed something, it doesn't seem like anyone has answered this question or confirmed one way or another that it works in a pre-facelift car with the new MMI. If yours is working then do we all need to change out the oil level sensor or something to a post facelift e65 e66?

Thanks,

Jeff

Ace does work. When Paper install my units he tried to get mine to work but nothing. So I had help from Ace with mines an he was finally able to get it too work.

Hey JML6278, my oil level works fine.....

Originally Posted by Rookie2008

Ace does work. When Paper install my units he tried to get mine to work but nothing. So I had help from Ace with mines an he was finally able to get it too work.

WHEN I INSTALLED YOUR MMI , I DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO TRY &
GET YOUR OIL LEVEL METER WORKING ON YOUR MMI !!!

ALL I DID WAS WHAT YOU ASKED & CODED THE FEATURES YOUR
CAR HAD , CAUSE THEY WERE MISSING FROM THE USED MMI YOU
PURCHASED .

ONCE AGAIN I DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO TRY & GET THE OIL LEVEL
METER WORKING , NOR DID I CLAIM TOo .

I thought you did why you typing in CAPS! bro you got something you want to GET OFF YOUR CHEST BIG BOY!

I don't get you lately you once was acting like my friend now you back to typing in CAPS! how am I suppose to take it. I really thought you tried if you didn't my BAD but don't respond to me in caps I don't do it too you. If you feel other wise call me or I will drive too you an we can chat but don't type to me in CAPS I take it only 1 way bro!