Bluetooth on 2004 M3?
 

I have a 2004 M3 with BMW assist and cell phone pre-wiring. It has the microphone next to the sun roof switch as well as the steering wheel phone controls. However, it does not have a pairing button. I do seem to have the silver box in the trunk as well as a card in my owners manual with the BMW passkey. My car has a production date of 09/2003. From what I gather, although I have these items, 09/2003 was too early to include Bluetooth. Is this correct? I know this question has probably been asked, but please forgive me as I am not very familiar with the electrical systems of these vehicles. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

Yup. That's correct. BMW planned to release assist with integrated Bluetooth but for whatever reason it didn't make it and the ecu only is able to do assist. No Bluetooth despite the logo and BT pass key.

I had a m3 just like yours from 2003 with exactly the same assist ecu. Because I wanted Bluetooth I ended up doing a BT retrofit even before BMW offered it.

Anyway, simply purchase a newer ecu with Bluetooth. Bit of programming at the dealer and that's it. All the hardware is there. You have the microphone and Bluetooth antenna !!

Same here with a 2004 X5, built in 10/2003. I replaced the Assist unit with a BMW Bluetooth unit but now use a Kensington BT interface through the aux in (it also supports A2DP so I can wirelessly stream music from my Android phone).

Thanks to both of you. I was afraid of that.

Should I be looking for a ULF or TCU module? Is there any difference between the two? What build date should I be looking for? Anything from 2004 and beyond?

Also, seems like the most cost effective solution would be a Dice MediaBridge. Especially seeing as I would like iPod controls as well as maybe adding Sirius Radio in the future. However, phone and iPod control are the most important features to me, so I guess I can always go the same route as you Haigha. How much control of your iPod do you have through the car's radio or steering wheel?

The Kensington BT unit was $50 and plugs into the lighter socket. It comes with a wireless remote that mounts on the rim of the steering wheel or, where I have it, on the shifter. I actually have the lighter unit mounted in the glove box via the 12V flashlight adapter I bought for my E30. The flashlight socket is switched on and off with the engine. I don't use the voice part and I'm told the microphone quality is not that great.

I use it to pair with my Droid X. I have never owned an iPod ;) For one thing, Apple was way late to the game supporting A2DP. My WM phone supported it 2 years before Apple got around to it.

I see. I really don't want to add a remote to the steering wheel or anything. If I go with a new Bluetooth module in the trunk, I can add the AUX out and run it to the glovebox. I can then add the flashlight adapter for power. It sounds like I may do that or just add the MediaBridge.

Also, I just use iPod as a generic term for MP3 player.

I recommend the TCU for your car. It is far and away the cheapest, and your car does not have navigation, so you would not benefit from the nav voice command instructions the ULF offers. Plus, I think that the phone ring sound and caller volume is better with the TCU than the ULF.

The TCU is plug-and-play. You would need to get it coded after installation to enable voice recognition. You could get the dealer to do it or use NavCoder.

The cost for the latest TCU is $338 from Silver Spring BMW. There is a $200 core charge, but if you handed your old TCU as core, that cost goes away.

Have a look around on eBay. There's normally plenty of i-bus tcus on sale pretty cheap. So stay away from anything that was manufactured in 2004 or earlier

Thanks everyone. Looks like I will try to find a 2005+ TCU or go with the MediaBridge.

The TCU will not do A2DP, AFAIK.