Notes on a 2009 F01 7-Series BMW Apps retrofit

Customer wants BMW Apps in his MY2009 7-Series. BMW Apps is only available factory-installed from MY2011-on. A dealer-installed retrofit was just published in the OEM parts database a couple of months ago but again, only for MY2011-on 7-Series.

What to do? BimmerTech is what you do...

Combox retrofit kit:


TCU unplugged:


TCU-to-Combox 100% OEM PnP conversion:



BMW Apps coded:




Full BMW Apps features are available:
- News
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Web Radio
- Pandora
- AUPEO!
- Wiki Local
- Calendar
- iPod Out and iPod video available without the need of any phone cradle/baseplate

Plus enhancements to existing USB and Bluetooth features:
- Album Art display
- Apple white USB cable replaces OEM USB cable
- Bluetooth Audio
- Dual-Channel Bluetooth phone connectivity -one primary (make/receive calls) and one secondary (receive calls only) phones can be simultaneously paired to the iDrive.

Extra iDrive features coded (requires an iPhone with Bluetooth tethering)...
- BMW Live
- BMW Internet

... and car features:
- remote control closing of windows, folding mirrors, sunroof, and trunk
- DVD-in-Motion
- automatic unlock when engine is turned off

Notes:

1) TCU-to-Combox install required coding of the iDrive CIC
2) Combox retrofit removes current BMW Assist account -Combox Telematics requires to be registered with Assist to transfer account to new SIM.
3) BMW Live option removes all Assist features from iDrive screen. Once Assist account is transferred then the Assist roof button will work to call Assist. But no Assist feature will be accessible thru the iDrive screen, including the BMW Remote app, and MyInfo (Google Send-To-Car). This is because BMW Live is not an USA feature.

Hi
How difficult was the retrofit? Did you do it yourself or get a specialist to do it?

I'm thinking of doing the retrofit to mine but would like to keep my BMW Assist access; I'm In the UK.

Cheers
Wes

Originally Posted by Wes-H

Hi
How difficult was the retrofit? Did you do it yourself or get a specialist to do it?

I'm thinking of doing the retrofit to mine but would like to keep my BMW Assist access; I'm In the UK.

Cheers
Wes

+1.

It seems easy if it's just a plug and play unit, disconnect the old one and plugin the new unit but I don't want to be removing trim pieces at the front of the car to the run the wires or replace parts.

Duno..removing BMW OEM assist account+feature doesn't sound very cool. And losing MyInfo and all the stuff that's associated with it, is not cool either.
Assuming, it all runs and gets reprogrammed fine.

Originally Posted by Wes-H

Hi
How difficult was the retrofit? Did you do it yourself or get a specialist to do it?

I'm thinking of doing the retrofit to mine but would like to keep my BMW Assist access; I'm In the UK.

Cheers
Wes

WYSIWYG... I do the retrofits.

The Assist account can be transferred from the TCU to the Combox by telling Assist the ESN number in the Combox label. In other words, by telling Assist your new "phone number".

Originally Posted by f01driver

+1.

It seems easy if it's just a plug and play unit, disconnect the old one and plugin the new unit but I don't want to be removing trim pieces at the front of the car to the run the wires or replace parts.

There is always coding involved in all OEM module retrofits/swaps since the MY2002 7-Series, nothing is really PnP anymore without coding.

Originally Posted by beamlord

Duno..removing BMW OEM assist account+feature doesn't sound very cool. And losing MyInfo and all the stuff that's associated with it, is not cool either.
Assuming, it all runs and gets reprogrammed fine.

As stated before, you are replacing a unit registered with Assist with another that it is not registered with Assist. Obviously you must register that new unit with Assist to get your service and features back, which the customer did.

If BMW Live and Internet is coded into the new Combox then there will be no Assist regardless. But that is a customer option and not an imposition or a defect.

Originally Posted by Technic

WYSIWYG... I do the retrofits.

The Assist account can be transferred from the TCU to the Combox by telling Assist the ESN number in the Combox label. In other words, by telling Assist your new "phone number".

I've heard otherwise. I'm going through this right now. BMW refuses to transfer an assist account to a combox that didn't come with the car

What's the cost of doing this retrofit

Originally Posted by tb750

what's the cost of doing this retrofit

+1

I did this on my F01 but also had the CIC main unit replaced to get time
Shifting satellite radio and had BMW IPod plug-in feature coded. It was around $2700 with install as I recall. Did it with Patryk from bimmer-tech.net.

How much to get the 2013 nav

Originally Posted by Tb750

What's the cost of doing this retrofit

Depends on what options your car already has and what year it is. I got Bluetooth, HUD, Surround View, Voice Commands, LCI LEDs, 6NR(BMW Connected+Internet+Apps), Navigation from Patryk.

Originally Posted by Kar Don

How much to get the 2013 nav

You need to ask Patryk, every car is individual. info@bimmer-tech.net

Originally Posted by BaranE

Depends on what options your car already has and what year it is. I got Bluetooth, HUD, Surround View, Voice Commands, LCI LEDs, 6NR(BMW Connected+Internet+Apps), Navigation from Patryk.

Hi BaranE,

I've also got in touch with Patryk, really want to do those LED LCI's too.
Quick question on the 6NR option - do you know if you want to use the Apps (internet radio - say TuneIn - do you have to use this with an iphone or are other phones supported too?

The information I've seen so far from BMW is unclear as to how it works - if the app is on an external device with control from the CIC or if the app it's self is purely on the CIC?

I suspect I need an iphone (until BMW finally realise that Android is out there too!!)

Rob.

Originally Posted by Rob9877

Hi BaranE,

I've also got in touch with Patryk, really want to do those LED LCI's too.
Quick question on the 6NR option - do you know if you want to use the Apps (internet radio - say TuneIn - do you have to use this with an iphone or are other phones supported too?

The information I've seen so far from BMW is unclear as to how it works - if the app is on an external device with control from the CIC or if the app it's self is purely on the CIC?

I suspect I need an iphone (until BMW finally realise that Android is out there too!!)

Rob.

LED LCI are crazy expensive. Like $7500 just in parts alone. But if that floats your boat, go for it.

BMW Apps as far as I know is only and iOS application (apple only)

The app is only on the iPhone and the car recognizes it when the phone is plugged into the car and the app is started on the phone.

Originally Posted by Rob9877

Hi BaranE,

I've also got in touch with Patryk, really want to do those LED LCI's too.
Quick question on the 6NR option - do you know if you want to use the Apps (internet radio - say TuneIn - do you have to use this with an iphone or are other phones supported too?

The information I've seen so far from BMW is unclear as to how it works - if the app is on an external device with control from the CIC or if the app it's self is purely on the CIC?

I suspect I need an iphone (until BMW finally realise that Android is out there too!!)

Rob.

Yeap you need an iphone. I got a cheap 3g from ebay and put in a data only sim. Got a cradle for easier access. Always leave it in the car. IMHO apps doesn't matter that much except the Web radio. I usually like to listen to sirius an for that you need to manually access app on the iphone.

For the led lcis I'd say that if you have the means just go for it. Best upgrade ever. Really nice lighting and looks.