Docking Cradle for 2005 X5
 

I will soon have an '05 X5 with assist. I have a Motorola V600 and look forward to using the Bluetooth capability in the X5. I want to get a docking cradle to charge the phone while I'm in the car. This forum has some great information about Bluetooth, but I'm a little confused about the cradle.

I've seen reference to "cradles", "snap-ins", and "eject boxes". Are these 3 the same thing, or separate parts? Can someone tell me exactly what part (or parts, if more than one) I need to order?

Is it a fairly simply install, or should I get the dealer to do it? Is any software coding required to activate the cradle?

Any comments or advice will be greatly appreciated!

Hi Brad,

There are two components required for the installation. One is the "Eject Box" and the other is the "Snap-in Adaptor". The Snap-in mounts into the eject box. The eject box is a universal component that accepts the phone-specific snap-in adaptors that BMW makes for various phone models.

Several 2005 owners have had problems getting the cradle to properly power the phone. The other challenge you will run into is BMW only installed one antenna, and it is currently wired to the Assist module. You'll either need to come up with some sort of y-cable so that the antenna can be shared by both the phone and the Assist, or else install a second antenna for the phone.

V600 Snap-in part number: 84 21 0 307 726

Eject box part number for the 2000-2004 e53, e38 and e39 is 84 21 6 933 415 with a pairing button

Eject box part number for the 2005 e53 without a pairing button is 84 21 0 393 570


Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I will order both of these parts and install it when the X5 arrives. Will let you guys know how it works out.

I have a X5 05 with snap in adaptor and it works great I have hardly used mains charger since.

I have the Eject Box and the V600 Snap-in adapter in my 2005 X5. UCrewX5 is correct about the antenna issue. Since the new X5s only have one cellular antenna (used for BMW Assist) if you connect the phone into the Snap-in and use the Antenna Port, you will actually loose signal strength. Coverage is very good here in Eastern Massachusetts so I disconnected the antenna port from the Snap-in Adapter and use it to hold the phone and to charge it. The V600 works great with the BMW Bluetooth System.

Still waiting for BMW and Palm to make the Treo 650 work. I have one and I would love to use it with the X5.

MJM

I ordered and installed the bumper antenna for my '04 w/assist. It works great. The P/N I ordered is for a OEM hirschmann antenna for GSM/PCS phones, it was different than the P/N listed at realoem.com, which I think is the Euro part... The good P/N is 84-11-1-470-326 and retail is $63.75. I also ordered the FAKRA to mini UHF cable/adapter 84-32-0-143-162 which was not needed (If anyone needs one let me know).

Here is the article on my installation - http://www.xoutpost.com/articles.php?...icle&artid=204

Jeff - great job on the install and the write-up. Thanks for sharing this information with everyone here :thumbup:

My Cingular Treo 650 works great with the X BT. I have the -552 module in the 04 X and all of my speed dials automatically transfer every time I start the car. Hands free sounds excellent. Overall the system works 100% times better than it did with my Verizon V710.

Oh, Jeff, great write up on the antenna install. If I could have gotten my V710 snap in adapter to work (I'm still waiting for someone to figure that out), I would have installed the antenna using your write up. :thumbup: