[vickky454]

hey, new user, I have an e92 with the Idrive system (2007). What would be the best way for me to get bluetooth functionality and phone compatibility? Sorry for asking such a question, but Ive tried my best searching and just ended up bewildered

Thanks

[ctuna]

1)Easiest is Dension gateway 500s bt.
That will give you phone , streaming music , usb and iphone
See Dension website
2)If you have an installed bt module it could be either a TCU
or Mulf module you have to research and read the bluetooth
thread for that. Requires coding and may require extra wiring.
3)Upgrade the entire idrive to NBT its a pretty technical
upgrade see idrive subforum.

Your requirements may vary according
to budjet, ability to install, if you want OEM ,
how much you want it to look like stock.
what's in the car already.

There is a idrive subforum
http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=122

[vickky454]

Thanks for the answer, Ive had a look at the dension gateway 500 bt and think that may be the way forward. At the moment Its has Idrive with sat nav.

Also, off topic, do you guys have a subfroum for builds, as in car diary?

[ctuna]

The build guys are usually on the general forum .
And there are many subforums here.
I bet the is a separate site for that somewhere though.

[BOTUS]

I believe you can add a combox

this gives USB input and charging, BT calls, BT streaming. If you can do a bit yourself and shop around could come out half the price of a dension plus no silliness wiring up a non std bit of kit (I'm not saying BMW method is straight forward though...)

also can fit the later iDrive controller with dedicated short cuts, a massive improvement and might well be plug and play (widescreen and late 2007 it should just plug in) older software needs updating, non widescreen and it can be done but needs a guru to change build date add later 2009 files and swap it back again. You do need the console trim though to go with it.

Other point you may not have read about - to make better use of the old controller so it works a million times better... in direction of the menu you want... push and hold for 2 seconds to jump right in there rather than a million nudges, scrolls and clicks !!!

[vickky454]

Originally Posted by BOTUS

I believe you can add a combox

this gives USB input and charging, BT calls, BT streaming. If you can do a bit yourself and shop around could come out half the price of a dension plus no silliness wiring up a non std bit of kit (I'm not saying BMW method is straight forward though...)

also can fit the later iDrive controller with dedicated short cuts, a massive improvement and might well be plug and play (widescreen and late 2007 it should just plug in) older software needs updating, non widescreen and it can be done but needs a guru to change build date add later 2009 files and swap it back again. You do need the console trim though to go with it.

Other point you may not have read about - to make better use of the old controller so it works a million times better... in direction of the menu you want... push and hold for 2 seconds to jump right in there rather than a million nudges, scrolls and clicks !!!

Thanks! would this be better than a dension box?

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.ph...&cat=16&page=1

[drevan]

If you have aux and usb in the arm rest this (Tune2air) is your cheapest solution.
Steering wheel controls + If you use iTunes/apple music also displays your playlists and library in idrive.

[BOTUS]

Originally Posted by vickky454

Thanks! would this be better than a dension box?

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.ph...&cat=16&page=1

Denison is good, are you USA or does it mean up north in UK? if in the UK one BIG advantage of wasting far too much money with Denison is a lot of the latest kit can have a DAB tuner linked in now.

So you could go from nothing to USB BT calls, BT music and DAB radio...

compatible costs more... http://shop.dension.com/en/gateway-5...h-dab-g-bundle

bargain but I just saw not compatible... http://shop.dension.com/en/gateway-pro-bt-dab-bundle



could get carried away swap out the head unit for a late one with it all inside

crazy money and needs the centre console trim but the world gets modern !!! If in USA ignore the link its a European headunit... oops this one probably still needs the combox on top of this price !!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-B...8AAOSwHjNWBcrl

you need to do some research, don't trust the internet

this is the current unit on new cars, much faster processor and looks even more trendy but now this is stupid money, but its drive in drive out all done, latest maps, touch controller and internet.... EDIT the ad is for NON DAB headunit, he will do DAB but at even higher price !! caveat emptor .... they all try to catch you out. Even buying a combox there's 2 and every one is selling the one that doesn't fit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e60-e6...kAAOSwZ8ZW5pRD

[vickky454]

I'm in the uk, think it looks like ill just buy a dension haha