Making '04 X5 into '06 Style BT
 

Hello All, I've never posted to this forum so please forgive me if this has already been discussed but I do have a very specific question.

I have an 04/2004 build X5 3.0, I would like to upgrade it to have Bluetooth but I specifically LOVE the new bluetooth that is in the 3 series. It has a Male Voice and seems to work really well.

Can you all tell me what part numbers/process I need to go through to make my car have bluetooth and it work/sound like the New 3 series version?

Yes, I have one of those funky models that has a BT card, module, antenna, etc, but doesn't really have Bluetooth.:banghead:

I'm confused by the statement - do you have Bluetooth or not in your X5? :dunno:

Well ... given the fact its a 04/2004 my guess is that you had one of those Assist only TCUs fitted with your vehicle, but BMW "teased" you with the BT passcode card in your owners manual .... only to find out later that your module was only Assist ... and did not include BT !! Common for '04 owners I'm afraid.

Well fear not ! BMW issued a Service Bulletin which allow you "at your own expense" .. to replace the current "assist only' TCU with a BT/Assist TCU. These TCU do include the male voice commands for the phone only, so will work very similar to the systems found in the new 3. (The BT/Assist TCUs in all cars are supplied by Motorola).

Its a relatively easy replacement. The TCU itself takes around 5 minutes to replace. In the early days of this upgrade, dealers were ill-informed and customers were being charged in-excess of 2 hours for coding time. Madness. This has shrunk drastically, and a dealer should be able to now recode your new TCU in around 15 minutes !

Heres a direct link to the service bulletin. It has being updated a few times (with an even newer part # for the TCU), but the theme remains the same. Good luck !!

Page 3 or 5 should apply to your vehicle ... sounds like you have the BT antenna, but perhaps you dont according to the bulletin given your cars manufacture date. Eitherway your BMW center will be able to sort you out.

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/BMW/11255...405/index.html

At last the truth is revealed!!! I have wondered since I bought my X why my delaer repeatedly told me my X (July 2004 build) had BT, when in fact it didnt. And YES, they gave me the damn "passcode". I still have no idea what I need to get it(BT). Is it JUST the module that needs to be replaced?

There is no recoding necessary for me. It's a simple DIY. Many here have done it.

Are you sure you have the BT/Assist TCU as Coding is definitly required for this. The TCU requires the VIN to work correctly for Assist functionality.

For Bluetooth only modules, coding is not required however.

To answer the question above regarding what you need, purchase the latest BT/Assist TCU from a BMW center (get ready for a shock ... they are not cheap) .. switch it over (takes all of 5 minutes) and then arrange for the vehicle to be coded.

Done.

Thank you all SO MUCH! This is very helpful... I'm gonna see where I can get with things and let you all know.

Yes... apw2607, you described my car EXACTLY, thank you for your help!

TCU needs to be replaced and the car needs to be recoded. If you have assist, and want to keep it, you will need the '05 combo unit. If you don't have assist (or if you do and don't want to keep it) you can buy the BT only module.
I went through this (I have a April '04 model)... it was a PITA and took a PUMA case to get the dealership to code the car. 10 months after I had the unit working the TCU I installed failed. BMW replaced it under warranty, but it took another PUMA case since the part number in my car (which was an '05 TCU) was for the wrong car. Finally they replaced it with a new TCU and it seems to work better than the one that failed. I added the console eject box and a secondary cell antenna, so I could have both Assist and bluetooth.

I have an apointment to bring in my X in the morning to my local dealer to have this done. My build date was also 8/04 which my dealer told me was 1 month before they started to include the 05 assist/bt combo unit.

I'm glad I stumbled across this thread because I was wondering why I had that passcode card in my glove w/o bt.

I should be able to provide the part number after tomorrow and I'm told that this new release of this part this month saves me almost $1,000 so rather than being $1,600 it should be in the $600 range.

Crossing my fingers and hoping the part they described and ordered is the part I want.