BT module dead?
 

Gah! I think my Bluetooth/voice command is dead. Got into my car today and my iPhone 3GS (which has worked flawlessly with X3 until now) would not pair with my X3. Also, I get no beep when I press and hold the voice command button on the steering wheel, and I don't even get the "not available" message on the stereo display when I press the R/T button (nor my phone's address book, of course).

I turned my X3 on and off, re-booted my phone, deleted the pairing from my phone and tried to pair it again – it sees the X3, but doesn't seem to be able to make a connection with it (I never get to the passcode entry screen, it just sits and does nothing). It's not my iPhone since it's working just fine with other Bluetooth devices I have.

I checked the BT module in the cargo area and nothing looks amiss with it (no disconnected wires, etc. and I haven't touched it in years).

Sound like its dead? Anything else I should try? This is one of my favorite features and I don't want to be without it. I've made an appointment at my dealer already to get it checked out first thing on Monday but thought I'd ask the gurus here in case it's all for naught... :cool:

I'd recommend unplugging the module for 10 minutes and see if that helps.

If you look into the 'hole' where the module is, towards the front of the car is the 'system' cable for the module. You will see a white lever on the multi-plug. You need to press in the locking catch on the back of the plug and then swing the lever inwards towards you - this will disconnect the multi-plug.

Leave it out for 10 mins then re-insert, locking it in by swinging the white locking lever the opposite way until the plug seats.

May fix it - may not. You may also want to delete the pairing from the BMW module - set up pairing on the car by pressing the pairing button until it says 'Pairing', then press and hold the pairing button for >10 seconds until you hear three beeps. Should say Pairing Deleted or something similar.

If you have Assist though, it's a different module and I don't know if the connector is the same.

HTH.

Thanks for the tip! :thumbup: I do have BMW Assist but I found what you described and was able to release the white locking lever and am letting it sit for 10 minutes. If this doesn't work, I'll try to clear the existing pairings. If that doesn't work, I'm high-tailing it to the dealership first thing Monday morning to get that puppy fixed/swapped out!

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Ah, right so. May be a different ballgame with the Assist module. Not so common here in the UK.

Let us know how you get on as it can help others in the same situation.

@ trapdoor

Thanks! Will do! :)

Checked my BMW Assist buttons today and got nothing (no outgoing call, no "call connecting" on the stereo's display). I am subscribed to the service and it's a bit unnerving to know it's not working right now since I have it for the peace of mind and convenience it offers in case something happens. :(

At the dealership now and they've confirmed that the TCU is dead. Said they're going to swap it for a new one but that they'll need to load new software (program it so it's properly associated with my VIN so that the BMW Assist feature works) once it's installed and that will take 2-3 hours...

TCU replaced and everything is working again! Took the dealer about 3 hours total - the SA said that most of the time was for the programming after it was installed.

Glad you got it sorted out. :thumbup:

R6Girl - what's the TCU stand for? I'm having the same symptoms except its hard to diagnose. I seem to have an additional one where on my non-DSP system, the Audio button doesn't bring up the audio controls most of the time. If I use 'Tone' it comes up every time.

It's the Telematics Control Unit. Apparently it handles all communications-related features, including BMW Assist and Bluetooth. I have a different stereo set-up in my X3, but the dead TCU also killed 2 buttons on my steering wheel - the one that does the last number re-dial and triggers the voice command system, and the radio/telephone button that switches the stereo between audio and phone controls.

Hope that helps somehow and that you get it fixed soon!