[jkirby]

I have a 2009 e90 (X-Drive M-Sport) with nav. I have been struggling with BMW to install the new combox (3G radio vs. 2G) to fix my BMW Assist.

The dealer ordered the new box, but they said the connectors don't line-up. The dealer also said that my VIN doesn't show up under the retrofit campaign because the Assist service was discontinued.

I told the dealer that this is why I am here to get a retrofit and re-instate my service. I did not cancel my service, BMW cancelled it and now they are telling me they can't re-instate me!! I called BMW Assist and they said if you can get the combox to work we will re-instate you. Mis-communiation big time.

So I have two questions:

1. Anyone had a 2009 e90 retrofitted? The dealer said the part matches the VIN for my car but the connectors don't match

2. Anyone had their service dropped, reinstated with a new combox?

I don't understand BMW here. I am willing to buy a new combox (if it works), pay for the install, and pay for the yearly service??

I am getting so much BS here. No one at BMW has given me a logical explanation to why they don't want to re-instate me.

[ptpending]

bmw can technically transfer your service to new combox but do not want do it's in general for new customers due marketing reasons
so in your case they decided to do this for you
so, you need to get newest combox revision which is compatible with new mobile network used for assist
you can find combox connector shell and contact bar in multiple forum thread about combox retrofit
after rewiring and connecting new combox you need to code it
after this you can contact assist and they transfer your assist subscription to new combox IMEI.

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by jkirby

I have a 2009 e90 (X-Drive M-Sport) with nav. I have been struggling with BMW to install the new combox (3G radio vs. 2G) to fix my BMW Assist.

The dealer ordered the new box, but they said the connectors don't line-up. The dealer also said that my VIN doesn't show up under the retrofit campaign because the Assist service was discontinued.

I told the dealer that this is why I am here to get a retrofit and re-instate my service. I did not cancel my service, BMW cancelled it and now they are telling me they can't re-instate me!! I called BMW Assist and they said if you can get the combox to work we will re-instate you. Mis-communiation big time.

So I have two questions:

1. Anyone had a 2009 e90 retrofitted? The dealer said the part matches the VIN for my car but the connectors don't match

2. Anyone had their service dropped, reinstated with a new combox?

I don't understand BMW here. I am willing to buy a new combox (if it works), pay for the install, and pay for the yearly service??

I am getting so much BS here. No one at BMW has given me a logical explanation to why they don't want to re-instate me.

A 2009 model vehicle never came with a Combox from the factory. It has a TCU for BMW Assist and a MULF2 for Bluetooth/USB.

The connectors don't match up because you had a TCU in the vehicle.

There's no retrofit option for you that I'm aware of. Only vehicles that came from the factory with a Combox are eligible for the Combox Next Generation retrofit. BMW has no retrofit path to upgrade a TCU vehicle to a Combox vehicle that I've seen which would require a Combox retrofit harness of some kind and recoding the entire navigation system.

[ArcticRik]

Originally Posted by Dracon

A 2009 model vehicle never came with a Combox from the factory. It has a TCU for BMW Assist and a MULF2 for Bluetooth/USB.

The connectors don't match up because you had a TCU in the vehicle.

There's no retrofit option for you that I'm aware of. Only vehicles that came from the factory with a Combox are eligible for the Combox Next Generation retrofit. BMW has no retrofit path to upgrade a TCU vehicle to a Combox vehicle that I've seen which would require a Combox retrofit harness of some kind and recoding the entire navigation system.

So let's say I retrofit my combox in, think they will do anything then?

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by ArcticRik

So let's say I retrofit my combox in, think they will do anything then?

Maybe, maybe not.. Depends on your dealer.

If you purchased a brand new combox and did the retrofit yourself and could get the dealership to push through the activation paperwork, you'd have a shot. Used Comboxes are probably not going to work as they'll be active on another VIN in their system.

People ran into the same problem doing regular Combox retrofits that wanted to keep BMW Assist. It's all about convincing your dealer to push through the paperwork to activate the SIM card in the Combox and submit all the BMW Assist paperwork to activate everything.

It's always a 50/50 shot game when you're doing on unofficial retrofit on whether or not the dealer will be helpful.