Yes, BTUM is the "Bluetooth Upgrade Module" that is BMW's aftermarket solution for any car (not just E60) that used the CPT9000 hard-wired phone. The module is made for BMW by Motorola and it emulates the original Motorola V60 phone from the car's point of view. What makes it cool is that to a BT enabled cell phone, the BTUM looks like the car has a BT interface.

Essentially, it fools the phone into thinking it's connected to a car and it fools the car into thinking it's connected to a hard-wired phone.

It's been around since the beginning of 2006. Take a look at this bulletin:
btUM.pdf

And the original thread were we discussed this "new" option:
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=21734

 

Ah I see. For TCU with embedded phone (CPT 9000) option. Thanks for the info.

Do any members here still have this? Is it still offered? I checked my ASAP portal and couldn't find any info.

 

I'm sure there are others who are still using the BTUM option -- I know for sure Lomag, one of the site admins, is using it and as far as I know, he's happy with the way it works. (Lomag, if I'm wrong please jump in...)

I imagine that the part would still be offered -- it wouldn't make sense to drop it, would it? I think the part number was listed in the thread I linked to above. Are you able to look up specific parts by number?

As far as people going the BTUM route to get some sort of BT functionality on a pre 3/2004 build car, I'm thinking the scarce parts may be the CPT-9000 eject box and cradle. Not sure if they're offered anymore. Something tells me that with so many 2004 cars coming off of lease now, there will be a new surge in demand for the BTUM and other required parts...

 

OK so I did some more digging around. So here is what I found from a combination of TIS, Aftersales and DCSnet.

Starting with all MY 2005 (production 9/04 for E60) vehicles equipped with BMW Assist? (except E65/66 7 Series starting from 3/05) now has integrated Bluetooth capability.

For E60 vehicles produced from 3/04 to 8/04, Bluetooth functionality can be added to most of these vehicles by updating the vehicle software. The "most" part was never really clarified in this document.

For E60s 7/03 to 3/04 production, if your TCU part number is one of the following, then you must upgrade new TCU.

? 84 11 6 937 338
? 84 11 6 938 782
? 84 11 6 942 592

Either way BMW Assist has to be activated.

09/03 up to 08/04 Production E60s with CPT9000 option from the factory can be upgraded with the BTUM. Docking cradles cannot be retrofitted for vehicles prior to 9/04, which I guess is kinda moot since that is when standard equpped BT TCUs came out.

Note: I can see why there is so much confusion, I had to look up 3 or 4 different documents in completely different departments to find all this info.

 

Thanks for digging things up BigLew. You could've saved yourself some time and found all that information on these forums!

The docking cradle issue isn't a moot point since there is such a thing as a docking cradle for bluetooth phones. The advantage of docking a BT phone is that it charges the phone's battery (or provides power to it without draining the battery) as well as interfacing with the external antenna (by either direct connection or an inductive connection, depending on the phone.) There are many people who would like to install one of these BT cradles in their cars but unfortunately, if the car was produced before 9/04, they won't work...

 

Oh I see, I figured the docking cradle was for CPT9000 BTUM. I guess I need to learn to use search functions on forums better, but I guess you always go with what you know.

 

What's the experience of people been like with the Parrot kit with the steering wheel buttons. Isn't that a good and cheaper alternative.

 

Has anyone looked at Bimmernav's offering http://www.bimmernav.com/ ? It seems to solve many of these problems, but my dealer still says no bluetooth possible for my 6/04 production E60, even though Bimmernav says their kits are genuine BMW.

 

Welcome. Please put your location (country at the very minimum) in your profile -- many issues are country specific.

Unless there's something I'm missing here, I'd say your dealer is incorrect about the impossibility of BT in your car...

 

Sorry, I'm new. Profile updated. I'll have to find another installer and am considering a non-BMW after-market specialist since BMW apparently does not like to do this kind of work (same for Sirius retros). From what I can tell, Bluetooth retro kits for the 03/08 04's do not allow cradle use and I would like to have a car-dedicated phone rather than turn my present phone's bluetooth function on and off every time I get into or out of the car to keep it charged. The kit being sold by Bimmernav claims to allow cradle docking, and with BMW parts, which does not jive with the service technical bulletins I've seen posted on this forum. So, I'm confused. Can you tell what they are selling?