That is a very early BM54 radio (if it is even a BM54 at all). I know of a few very early BM53 and BM54 radios that still had the old style round plugs. These radios do not have any of the BM53/BM54 features that you are looking for. You need a radio with the flat pins-- this is the true New Gen radio that does what you are looking for.

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SOLD
2000 E38 750iL Highline Edition, Upgraded with the lastest 2006 X5 Electronics
MKIV Navigation, 16:9 Display, Bluetooth, TV/Video with Backup Camera, Sirius, and Aux Input

Ok guys, a little update

I did a small research about this kind of BM54 Back wit round pins and I found interesting things http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/...nt-bm24-2.html This tread is also very interesting and especially last post BM54 with BM24 pinout ????

What I found is a really interesting and looks like no one knows it
I`ve opened my BM54 Back OG (old generation) and compare hardware with a real BM54 NG (new generation). The only difference between them is a PCB with pin-outs. So I took one garbage BM54 NG, unsolder the whole PCB with pin-outs and solder it to BM54 Back OG and it works like I write in my first post.

So far, so good. I decided to flash the memory with latest firmware, supporting CD MP3 Text and....woalla I have fully working and real BM54 NG.

Attached Images

 

That is a great success story.

Out of curiousity, did you gain the Aux input as well?
Does it fully mute the radio during navigation instructions, or partially attenuate (in other words, can you hear the radio while it is also giving navigaiton instructions)?

__________________
SOLD
2000 E38 750iL Highline Edition, Upgraded with the lastest 2006 X5 Electronics
MKIV Navigation, 16:9 Display, Bluetooth, TV/Video with Backup Camera, Sirius, and Aux Input

How do you update the firmware on a BM54? Will the BM24 take the firmware?

Yes, yes and yes
It is fully working, real BM54 with AUX, MP3 CD Text and it does not fully mute audio during navigation istructions and speed camera alert.


Think that BM24 has very different hardware, not sure even the flash memory is the same, like BM54.

BM54 firmware update of is possible only with programer. I`ve attached the firmware, so if you have programer (or find someone with), you can update it.

Just remove .pdf extention of the file and unrar it

P.S The flash memory is on the back side of mine PCB, with indication 29f400.

Attached Images

BM54_29f400_mp3_support.rar.pdf (107.8 KB, 4582 views)

I suspect I have the BM54 Back OG in my 2002/06 M3 as well, which is a shame as I'd like the Aux in option..

So what your saying is
1. find a toasted BM54NG,
2. Do some disassembley/solder/assembly work
3. Flash the modified BM54 Back OG
...
Profit?

More the point what harness work will I need to do? I want the Aux plug up near the driver as opposed to in the boot.

And how hard are bad BM54 NG radio modules to come by?

I doubt you have fitted BM54 Back in your 2002/6 M3, because BM24 (BM54 Back) is fitted up to 10.2001.

About harness, there is two options. One is to buy BM24 to BM54 adapters RealOEM.com * BMW E39 540iP RADIO ADAPTER TUBING
Second is what I did. Find a jack for BM54 flat pins with 5-10cm wire left, cut BM24 jack from your car and connect (solder) wires according pin-out scheme in attachment (you will need to buy only antenna adapter).

Profit: you have MP3 Text (if you have MP3 CD Changer and flash to latest firmware), does not fully mute audio during navigation istructions and speed camera alert, there is AUX and....a pleasure of doing it

Attached Images

 

i also have a bm54 back, and i read a little about that hw...and afaik, you will have a problem if you want to retrofit a ULF/TCU unit to moded bm54 back...a small integrate circuit is missing from the mainboard, some other small components as well...

Yes, you`r right. I missed to mention that my car is equipped with DSP and my ULF module works perfect. Did not try on car without DSP yet.

Will try this week and let you know.

I checked the mine PCB and found no differences between BM54 Back OG and BM54 NG. I`m not sure, is there any differences HW and SW in BM54 Back according production date
Any way, I`ll try to change the EEPROM and BIOS (atmel) chips as well and hope there will be no problem even in car without DSP...but let me first try