I had the TCU changed in my 8/2003 production E60 so I could get Bluetooth working in my car (which it does now with my Verizon V710 phone).

I would like to get the eject cradle and snap-in adapter installed also, but the dealership quoted me a price of $2500!!

I have read all of the posts on this issue (parts numbers, etc.), but I was wondering if anyone with a pre-2004 (early production) E60 had actually had this work performed, and if so, what did you pay? It seems that most of the posts I read that had this work done were MY2005 E60's.

 

Welcome aboard, weslj !

 

If you follow this thread ->
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=9603

I would imagine it can be done. the CPT9000 was available before the BT and still needed power and antenna connection so I would think the share the same.

Look at the pictures in the link above and see if you have the same connection in the bottom of the center armrest just below the rear vent.

 

Thanks for the info - in reading this link, someone says that, even though the CPT9000 instructions require the TCU to be reprogrammed, one of the responses said reprogramming was not needed. One of the big costs in the $2500 price qouted to me by the dealership was 3+ hours of reprogramming the TCU.

It sounds like people on these boards know more than the technicians at the dealership, but I'm sure that as a result of BMW's lack of communication with their dealerships. I have already "taught" my dealership several things I have learned from reading these boards.

 

Here's the deal -- the CPT9000 system is BMW's "hard-wired" phone (not Bluetooth) which includes a BMW branded Motorola V60i, the eject box, etc. to give you a totally integrated system using the iDrive menus, hands-free, etc. In order for this to work, programming must be done at the dealership to tell the car that the phone is connected.

If you use Bluetooth (wireless) to interface your phone and iDrive, and your car is already programmed for Bluetooth (standard on 2005 cars), you don't need any programming to get things to work. Once the BT phone pairs with the car, the hands-free capabilities and the phone book should automatically sync with the car. There are some eject boxes that you can install to enable a BT phone to interface with the sharkfin antenna and the car's electrical system to charge the phone's battery. The thread linked above discusses the installation of the eject box for BT phones (which is the same process for installing the CPT9000 eject box minus the programming) which is all you need to do with this type of phone.

So, in summary, the CPT9000 phone needs programming, BT phones don't on 2005+ cars. 2004 models are able to be reprogrammed for BT if the production date is after 3/2004, I think. Eject boxes are installed the same way for all phones...

 

Thanks Rudy,

Just to clarify, my "pre-Mar2004 E60" (8/2003 production) had the TCU changed and reprogrammed and now Bluetooth is working great with my Moto v710 phone (Phonebook transfers, voice activation works, etc. - all works)

Now to get an eject box installed to take advantage of the charging feature and the car's antenna, the dealership is quoting me an additional $2500!! They say they will have to re-program my TCU to recognize the cradle (since it wasn't done when the TCU in my car was changed).

I'm wondering if the wiring from the armrest to the TCU even exists, since my car was early production, and maybe the "wiring" job, along with the re-programming of the TCU is why they come up with that price. But then I was thinking, maybe all E60's had the wiring installed, in case you want to have a CPT9000 installation??

I think I will take noonehome's advice above and dig around and see if I can find any wiring to connect the cradle too, and then maybe I can do this myself for a way lot less than $2500.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

I'm not 100% sure but I don't think any additional programming is required for a BT eject box if BT is already working in the car (TCU already programmed for BT.)

Even if it is, how are they coming up with $2500? That seems unbelievably high...

 

My thoughts exactly....

Thanks again for the advice.