e90 retrofit parts?

[DanH]

Quite fancy retrofitting some toys onto my 2nd hand e90. Is there a decent supplier that everyone uses?

Considering retrofitting the following, and find it hard to get any good info :

- logic 7.
- ipod interface.
- tv (only if I can pick it up cheap on ebay).

[blackspider]

Unfortunately if you try to retrofit anything onto any of the late BMW's with intergrated software then you will find they wont work or the system you plug into will fail to work until the unit is removed.

The retrofits are no longer plug and play(like e46)

If you work for BMW you will understand this but every retrofit needs to be logged with the car system in question.this means a complete reprogramming of the vehicle software level via SSS(all control units on the car need to be at the same software/communication level)-If the vehicle hasnt been programmed for a few years then this can take between 30 mins to 6 hours(on a good day).Then the retrofit needs to be programmed in to the system another 30mins.
(the customer never pays for the programming side)

Some of the media retrofits can be awkward-you may need to reconfigure MOST(fibre optic bus line)-this if you want to fit logic7,bluetooth,CDchanger,ipod interface etc.

For finding second hand units I can only think of FAB,but as this is still new technology they may not have anything as yet.

Again be careful of what lines you tap into for power and earths as most are monitored.The wrong lines and the vehicle may not go to sleep and flaten the battery or a severe spike on a line will freeze a control unit-see it all the time...Clever technology but a sod when you want to play with things.It forces you to the dealer

The easiest retro for you is ipod..fitting a few now
Logic is a nice addition but a little(alot) rework is needed for the extra speakers.
TV-will be expensive-If you have CCC (wide screen)it helps but there is a fair bit involved in a retrofit.

Edited by blackspider on Thursday 28th December 00:08

Edited by blackspider on Thursday 28th December 00:11

[DanH]

blackspider said:

Unfortunately if you try to retrofit anything onto any of the late BMW's with intergrated software then you will find they wont work or the system you plug into will fail to work until the unit is removed.

The retrofits are no longer plug and play(like e46)

If you work for BMW you will understand this but every retrofit needs to be logged with the car system in question.this means a complete reprogramming of the vehicle software level via SSS(all control units on the car need to be at the same software/communication level)-If the vehicle hasnt been programmed for a few years then this can take between 30 mins to 6 hours(on a good day).Then the retrofit needs to be programmed in to the system another 30mins.
(the customer never pays for the programming side)

Some of the media retrofits can be awkward-you may need to reconfigure MOST(fibre optic bus line)-this if you want to fit logic7,bluetooth,CDchanger,ipod interface etc.

For finding second hand units I can only think of FAB,but as this is still new technology they may not have anything as yet.

Again be careful of what lines you tap into for power and earths as most are monitored.The wrong lines and the vehicle may not go to sleep and flaten the battery or a severe spike on a line will freeze a control unit-see it all the time...Clever technology but a sod when you want to play with things.It forces you to the dealer

The easiest retro for you is ipod..fitting a few now
Logic is a nice addition but a little(alot) rework is needed for the extra speakers.
TV-will be expensive-If you have CCC (wide screen)it helps but there is a fair bit involved in a retrofit.

Thanks for the reply - from a master tech no less!

Any idea how much the ipod costs fitted at a UK dealer? I've had my iDrive flashed to the latest revision, but realise that I'd need the add on programmed in once I fitted it. Not sure how obliging a dealer would be about doing this though.

In terms of the TV, any idea how much is needed beyond the main tuner unit (which I nearly bought off ebay). Guessing some wiring loom + aerial. I already have the GPS fin though, so wondering if the aerial is already fitted. Not too keen on stripping the headlining etc.

Seems like I might be better off just uprating the speakers rather than going for logic 7

[blackspider]

I can give you more info on tuesday(2nd),thats when I go back to work-I should be able to give you an idea of whats involved with the Tv(time,parts etc).

The iPOD is 1.5hours to fit (+coding)-again it also depends on your options you have alredy fitted to the vehicle.to find out if it is compatable you can call your local dealer,they can give you a quote for it to be fitted and whether its compatable.

yhm

[Silentz]

I have an 06 E91 325i Touring and with iDrive/professional sat nav and all that, but no iPod connection. Got a quote today for an iPod connection from Blue Bell of Wilmslow.

£380 (inc parts, labour and VAT) ... which is pretty much twice the price of an iPod!

They said the car would need to be with them for 2 days, as "the software update takes hours on a good day, and they often crash and you need to start them all over again, so it's best to leave it with us for 2 days"

Offered a loan car of course

Don't think £400 is justifiable, given that a cable to plug into the Aux socket is less than a tenner.

Hope that helps.

[blackspider]

Absolutely right with the programming,i was updating a 645 today and the bugger crashed during CCC update,will have to try and rescue it tomorrow.They allow us just over an hour to program a car-this one has taken 9 so far.
We always advise the 2 day when it involves software because of this sort of problem.

[DanH]

blackspider said:

Absolutely right with the programming,i was updating a 645 today and the bugger crashed during CCC update,will have to try and rescue it tomorrow.They allow us just over an hour to program a car-this one has taken 9 so far.
We always advise the 2 day when it involves software because of this sort of problem.

(Did you get my email?)

Personally I'm willing to spend a bit putting the ipod interface in as I don't like fiddling with an ipod itself when driving. It's not about the cost of the ipod, it's about the value of having all your cds available on the idrive screen.

I wish it was easier to retrofit parts on these cars though - even if I do the wiring I'm stuffed getting the software flashed, and I don't know if I could find a dealer willing to do the flash upgrade without fitting the part. I suspect they might bill me for the 9 hours

[Silentz]

The thing is, i'm told that it doesn't even properly integrate with the screen. For example, you can't just navigate to an artist/album/track and play it.

The BMW site itself says "The interface does not support display information on artist and track or track search. "

All it does have is: "next / previous track, skip tracks in steps of 10 (not in RND and RPT mode), fast forward/reverse (in RND and RPT mode only), random play, scan SC, playback 5 special play lists, playback all tracks."

So before you go on a journey you need to set up your special playlists which you can play on random or play all. Not great.

[blackspider]

DanH said:

blackspider said:

Absolutely right with the programming,i was updating a 645 today and the bugger crashed during CCC update,will have to try and rescue it tomorrow.They allow us just over an hour to program a car-this one has taken 9 so far.
We always advise the 2 day when it involves software because of this sort of problem.

(Did you get my email?)

Personally I'm willing to spend a bit putting the ipod interface in as I don't like fiddling with an ipod itself when driving. It's not about the cost of the ipod, it's about the value of having all your cds available on the idrive screen.

I wish it was easier to retrofit parts on these cars though - even if I do the wiring I'm stuffed getting the software flashed, and I don't know if I could find a dealer willing to do the flash upgrade without fitting the part. I suspect they might bill me for the 9 hours

Havent checked my emails yet today,will do later.

It would be easier to get it fitted for the £300+ as they are likely to charge that it it do'es all go pear shaped and then the diagnosis for checking the system etc.
You would also have to get the fitting instructions-they dont come with the kit.
The unit on its own is £165+vat so its worth going the dealer way

As for the playlists etc the unit is built by alpine and all track listings,playlists,albums are listed and by nale of track/artist etc.
This unit is only available for business and prof navigation.

There is a kit for the radio version-this comes with a little screen that sits on the dash(not that nice looking though)this also lists tracks/artist etc by name.

[DanH]

Silentz said:

The thing is, i'm told that it doesn't even properly integrate with the screen. For example, you can't just navigate to an artist/album/track and play it.

The BMW site itself says "The interface does not support display information on artist and track or track search. "

All it does have is: "next / previous track, skip tracks in steps of 10 (not in RND and RPT mode), fast forward/reverse (in RND and RPT mode only), random play, scan SC, playback 5 special play lists, playback all tracks."

So before you go on a journey you need to set up your special playlists which you can play on random or play all. Not great.

Isn't that info for an older version of the interface that was cheaper but with very limited functionality?

[Silentz]

DanH said:

Silentz said:

i'm told that it doesn't even properly integrate

Isn't that info for an older version of the interface that was cheaper but with very limited functionality?

It might be... obv Blackspider knows what's available...

That info is copied and pasted of bmw.co.uk, which i assumed would be up to date for marketing reasons.

Sorry if it's misleading.