Discussion
I realise this is a topic that has been widely discussed throughout the internet but my head is battered by the myriad of configurations so hopefully someone with some experience of this can answer my particular query.
My car is a 98 E39 saloon. It doesn't have DSP. It has the high OBC, a tape deck and MID with phone buttons on. It has multi function steering wheel with phone button. There is no sign of any phone prep as such though and it doesn't have a phone cradle in the arm rest.
I would like bluetooth and having now dismissed going for a Dynavin unit, I'm looking at either OEM bluetooth or a Parrot CK3000 integrated with steering controls. Those options are both entirely hidden which was my main priority. I hate clutter or things that are clearly not in keeping with the rest of the car.
The parrot option works out around £100 but will not give me any caller information or phonebook etc.
The BMW OEM kit will give me that but I still haven't managed to cost it up as I don't fully understand what parts I need or where to buy them.
Anybody able to put me out of my misery?
My car is a 98 E39 saloon. It doesn't have DSP. It has the high OBC, a tape deck and MID with phone buttons on. It has multi function steering wheel with phone button. There is no sign of any phone prep as such though and it doesn't have a phone cradle in the arm rest.
I would like bluetooth and having now dismissed going for a Dynavin unit, I'm looking at either OEM bluetooth or a Parrot CK3000 integrated with steering controls. Those options are both entirely hidden which was my main priority. I hate clutter or things that are clearly not in keeping with the rest of the car.
The parrot option works out around £100 but will not give me any caller information or phonebook etc.
The BMW OEM kit will give me that but I still haven't managed to cost it up as I don't fully understand what parts I need or where to buy them.
Anybody able to put me out of my misery?
Hi
There's 13 generations of BT modules that can work in the E39, and the last revision is from perhaps 2006 or so. As more and more modern handsets come out, full compatibility with the oem modules will become less and less. Already, some phones don't work with certain generations but the other aspect is that someone with the same phone as you, will find it works on say a 5th gen BT module, and when you get a 5th gen module, you find it doesn't work! - currently, the 'best' chance of a phone working fully is the iphone. Android becomes hit and miss and most Nokia's don't work at all. If you do go for this route, then finding the module, loom etc will perhaps cost you 'around' £250-300 or so, the earlier generations are cheaper and I think you'll see those for like £60 or so and the loom etc is perhaps around £50. Functionality is limited to phone calls only, there's no bluetooth audio streaming. So, overall, not a very good solution really unless if you are a BMW owner who *must have oem* modules only. With all the above, there are still people who will retrofit this and if they're lucky, the BT module works with their phones and if not, they then have to take it back out, sell it on and try with another BT module generation until they find it works, or, when they change their handset !
The separately wired in hands free car kits will of course work with your handset as they'll have current technology.
I use the Parrot Asteroid Smart in my E39, and I had zero issues. When I first installed it and wanted to connect my phone, it took 25 seconds or so to pair and connect and for me to place a successful test phone call. I can also connect a 2nd mobile phone as well at the same time for 'multi point' connectivity and of course I have bluetooth audio streaming as well, no extra boxes to install and connect.
Good luck with the direction you decide to go !
Cheers, Dennis!
There's 13 generations of BT modules that can work in the E39, and the last revision is from perhaps 2006 or so. As more and more modern handsets come out, full compatibility with the oem modules will become less and less. Already, some phones don't work with certain generations but the other aspect is that someone with the same phone as you, will find it works on say a 5th gen BT module, and when you get a 5th gen module, you find it doesn't work! - currently, the 'best' chance of a phone working fully is the iphone. Android becomes hit and miss and most Nokia's don't work at all. If you do go for this route, then finding the module, loom etc will perhaps cost you 'around' £250-300 or so, the earlier generations are cheaper and I think you'll see those for like £60 or so and the loom etc is perhaps around £50. Functionality is limited to phone calls only, there's no bluetooth audio streaming. So, overall, not a very good solution really unless if you are a BMW owner who *must have oem* modules only. With all the above, there are still people who will retrofit this and if they're lucky, the BT module works with their phones and if not, they then have to take it back out, sell it on and try with another BT module generation until they find it works, or, when they change their handset !
The separately wired in hands free car kits will of course work with your handset as they'll have current technology.
I use the Parrot Asteroid Smart in my E39, and I had zero issues. When I first installed it and wanted to connect my phone, it took 25 seconds or so to pair and connect and for me to place a successful test phone call. I can also connect a 2nd mobile phone as well at the same time for 'multi point' connectivity and of course I have bluetooth audio streaming as well, no extra boxes to install and connect.
Good luck with the direction you decide to go !
Cheers, Dennis!
Cheers folks. Must admit, I'm a stickler for the OEM look, to a fault!
If the OEM system isn't much cop, I may as well opt for the parrot CK3000 and save some money. I had a similar set up in my old E46 and it worked nicely using voice dialing. Just a shame that you have to look at your phone to see who's ringing you.
If the OEM system isn't much cop, I may as well opt for the parrot CK3000 and save some money. I had a similar set up in my old E46 and it worked nicely using voice dialing. Just a shame that you have to look at your phone to see who's ringing you.
Gad-Westy said:
Cheers folks. Must admit, I'm a stickler for the OEM look, to a fault!
If the OEM system isn't much cop, I may as well opt for the parrot CK3000 and save some money. I had a similar set up in my old E46 and it worked nicely using voice dialing. Just a shame that you have to look at your phone to see who's ringing you.
I had OEM blutooth in my 2003 530 and it was brilliant. Worked straight out of the box with my Iphone 5.If the OEM system isn't much cop, I may as well opt for the parrot CK3000 and save some money. I had a similar set up in my old E46 and it worked nicely using voice dialing. Just a shame that you have to look at your phone to see who's ringing you.
That said, it did have a slightly later 2004 blutooth module fitted.
Gad-Westy said:
S3_Graham said:
I had OEM blutooth in my 2003 530 and it was brilliant. Worked straight out of the box with my Iphone 5.
That said, it did have a slightly later 2004 blutooth module fitted.
Did you retrofit it or was it installed from new?That said, it did have a slightly later 2004 blutooth module fitted.
Had a very similar system on my 2006 130 and that was good too. Not sure why you'd go aftermarket.
Edited by S3_Graham on Thursday 2nd April 15:33
Hi,
Essesse and S3 graham - more and more people are reporting their modern handsets aren't fully compatible with the old oem BT modules as I explained above. Many will look to see what other's have in terms of which generation BT module works with the same handset and then purchase one to try. Sometimes that works and other times, it doesn't, they still have issues/problems. Iphones currently have the 'best' chance of fully working..
The 'Andrive' unit above isn't available anymore as the company have gone out of business recently. The products themselves weren't very reliable either with quite a number of purchasers with unit's that have problems and issues who also didn't get any support. As an overview, the cheap chinese made replacement unit's awash all over ebay are similar in that there's a high(er) chance of getting one with problems.
Cheers, Dennis!
Essesse and S3 graham - more and more people are reporting their modern handsets aren't fully compatible with the old oem BT modules as I explained above. Many will look to see what other's have in terms of which generation BT module works with the same handset and then purchase one to try. Sometimes that works and other times, it doesn't, they still have issues/problems. Iphones currently have the 'best' chance of fully working..
The 'Andrive' unit above isn't available anymore as the company have gone out of business recently. The products themselves weren't very reliable either with quite a number of purchasers with unit's that have problems and issues who also didn't get any support. As an overview, the cheap chinese made replacement unit's awash all over ebay are similar in that there's a high(er) chance of getting one with problems.
Cheers, Dennis!
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