How to Retrofit a Bluetooth TCU to your car

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

No...you don't add that line. That line is already there. Just change it from nicht_aktiv to aktiv. And your done

Hey Maka. I don't have an iPod kit yet but I was looking around in my facelift MMI FSW file and I cannot see any options related to iPod. Do I need to add the option in the VO first or is there some other option I need to enable in the MMI first.

After tinkering with this for a week, here's what I think. I had a conversation with a knowledgeable friend in Germany yesterday and I think the Germans are right - on an E65/66 built before September 2006 with the Business phone option, the only way to get full Bluetooth functionality is to install a newer TCU.

The pre-09/06 TCUs simply do not have the full Bluetooth stack, they are limited to a subset that can just talk to the BMW handset.

The hardware may be capable so theoretically a firmware flash might do it but unlikely as a DIY proposition.

@Ace, you may have had an even older TCU (Siemens) that used DECT, not Bluetooth, with the BMW handsets and then you installed a post-09/06 TCU which has the full BT stack and thus responded to your changes in the MMI coding. You never actually tried with a limited-BT TCU, and you never claimed you did either, but we collectively jumped to the conclusion and thought you had done what no one else has managed to do.

In fact, there is no correlation between the facelift and any specific TCU variant. BMW did not introduce full Bluetooth capability until September 2006. My car has a TCU from 2003 and is still an FL.

Now those dates are not exact, so theoretically there could be cars made before 09/06 which have the newer TCU but then they would probably have full BT already.

I also do not believe there are any "secret codes" accessible to Dashsoft or any other software that NCS Expert cannot get to. The trace files you get from NCS will show every settable option. Many are AFAIK still untested but with NCS Dummy we can at least get most of them shown in more readable form.

I am looking forward to getting my new TCU. Just hope I will be able to code it so the car will not reject the transplant...

Originally Posted by PAPER

Hey ACE I sent you a message .

I think you gave me the wrong wiring information ???
Here is a pic of my TCU .
Please get back to me ASAP , AS you can see my wiring is all taken apart

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Bimmer App

Paper, hope I am not raining on your parade now. The unit in your first photo, is that your old TCU? That is an AMPS unit. The other unit behind it in the other pics is a CDMA unit. Is that the new one? If so you are not only changing to a Bluetooth TCU, you are also switching from AMPS to CDMA.

There is also a compensator (flat square box with cooling fins) in your trunk, right? That is AMPS only.
I do not know if you can upgrade from AMPS to CDMA, the wiring may be completely different. Keep in mind Ace's car and most of the others in this thread uses GSM phones.

I am not saying you have hit a dead end, but make sure to check up on this both 2x and 3x before you plug this stuff in...

Hi Politby,

I have taken the boot trims off to double check the telephone module.







I notice the unit has two antenna inputs, I believe one is the GSM antenna on the roof and the second the WDCT? which I understand is on the parcel shelf?

The newer TCU does not have as much wiring as it just connects to the SOS button, microphone, CAN etc... and not any connection to a phone cradle/drawer.

Would it be possible to use a TCU from an E60,E90 etc...

e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E60-Bl...c#ht_500wt_812

Cheers

Originally Posted by stuartjohn24

Hi Politby,

I have taken the boot trims off to double check the telephone module.

I notice the unit has two antenna inputs, I believe one is the GSM antenna on the roof and the second the WDCT? which I understand is on the parcel shelf?

The newer TCU does not have as much wiring as it just connects to the SOS button, microphone, CAN etc... and not any connection to a phone cradle/drawer.

Would it be possible to use a TCU from an E60,E90 etc...

e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E60-Bl...c#ht_500wt_812

Cheers

Well yours definitely does not have Bluetooth.

I do not think the E60/61 TCUs will work in an E65. The part number in the eBay listing is missing a digit so I can't cross reference it, I tried adding 0-9 at the end but got no hits so I think the seller has got it wrong.

@Ace, is this the same Siemens TCU as in your car?

Originally Posted by DFEL750I

Hey Maka. I don't have an iPod kit yet but I was looking around in my facelift MMI FSW file and I cannot see any options related to iPod. Do I need to add the option in the VO first or is there some other option I need to enable in the MMI first.

No you don't have add anything. Ill send you the mmi file. I saved from that 750 I did a little later when I get on a comp so you can see how it looks.

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

No you don't have add anything. Ill send you the mmi file. I saved from that 750 I did a little later when I get on a comp so you can see how it looks.

Appreciate a copy as well.

Many thanks

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

No you don't have add anything. Ill send you the mmi file. I saved from that 750 I did a little later when I get on a comp so you can see how it looks.

Thanks that would be great. I might have some old Daten files for the E65 in NCS so I might not be seeing all the codable options in my FSW file that are possible for my facelift MMI. I think I have sent you a copy of an FSW file from one of the modules in the past so you may have my email. If you don't have it let me know.

Thanks for the info . I will pick up a GSM TCU to solve that issue .

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Bimmer App

Hey guys, this is really great! I am looking at all the conversation this thread has generated and it is great to see it all unfolding. Keep up all the positive input guys. This has become a great thread to follow!!
Ace

Paper, I got caught up with things here in Melbourne. I am flying back tonight and will be available to assist from tomorrow.
Please accept my apologies.
Ace

Originally Posted by AceFX

Paper, I got caught up with things here in Melbourne. I am flying back tonight and will be available to assist from tomorrow.
Please accept my apologies.
Ace

Thanks for your understanding Paper.
I will get this sorted for you. It is very do-able.
Ace

Ace, is the pop out phone keypad still working after you switched TCUs?

Sent from my GT-P7500 using Bimmer App

Hey Politby, yes it works fine.
Ace

Originally Posted by AceFX

Thanks for your understanding Paper.
I will get this sorted for you. It is very do-able.
Ace

No Prob , I'll be sitting waiting for you .

Originally Posted by politby

Paper, hope I am not raining on your parade now. The unit in your first photo, is that your old TCU? That is an AMPS unit. The other unit behind it in the other pics is a CDMA unit. Is that the new one? If so you are not only changing to a Bluetooth TCU, you are also switching from AMPS to CDMA.

There is also a compensator (flat square box with cooling fins) in your trunk, right? That is AMPS only.
I do not know if you can upgrade from AMPS to CDMA, the wiring may be completely different. Keep in mind Ace's car and most of the others in this thread uses GSM phones.

I am not saying you have hit a dead end, but make sure to check up on this both 2x and 3x before you plug this stuff in...

do you THINK I can use a GSM TCU ???

Originally Posted by PAPER

do you THINK I can use a GSM TCU ???

Hard to say. I don't think the issue is GSM vs. CDMA, rather if the existing wiring in your car supports upgrading from the AMPS system, since the AMPS TCU uses a compensator and other stuff.

But they are all MOST connected so maybe it will work. Might want to ask BMW if there was an upgrade path from AMPS.

So, i've made a photos of my TCU




I was talking with two software guys and telling him that my TCU unit is looks exactly as yours but they are saying now chance because my TCU unit is for Phone Professional for 638 option and i need to replace my TCU unit which comse with 633 option.
I looked up on the pat number of your TCU unit in your video: 84 10 9 113 247 and its for 633 option. So i think i really need to replace TCU unit to have normal bluetooth.

Originally Posted by politby

Hard to say. I don't think the issue is GSM vs. CDMA, rather if the existing wiring in your car supports upgrading from the AMPS system, since the AMPS TCU uses a compensator and other stuff.

But they are all MOST connected so maybe it will work. Might want to ask BMW if there was an upgrade path from AMPS.

just thought I would let you know the unit I bought works with the AMPS .
PUT IT IN AN 04 along with the FaceLift MMI & it worked with no problems .
All features worked .

Originally Posted by AceFX

Thanks for your understanding Paper.
I will get this sorted for you. It is very do-able.
Ace

Originally Posted by PAPER

just thought I would let you know the unit I bought works with the AMPS .
PUT IT IN AN 04 along with the FaceLift MMI & it worked with no problems .
All features worked .

That's good news!

What did you have to do to code it for the car? Did you have to program it with the VIN?

Originally Posted by politby

That's good news!

What did you have to do to code it for the car? Did you have to program it with the VIN?

Yes had to code Vin & turn on Bluetooth & a few other phone features.

1 thing I must point out is it did not work entirely with the Pre-FaceLift MMI. It would not stay connected & the phone section on the MMI stayed on the pairing page.

But with the FaceLift MMI it functioned properly.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by PAPER

Yes had to code Vin & turn on Bluetooth & a few other phone features.

1 thing I must point out is it did not work entirely with the Pre-FaceLift MMI. It would not stay connected & the phone section on the MMI stayed on the pairing page.

But with the FaceLift MMI it functioned properly.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Bimmer App

Okay. What did you use to code the VIN? WinKFP?