PSA: If you have a pre-combox M3 and want bluetooth audio...

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by gazosnic

what do you miss with this vs combox.

Combox gets you full integration pretty much:
1) Bluetooth streaming of course
2) Displaying names on iDrive of what's playing
3) Ability to control via the steering wheel
4) Full Navigation system guidance (i.e, you can say "11245 Elm Street, Beverly Hills California" and it will recognize that instead of going through painful iDrive input
5) Album Art when connected to the center USB port
6) BMW Office Integration (Phone/Address books and text message support/message notification)
7) Ability to easily add a Center USB Port for cars that don't have it
8) Faster phone operation/connecting vs the TCU
9) Weight reduction? Combox replaces both TCU and MULF, this is more of a joke point though.

Additional things you can add to the Base Combox:
10) Connected Drive services BMW Apps, Facebook, Twitter, Calendar, Web Radio, Pandora Integration, BMW M-Laptimer
11) BMW Live and Internet (News, Weather, Google Search, Street View, Yelp and other goodies) - requires BT Tethering through cell carrier

These threads have a couple examples (Apps not shown):
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748534
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694732

I've had the combox in my M3 for a couple years and greatly prefer the full integration. That said, it's not for everyone. In my E46 M3 I wired in an E9x AUX port which connects to a Belkin Bluetooth streaming device which would normally plug into a wall outlet. I would up cutting a cellphone charger apart and hardwiring it to the car and it sounds/works great. Not really on the level of a full setup, but definitely a worthy and viable solution for those that want BT streaming only.

[gazosnic]

Thanks Mike - awesome post. Can my CIC firmware be updated remotely if needed? Anyway to confirm if my current sw version can support combox? This is the VIN from my CIC

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Combox gets you full integration pretty much:
1) Bluetooth streaming of course
2) Displaying names on iDrive of what's playing
3) Ability to control via the steering wheel
4) Full Navigation system guidance (i.e, you can say "11245 Elm Street, Beverly Hills California" and it will recognize that instead of going through painful iDrive input
5) Album Art when connected to the center USB port
6) BMW Office Integration (Phone/Address books and text message support/message notification)
7) Ability to easily add a Center USB Port for cars that don't have it
8) Faster phone operation/connecting vs the TCU
9) Weight reduction? Combox replaces both TCU and MULF, this is more of a joke point though.

Additional things you can add to the Base Combox:
10) Connected Drive services BMW Apps, Facebook, Twitter, Calendar, Web Radio, Pandora Integration, BMW M-Laptimer
11) BMW Live and Internet (News, Weather, Google Search, Street View, Yelp and other goodies) - requires BT Tethering through cell carrier

These threads have a couple examples (Apps not shown):
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748534
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694732

I've had the combox in my M3 for a couple years and greatly prefer the full integration. That said, it's not for everyone. In my E46 M3 I wired in an E9x AUX port which connects to a Belkin Bluetooth streaming device which would normally plug into a wall outlet. I would up cutting a cellphone charger apart and hardwiring it to the car and it sounds/works great. Not really on the level of a full setup, but definitely a worthy and viable solution for those that want BT streaming only.

[ameenr]

Originally Posted by ameenr

Car is a 2011.0 E92 (build date 4/2010)


Recently bought the Viseeo Tune2Air WMA1000 and the following cable off Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good news: Setup was quick and painless and audio quality matches a wired connection to the aux-in port.

Bad news: I have zero steering wheel controls, and the connection is only recoginzed as "aux-in", not an ipod via USB connection so nothing is displayed on iDrive (using Spotify, Pandora, songs stored on my iPhone, and iTunes Radio)

I'm hoping a firmware update to the Tune2Air fixes this. Sent an email to their "support" group in order to obtain an ID/Passcode that unlocks the ability to start the firmware update process. Most idiotic thing ever!

This turned out to be a cable issue. The cable I purchased off Amazon was the problem. I ended up grabbing an OEM cable off eBay and now steering wheel controls/iDrive integration work perfectly.

[Duckengine]

I have an 08 e92 but no idrive. The Bluetooth integrated stereo system works fine with my iPhone 5s for phone purposes....will the tune2air system gain me anything over simply buying the y cable? I don't mind manually operating the phone to play music but it would be nice to control the phone from the steering wheel...at least to switch songs.

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by gazosnic

Thanks Mike - awesome post. Can my CIC firmware be updated remotely if needed? Anyway to confirm if my current sw version can support combox? This is the VIN from my CIC

Shoot me a PM w/ your VIN and I'll check to see the last time it was programmed. Another way I can check is if you let me know the integration level from a dealer key read.

Unfortunately the navigation system software can only be upgraded safely with the proper tools. You can mail the unit to us with same day turn around though

[M4Trojan]

Hi All,

I just picked up a 2011 e92 M3 and have some questions regarding bluetooth connectivity. I know this topic has been beaten to death, and I have researched many threads, but i'm hoping I can get some help.

My car has a build date of 9/23/10, has idrive navigation (but no tech package) and 6FLa USB. When I push the phone button on the steering wheel nothing happens. Also, there is no 'telephone' option in the main menu. I suspect it's because I don't have bluetooth capability in this car. Can someone confirm? And if that is the case, will getting the product in this thread and a y-cable do the trick? Is there an easier method since my car is not a 2011.0 build?

[wsybert]

Originally Posted by M4Trojan

Hi All,

I just picked up a 2011 e92 M3 and have some questions regarding bluetooth connectivity. I know this topic has been beaten to death, and I have researched many threads, but i'm hoping I can get some help.

My car has a build date of 9/23/10, has idrive navigation (but no tech package) and 6FLa USB. When I push the phone button on the steering wheel nothing happens. Also, there is no 'telephone' option in the main menu. I suspect it's because I don't have bluetooth capability in this car. Can someone confirm? And if that is the case, will getting the product in this thread and a y-cable do the trick? Is there an easier method since my car is not a 2011.0 build?

If you have a center console USB and Y cable, the tune2air should work.
I just got mine today and it works perfectly!
And to think I spent $40 on an Apple 30 pin to lightning adaptor. I'm sure I'll use it somewhere.

I like that it picks up right where the song left off. Even with pandora.

[M4Trojan]

Originally Posted by wsybert

If you have a center console USB and Y cable, the tune2air should work.
I just got mine today and it works perfectly!
And to think I spent $40 on an Apple 30 pin to lightning adaptor. I'm sure I'll use it somewhere.

I like that it picks up right where the song left off. Even with pandora.

Thanks for the reply. Will this also allow me to make phone calls through the car's mic and speakers?

[gazosnic]

Do u need to plug an aux in anywhere or does it get all the audio and track info from the device? Reason I ask is cause w the normal cable I don't get audio unless I plug iPod/iPhone w stereo cable as well.

[wsybert]

Originally Posted by M4Trojan

Thanks for the reply. Will this also allow me to make phone calls through the car's mic and speakers?

Yes.

[gazosnic]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Shoot me a PM w/ your VIN and I'll check to see the last time it was programmed. Another way I can check is if you let me know the integration level from a dealer key read.

Unfortunately the navigation system software can only be upgraded safely with the proper tools. You can mail the unit to us with same day turn around though

just sent you a Pm. The CIC VIN is VJ21435

[gjschwartzman]

Been using this device for over a month on my early 2011 e93 with the oem Y connector and every few days the device will become disconnected from my iphone 5. Unplugging and re-plugging the device will correct the problem temporarily. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[gazosnic]

when using w Y cable - does the aux 3.5mm part need to be plugged in as well or just the USB?

[gjschwartzman]

Both need to be plugged in.

[highmodulus]

My M3 did not have the USB nor Bluetooth installed. But I was able to use this for $40 and it works surprisingly well.

Kinivo BTC450 Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit for Cars with Aux Input Jack (3.5 mm) - supports aptX (bought it from Amazon).

[RobertEvans]

thanks for posting up the info on this... i just got mine yesterday and filled in what i was missing from the stock system

[Brian0473]

Just installed this and it works great.

[kmadey1]

I put mine in yesterday. Perfect. Used it all day today on sales calls. Navigation, phone and ipod all at once and worked as expected.

[BDO]

My 09 E90 doesn't have the USB (hence I don't have the Y-cable). Currently I listed to the iPod via a OEM BMW (which is actually Alpine) iPod interface which plugs in in place of the CD Changer.

I'd like to plug this little gadget instead of an iPod, then use my phone over BT. Will it work, displaying the song name, steering wheel controls etc?

[Brian0473]

Originally Posted by Brian0473

Just installed this and it works great.

After day 1 I actually realized that I need to plug in my phone to charge it most of the time I am in my car ...so I may offer mine up on the classifieds.