$200 to program car after Ipod Interface install?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,434
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From: NYC, Rego Park, Queens
My Ride: 2004 E60 530i, 2012 E70 X5 35i
Model Year: 2004
Originally Posted by 968turboS' post='794134' date='Feb 16 2009, 03:03 PM
Well, got the dreaded call from the dealer. It would be 1 hr labor to install the ipod kit and 2 hrs to code the vehicle. They want over $400 for both. I asked the service advisor, why is it that I can install the ipod kit in 10 mins and a certified BMW factory trained mechanic needs 1 hr?lol.
Anyways, does anyone know what code version I would need to do this? Is there anyway around getting this code upgraded without paying for it. I am seriously considering buying a diagnostic tool which allows me to do this and a thousand other things that I can do, going forward.
Raj
Anyways, does anyone know what code version I would need to do this? Is there anyway around getting this code upgraded without paying for it. I am seriously considering buying a diagnostic tool which allows me to do this and a thousand other things that I can do, going forward.
Raj
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6
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My Ride: 2006 550i
Originally Posted by neoe60' post='784250' date='Feb 3 2009, 03:18 PM
We definitely need another BMW dealership in my state because the 1 that is in my state charges crazy prices due to the lack of competition. Does $200 to program the car after Ipod Interface install sound right?
They told me I have two choices:
1) Install it myself, but they would have to program the car BEFORE and AFTER my install (due to the model year of my car), or
2) Have them install it, but the programming is free (since I'm still under warranty).
In either case, the cost is $200. What have you guys been paying for this?
They told me I have two choices:
1) Install it myself, but they would have to program the car BEFORE and AFTER my install (due to the model year of my car), or
2) Have them install it, but the programming is free (since I'm still under warranty).
In either case, the cost is $200. What have you guys been paying for this?
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 302
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From: Princeton Junction, NJ
Originally Posted by nigxdoof' post='794165' date='Feb 16 2009, 03:41 PM
You can go to another dealer. That is your best bet.
Raj
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: North Carolina, USA
My Ride: 2008 BMW 550i
2006 BMW X3
Originally Posted by 968turboS' post='794134' date='Feb 16 2009, 03:03 PM
Well, got the dreaded call from the dealer. It would be 1 hr labor to install the ipod kit and 2 hrs to code the vehicle. They want over $400 for both. I asked the service advisor, why is it that I can install the ipod kit in 10 mins and a certified BMW factory trained mechanic needs 1 hr?lol.
Anyways, does anyone know what code version I would need to do this? Is there anyway around getting this code upgraded without paying for it. I am seriously considering buying a diagnostic tool which allows me to do this and a thousand other things that I can do, going forward.
Raj
Anyways, does anyone know what code version I would need to do this? Is there anyway around getting this code upgraded without paying for it. I am seriously considering buying a diagnostic tool which allows me to do this and a thousand other things that I can do, going forward.
Raj
Without the CD changer, a cable has to be fished through. That could take an hour +. They probably don't differentiate the labor between the two.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
My Ride: 2004 545i, Sport and Premium package, Titanium Silver with Black Dakota Leather interior
Originally Posted by neoe60' post='784581' date='Feb 3 2009, 11:44 PM
That's amazing! I wish my dealership was as cool as yours! How did you get your dealer to do it for free?
Also, thanks for all the great replies and info! After following some links posted, I ended up at the BMW Accessories site and discovered that the cost should've been $305 for the interface kit + $83 for the install:
http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.asp...p;productId=736
I dunno why the guy over the phone quoted me $300 for the Ipod kit + $200 for install? The price on the website is much more in line with the smaller economy here.
Oh yea and sorry about not including more details on my car. It's an 06 model without L7, navigation, nor a CD changer. My CD player can play MP3's but I do get a lot of "cannot read media" errors which are inconsistent, meaning it sometimes will read a file and sometimes won't read the same file. I did search for and find the "how to burn an MP3 CD" thread and the disc is up to spec. Maybe a software update will help with that?
BTW, there's an easy way to comparison shop multiple dealers' prices using the BMW Accessories site. Just replace the "Centerid=5580601" in the part of the url w/another dealer's id number. Dealer id numbers are easy to find:
1) Goto BMWUSA.com
2) Click DEALER LOCATOR
3) Do a BROAD search
4) Hover over the SCHEDULE A TEST DRIVE link
5) You should see the link in the status bar of your browser, in that url is the "dealerid=" number, just replace it into the number after "Centerid=" in the original url
It didn't really help me out much since both dealers in this state are owned by the same person but I wanted to search other states to see what dealers are charging. Hopefully this may help others find lower dealer prices to help with price matching.
Also, thanks for all the great replies and info! After following some links posted, I ended up at the BMW Accessories site and discovered that the cost should've been $305 for the interface kit + $83 for the install:
http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.asp...p;productId=736
I dunno why the guy over the phone quoted me $300 for the Ipod kit + $200 for install? The price on the website is much more in line with the smaller economy here.
Oh yea and sorry about not including more details on my car. It's an 06 model without L7, navigation, nor a CD changer. My CD player can play MP3's but I do get a lot of "cannot read media" errors which are inconsistent, meaning it sometimes will read a file and sometimes won't read the same file. I did search for and find the "how to burn an MP3 CD" thread and the disc is up to spec. Maybe a software update will help with that?
BTW, there's an easy way to comparison shop multiple dealers' prices using the BMW Accessories site. Just replace the "Centerid=5580601" in the part of the url w/another dealer's id number. Dealer id numbers are easy to find:
1) Goto BMWUSA.com
2) Click DEALER LOCATOR
3) Do a BROAD search
4) Hover over the SCHEDULE A TEST DRIVE link
5) You should see the link in the status bar of your browser, in that url is the "dealerid=" number, just replace it into the number after "Centerid=" in the original url
It didn't really help me out much since both dealers in this state are owned by the same person but I wanted to search other states to see what dealers are charging. Hopefully this may help others find lower dealer prices to help with price matching.
Thanks for the tip! I am not actually currently looking to add this mod but I was interested in comparing the costs of my local stealers. Vista BMW which happens to be right across the street from me has a reputation of being crooks. They want $643 for the interface plus install! Reputation confirmed! The other area stealers were around $400.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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I just got mine done last week, the dealer charged me 1.5 hr labor, so $200 sounds just about that. My car was CD changer pre-wired, so I bought the unit myself and installed it. (15 min job) $643 for just the interface it crazy. You can get it online for $400 less 
In total I spend ~450 for everything. Worth every penny in my opinion, but not at those crazy prices those dealers are asking.
In total I spend ~450 for everything. Worth every penny in my opinion, but not at those crazy prices those dealers are asking.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: New York und Wien
Originally Posted by 968turboS' post='794286' date='Feb 16 2009, 06:00 PM
Do you know of a cheaper place I can get this done? The service advisor is being very nice and is trying to see if they would do the programming under goodwill. I am now trying the mp3 doesn't work approach... Lets see if it gets me anywhere. My car is an 06, which doesn't help.
Raj
Raj
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 302
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From: Princeton Junction, NJ
Went to the dealer with my hex key set and swapped the ipod kit with the CDC in 10 mins. They wanted 1 hr labor and kept insisting that the glovebox had to come out (so much for that). They will charge 2 hrs labor for programming at $250. My wife wants the ipod and I am better off spending the $250 than trying to waste time finding a different solution. She spends 150 miles a day in the car so I can't blame her either .
Oh well. I will let you guys know how it turns out.
Raj
.Oh well. I will let you guys know how it turns out.
Raj
Contributors
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 302
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From: Princeton Junction, NJ
Update: 2/19/09
Got a call from the dealer that we need to put the CDC back in the car for them to code it 1st. Since I swapped the CDC with the ipod kit, they can no longer read any modules and all the modules currently show red.
I dropped the CDC off and now they will charge me that extra hr of labor to install CDC, remove it and install IPOD. The way its supposed to work, you code your vehicle while the CDC is in place, swap CDC with ipod kit and then you activate the ipod kit.
This is for the later M-ASK cars.
Hope it helps others.
Raj
Got a call from the dealer that we need to put the CDC back in the car for them to code it 1st. Since I swapped the CDC with the ipod kit, they can no longer read any modules and all the modules currently show red.
I dropped the CDC off and now they will charge me that extra hr of labor to install CDC, remove it and install IPOD. The way its supposed to work, you code your vehicle while the CDC is in place, swap CDC with ipod kit and then you activate the ipod kit.
This is for the later M-ASK cars.
Hope it helps others.
Raj
