The Europe TCU can have a GSM radio in it (GSM 900/1800) however Assist doesn't seem to be standard (meaning it has to be paid for and activated). It seems Europe has Assist but you need the Europe TCU + the Dual Band Telephone (I can't figure out if the Europe TCU always has the GSM radio in it and the Telephone is just the install/reciever/handset, etc). There is a BT module in the Europe TCU if BT is ordered. The US TCU has no BT module that is known to work (meaning it may be present but not sw enabled). I don't have a US TCU to crack open and look at to see if there are any ASIC's supporting BT stuffed on the board. I'm assuming for BT retro in the US, the simple change will be swapping the TCU for an upgraded/enhanced TCU (with Assist + BT, or better yet, BT only!) You confused yet?

Let's see around the MY05 launch.

 

Hi, I have CIP v.12, it does NOT support .mp3

 

Does playing DVD movies in i-Drive applies to US as well?

 

That's a question I can not answer, since I don't know about the law in the US. Someone said it is against the law in the US to display movies on the indash screen. I don't know.

 

No way you'll ever see that in the US anytime in the near future (at least directly from the factory.)

I'll be happy if I'm wrong though.

 

The CCC (NavPro) can support DVD in the rear with the Optional Video 5 Drive module added to it... It's unclear if the actual DVD decode gets done in SW on the CCC or the Video 5 Drive module does the decoding. Doesn't sound like the US will get ANY video in the front ever.

 

Once again BMW NA hoses us over. Took the car in to have the spoiler and etc done to my car. While there I looked through the German accessory brochure. It has a price for the rear entertainment package AKA DVD player. Every place was listed to have as an option except for the states! Dealer said he would look into it and see if he can order one here for the states. If I was here longer than 2 more years I would get the German DVD player.

 

You're right to not blame AG and square it at BMW NA... Each region can choose what they want. If we could corner the US 5 product manager I would give him a piece of my mind on some of the lame options they think people want and don't want. Clearly they do the market research with chimps or other zoo animals as I don't see why some very simple options aren't available here with the line "people don't want it..."

It looks like from TIS that the Video Module 5 Drive (rear seat) is still listed as "for the US" So cross fingers for MY 2005 intro!

 

Yes.
Speaking for Germany, EVERY BMW has BMW assist, and it is free for the first year. Your dealer usually activates it for you, if not you can activate it yourself.
So basically the same like in the US.

 

Yes.
Speaking for Germany, EVERY BMW has BMW assist, and it is free for the first year. Your dealer usually activates it for you, if not you can activate it yourself.
So basically the same like in the US. [/quote]
Good to know... So this means the Europe TCU GSM module (900/1800) is used and installed no matter what...

So in theroy, swapping the US TCU for the Europe TCU then executing the BT upgrade/retro would allow a US car to get BT *IF* BMW doesn't sort out the US Motorola Everest based TCU functioning with BT.