Bluetooth
 

Recently bought a bluetooth module and the antenna and I can't seem to get it paired with my phone. My car is already pre-wired for telephone.

There's not enough information to offer any help.

• We don't have any information about your e53 X5...what is your model/model year/build date? (it reveals what you may already have installed or need to install)
• We don't know what your purchased (what is it's 11 digit BMW part nbr?). There are multiple BT modules. The older ULF modules that have buttons inside the console that are required to pair...then you have the latter TCU BT modules that pair within a 2 minute period when the ignition is turned on. Then there are incompatible BT modules that are used for newer BMWs that communicate over the MOST bus vs the older TCUs that work with your generation BMW and communicate over the I-bus
• There are some BT modules installed in early 2004 that actually do not have BT capability (see info below & note text highlighted in yellow)

The module that was in there before was just your basic TCU module that if you bought the Motorola phone you can hook it up and you have phone. So I bought a module that has bluetooth and replaced the old TCU and I have the bluetooth antenna installed as well in the correct area above the navigation DVD thing.

What I have read is that my module might have met the max amount of phones that can be paired to that module. I was wondering if there was a way to clear the phones from it so that I can put the module in pairing mode. Or is this something I have to take to the dealership where they can clear it.

I have an '04 4.4i with navigation and all of that stuff already wired for phone meaning i have the mic and all of that.

I put a TCU in mine, BUT I also had to add the blue tooth antenna, and the cable connecting the two, nearly impossible to find I might add!!! plus you need a mic. once you have the bunch installed. your phone should 'find' the Bluetooth module and you should be able to pair up! (does your module have a Bluetooth symbol on it!???)

What is the part number of the TCU you bought? My 2004 came with a TCU, and it even had a BT symbol and pass key on it, but it does NOT have BT. Maybe you bought from an unknowing seller?

It came with the bluetooth antenna. I have to dig in there to find the part number but when I bought it, it matched up to being a TCU that has bluetooth. But maybe I did something wrong when I was trying to pair it.

There are BT TCU modules out there that do not work on the e53...that's why we keep asking for detailed info as to what you installed. The BMW part nbr and manufacture date on the TCU you installed will go a long way in us being able to help you better. See the pics I posted in post #2 as to the location of the part nbr and manufacture date of the BT TCU you installed. :)

If the BT TCU you installed has a manufacture date prior to 10/2004...even though it has a BT symbol on it...as mentioned and shown in post #2...those early BT TCU modules were incorrectly identified as being BT compatible and they were not.

If you have a BT TCU that was installed in one of the models below (and based on the manufacture/build date)...then it is one of the integrated TCUs that only require turning the ignition on and you can pair a device within a 2 minute period...without having to press ANY buttons inside the cabin. You would just open your cell phone/device and initiate it for BT pairing:

If you have one of the upgraded BT ULF modules that were sold over the counter from BMW to upgrade existing phone systems (of that day)...then you may need to use the pairing button inside the console etc.

Again, this is why the inquiries as to what did you specifically install. Just saying you installed a BT TCU is not enough since there were multiple part nbrs and modules for various install scenarios...along with some modules that were incorrectly identified as being compatible (but were not). :)

Yeah I think I have one that says it is bluetooth but it actually isn't. Hold on folks I am uploading a picture

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4576/...e3b88175_b.jpgScreen Shot 2017-11-09 at 1.38.50 PM by Patrick Hunt, on Flickr

Yup, thats a non-BT unit.

You want:
Units below have bluetooth and Assist
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-04 Feb-05 84116946993 1st release of integrated BT/Assist TCU (personally confirmed BT
functionality). No voice input but can be added by separate SES voice module.
Came with my 2005 M3. Reported trouble with some phones such as AT&T
Tilt see thread: Re: Here's a great TCU part number reference
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Mar-05 May-05 84106964114 Added support for voice input (phone only, not nav). Added support for
Siemens S66 phone
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Jun-05 Aug-05 84106965056 Improved performance of Address book transfer on some phones reported.
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-05 Feb-06 84106963798 Fixed problem of NAV defaulting to Telephone menu on startup. Has voice
support; works better than 993 according to
Upgrading Bluetooth/Assist TCU, questions... - E46Fanatics
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-05 May-06 84109120843
RMFD TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-05 Jul-06 84109122529 RMFD = remanufactured.
RMFD TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-05 Sep-06 84109132711 Was ~$330 from Tischer (including core charge) 7/2008 works in M3
BMW M3 Forum.com (E30 M3 | E36 M3 | E46 M3 | E92 M3 | F80/X) - View Single Post - HUGE news regarding the newest oem bluetooth tcu
RMFD TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Mar-05 Sep-06 84109171721
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-06
Sep-07
84109115729 Continental TCU Bought on ebay from 2007 X3 date 14.03.2007 SW 03.25
HW 64; bluetooth works great in my 2005 E46 M3.
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT? CDMA Dec-06 84109129851 part no not in realoem database; is an iBus unit and works in an M3 according
to Forum (84.10 9129851 04UP Will this work??? e46 - BMW M3 Forum.com (E30 M3 | E36 M3 | E46 M3 | E92 M3 | F80/X))
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-06 Sep-07 84109166534 ENDED
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA Sep-06 84109195455 Newest iBus TCU currently being sold by Tischer as of 09/2008; confirmed to
work on this post: BMW M3 Forum.com (E30 M3 | E36 M3 | E46 M3 | E92 M3 | F80/X) - View Single Post - So can I get Bluetooth or not?
and here HUGE news regarding the newest oem bluetooth tcu - BMW M3 Forum.com (E30 M3 | E36 M3 | E46 M3 | E92 M3 | F80/X)
TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT CDMA ? ? 84109181864 Continental iBus TCU from a 2008 E85 Z4; reported to work in a 1995 740iL in
this thread: I have another TCU part number 84.10 9 181 864


Any of those will work, but I'd stay away from the 993 unit as it doesn't have voice command for dialing.

Ditto Amancuso...the manufacture date listed on the module (3/24/2004) falls within the date range of modules that were incorrectly identified as being BT compatible and were not (again, see the text highlighted in yellow & underlined in red in pic below):

Thanks y'all I appreciate the help!

So, to get Bluetooth (calling and music) functionality, if your car is already pre wired for telephone- all that is needed is the correct TCU, which is available rather inexpensively?

Yes and no. The e53 OEM BT is only for calling, not music. For music you need AUX-IN.

Ditto amancuso again...I guess technology moves so fast that we forget and make assumptions that cars built a decade ago or more should have technology that is relatively newer.

As has been discussed...Bluetooth telephony became available around Oct 2004...so car telephones prior to that did not have BT capability. Music streaming (A2DP) did not evolve until around 2010/2011. So BT TCUs from 2004-2009 would not have the capability to stream music.

Thanks Qsilver7 for this info!! I have an '06 X5 and have been searching all day for the harness and low and behold I already have the factory BT set up!! I feel like such an idiot! I have an 11.10.2005 TCU and it paired automatically just as you described. I got the PK off the TCU and I'm good to go!

PropellerHead.....looks like 10/4 production date is when this started!

:thumbup:

So I was able to connect to my bluetooth module and had it working and all of a sudden my phone can't connect again? Says device out of range and I tried to pair it with just the ignition on, can't remember how I paired it initially but I think the telephone use to pop on the navi screen now it doesn't?

You should be able to pair within the first 2 minutes when you turn the ignition on. Sometimes the TCU get corrupted and you need to pull the fuse for the TCU thus rebooting it.

Ok I will try to pull the fuse to see if it works, thanks!

Happens to me few times as well.

Is it fuse #7 in the glove box? Says Telephone but that could be the old telephone system with the actual cellphone which has been removed.


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In the back fuse block. Fuse 74

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psspxgzzaj.jpg

Awesome thanks!


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#74 is the 10A fuse and to my surprise it was blown?! What the hell causes this to blow? Is my iphone too powerful when it pairs? LOL

Did you ever fix yours with a new fuse? If so, has it been performing ok? Mine quit pairing as well. About to go check that #74 fuse.

Pulled #74, re-installed it and bingo! Thanks everyone.....I wish I could contribute something here.

:thumbup:

Bluetooth
 

I removed this Bluetooth module from an older (03 4.6is) but has production date that is newer than both the car it came off of and mine:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...478e8acf6a.jpg

Was thinking I'd upgrading mine that's on the car.

Is this the correct module?


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Based on the date on the module...it is a newer one. You could also just type in the 11 digit BMW part nbr (on one of the online part database sites) to see if it is compatible with your VIN.


You can see the part nbr clearly...it's 84 21 9 145 007. If you do a part nbr search it will give you the list of successive modules it replaces and if there's a newer one that replaces it...and if it is retrospectively exchangeable or not. :)

Click the following link for an example of what BMW models can use the part plus what other module part nbrs that came before it and after it and if it is retrospectively exchangeable with the part that was in your car or would have been optioned in your car based on the production date range: RealOEM.com - Part Search

I was actually going based on some info from this page:
https://store.bimmernav.com/blogs/in...it-information

But my part number wasn't matching to their's for the Jan 2007 production generation.

#1 Ask a question?
#2 Someone answers the question
#3 You contributed. Thanks you...:thumbup:

Ok I was trying to swap out to the newer ULF but the one currently on the car has two antenna plugs like this picture:

Cream/purple towards the bottom and black/purple at the top:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...33118178ce.jpg

While the newer one only has one antenna plug:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b4c9e6e1dc.jpg

Bimmernav notes something about some cars having two but should be both cream colored and to use the one with the purple connector.

But in my case is one cream and one black. What is the other one for?


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I have the ULF in the M5 and the TCU in the X5. There’s no appreciable difference between them.


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I remember when Qsilver7 helped me out when mine took a dive that there was a list he provided that showed the old part numbers and superseded part numbers for the correct module for your X5. I as recall there was one connection that wasn't used on mine either, I just plugged everything back in the way it was. :thumbup:

After searching a bit myself, it maybe be the unit on my car currently installed is a BMW Assist/ULF unit? I do have the SOS button and tried to press it and all it does is display BMW ASSIST INACTIVE! on the cluster for like 5 min not allowing my radio to work until this message went away by itself.

What year is your X?

2005 12/04 build date.

Should already be BT capable. Get the passkey off the unit itself then try to pair it. Passkey is a 4 digit number on a sticker on the unit. You might have to remove it to read the number off it. It'll say PK:****

No, it currently has bluetooth and my iphone is paired. Works for its intended purposes.

Was just thinking of "upgrading" to the newer unit since newer must be better lol but you are saying that the ULF and TCU quality is not any different than maybe not worth the hassle as it looks like I need to also install a "pairing" button up front.

The phone quality is not the best but it's expected for a car this age and just thought a 2007 module would have better call quality.

I honestly don't notice any difference. What kind of phone are you using? I have an iPhone X and it sounds just as good as it does in my 2018 M2.

iphone 7, my radio sounds great with DSP. Just when it's phone calls sounds a bit muffled.

I have checked my microphone as well to make sure it's the latest prat # as well and it was.

Microphone might be bad? perhaps.

Well the people on the other end don't have a hard time hearing me. So doubt it's a bad mic in my case.

Make sure the volume is up on the phone. maybe it's too low.

I had this problem when I installed the second Bluetooth Bovee streaming device. Once I found the volume on the connected iPhone device was turned down for that network I turned it up and all good. :thumbup:

With the build date you gave...there is no "better" upgrade. You have the "best" that can be had (in regards to oe BT TCU) regardless if there are superseded part numbers. The next step up is the BT modules that are for the new generation BMWs which would have been the e70 X5 (in this case) and is NOT compatible with your e53 because they operate on the MOST but (your e53 communicates telephony ove the I- bus).

In fact, the instructions you are reading about that have a "pairing button" is for older BMWs that had the old phone systems and the BT ULF component was an optional upgrade. Starting with the 10/04 build date (for this example, the e53) ...BMW started installing the newer BT TCU components as standard equipment if you had BMW Assist or Premium Pkg. These new BT TCU units didn't require a pairing button...pairing takes place automatically for the first few minutes the ignition is turned on.

Hi guys, sorry to bring back an old thread. My bluetooth module got damaged due to water from sunroof. My car is 2004/05. Original module part # 84216945387 new(old) replacement # 84216955522. Replaced the unit but still no connection to my phone. Tried fuse #74 no luck. On the head unit I enter the PK code and it accepts it. Seem the car will not start without the code. Do these modules need to be coded to the head unit?

thanks

The ULF modules have always been a pain to pair vs. the TCUs. You it's a dance you do with the ignition and pairing button. You are probably better off getting a cheap TCU as they enter pairing mode automatically when switching the ignition on.

Yes, that is what I am finding with this. Still, I will keep trying. Anyone had water damage to TCU and it kept working? Might be another issue I am looking at for this.

I wonder if you can get a modern bluetooth module that is plug and play (ie uses the same connectors) that interfaces with the ibus.

I don't know if it's ibus but the Grom bluetooth module is plug and play -- you put it in place of the CD player and it works with the dash and steering wheel controls.

Bluebus.dev. I did this for my E38.

Wow, they have one behind the radio. Or trunk option. My CD in line Bluetooth adapter doesn't have a microphone. Adding it to my wish list.

Yep - I had to run the microphone up over the steering wheel, but it's still there 7 years later -- haven't had a single problem.

Hi guys, I fixed my issue. I got a replacement bluetooth unit but the telephone icon would not show up on the screen. Checked the connector and that looked ok back then. Eight years later and decided to get the connectivity checked. Sneaky connector was hiding a corroded bit. Blue tooth back up with modern iphone 15 plus.