Checked into getting Bluetooth added to my Oct 04 build 535d. I had heard that it was just a software update, but according to two dealers, it requires about 800 euro in parts and about 8 hours of installation. Overall, about 1600 euros. Does that sound right? Am I missing something?

 

i guess they are trying to rip you off. mine is march 04 build and my dealer only charge me 2 hours labor. only sw, no other parts needed.

 

Talking about a rip-off......
In Singapore, we pay almost US$1,400 (parts, labour including snap-in adaptor) to have bluetooth retrofitted despite having "phone prep" in our option list.

 

But I heard from previous posts that there might be a Bluetooth Controller coming out soon too for the e60... sometime this Fall... is that really true?
Can someone confirm with BMW? I tried calling this afternoon, but I was put on hold for quite awhile... I am here in Canada....
thanks!!

 

Maybe US cars have some parts already installed that are options elsewhere???

That would possibly explain why it is so cheap?

 

afaik, there isn't any parts involved. members who have post march 04 build date only paid for sw update. some lucky ones didn't pay for anything just because they were updating the sw for some other issues and their dealers did that for them out of courtesy. but some, including me, paid for labors. some only paid 30 minutes and some paid up to 3 hours. please correct me if i'm wrong.

 

Does this apply to UK cars aswell? I have a july 04 built model. What version software do you need?

 

this post is mentioning about microphone in your car. if you have one, you should be ok and a sw update will do the trick. if not, i guess you have to retrofit the mic . as far as the sw version, any newer one will do. but many members are having problems with 17.1. so it's better to wait for 19.0. good luck .

 

I believe it's something to do with the fact that US cars have BMW Assist as standard, which means that they all have the TCU required bluetooth already. It's just that pre March 04, that TCU was not software upgradeable to support bluetooth telephony.

European spec-ed cars don't have this TCU as standard, so I think it is the bulk of the cost of the retrofit

 

Isure wish BMWNA would get all over this, it has now been almost 2 years and still no bluetooth in my 11/03 car.