An update on my newly bought sexy friend.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Hmmm, so now I am confused. Called BMW NA, they said X is equipped with Bluetooth TCU and that a phone should pair with it. I dunno. They want me to bring it in. I think I'll try some other stuff, lol

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

Hmmm, so now I am confused. Called BMW NA, they said X is equipped with Bluetooth TCU and that a phone should pair with it. I dunno. They want me to bring it in. I think I'll try some other stuff, lol

If they charge you to take a look, don't waste your money. They won't be able to do anything with it. I would be surprised at the lack of knowledge from the dealership if the same thing hadn't also happened at a dealer in 2008. It was reported here complete with dealer tech comments. The dealer from whom I bought my '04 E53 last year also did not know about this oddity to the '04 build years.

The monster thread about 2004 BT is also right here on this site.


User after user with 2004 E53's have seen this exact problem and written to the forums.


User after user with 2004 E53's have seen this exact problem and written to the forums. The answer is pretty much always based on the same necessary actions.

[TwinTurboGTR]

I just got my kit from Dr. ColorChip. Excited to see if this works or not. Now I just have to scrub out the chips with Alcohol and a q-tip and get the wax crap out. Fun!!!

[TwinTurboGTR]

Jesus!!! BMWNA doesn't even know what the he%^ they are talking about. Ok so I do not have bluetooth for sure. When you did your's, did you need everything supplied in those part numbers or just the unit itself?

[PropellerHead]

This is what I bought:

Item: OEM BMW Hands-Free System with Bluetooth Technology
Price: $485.00
Tax: $0.00
Qty: 1
Total: $485.00

Item: CABLE PIN ADAPTOR
Price: $14.00
Tax: $0.00
Qty: 1
Total: $14.00

Item: INSTALLATION KIT
Price: $131.20
Tax: $0.00
Qty: 1
Total: $131.20

I got all of it from getbmwparts. For some reason, the emailed invoice did not contain part #'s. I *think* the install kit was the center console pairing button assembly. And I *think* the cable pin adapter was for the connection between the pairing cradle and the cable in the center console.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

Jesus!!! BMWNA doesn't even know what the he%^ they are talking about. Ok so I do not have bluetooth for sure.

Yep. This was the death knell. From SIB 84-13-04.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Yep. This was the death knell. From SIB 84-13-04.

I love how they give false hope. You would think in a $86K car, Bluetooth would be something they would put in, even in 2004.

I remember when the New CTS 3.6DI 4 came out in 2007, it was supposed to be the most technologically advanced system designed. When the first batch rolled off the line, no option for BT, only through OnStar??? Hmmm, people were in such an uproar, GM allowed those with earlier productions to obtain a BT module for free and bypass OnStar.

I was looking on e-bay for a unit, but looking at all of them, it looks like they are all made in early 2004. So those won't work either.

AWESOME!!!

[SlickGT1]

Wow that is a lot of bread for bluetooth. On top of that is installation and coding. I would say pushing a cool $G when all said and done. I don't know. Dice Media Bridge sounds very good at this point. You get bluetooth, and a whole lot more for a whole lot less money.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Wow that is a lot of bread for bluetooth. On top of that is installation and coding. I would say pushing a cool $G when all said and done. I don't know. Dice Media Bridge sounds very good at this point. You get bluetooth, and a whole lot more for a whole lot less money.

You guys are sad about bluetooth, I really wish I had that navigation box checked when my car was made. Really missing factory nav that I have in my other car and wish it wasn't a 2G+ retrofit!

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Wow that is a lot of bread for bluetooth. On top of that is installation and coding. I would say pushing a cool $G when all said and done. I don't know. Dice Media Bridge sounds very good at this point. You get bluetooth, and a whole lot more for a whole lot less money.

My programming was $100. That puts my install at around $700. A lot for BT, but if you're the kind of person who likes OEM and that fits in your definition of done 'right,' then you might feel- like I do- that it's worth it.

It also depends on what kind of car guy you are. If you go through a lot of cars, a spend like this won't return on the near term sale. It's like putting a pool on a house. You spend $30-50k but only get back ~30% on the sale of the house. Like a car mod, you get return by using it for a long time. No one 'pays you back' for car mods when it's time to sell.

I still have my first car I bought 26 years ago- a 1975 2002. My E39- 12 years. My wife's E46- 10 yrs. The E53 before this one- 7 years. I expect I'll have this one for as long as it takes to die. If I keep it for 10 more years and can use BT every time I drive it, I'm happy to spend the money to have it done the way *I* feel is 'right.' But that's the world through my screwy lens. Everyone else is welcome to use and enjoy the BMW experience with their own.