[Mike-Bracknell]

Hi all,

Since the yanks don't want to answer my question (must remember to find the UK forums), I thought i'd ask this here:

Basically, i'm about to buy an '07 320d M-sport which doesn't have a bluetooth prep, and i'd like to know the best way to go about getting something that's either going to be a retrofit of the original kit or something that looks as unobtrusive or OEM as possible.

I'd like to have the iPhone in the centre console if poss, and have the phonebook through the BMW professional radio display, and have the steering wheel buttons work (I don't demand too much do I?)

I looked at the retrofit kit and my stealer wanted about £1200 to do this, which is barmy.

I don't fancy the idea of a Parrot stuck on the dashboard at all, but the one in the ashtray might work, but there's conflicting posts here about Parrot voice quality being crap - any opinions?

I also looked at the Dension Gateway 500, and the Dension compatibility guide specifically excludes the bluetooth module from the E90 saloon with BMW Professional without iDrive.

I googled the "Mobridge" thing as well, but that looks more iPod than iPhone and I already have one of those localised FM transmitter things for the iPhone so my focus is totally on the phone side of things.

Can I pick up parts from eBay to do this properly? (am happy to unscrew the car to fit it, I just need to know which parts to bid on and which ones to visit the stealer for).

Help?

Cheers,
Mike.

[USAman]

aaa

[chrisbin]

Hi Mike!!!

wwesty from SELOC here!!!

[Mike-Bracknell]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Hi Mike!!!

wwesty from SELOC here!!!

Evening fella

I did wonder who else i'd see here....how's the Alpina?

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by ric

I'd be interested to see the answers to this too, am in a similar situation to yourself. (Has anyone fitted idrive to a non idrive car before?)

Monster job.

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by Mike-Bracknell

Evening fella

I did wonder who else i'd see here....how's the Alpina?

Great thanks!

Even though you don't like it.....

Try dropping gIzzE a pm - he's usually pretty good on this stuff.

[mowflow]

Originally Posted by ric

I'd be interested to see the answers to this too, am in a similar situation to yourself. (Has anyone fitted idrive to a non idrive car before?)

It can be done and it seems a few have done it themselves.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131416

You can find all the bits on ebay for a reasonable price. From reading the thread I figured that unless I was a BMW tech/computer hacker/electrician with a load of spare time then this just wasn't worth it. I could see great potential for completely destroying the car if I tried this.

I think idrive looks great and would be a great gadget to have but as I have the the professional stereo with BT I don't think i'd gain much other than a sat nav that a lot of people don't seem to rate anyway.

[Mike-Bracknell]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Great thanks!

Even though you don't like it.....

Try dropping gIzzE a pm - he's usually pretty good on this stuff.

Gawd I hate being a forum newbie

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by Mike-Bracknell

Gawd I hate being a forum newbie

Any luck?

[Mike-Bracknell]

Well I did find this blokey....

http://www.navtvman.co.uk/Page_1.html

which looks promising?

Took delivery of it yesterday - done a couple of hundred miles already so far, and it's as solid as a very very solid thing

[Boyd1963]

Originally Posted by Mike-Bracknell

Hi all,

Since the yanks don't want to answer my question (must remember to find the UK forums), I thought i'd ask this here:

Basically, i'm about to buy an '07 320d M-sport which doesn't have a bluetooth prep, and i'd like to know the best way to go about getting something that's either going to be a retrofit of the original kit or something that looks as unobtrusive or OEM as possible.

I'd like to have the iPhone in the centre console if poss, and have the phonebook through the BMW professional radio display, and have the steering wheel buttons work (I don't demand too much do I?)

I looked at the retrofit kit and my stealer wanted about £1200 to do this, which is barmy.

I don't fancy the idea of a Parrot stuck on the dashboard at all, but the one in the ashtray might work, but there's conflicting posts here about Parrot voice quality being crap - any opinions?

I also looked at the Dension Gateway 500, and the Dension compatibility guide specifically excludes the bluetooth module from the E90 saloon with BMW Professional without iDrive.

I googled the "Mobridge" thing as well, but that looks more iPod than iPhone and I already have one of those localised FM transmitter things for the iPhone so my focus is totally on the phone side of things.

Can I pick up parts from eBay to do this properly? (am happy to unscrew the car to fit it, I just need to know which parts to bid on and which ones to visit the stealer for).

Help?

Cheers,
Mike.

I'm a bit shocked that the Dension doesn't work with non-iDrive!!!

I've got a Parrot CK9000 Evolution with Connects 2 interface.

http://www.connects2.co.uk/Instructions/CTPPAR009.PDF

This gives me pretty good bluetooth that I can control from the steering wheel. I don't have the Parrot screen fitted as I wanted an OEM look. Unfortunately you cannot have your contacts displayed on the radio but I have got voice prompts setup for all mine so I get notified by an audio prompt for incoming calls. Similarly I can call a contact by pressing the dial button on the steering wheel and saying their name. It works really well apart from later Smartphones where I have had a few problems. (Volume always resets to minimum and has to be turned up on call) Haven't tried with my wife's iPhone. I will give it a go and let you know how I get on.

I have also got the BMW ipod interface which works really well but can be a pain to navigate on the 2-line display that you get with the Professional Radio,

[gIzzE]

If you want to retrofit the Bluetooth your best and cheapest way to do it is actually to retrofit the USB/ipod input.

You will need a retrofit harness from BMW for the USB kit.

This will cost around £220.

You then need a bluetooth/usb module that goes in the boot.
Get one from ebay for approx. £140, dealer wants £600+.
It is called an MULF2.

Then install the kit, easier than it looks....

USB retrofit instructions

Now, you will need to code your radio to tell it that you now have USB, and while they are doing it tell them you also have bluetooth.
You will now have both USB/Ipod and Bluetooth.

You will need to buy a bluetooth antenna* from BMW £20 and the mic for £15.
Also go to maplin and buy 6m of there shelided thin twin coax cable, cost around 80p a metre and it is grey.
This is to run a cable from the module to the mic in the headlining.

Job done.


If you have USB already, simply code the radio for bluetooth and add the mic and antenna, total cost around £90 all in.



*I tuck the bluetooth antenna under the module in the boot, no need to run it to the front of the car like the instructions say, it works fine.

[gIzzE]

When ordering the mic ask them to pull up related parts, one of them is wire pins, these slot into the mic and have 6" of wire hanging off.
Order 4 of these, 2 for the mic and two for the module.

[gIzzE]

One last thing, you get no charger in the armrest, jsut bluetooth, but because you have usb you charget the iPhone with that.

[chrisbin]

see! Told you he'd help.....when he woke up.....

[gIzzE]

I don't think I was awake typing that out, just look at the spelling mistakes!!

[Mike-Bracknell]

Ahhh, thanks very much gIzzE. Much appreciated.

Does that mean i'd get control of the iPod section of my iPhone as well?

Bargain

[gIzzE]

Yeah.

These are the units needed...

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_t...570&_nkw=mulf2

[Mike-Bracknell]

OK, what's "Radio level 2 and upwards"? and is there a version of the 6FL that suits all cars?

[gIzzE]

where did you get that from??

[Mike-Bracknell]

From the front page of the USB retrofit instructions link you posted

[gIzzE]

In that case I would guess it means it is only for cars with the professional radio, as it needs to have the MOST connector and the basic radios don't.