BlueTooth DIY.

[rost12]

BlueTooth kit DIY for E39 sedan with Nav built after 03/02.

Part numbers:
ULF module: 84 21 6 934 552
Installation kit: 84 11 0 30 647
SES Jumper plug: 84 11 0 018 038 (this is for voice control)

Since I got my BlueTooth retro-fit kit yesterday (thanks, Pete!), I thought I'd post a small write-up of how we got it in. Disclaimer: I did not have the car programmed yet to accept this BT kit and I do not have a BT phone yet to make sure it works.

First of all, here a pic of what you should get with the kit:


Then, I just followed the installation manual that came with the kit:


--- Microphone is installed in the roof, where your light, universal garage door opener and sun-roof switches are located. It's easier to just pry the lights out with you bare hands, then slide the rest of the panel down towards the front of the car and pull it down.



There is a 3 pin black connector wire, plug it into the mic and then just snap the mic in place.


--- Taking the center arm-rest is easy. Insert your fingers into the small storage tray underneath the vents, and push up. Then just pry it out with a screwdriver. Slide the vents down, you'll see too screws. Unscrew those and get the whole arm-rest off and you'll see 3 wires.





Then, according to instructions, I applied some "adhesion promoter" to the surface of the BT antennae and the tray, stuck the sticky tape on the antennae. I recommend plugging the antennae in before gluing to the tray. There's only one wire there that will fit the antenna, so you can't screw up here



Then you have to take out the tray out of the center arm-rest that you removed. I have no idea how to do it properly. There are two catches that hold it in place, they are located on the sides and closer to the rear. After some wresting with it, it came out. Then you just snap the new tray in (its wires go through the arm-rest, obviously).



And finally, you connect those two wires from the new tray with the remaining wires in the tray. Put it all back together to same way you took it apart, and you're done with it.




--- Then comes the hard part, installing the ULF module. First of all, locate a small peelable sticker that says "BLUETOOTH PASSKEY". Stick onto the plastic card that comes with the kit. You'll need this passkey to pair your phone with the car's system.

You'll be placing the ULF module on the left side of your trunk, above the NAV unit (right at the top of the stack). Wires needed (big 54 pin connector and "FAKRA" connector that looked just like the one we did in the center console) here are going to be somewhere around the wheel well, you might need to unfasten the trunk lining around the wheel well to get those wires out. To unfasten it, get something thin and sharp and just pry out the clip.

Since my car is one the last E39s built, I did not need to install the new mounting bracket that some people might need. If your car was built after 03/02 but before 08/02, you'll need it. Part #s: 84 13 6 924 547 (nav) or 84 13 6 924 546 (no nav)

Then you just slide the clips into their places (you'll see indentations on the mounting bracket that'll help you figure out how the clip is supposed to be put on). I plugged in the black 54 pin connector (slide the bar down, plug it in, slide the bar up to secure it) and then proceeded to bolting the module down. Don't plug in the FAKRA connector just yet, because it will be in your way of screwing one of the bolts in. Bolting it in place is not as easy as it sounds, since the space there is VERY limited. You'd better have a friend with slender hands, that all I have to say I've actually lost one mounting clip and one bolt, so my unit is hold in place by only two bolts. We'll see how it works out.




--- While you are there, you'll probably need to plug the SES jumper too. Depending on your car's configuration you might already have one. The wire needed for this is in the same location as the previous two wires needed for the ULF module, it's a blue connector with a white bar. Slide the bar down, plug in the jumper, slide the bar up to secure it.


That's all I've done at the moment. Now I need to get the car programmed (instructions for that are in the installation manual), it looks like it's a very easy procedure. Then I'll need to get myself a BlueTooth phone before I actually know if I plugged everything in correctly. I'll be able to determine that on September 4th, when I get my Siemens S55. I'll post and update when that happens.

[RKS]

Rost12:

Great post, thank you very much for documenting the installation!

I've already printed out your post. I really hope to be able to make this work in an early '00 model, despite the build dates BMW specifies. I know I don't have the blue wire in the trunk for voice recognition, but I'm primarily interested in getting the steering wheel controls and dash display to work with a BT phone.

By the way, could you please PM me with how to post pix in a message? I've read the board instructions but my pix are on my desktop, not on a website.

Thanks again.

Richard
'00 M5 (Carbon black/Caramel Exclusive All Leather/Bruyere wood/PDC/folding rear seats/univeral transmitter; mods: Nav-TV, DVD player, UUC shifter, Dinan programming, UFMotorsport air intake temp sensor relocator, hardwired V1, Euro brake ducts, Euro trunk storage bin)
'88 M3

[Chris Foote]

Richard, FYI, BMW does make an adapter that will give you a blue plug for the SES (Voice Module) for pre-'01 models. That will at least get you one step closer towards retrofitting the unit.

-Chris

[Lupo///M5]

Congrats and excellent work rost. Something new to put on my list.

[RKS]

Originally posted by Chris Foote
Richard, FYI, BMW does make an adapter that will give you a blue plug for the SES (Voice Module) for pre-'01 models. That will at least get you one step closer towards retrofitting the unit.

-Chris

Chris:

Are you referring to the SES Jumper Plug 84 11 0 018 038 listed above, or something else? If it's something else, do you have a part #?

Where's SVTWEB (Eric) or the Nav-TV guys when we need 'em?

Richard
'00 M5 (not toothless, but bluetoothless)
'88 M3

[Chris Foote]

Hi Richard, I'm not sure what the SES Jumper plug is used for in the Bluetooth setup, but what I can tell you is that the MY2000 cars that do not have a blue plug CAN be retrofitted with an adapter from BMW. This adapter gives you the blue plug and the ability to install the Voice (SES) module.

-Chris

[Tchi]

Hmm, is there a procedure for MY2001? What is the issue w/ the nav?

Tchi
01 M5
Anthracite/Blk Sport/Aluminum

[kiwi M & M]

Are there any wires missing for '01's? I already have the voice recognition kit installed on my so the "blue wire" isn't an issue. Are any of the wires listed in the instruction under the arm rest missing on the pre '03's?

-Jay

[Sysko]

rost12,

I can't really tell from your pics. Does the kit include the phone cradle? If so, which phone is the cradle compatible with?

[rost12]

Sysko,

No. You do replace the storage tray that was there with a tray that has a BlueTooth pairing button and CAN accept a phone specific "snap-in adapter", I believe that's how it's called. But you have to get those separately, and I'm not sure they are even available in US. And you don't need those to have the phone working with the car, obviously.

[Sysko]

Originally posted by rost12
Sysko,

No. You do replace the storage tray that was there with a tray that has a BlueTooth pairing button and CAN accept a phone specific "snap-in adapter", I believe that's how it's called. But you have to get those separately, and I'm not sure they are even available in US. And you don't need those to have the phone working with the car, obviously.

Anyone has any ideas where I can purchase the "snap-in adapter"?

[rost12]

Any european dealership can help you out

[gra8fuldd ed]

Which Bluetooth Compatible phone did you decide on?

I have my Bluetooth moduole installed ... I just haven't decided on which phone to buy. They seem rather rinky-dink. I guess I really got use to my Motorola flip phone.