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

[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!!!

[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]

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.

[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!

[SlickGT1]

Ricky,
for you, I would get an aftermarket unit, and extend the OBC to the glove box. Less than $1k with labor. And you will have all the features, and then some.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Someone is selling the entire Nav unit on here. I think it is JST. He has got EVERYTHING for $1000.