Improved Bluetooth Sound Quality
07-29-2008, 03:28 PM
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My Ride: 2004 525i, Titanium Silver, Gray Leather, Premium Package, Steptronic trans, xenon adaptive headlights, sat. prep, no navigation, bluetooth, ipod adapter
Ever since I have had my bluetooth activated in my 2004 e60, I have had a problem with people hearing me clearly. Hearing the other person has never been a problem, they are crystal clear. I noticed that on surface streets I could be heard pretty well. It was on the freeway that people kept asking me to repeat myself. The faster I went the worse it got. I had been thinking about a fix for this for some time, but had never gotten around to trying it. Well, I finally tried what I had been thinking about, and hardly anyone asks me to repeat myself anymore, even at 80mph.
What I did was to take the panel down that houses the bluetooth mic. I took a piece of high density foam about 3inches by 3inches and 1inch thick. I put it up against what looked like a motor directly above the back of the mic. I then pressed the panel with the bluetooth mic back into place. The foam squeezed down around the sides of the mic and of course around the back. My reasoning was that the mic was picking up wind noise over the roof panel at higher speeds.
IT WORKED. I made calls to my answering maching (I had done this before when I was first testing the sound quality) and the difference was amazing.
I know I have read that some people have no problem with their bluetooth sound quality. In fact, on our new X5 the bluetooth sounds wonderful. But, I have read enough on this and other boards to know that some have the same complaint that I had. The sound quality is still not perfect, but it is much much improved from what it was. I can now talk with customers and have them hear and understand everything I say.
What I did was to take the panel down that houses the bluetooth mic. I took a piece of high density foam about 3inches by 3inches and 1inch thick. I put it up against what looked like a motor directly above the back of the mic. I then pressed the panel with the bluetooth mic back into place. The foam squeezed down around the sides of the mic and of course around the back. My reasoning was that the mic was picking up wind noise over the roof panel at higher speeds.
IT WORKED. I made calls to my answering maching (I had done this before when I was first testing the sound quality) and the difference was amazing.
I know I have read that some people have no problem with their bluetooth sound quality. In fact, on our new X5 the bluetooth sounds wonderful. But, I have read enough on this and other boards to know that some have the same complaint that I had. The sound quality is still not perfect, but it is much much improved from what it was. I can now talk with customers and have them hear and understand everything I say.
07-29-2008, 04:06 PM
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My Ride: 2004 525i, Titanium Silver, Gray Leather, Premium Package, Steptronic trans, xenon adaptive headlights, sat. prep, no navigation, bluetooth, ipod adapter
Originally Posted by heavy_g' post='635533' date='Jul 29 2008, 04:51 PM
Great info! Any chance you can post photos? I would love to try this out
I would love to try this out 
07-29-2008, 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by heavy_g' post='635533' date='Jul 29 2008, 06:51 PM
Great info! Any chance you can post photos? I would love to try this out
I would love to try this out
07-30-2008, 03:38 PM
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My Ride: 2004 525i, Titanium Silver, Gray Leather, Premium Package, Steptronic trans, xenon adaptive headlights, sat. prep, no navigation, bluetooth, ipod adapter
Originally Posted by heavy_g' post='635533' date='Jul 29 2008, 04:51 PM
Great info! Any chance you can post photos? I would love to try this out
I would love to try this out 
This is the compartment that houses the bluetooth mic - popped open
This is the piece of soft high density foam I used
This shows the foam piece in place above where the bluetooth mic sits
And, this shows the panel being snapped back into place
08-03-2008, 07:09 AM
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sorry for my ignorance, but i cant quite make out where the mic is located.The actual mic? cant u circle it in the picture?
thx, im about to do a software update and if the same thing happens to me, im doing this.thx a lot
thx, im about to do a software update and if the same thing happens to me, im doing this.thx a lot
08-03-2008, 08:35 AM
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My Ride: E61 CarbonBlack 535d, Ventilated and Heated Comfort Seats with Massage in Black Nasca Leather, Dark Poplar Wood, Professional Navi, Folding Rear Seats, Load Through, Advanced Remote, PDC, Bluetooth, Dimming and folding Mirrors, Bi-Xenons, Hi-Fi, Tinted
MDT you are a genius I gotta try it ASAP!
I gotta try it ASAP!
08-03-2008, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by hondik' post='638635' date='Aug 3 2008, 09:35 AM
MDT you are a genius I gotta try it ASAP!
I gotta try it ASAP!
08-03-2008, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by hondik' post='638635' date='Aug 3 2008, 11:35 AM
MDT you are a genius I gotta try it ASAP!
I gotta try it ASAP!