Combox 4G retrofit

[The-Traveler]

Originally Posted by The-Traveler

I have active COMBOX 2G subscription in Canada because Rogers/Bell haven't disconnected the 2G service when AT&T did it down south. Curious if you 4G combox guys were able to get real time traffic or other things coded like BMW Online or Internet which would have sucked on 2G box.

Bump.

[MaverickLA]

Originally Posted by 740iSport

I think you're misinformed. I did mine all by myself and used a process in ISTA/P for the change! Dealer doesn't have to do that and no the "working and proved Dealer ID" isn't part of the equation. I purchased my ISTA+ software from Rheingold directly. The registration of the combox is no longer done in the "BMW backend". They stopped doing that nearly 2 years ago.

After I completed everything I called BMW Connect service informed them of the new IMEI and BOOM! It all works!

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Here is the upgrade to combox Next Generation (4G) also Ive enclosed a decision tree as to what steps BMW suggests you take during your project. I am still learning what items I need in order to continue my update as well. So I am not a good one to ask questions regarding this topic. I have a 2014 X1 E84 with a 2G combox.

[Merlin_83]

Ok, so wait sec - I thought you cannot have both Bluetooth Audio and Telephone. You have to choose one or the other, when I bought my car new from the dealer he said, "yeah no you cannot do both". But in the video, you show both being used.

And while this is an older thread I have for the longest time wanted to upgrade my combox to 4G, but every time I try and Birddog a way to do it people on the forums seem to discourage or make it not as easy to do. But the dude in the video was very informative, and while I could easily handle the mechanical aspects of the install I would have BPM do the coding. Mike at BPM has done an awesome job for me on two occasions, doing the Stage 1 tune and enabling Satellite radio.

BTW-while off-topic here, the Stage 1 tune by BPM was sublime, and the car just 'works' better.


Cheers,
Merlin

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by Merlin_83

Ok, so wait sec - I thought you cannot have both Bluetooth Audio and Telephone. You have to choose one or the other, when I bought my car new from the dealer he said, "yeah no you cannot do both". But in the video, you show both being used.

You've had your car for 8 years and are still unsure if you have both Bluetooth audio streaming and telephone?

iDrive = both
no iDrive = telephone only.

[Merlin_83]

Originally Posted by DavidZ

You've had your car for 8 years and are still unsure if you have both Bluetooth audio streaming and telephone?

iDrive = both
no iDrive = telephone only.

No, no - I use the Bluetooth for the Telephone only, I cannot use it for Audio. I think iDrive even coughs up a warning message that it cannot do both. Only one or the other. I've used the USB port in the center console, connected to an old iPhone 8+. This works fine, but still wish I could have 'no wires' thing for Audio (music).

[tomehowe@aol.com]

My dealer quoted $1100 to upgrade from 2G, about half and half hardware and labor/coding. I decided not to as I can do everything on the phone except tracking and unlocking the car. FYI the traffic updates work just fine without the upgrade to 4G. I did an aftermarket map upgrade and bought the traffic updates from BMW and get warnings of stalls, rerouting etc on the display. It had the pro nav when purchased by original owner. I use phone and bluetooth audio at the same time (upgraded audio system).
Tom Howe
2016 Z4 sDrive28i

[frankc]

Originally Posted by tomehowe@aol.com

My dealer quoted $1100 to upgrade from 2G, about half and half hardware and labor/coding. I decided not to as I can do everything on the phone except tracking and unlocking the car. FYI the traffic updates work just fine without the upgrade to 4G.
2016 Z4 sDrive28i

Just curious: How are traffic updates working without 4G - I thought Real Time Traffic Info (RTTI) communicated via Connected Drive? Wouldn't a 2016 Z4 already have a 4G ComBox?

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by frankc

Just curious: How are traffic updates working without 4G - I thought Real Time Traffic Info (RTTI) communicated via Connected Drive? Wouldn't a 2016 Z4 already have a 4G ComBox?

RTTI is not solely received as a cell/data connection, so 2g or 4g is irrelevant but it is faster. I receive traffic information on my 2011 still. TPEG binary data for RTTI is available on digital radio broadcast along with weather and emergency services. My 2011 didn't come with a combox, I added it. My car originally came with MulfII and TCU in the rear. As far as simultaneously playing music&phone it all can be done on both 2G & 4g combox. The data on my 2g combox tethers still but the internet no longer works which is more a browser issue I believe. Either combox also will BT to more than one phone at once. For example I can leave my iPhone 11 as my BT phone in the car for calls and texts display but also have my buddy BT connect at the same time as a music phone in the car. His phone is "additional phone" option in iDrive.

[djtorchmusic]

Originally Posted by 740iSport

After installing and programming my replacement Combox with 4G I was able to subscribe to the services without issue. To note, my subscriptions expired a couple of years ago too.

In other words, they are happy to take your money!

Hi, Could you tell me what changes you needed to make to the Combox and did you have to take it to the dealer so they could re-activate your account?

[Arkaitz]

Originally Posted by Skifahrer

Information on the side: For combox change you should tell BMW Assist, IMEI and ICCID. Both are located on the combox or you can use tool32 to read that information. NA cars only.

For ECE cars: Go to your local dealership and ask for an ECU change registration.

Hello

I have an ECE car with retrofitef NA telematic combox.

Usa connected drive web recognices combox vin, but its deactivated. EU connected drive web does no recognice my vin either combox vin.

Where sould I contact to register my car? Bmw USA Assist or bmw EU dealership?

Thanks

[Drv4fun]

Got email a few days ago that my car’s bmw connected is no longer supported (has 4g combox retro fit) and that they have extended current subscription til feb 22). When I log into bmw connected via the website says no subscription. I feel if they are not going to support it even though my car has 4g not 3g they should refund some portion of what i have been paying all these years to keep it active.

[GnomeChild]

Can anyone confirm what is needed to retrofit the 4G Combox exactly? I recently gathered all the needed components to retrofit a 2G box into my car but recently sourced a 4G Combox for a price I couldn't refuse

Is it plug-and-play in place of the 2G unit? Someone mentioned that I would need ISTA and to modify the Combox IMEI. I think I would also need to upgrade to CIC C1A so maybe just an iLevel update would set me up...

Besides the base instruction for installation of the 2G box, what else is needed to upgrade to a 4G Combox?