Retrofitting USB Audio on LCI E60
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From: Enschede, Holland
I regret not ordering the USB Audio option on my car, as I'm swapping between my MP3 DVDs and the navigation DVD all the time (business navigation).
Therefore I want to retrofit USB audio. Since I assume nobody did it before, I just started this evening from scratch.
Consulting ETK and WDS, it became clear that the bluetooth telephone module also takes care of the USB interface. I opened the telephone module, called MULF2, and reverse engineered it as far as possible.
My E60 is pretty basic and therefore the MULF only has 3 connectors:
1) Bluetooth antenna
2) A 54 pin white connector with only 7 wires: Microphone for voice recognition & carkit, and the wires going to the phone cradle
3) A MOST connector with 2 optical fibres
If you ordered the USB option officially, you'd get an extra 4 pin connector for USB and an additional analog audio interface on your MULF2 module. These would then go to the arm rest console, with an extra USB hub. I'm not sure yet if this USB hub adds functionality or that it just buffers the differential signal.
What I did so far: I found the USB connections on the PCB, and since it seems that all components are mounted, I soldered wires to them. I mounted everything again and tried an iriver U10.
Result: It charges the battery and tells me that it's connected to an USB port. However, my car does not yet give me access to the USB option in the AUX audio menu. Probably the idrive needs to be updated for that, something my dealer will hopefully help me with.
I'm 70% sure that the hardware and firmware is all in place in the MULF2. I'm not yet sure if the USB hub is needed or that BMW simply designed this in because of the cable length in an EMC sensitive car. I have limited time now to continue my "USB quest" but I'll follow up on this by trying a regular USB stick tomorrow, and if that doesn't work I'll spend some more time on it during the weekend. I'll keep you updated.
Kind regards,
Tim
P.S. Note to those who are about to order a new E60: Take the USB option! €500.- may seem ridiculous for an option that's free on a new small Fiat, but you won't regret it if you listen to music regularly like me.
Therefore I want to retrofit USB audio. Since I assume nobody did it before, I just started this evening from scratch.
Consulting ETK and WDS, it became clear that the bluetooth telephone module also takes care of the USB interface. I opened the telephone module, called MULF2, and reverse engineered it as far as possible.
My E60 is pretty basic and therefore the MULF only has 3 connectors:
1) Bluetooth antenna
2) A 54 pin white connector with only 7 wires: Microphone for voice recognition & carkit, and the wires going to the phone cradle
3) A MOST connector with 2 optical fibres
If you ordered the USB option officially, you'd get an extra 4 pin connector for USB and an additional analog audio interface on your MULF2 module. These would then go to the arm rest console, with an extra USB hub. I'm not sure yet if this USB hub adds functionality or that it just buffers the differential signal.
What I did so far: I found the USB connections on the PCB, and since it seems that all components are mounted, I soldered wires to them. I mounted everything again and tried an iriver U10.
Result: It charges the battery and tells me that it's connected to an USB port. However, my car does not yet give me access to the USB option in the AUX audio menu. Probably the idrive needs to be updated for that, something my dealer will hopefully help me with.
I'm 70% sure that the hardware and firmware is all in place in the MULF2. I'm not yet sure if the USB hub is needed or that BMW simply designed this in because of the cable length in an EMC sensitive car. I have limited time now to continue my "USB quest" but I'll follow up on this by trying a regular USB stick tomorrow, and if that doesn't work I'll spend some more time on it during the weekend. I'll keep you updated.
Kind regards,
Tim
P.S. Note to those who are about to order a new E60: Take the USB option! €500.- may seem ridiculous for an option that's free on a new small Fiat, but you won't regret it if you listen to music regularly like me.
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From: Los Angeles, CA
My Ride: 2007 E60 530i
Color: Jet Black/Black Anthracite
STEP | Sport | Premium | NAV | Logic 7
EXTERIOR:
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Nice work! 
Looking forward to the finished results.
Looking forward to the finished results.
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I must admit this is a brave attempt. Although I don't have the data to back what I am saying, I am guessing the iDrive needs to be updated to recognize the USB. Here is though where I think you will run into a roadblock. Since your car does not have the USB option and BMW does not offer it as an aftermarket option your VIN is not associated with the USB option and therefore it will not give your dealer the option to enable the USB.
The solution is to have your dealer request for BMW Holland the USB option to be added to the list of options that your car came with. This is something that I am not aware that anybody has achieved through their dealers either in the US or EU. (See the countless discussions about retroffiting M5 mirrors - autofold functionality).
The solution is to have your dealer request for BMW Holland the USB option to be added to the list of options that your car came with. This is something that I am not aware that anybody has achieved through their dealers either in the US or EU. (See the countless discussions about retroffiting M5 mirrors - autofold functionality).
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 258
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From: Enschede, Holland
Originally Posted by E60M5E60' post='463089' date='Aug 28 2007, 12:23 AM
I must admit this is a brave attempt. Although I don't have the data to back what I am saying, I am guessing the iDrive needs to be updated to recognize the USB. Here is though where I think you will run into a roadblock. Since your car does not have the USB option and BMW does not offer it as an aftermarket option your VIN is not associated with the USB option and therefore it will not give your dealer the option to enable the USB.
The solution is to have your dealer request for BMW Holland the USB option to be added to the list of options that your car came with. This is something that I am not aware that anybody has achieved through their dealers either in the US or EU. (See the countless discussions about retroffiting M5 mirrors - autofold functionality).
The solution is to have your dealer request for BMW Holland the USB option to be added to the list of options that your car came with. This is something that I am not aware that anybody has achieved through their dealers either in the US or EU. (See the countless discussions about retroffiting M5 mirrors - autofold functionality).
1) My dealer can request BMW Munich to change the car spec. This is something they've done before for retrofit packages like e.g. nav pro, but it may be that it won't work for USB like you're suggesting. I have a good relationship with them and I hope they'll help me. If this won't work, the backup option is...
2) I have some contacts within BMW Munich engineering too, and I visit the development center on a regular basis for my job. I'm not sure they want to help me or if they're allowed to, but I can at least ask...
We'll see... So far it only cost me less than 2 hours and it was fun, I got to know my car a bit better again. I'll post any news I may have in the coming weeks.
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Posts: 273
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Originally Posted by timewa' post='463093' date='Aug 27 2007, 02:39 PM
I agree with you. I think I need an idrive firmware update that tells my car that it has the USB option. And I'm optimistic (but not sure) that I will be able to arrange that.
1) My dealer can request BMW Munich to change the car spec. This is something they've done before for retrofit packages like e.g. nav pro, but it may be that it won't work for USB like you're suggesting. I have a good relationship with them and I hope they'll help me. If this won't work, the backup option is...
2) I have some contacts within BMW Munich engineering too, and I visit the development center on a regular basis for my job. I'm not sure they want to help me or if they're allowed to, but I can at least ask...
We'll see... So far it only cost me less than 2 hours and it was fun, I got to know my car a bit better again. I'll post any news I may have in the coming weeks.
1) My dealer can request BMW Munich to change the car spec. This is something they've done before for retrofit packages like e.g. nav pro, but it may be that it won't work for USB like you're suggesting. I have a good relationship with them and I hope they'll help me. If this won't work, the backup option is...
2) I have some contacts within BMW Munich engineering too, and I visit the development center on a regular basis for my job. I'm not sure they want to help me or if they're allowed to, but I can at least ask...
We'll see... So far it only cost me less than 2 hours and it was fun, I got to know my car a bit better again. I'll post any news I may have in the coming weeks.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 258
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From: Enschede, Holland
Sorry, I did not spend any more time on this.
My current conclusion is that this approach will not work as the Idrive SW really needs to understand the USB option, and the central BMW database does not allow you to flash new firmware with that option enabled if you didn't order it when you bought the car.
I will however start the discussion next time I'm in Munich in the BMW design engineering headquarters, but that will take at least a couple of months.
My current conclusion is that this approach will not work as the Idrive SW really needs to understand the USB option, and the central BMW database does not allow you to flash new firmware with that option enabled if you didn't order it when you bought the car.
I will however start the discussion next time I'm in Munich in the BMW design engineering headquarters, but that will take at least a couple of months.
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