Easy Bluetooth A2DP Streaming music mod
 

Hi All!

I am new to the forums here, and a new owner of a 2010 x5 35d. Owned several diesels, and this one is by far the best. I am new to the iDrive experience and spent quite a lot of time here on the boards, and in my cockpit getting familiarized. I seem to have the CIC system with Nav, 6 disc DVD in glove box, and rear entertainment system with single DVD. I have 12.5 GB of music storage available (or did before I used some) on the internal HDD. I have USB locations in the glove box, and in center console. I do NOT seem to be able to stream Bluetooth, or control an iPod through the iDrive. I really like Streaming via BT so I came up with a simple inexpensive solution:

1. Buy the iPhone cable (not from BMW) got it here: Mini Cooper BMW iPhone iPod Nano Touch Audio Aux Input USB Charge Adapter Cable | eBay for $14.

Attachment 58379

2. Buy a neat doohicky as a BT receiver: Amazon.com: Wireless Bluetooth Music Receiver for Bose Sounddock / Beatbox / Phillips / JBL and other dock stations - 30pins (Black): MP3 Players & Accessories $15

Attachment 58380

Plug them into each other, then into the car, pair vis BT as an audio device... and Voila, streaming audio that sounds great, AND does NOT interfere with use of the phone via BT. Works with iPhone, or android.

NOW can somebody tell me how to get the damned video from the useless DVD changer in the glovebox to the rear video monitor so I can keep my 2 year old daughter happy? ;) Otherwise she pokes me through the seat like :stickpoke

Thanks, and I LOVE the forums!

Holy crap this is fantastic! I feel skeptical as I have an 07 but the logic is sound and I already have the iPhone adapter. hmmmm

07 here also, this has peaked my interest.

should work on 07
 

If the iPod/iPhone cable works in your model, then this should work, as this mod does not give you control of the iPhone/iPod from iDrive, it simply gives you a BT streaming input.

I got one of these and it works great. I have it plugged into the sig lighter to charge and it streams with no problems.

GOgroove BlueGate Bluetooth Receiver Adds Wireless Audio To Your Car | Lifehacker Australia

I've been using this for serveral years and it's been working perfectly fine.

Amazon.com: Griffin Technology BlueTrip AUX for iPhone and Smartphones: Cell Phones & Accessories

:iagree:+1 works like a charm.

I like Psieg2's option because it will all fit in the armrest cago bin. WIN! Well done

Can anyone confirm if using this blue tooth connection still allows idrive control of the music as when directly plugged in to the iPod cable in the center console?

It won't (99.9% sure) this will only be an audio stream I believe.

I will know tomorrow however cause I get my BT dongle!!!!

I'll update tomorrow evening when I know more, thanks!

Thanks! Please report back when tested.

As I stated before this does not provide control. It is a streaming interface only, all control is still from the phone's interface.

I can also report that my BT dongle and phone re-pair seamlessly every single time I start the vehicle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Yep, no control.

Works well but it does remain powered on after the car is truned off and even when locked which is not my favorite.

Additionally, if you do have this tool powered and in your car after turning off the car and then attempt to use another bluetooth device (like stereo bluetooth headphones) this thing will crate so much interference it is crazy and until you unpair or disable the audio potion of the pairing profile in your mobile phone, the other device will be unusable.

I unplug the usb drive upon exiting my car out of desire to use other BT items and out of fear my battery may get really angry :)

Other than that, this thing is really awesome and I will definately being using it exclusively for audio in my car. THANKS OP!!!!

I know its nice to be able to stream from your mobile device but how about just using a good old fashion USB flash drive for the purpose of music. You can have full control on the i-drive, you can get up to 64GB+ of your favorite songs. Your mobile device is freed up and not using any juice. Relatively inexpensive way to get song to your i-drive. Just make sure its formatted to FAT32 file system and use special software for anything above 4GB because of Window's limitations.

4GB for $6 and some change and you're done! :thumbup:
Amazon.com: SanDisk Cruzer Fit 4 GB USB Flash Drive SDCZ33-004G-B35: Electronics

Does anyone know if this mod will work with phones other than the iPhone? I'm a recent convert from an iPhone to the Nexus 4. I already have the BMW iPhone cable - if I got the cable would my android phone still stream?

Works fine with any Bluetooth device. I am using with galaxy note 2.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Sweet. How do you handle your phone connections? Do you still have your phone paired directly the BMW or are you doing all Bluetooth activity through this mod?

not to be snarkey that has been answered already look earlier in the thread.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

My fault! I forget that there was a Page 1.. Ha :slap:

I just wanted to follow up. I received my iPod/Bluetooth adapter (the same one as in the original post) and it works awesomely!

One thing that is worth noting... When I paired the iPod/BT receiver with my phone it seemed that I lost control of my phone through iDrive. When I tried to repair my phone to the X5 via the iDrive controls it wouldn't pair. It seems that when I paired to the iPod/BT receiver it disconnected by phone-X5 pair. I had to repair through my phone and then everything worked. I have two simultaneous connections from my phone - one to the iPod/BT receiver and one to the X5.

The receiver hides nicely in my center console and everything repairs when I enter the car. The sound quality is pretty good, but I have a high-end, custom system and can hear a little noise coming through -- not sure what that's about yet. This is by far the easiest way to add BT Streaming music to your X5 with the least amount of hassle and money!

Annndddd Another Choice:
 

So my original solution (I started this thread) worked great, other than a lot of cables in my center console, which is a bit inelegant and bothersome, so I kept looking.

Here is my new solution that eliminates most cabling, and seems to work just as well.

USB Bluetooth 3 5mm Stereo Audio Music Receiver Adapter Fr Speaker iPhone 4 4S 5 | eBay

Also has the added benefit of costing less than $10.

Not certain I can improve on this... :thumbup:

Very cool mod. I wonder if there is a wireless adapter where I can still keep the idrive control of the iphone.

On another note, when connected via USB and listening to Pandora, does anyone know how to use iDrive to switch playlists and not just tracks?

this methods reminds me the cassettes i used to compose when i was younger...LOL

great idea, and great thread!!!

i like this idea too...

btw...do you think if video application is able to on portable flash drive?

(i was thinking downloading bunch of music videos...lol)

How do you connect the USB?

I just picked up one of these for my '08. Unfortunately for whatever reason I've discovered my iphone won't automatically pair with this device so every time I remove the phone from the car, I have to repair, which is annoying. Anyone know if the Blackberry version others have mentioned will automatically pair upon powering up? I have the iphone 5.

Thanks.

unfortunately we don't all have USB in our X5s (even with the tech pkg in '08). I am connecting my phone to the aux jack right now. If I want to bluetooth it, I want a BT receiver that doesn't require yet another cable for power (especially because the cig lighter and console are so far apart, and no USB at all). Too bad you can't get power for a BT receiver from the AUX line. Don't want to deal with rechargeable receivers either because that's another thing to flip on and off.

Car on, BT receiver on - and vice versa. That's what I'd like. If nothing else, I guess I'll have to go rechargeable.

hi there
not sure if i am doing something wrong. bought the bluetooth item exactly as shown above in post 21. plugged it into usb port. didnt attach anything physically to it like the 3.5mm wire. paired it with my iphone. iphone shows two active connections, the bmw, and the bluetooth. phone working (as a phone) via bmw connection, but when i go to play pandora or another online streaming service, nothing. i can see in songza and pandora that it shows an active connection with the bluetooth adapter in the usb port. maybe one of the settings on the ccc wrong? do you use aux in? usb? other?

No you still need to plug in the Bluetooth device into the audio jack. The USB just powers it, the audio jack plays the music.

Dog, is this still the case for you?

I bought this usb/aux thingy since april and just got it to work, all this time I thought the problem was with my iPhone 5, found out just last week my AUX port is busted, got if fixed yesterday and im a happy camper...

now, why doesn't it reconnect automatically everytime I enter the car? lol... other than that, it works great...

Yep, each time i need to go into bluetooth settings on the phone and click connect. It's stupid.

Thanks, works great and auto pairs each time

Strange, I don't have to. Mine is auto pairing both phone to x5 and Bluetooth to x5

Must have gotten a different brand or something.

Strange indeed, i have to reconnect my phone to my bluetooth receiver everytime... can you share us some details about your setup? what year is your car? what phone do you have? and lastly, which BT receiver do you have? Thanks.

At this point I'm probably gonna have to pony up for the Blackberry unit. I spent the 9 bucks but it didn't autoconnect. Wonder what "brand" others are using that is working properly? All of them on ebay seem to come direct from
HK China.

The bt I bought
 

White 3 5mm Stereo USB Bluetooth Audio Music Receiver Adapter for Speaker Phone | eBay

It's used with an iPhone. Bt is plugged into USB in console, wire from bt into aux plug. Nothing more than that and they are both auto connected each time I go into the car. It's an '09 diesel

When using this device, are you getting lows and bass in the music? I have a similar setup, but no bass...

amazing thread, always loved streaming music to my car, this is a great way :)

yes, but i found that the original 3.5mm wire that came with the setup was faulty and i was only able to get that if i wiggled the wire. i replaced the wire and am having no issues with all ranges.