E46 bluetooth/aux streaming help

[Mr-B]

I have an E46 2004 with standard Siemens Business CD head unit and factory bluetooth phone setup, the BT only works for phone calls but I wanted to be able to stream music from my android phone too. I seem to be going round in circles looking at after market units, aux cables, FM transmitters etc. I did see a hack somewhere online (and can't find it now) where someone had got the BT phone unit to play music albeit at pizpoor quality through the BT speaker and thought that might be OK for podcasts, but ideally I would like a decent setup using the existing head unit and speakers but not interfering with the existing phone BT.

Anyone got a solution?

[naturalaspiration]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

And aukey hands free kit

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E3UC59Q/ref=cm_sw_r...

in bt setup on your phone select audio only so that it does not clash with you oem voice only Bluetooth.

You can hide the lot just make the control unit reachable so that you can pair phones when needed.

You would also need a 5V USB power supply, cheap on ebay. And if you have the alternator noise also a ground loop isolator:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KDQT9Z4/ref=cm_sw_r...

[Funk]

My phone wouldn't even connect for voice to my E46. The BT module in the car could 'see' the phone but was too old to connect. As above, a 3rd party solution is the way to go - a more up to date BT module, whilst it would've worked, was silly money.

[anonymous-user]

What I did with my e46 was in place of the 6cd changer in the boot fit a grom usb unit with the optional bluetooth antenna. It connects into the cd changer harness, steering wheel controls functions for the phone and the music, the supplied microphone i placed on the side of the rear view mirror and ran to the back of the car with an extension.
Sound quality is really quite good, bluetooth functionality works spot on and i can play music from my android phone and receive phone calls.





I also replaced my radio with one of the late alpine units i sourced from the US, this enables the aux functionality as well as supposedly sounding better.
That way i can stream via bluetooth in place of the cd changer but also have a backup aux input.

[Mr-B]

Thanks for the replies. Some good stuff to look into there.

Just for clarification my unit has the single CD slot in the dash not the 6 CD changer.

[helix402]

Both are good options. I use the first as it’s cheaper. Works a treat.

[anonymous-user]

Mr-B said:

Thanks for the replies. Some good stuff to look into there.

Just for clarification my unit has the single CD slot in the dash not the 6 CD changer.

You should have the wiring harness for the cd changer in the boot?
If not they offer kits to connect behind the dash and the cd changer if you're interested.

[twokcc]

My 2003 e46 didnt have either standard BMW phone connection but had a nokia kit fitted by first owner this worked fine until I ugraded to a android phone.Replaced Nokia kit with a parrot kit for phone and upgraded head unit from tape to single cd (has a six changer in the boot). At same time fitted an aux in port in ashtray. Originally used wired connection from phone to aux in. Like you wanted bluetooth and got a BC10 Audio connector.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BC10-Bluetooth-Car-Hands-...

Just tried it out connects fine plugged into cigarette lighter socket and aux in will try to post a photo.
BC10 has a button to press to play next/last track so have some control over tracks being played without touching phone.
Music stops automatically when phone used, only done it today but everything appears to work fine without any conflict.

Still have full access to all audio functions -single cd, 6cd, radio and phone(works from steering wheel

Edited by twokcc on Monday 18th November 11:32

Edited by twokcc on Monday 18th November 11:34

[d_a_n1979]

eezeh said:

You should have the wiring harness for the cd changer in the boot?
If not they offer kits to connect behind the dash and the cd changer if you're interested.

Another vote for the Grom Audio kits here

I've got their BT3 kit fitted to my Jap import 503i touring and it's brilliant and works with the steering wheel buttons and head unit faultlessly

[twokcc]

For anyone thinking of changing head unit this is a good article which details manufacturers/model nos and which play MP3's. Used info to ensure that my cd replacement would play MP3's( before streaming set up). Useful info on serial nos for the unreliable ones so you don't get caught out with one that does not work properly( as I did but got a refund)..

http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/12191-finding-a...

Re the grom kit looks as if costs about £120 which give you bluetooth for phone, original poster already has working phone and says was only looking for music bluetooth streaming- other solutions are only about £20 for this.(but dont give steering wheel control of tracks etc) The phone solution I used with parrot control box etc cost about £80 with special leads for steering wheel control -if anyone wants more info on here.

https://www.bmwland.org.uk/index.php?threads/e46-r...

Edited by twokcc on Tuesday 19th November 11:50

[Mr-B]

Thanks for the info folks, seems to be quite a few ways to skin a cat! Still going through the options above. I was against the idea of faffing about taking the head unit out and/or drilling holes, I am a lazy sod at heart and wanted a plug and play type of option (the FM transmitters had that appeal but there seems to be a right mixed bag of how good they really are. I had an MP3 player quite a few years ago with built in FM tans and it worked very well indeed but the screen has since broken and the transmit option was down in a sub menu somewhere which I will never be able to find)

The grom does look quite neat but pricey compared to some of the others, I was looking for a cheap option cos I'm tight and the car is a bit sheddy now so doesn't really warrant a bigger investment sadly, I do enough of that at MOT time. As above poster said I have BT phone installed already and that works perfectly OK so it was just streaming music and podcasts direct from the phone preferably via BT, but looks like I need to consider some wires of some variety.

[d_a_n1979]

Mr-B said:

Thanks for the info folks, seems to be quite a few ways to skin a cat! Still going through the options above. I was against the idea of faffing about taking the head unit out and/or drilling holes, I am a lazy sod at heart and wanted a plug and play type of option (the FM transmitters had that appeal but there seems to be a right mixed bag of how good they really are. I had an MP3 player quite a few years ago with built in FM tans and it worked very well indeed but the screen has since broken and the transmit option was down in a sub menu somewhere which I will never be able to find)

The grom does look quite neat but pricey compared to some of the others, I was looking for a cheap option cos I'm tight and the car is a bit sheddy now so doesn't really warrant a bigger investment sadly, I do enough of that at MOT time. As above poster said I have BT phone installed already and that works perfectly OK so it was just streaming music and podcasts direct from the phone preferably via BT, but looks like I need to consider some wires of some variety.

The FM transmitters work; but they're crap sound quality at best IMO. I've had a few and none of them have impressed me

The good thing re the Grom Audio stuff is that it's plug n play and if/when you get rid of the car, the kit will still be worth good £££ as it's a very neat/tidy solution that works really well

[smn159]

Appreciate that this won't help, given that you want to keep the existing head unit and have an Android phone, but I found that a Sony XAV-AX3005 unit fits perfectly, and provides you with DAB and Apple Car Play;

[d_a_n1979]

[redacted]

[Mr-B]

smn159 said:

Appreciate that this won't help, given that you want to keep the existing head unit and have an Android phone, but I found that a Sony XAV-AX3005 unit fits perfectly, and provides you with DAB and Apple Car Play;

Not quite the plug and play I had in mind Does look smart though.

[smn159]

Mr-B said:

Not quite the plug and play I had in mind Does look smart though.

It's all pretty straightforward really!

[twokcc]

Cheapest way is going to be to install an Aux inthen use Aukey or Bc10 bluetooth adapter- or an others (total less than £25)

This youtube video showing how I did mine aux in in cigarette tray- could just route cable thro glasses case if don't want to go to trouble of removing window switch trim. Relatively easy just have to remove dash trim and head unir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLiHz1GiNE

Then just plug whichever bluetooth adapter in cig lighter and aux -pair device- theni get sound thro car speakers. with radio input set on Aux
Sound comes thro all 4 speakers on Aux unlike my 2009 E91 which only plays thro front speakers.

Not exactly plug and play but once installed can just leave adapter connected .The Cig lighter does seem to be permanently on so not sure how much current adapter will draw when car switched off

[helix402]

twokcc said:

Cheapest way is going to be to install an Aux inthen use Aukey or Bc10 bluetooth adapter- or an others (total less than £25)

This youtube video showing how I did mine aux in in cigarette tray- could just route cable thro glasses case if don't want to go to trouble of removing window switch trim. Relatively easy just have to remove dash trim and head unir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLiHz1GiNE

Then just plug whichever bluetooth adapter in cig lighter and aux -pair device- theni get sound thro car speakers. with radio input set on Aux
Sound comes thro all 4 speakers on Aux unlike my 2009 E91 which only plays thro front speakers.

Not exactly plug and play but once installed can just leave adapter connected .The Cig lighter does seem to be permanently on so not sure how much current adapter will draw when car switched off

I leave my Bluetooth receiver plugged in permanently, no battery drain problems.

[Mr-B]

helix402 said:

twokcc said:

Cheapest way is going to be to install an Aux inthen use Aukey or Bc10 bluetooth adapter- or an others (total less than £25)

This youtube video showing how I did mine aux in in cigarette tray- could just route cable thro glasses case if don't want to go to trouble of removing window switch trim. Relatively easy just have to remove dash trim and head unir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLiHz1GiNE

Then just plug whichever bluetooth adapter in cig lighter and aux -pair device- theni get sound thro car speakers. with radio input set on Aux
Sound comes thro all 4 speakers on Aux unlike my 2009 E91 which only plays thro front speakers.

Not exactly plug and play but once installed can just leave adapter connected .The Cig lighter does seem to be permanently on so not sure how much current adapter will draw when car switched off

I leave my Bluetooth receiver plugged in permanently, no battery drain problems.

I saw that YT clip a few days ago and thought that was a bit of a pain then watched it again the other day and I'm warming to the idea combined with something like the BC10.

[anonymous-user]

AUX inputs will only work on stereos compatible with aux in!
https://e46radio.com/e46-cd-models/
check out that link and select the brand of your radio.
The benefit of the grom kit is ease of installation, they are plug and play! Can be found cheap every now and then on ebay.
They are also plug and play as long as you get the harness for whatever car you switch to.