Notes on a 2011 E93 M3 TCU/MULF to Combox swap - Page 2

Technic · 11-11-2011, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Kind of off topic but... Technic, any word on when BMW might start offering the BMW apps upgrade for us 2011.5 builds with the combox? Always heard this fall and my dealer is clueless.

I do not think that it will happen any time soon unless there is also the 6NF baseplate installed in your car as well. They have not done the 6NR FSC yet so even then it looks like a pretty long wait.

kscarrol · 11-11-2011, 10:58 AM

Ok, thanks for the response!

Greeney · 11-13-2011, 05:03 PM

Any idea how I can do this? my car was produced Aug 2010 2011 model year car.

Technic · 11-13-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeney

Any idea how I can do this? my car was produced Aug 2010 2011 model year car.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=548623

Fast H · 11-15-2011, 03:19 AM

Hi guys,

hope i'm in the right place for this question but the following occurs:

I wanted to use the Internet connection (option I paid for) in my E93 M3 '11 (delivery august) found out that tetthering had to be enabled did that on my Iphone 4 and internet worked just fine.

Now after the update to OS 5 it seems that the media cradle can not connect with my Iphone since I don't get the message on the screen of my Iphone that a personal hotspot is active.

Has anybody else encountered this problem and how can I solve it?

I have done the test with my PC and Iphone (tetthering enabled) to be sure it's nothing else.

Hope u guys have some answers :-)

Grtz,

Hendrick

Technic · 11-15-2011, 06:12 AM

Which iPhone version is this?

Try the iPhone connected directly to the USB port.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast H

Hi guys,

hope i'm in the right place for this question but the following occurs:

I wanted to use the Internet connection (option I paid for) in my E93 M3 '11 (delivery august) found out that tetthering had to be enabled did that on my Iphone 4 and internet worked just fine.

Now after the update to OS 5 it seems that the media cradle can not connect with my Iphone since I don't get the message on the screen of my Iphone that a personal hotspot is active.

Has anybody else encountered this problem and how can I solve it?

I have done the test with my PC and Iphone (tetthering enabled) to be sure it's nothing else.

Hope u guys have some answers :-)

Grtz,

Hendrick

Fast H · 11-15-2011, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Which iPhone version is this?

Try the iPhone connected directly to the USB port.

Iphone 4 with software version 5.0.1 (9A405)

Will try both USB ports tonight.

Thx,

Hendrick

apw2607 · 11-15-2011, 02:15 PM

To be clear, using a personal hotspot with the car has no bearing on using the cradle or the USB connection. The connection is established through bluetooth. Maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying.

One thing I've noticed with the iPhone internet tethering with the BMW is .... for whatever reason, you need to be on the Personal Hotspot screen on the iPhone for the car to open up a connection with the phone. Otherwise it won't work.

On my Mac, it doesn't matter ... but with the BMW, the iPhone has to be on the hotspot screen. Once the connection is established, you can do whatever you want on the phone then ... start BMW connected app, pandora, etc.

Not sure if this is a bug in the iPhone software, or BMW bug. I did log the bug with Apple ... so maybe it gets addressed in the future.

Fast H · 11-16-2011, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apw2607

To be clear, using a personal hotspot with the car has no bearing on using the cradle or the USB connection. The connection is established through bluetooth. Maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying.

One thing I've noticed with the iPhone internet tethering with the BMW is .... for whatever reason, you need to be on the Personal Hotspot screen on the iPhone for the car to open up a connection with the phone. Otherwise it won't work.

On my Mac, it doesn't matter ... but with the BMW, the iPhone has to be on the hotspot screen. Once the connection is established, you can do whatever you want on the phone then ... start BMW connected app, pandora, etc.

Not sure if this is a bug in the iPhone software, or BMW bug. I did log the bug with Apple ... so maybe it gets addressed in the future.

Thx for the reply!

Didn't know that the connection is made thru bluetooth.

This changes everything since I always hooked my phone up 2 the cradle thinking it's thru USB the connection.

So as I understand the above it seems I have to activate bluetooth on the phone and activate tetthering and wait for a connection before I plug it in.

Grtz,

Hendrick

Fast H · 11-19-2011, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apw2607

To be clear, using a personal hotspot with the car has no bearing on using the cradle or the USB connection. The connection is established through bluetooth. Maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying.

One thing I've noticed with the iPhone internet tethering with the BMW is .... for whatever reason, you need to be on the Personal Hotspot screen on the iPhone for the car to open up a connection with the phone. Otherwise it won't work.

On my Mac, it doesn't matter ... but with the BMW, the iPhone has to be on the hotspot screen. Once the connection is established, you can do whatever you want on the phone then ... start BMW connected app, pandora, etc.

Not sure if this is a bug in the iPhone software, or BMW bug. I did log the bug with Apple ... so maybe it gets addressed in the future.

U where right connection is made thru Bluetooth, when starting up internet on i-drive it makes connection. Afterwards u can startup apps and plug it into the cradle. Thx again for the explenation!

Grtz,
Hendrick

ins1dez · 11-26-2011, 08:50 PM

Does this replace the bluetooth module?

SamS · 12-29-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Once your iDrive/Combox are set for BMW Online/BMW Live then:

- pair your phone to the Combox thru Bluetooth.
- set your phone tethering for Bluetooth data transfer

Once that is done the Combox takes over and routes all iDrive Internet requests thru your phone. The iDrive software interfaces with the requests so you have control over what is shown and what can be selected on the screen, full OEM GUI.

The BMW Live gives you a subset of Google Maps features, business business search, local weather and RSS feeds access. This is a comparable service (but free) to the USA BMW Search feature ($199 a year), which provides Google business search, gas prices, local weather, Bloomberg stock ticker, CNN news and the capability of sending your location by email to anybody.

BMW Online is actually a browser so you can go to any website.

Sorry to dredge this up, but I'm a bit foggy on this (still).

Can you recap the steps, once again? Assume I want to use BMW Live, which is free, right? As well as Google A-Z and full browser.

At this point, I have an iPhone 4, paired with the car for BT (phone only), and also use the Media Cradle for Plugin. I'm still unclear on how to set the iPhone4 for Bluetooth data tethering.

Technic · 12-29-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamS

Sorry to dredge this up, but I'm a bit foggy on this (still).

Can you recap the steps, once again? Assume I want to use BMW Live, which is free, right? As well as Google A-Z and full browser.

At this point, I have an iPhone 4, paired with the car for BT (phone only), and also use the Media Cradle for Plugin. I'm still unclear on how to set the iPhone4 for Bluetooth data tethering.

Hi Sam... assuming that you got BMW Live from forum vendor BimmerTech (it is not available from factory in the USA), and that you are paying for the Hotspot plan thru your cell provider, the steps are:

- pair iPhone to car
- enable Data Transfer via Bluetooth in your iDrive: iDrive > Telephone > Configure Phone > Data Transfer via Bluetooth > ON
- enable Hotspot in your iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot > ON (in my Verizon iPhone WiFi has to be enabled as well, although the phone itself does not state that it is required for Hotspot to work)
- go to iDrive > ConnectedDrive > BMW Online > OK

That should make your iPhone to tether Internet data to the Combox and you will be connected to BMW Live.

These steps are also explained in detail by BimmerTech with purchase.

SamS · 12-29-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Hi Sam... assuming that you got BMW Live from forum vendor BimmerTech (it is not available from factory in the USA), and that you are paying for the Hotspot plan thru your cell provider, the steps are:

- pair iPhone to car
- enable Data Transfer via Bluetooth in your iDrive: iDrive > Telephone > Configure Phone > Data Transfer via Bluetooth > ON
- enable Hotspot in your iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot > ON (in my Verizon iPhone WiFi has to be enabled as well, although the phone itself does not state that it is required for Hotspot to work)
- go to iDrive > ConnectedDrive > BMW Online > OK

That should make your iPhone to tether Internet data to the Combox and you will be connected to BMW Live.

These steps are also explained in detail by BimmerTech with purchase.

Thank you.

I do not have the BMW Live feature via BimmerTech, but I will reach out to him/them.

I also incorrectly assumed via post #10 that the tethering could be accomplished via Bluetooth, with no additional AT&T/Verizon tethering plan required. Since I don't have the tethering service with AT&T (and likely won't get it now, since I would lose my Unlimited Data plan), this may not be a good road to go down.

EDIT: looks like you need an AT&T tethering plan, even to tether via Bluetooth.

alpina527 · 01-18-2012, 01:47 PM

Technic: I noticed in the OP that what looks like the black antennae Fakra connector to the right side, with the purple connector to the left of it. Is that correct or am I being tricked by the fuzzy image.

I'm having trouble connecting my combox telematics and I'm not sure which way these 2 plugs should sit.

Technic · 01-18-2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpina527

Technic: I noticed in the OP that what looks like the black antennae Fakra connector to the right side, with the purple connector to the left of it. Is that correct or am I being tricked by the fuzzy image.

I'm having trouble connecting my combox telematics and I'm not sure which way these 2 plugs should sit.

There are two Fakra antenna connectors and 2 LVDS USB connectors in the Combox.

aajami · 01-18-2012, 02:29 PM

Technic,

Do you lose the ability to send location to the car via Google Maps by retrofitting to Combox (for those of us with a 2009 CIC)?

Technic · 01-18-2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aajami

Technic,

Do you lose the ability to send location to the car via Google Maps by retrofitting to Combox (for those of us with a 2009 CIC)?

If you retrofit the Combox and transfer your Assist account to it then you will have all your current Assist features enabled in your CIC. You will not notice any difference in the GUI or functionality as long as your CIC is updated with the Combox software interface..

alpina527 · 01-18-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

There are two Fakra antenna connectors and 2 LVDS USB connectors in the Combox.

Thanks, but which way round do the connectors go when looking end on with the double black socket to the right?

Does the purple connector go to the left or right socket?

The BMW pdf seems to have an extra purple socket for the gps antennae. (item 2)

aajami · 01-18-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

If you retrofit the Combox and transfer your Assist account to it then you will have all your current Assist features enabled in your CIC. You will not notice any difference in the GUI or functionality as long as your CIC is updated with the Combox software interface..

Thanks for the reply. Doesn't that negate the need to upgrade to Combox, however? That is, don't people retrofit the Combox specifically to get the updates to the GUI that enable features like BMW Live, ConnectedDrive, and Office?

Technic · 01-18-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aajami

Thanks for the reply. Doesn't that negate the need to upgrade to Combox, however? That is, don't people retrofit the Combox specifically to get the updates to the GUI that enable features like BMW Live, ConnectedDrive, and Office?

The main feature that you get with the Combox is BMW Apps.

apw2607 · 01-18-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpina527

Thanks, but which way round do the connectors go when looking end on with the double black socket to the right?

Does the purple connector go to the left or right socket?

The BMW pdf seems to have an extra purple socket for the gps antennae. (item 2)

There are various combox variants. When combox is installed with nav, that gps input is either not present or not used. Combox gets gps from the CIC.

11-11-2011, 10:58 AM	#24
kscarrol Major Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 1,458 iTrader: (0)	Ok, thanks for the response! __________________ Current: 2011 Space Grey E90 M3, DCT, Comp. Pkg., Conv. Pkg., everything but Cold Weather Pkg! Gone: 2008 550, Space Grey, Sports Package, Sport Auto Transmission. Sold: 2004 545i (U.S.), Steptronic, Silver Gray.

11-13-2011, 05:03 PM	#25
Greeney Brigadier General Drives: Jerez E90 M3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Westchester, NY / Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 3,763 iTrader: (4)	Any idea how I can do this? my car was produced Aug 2010 2011 model year car. __________________ 11' E90 M3 6MT \| Jerez Black \| Black Ext./Carbon \| ZCP \| ZCW \| ZPP \| ZTP \| 302 \| 403 \| 507 \| 5AC \| 655 \| 6FL \| 752 \|

11-15-2011, 03:19 AM	#27
Fast H New Member Drives: E93 M3 MDCT '11 -Individual- Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brussels Posts: 15 iTrader: (0)	Hi guys, hope i'm in the right place for this question but the following occurs: I wanted to use the Internet connection (option I paid for) in my E93 M3 '11 (delivery august) found out that tetthering had to be enabled did that on my Iphone 4 and internet worked just fine. Now after the update to OS 5 it seems that the media cradle can not connect with my Iphone since I don't get the message on the screen of my Iphone that a personal hotspot is active. Has anybody else encountered this problem and how can I solve it? I have done the test with my PC and Iphone (tetthering enabled) to be sure it's nothing else. Hope u guys have some answers :-) Grtz, Hendrick __________________ www.autoclubvlaanderen.be Out of passion...

01-18-2012, 02:29 PM	#39
aajami Brigadier General Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 3,331 iTrader: (4)	Technic, Do you lose the ability to send location to the car via Google Maps by retrofitting to Combox (for those of us with a 2009 CIC)? __________________ Current: '09 E92 M3 \| Space Gray, Black Novillo, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP suspension retrofit \| Euro airbox \| LCI Euro taillights \| Style 359M wheels \| CRT lip \| BMW Performance CF Mk. II spoiler \| BMW Performance CF mirror caps \| BMW Performance front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem \| Factory alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs Gone: '01 "AP2" Honda S2000, '97 Ford Probe GT

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11-15-2011, 02:15 PM	#30
apw2607 Major Drives: 2009 X5 35d Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 1,297 iTrader: (0)	To be clear, using a personal hotspot with the car has no bearing on using the cradle or the USB connection. The connection is established through bluetooth. Maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying. One thing I've noticed with the iPhone internet tethering with the BMW is .... for whatever reason, you need to be on the Personal Hotspot screen on the iPhone for the car to open up a connection with the phone. Otherwise it won't work. On my Mac, it doesn't matter ... but with the BMW, the iPhone has to be on the hotspot screen. Once the connection is established, you can do whatever you want on the phone then ... start BMW connected app, pandora, etc. Not sure if this is a bug in the iPhone software, or BMW bug. I did log the bug with Apple ... so maybe it gets addressed in the future.

11-26-2011, 08:50 PM	#33
ins1dez iN dA cLuB Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Romania Posts: 475 iTrader: (0)	Does this replace the bluetooth module?

01-18-2012, 01:47 PM	#37
alpina527 Captain Drives: 2008 E92 M3 DCT JZB/FR Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: London, England Posts: 627 iTrader: (1)	Technic: I noticed in the OP that what looks like the black antennae Fakra connector to the right side, with the purple connector to the left of it. Is that correct or am I being tricked by the fuzzy image. I'm having trouble connecting my combox telematics and I'm not sure which way these 2 plugs should sit.