Did you check the vin number on say the Vin Decoder to see whether it's really 2010? My understanding was that all 2010 vehicles (2010 MY are made in 2009) have CIC.

 

 

Not difficult at all. Rosinc has how to videos and Aux cable for purchase. If I were doing it over, I wouldn't drill the Aux hole in/on the DSC panel. I'd drill it in the glove box and route the cable out. I bought the shown BT board.

 

This!!!
The rear Aux port allows this and I want this to continue AFTER installing BT board back here. How do I connect (to a power source) to allow car off accessories on music listening??

 

I'm resurrecting this thread since I haven't seen any other device worth mentioning for my setup, and this method still looks best and cheapest. I have the typical AUX jack on the outside and back of the center console, but no USB port in the car, which is a damn shame. If I plug my droid phone directly into the AUX port and choose AUX on the iDrive menu it plays music fine, but the volume is greatly reduced compared to the same settings when listening to AM/FM or when getting a phone call. Sound quality is fine, it's just the volume is way too low. I've played with the phone volume, the EQ settings on the car, etc, but the volume is just way lower compared to those other inputs. Anybody else have this complaint about the AUX jack?

Previous owner had the dealership put the ipod adapter in the car with the cable in the glove compartment. I'm not a fan of the ipod method since the same song always starts when the car is started and it doesn't shut down the ipod when the key is turned off. I'm also thinking the setup leads to reduced battery life due to it maybe not shutting down audio module(s) properly. P.O. had dealership records showing 2 visits to diagnose and resolve low battery issues. I don't use the ipod method and haven't seen any issues thus far. Coincidence? No idea, but again, not a fan of this method.

So, I just received my board and a couple gold-plated RCA jacks with which to wire everything up. I'll post some pics at some point to clarify some things I haven't seen written up here.
The board I ordered (labeled as Wondom when it arrived): The RCA jacks I plan to cut and use:
I like how this will allow me to stream music on the phone (or over the cell network) thru the car, but I haven't seen any evidence that this method will alleviate the low volume issue I see when jacking my phone directly into the AUX jack. Does bypassing the AUX jack, because the board is hardwired into the AUX wiring to the module(s) behind the AUX jack resolve the low volume issue, or is this low volume issue just something I'll have to live with?

 

If you're looking for alternative solutions, have a look at post #50 in the attached thread. I used a Belkin unit for years that was seemless.... my phone attached as soon as everything powered-up and sound was really good. You'll see from my review, that I found it the best of what I tried. I ran it for years and have since moved to an F10 so don't use it anymore, but it was great.

https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...-121832/page5/

 

To answer MysticRob's immediate questions, yes, I used to experience the low volume when I plugged my phone into the aux jack with a patch cord and yes, the problem is solved with the installation of the board. I suspect there may be some sort of preamp installed on the board that solves the problem. Just make sure the volume on the phone is turned up all the way and then you can adjust the sound with either the radio knob or the steering wheel controls.

 

Yeah, I'd read that thread, and your post, but due to the Belkin bugs and no testing with droid I dismissed it. Still thinking this Sure Electronics board is the best (and cheapest!) way to go at this point.

That is good news. I'd read the sound quality was excellent but just nothing specific about the volume being better pre- or post- AUX jack. I'll have to assume there's an amp on the board too, since really all this thing is doing is bypassing the AUX jack itself, at least the way I understand it. If so, then hallelujah, this might be perfect. At one point when I was listening to music thru the AUX jack I got a call and just about went deaf because I had the radio volume up so high (as well as the phone itself). Would be nice if I can avoid blowing out my eardrums with differing volume levels on the various different inputs.

 

And of course, reading the Bluetooth signal from your phone.

 

One comment here.....I have the same board and have found that there is some distortion if the phone volume is turned all the way up. I keep the phone volume two "clicks" from the highest setting and do not experience any distortion.

Edit: I've had this installed for quite a while and haven't had any issues whatsoever and am still really happy with the install.