kobefans

Hey guys,

just got my car back from the dealer.

so here is the story, my car is 06 525i, production date Jan 1st, 2006, it cannot play mp3 disc.

and i read this thread from fellow e60er that car can be re-programmed to have it play mp3 disc under warranty, i took the print-out sheet to the dealer, but the dealer refuse to do it for free, because it says it will only cover e60 5s up until 09/2005, so my car doesn't qualify. Fine, I said go ahead I will pay for the re-program.

Then few hours after I left dealer, the dealer called me said when they try to re-code/update the headunit, it yields error code, so they are gonna replace the headunit under warranty. I was like: sweet.

Then now it's the funny part, the dealer SA called me again today said that BMW Canada refused to warranty, because mp3 is not supported until March 06, so basically they cannot replace the headunit under warranty nor be able to re-program it.....

I think it doesnt make sense logically, e60s up until September 05 can have software upgrade to play mp3 ( which is older than my car), and car after March/06 have mp3 ability out of factory. So cars from Spet 2005 to March 2006 can neither get a software upgrade nor a replacement headunit...

does anyone else sense bullshit here??

Help would be greatly appreciated!

kobefans

here is the link for the print-out from bmw for mp3 playback re-program warranty

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?act=attach...st&id=39031

russdx

mine wouldnt do it coz of the 'copyright north America' ;(

DD_545i

You mean they wouldn't do it "for free". They'd still do it though, for money. I showed that printout to my German dealer and they happily did it. Cost me ?180 (about 160 quid) for software update and MP3 retrofit. Since then, MP3-CD's work and the navigation is substantially improved from my 2004 original version.

enigmad

I am currently going thru the same thing, I have an '04 545 w/NAV and CD changer. Removed the CD changer and installed my iPod adapter, and it doesn't work. I can play MP3 CDs, however. Took it to BMW and showed them the bulletin, said I'd have to pay since it wasn't covered under warranty (it ended 9/08). So I am coughing up $200 for the reprogram.

BlaSTiWi

Do you have Navigation?

Just to make sure... if you read thru the service bulletin it is only apply to Navigation/CCC equiped car, if you don't have Navigation it requires hardware upgrade (swapin' the physical in-dash CD) ... as we don't have the luxury of simple software update as other Navi equiped owners...

Dregs300

Question I have a 06 530i w/o nav or cd changer. Is it safe to say that service bulletin won't work for me either?

PraiseTheLowered

yes it wont apply to you

you have a different system, M-ASK i believe.

I had a CDC, MP3 ability in both but couldnt play with my ipod, had to pay $200 for reprogramming.

kobefans

update:

I just called BMW Canada customer service, the guy on the phone confirmed with me that the car SHOULD BE ABLE to play mp3 no matter what version of headunit i have. so BMW canada gonna contact my dealer to resolve this issue, plus my car is still under warranty.

OverSoft

They had to do a software update on mine, so i payed ?160,- (which is about 200$ i guess) and let them enable ALL options (like MP3 and the automatic turning of the passenger mirror on reverse) which they did for free.
The dealer was happy with the print-out i took with me, because he didn't even know there was that kind of option for older cars.

They kept the car overnight and they returned it the next morning, new overall software (not only iDrive, also the tranny, etc...) and the new options turned on.

I just asked a dealer friend of mine if there's a gap for the MP3 option, he said no.
All 5-series iDrives are upgradable to the newest version AND can get the MP3 option enabled.