dfndr

I have an April 04 build 545 6 speed with sport. It is going in Monday for the emissions software recall. I called to ask that they be prepared to do whatever is necessary to make the Bluetooth useable. At present, my communications menu does not have the "communications settings" choice that is needed to pair the phone to the car. The service advisor stated that cars built before September 2004 will not run BT unless the customer opts to purchase a new TCU for $2000. I told him that I am aware of other owners of cars of the same vintage as mine that have been able to run BT after their dealers upgraded the software. He said he has heard such "rumors," but the BMW internal website states the information that he provided to me. Am I misinterpreting the posts on this board? Haven't many other owners of cars built between April and August been able to run BT after the software upgrade?

jksanford

Go to a different dealer, or have him call the dealership that was posted in another thread on this topic.

My car is a March (1st week) build, and it doesn't have the proper TCU. Mr. Belks is a few days newer and mine, and his worked fine. You'll need software version 13.2 or greater.

With your date, the Bluetooth should definately be there. You can even print off some of the tech bullitens and they will show that it will work on your car.


The $2000 option if for people like me, that have a bluetooth card included when we purchased the car, but the TCU doesn't support it. OR, Maybe I can think of a way for the TCU to 'break' so that it would be replaced under warrenty.

James

sav

I agree, the dealer is full of it. I would call BMWNA and they can check your vin and tell you that your car should be upgradeable. Mine was 3/17/04 build and I got the upgrade for $110.

dfndr

Where can I find the tech bulletins?

jksanford

I'm pretty sure that there was a very long thread that was started by pharding that discussed it. I think I read/saw the bullitens described there. Search on Bluetooth and see if you can find a thread started by pharding

James

Hormazd

Have the dealer look up SIB # 841304 and SIB # 841603.

wnrussell

Read this thread:

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=3919&hl=

It is the story of the first pre-Sep 04 retrofit with Assist.

Good luck.

dfndr

Thanks for the helpful info. Let me know whether anyone is interested in knowing what happens next week.

jksanford

I'm interested, so please post your findings....

Thanks,

James

Rudy

I can only add that my 3/2004 build car was able to get BT with CIP software version 13.3.

Unfortunately, I had them turn it back off so I could use my overpriced CPT9000 that I purchased with the car...