Do I have Bluetooth?

[jayjay_dee]

Originally Posted by Aimster

Picture of it installed?

You just clip it on the visor, like a garage door opener... The disadvantage i see here is its not integrated with your radio, so you have turn off your radio before picking up the incoming call.

[R1MAN]

I have went through a lot of threads, and at the end I end up with the conclusion that the cheapest and easiest way to get BT is to switch over the BMW assist with ULF module, but I need some advise to make sure that is the correct way and if it is, what module should I get? I have included some pictures, so I hope they help at least a little.
One of the things that make me confused is that, how come when I press the button with the face on the steering wheel, it makes a call, but after few seconds I hear a massage that says: thank you for using verizon, but we can not complete your call,,, or something like that, how can it can make a call?

[zerochief]

Originally Posted by Aimster

Picture of it installed?

[R1MAN]

Anyone can give me some advise regarding this matter?
thanks

[zerochief]

Originally Posted by UncleBob

I have the Sony Ericsson HCB 100 and it is perfect. You can take it from car to car. Standby goes on forever. Easy to use, etc. Check this out: Sony Ericsson HCB -120

I purchased the HCB-120 model last week and it's excellent.

[DaveNW]

R1Man, as I understand it, BMW Assist is the source of that call that cannot be completed. It is a subscription service that you need to pay for. Without the subscription, the call can't be completed. But since BMW Assist is strictly for emergency calls, or calls to BMW, (similar to OnStar) the phone isn't worth anything other than that. You can't use it like a regular cell phone. (A quick reverse phone search of that number you posted says it's a cell phone in Irvine, CA, so I'm not sure what that's about. Maybe a Last Number Dialed thing from a voice input number?)

I went through this situation with a 2004 325i convertible, that had BMW Assist, and again just two days ago with my new (to me) 2003 X5 4.4i without BMW Assist. A friend is going through it this afternoon with his 2003 525i. It WILL work, very smoothly, and quite easily.

In order to get Bluetooth into the car, the BMW Assist module has to be removed. It's a plug-in device. The Bluetooth ULF module replaces it. Your installer (or yourself, if you're willing) can plug-and-play the parts for the ULF, the BT antenna, the pairing button, and connection to your microphone, in a very short time. ~1 hour or so. The pieces are already there - you just need to plug in the BT parts, pair your phone, and you're done. It's surprisingly simple.

I bought my BT kit from Bimmernav website. I just answered their questions about the E46 car I had, and it was all good. Worked without a hitch for a year. I sold the car a month or so ago, replacing it with an E53. Bimmernav confirmed on the phone that the same ULF kit would work in the X5 as I had in the 3 series, so I had it uninstalled before selling the E46. it's now in the E53 and running smooth as silk. No problems, and it's WAY cool. The best part is it's invisible - nothing to steal.

I don't know the EAS folks who are posting in this thread, but I do know the Bimmernav people. Their products look similar, if not identical. Do your research, buy the right stuff for your BMW, and the rest is easy.

For the record, at the same time I had Bluetooth put into my X5, I also added XM Direct satellite radio, and a Dice iPod controller. All three devices work through my dash and steering wheel controls. Took my car stereo installation guy about 90 minutes to do it all. It's sweet.

Dave

[R1MAN]

Dave
First of all, congratulations on the new ride, and second I really appreciated your through and well informative answer.
That phone number, was making me so confused about the car being preinstall BT, but now, I have it clear in my head that what was going on, and what I have to do to obtain BT.
Thanks again for your through and easy to understand answer( hey, I am on bike 99.99% of the time, shin or rain, what do I know about cars )
Anthony

[ambishop]

Right. What you have is the BMW Assist. It is similar to Onstar. Basically BMW has a Sony Ericsson or Motorola cellphone module inside a little box with a GPS receiver (assist module). This system allowed you to call for repair, schedule service ect. The system is coded to only call one number. IF your assist is not active then it will not do anything but call the Verizon or GSM carrier in Europe and give you a no service message just like a cellphone that is not active.

starting in 2005 BMW was able to get the assist module to include bluetooth although it still does not have full voice recongition.

What most people do with the assist modules is to remove/replace with the ULF module. It is a plug and play swap out. Just remove one and install the other. The plugs are identical. Then if they still want roadside assistance or whatever, you can just code a number into your cellphone. I have the number stored in my car voice recongition as "BMW dealer"
or "BMW Assist" = 1-888-333-6118. Assist costs $199 a year. I just have the number coded into my Bluetooth voice control.

The other benefit of the BMW ULF module is that you get full voice recognition including voice control of your navigation.

I recommend getting the newest ULF module available. The 13th gen supports the most phones including the iPhone.

[nwizard]

R1man, Ambishop right completely - I just replace my assist module (a silver thing with thin black wire (cellular antenna) coming in to the thing on your pictures, just below the cd-changer) to ULF (thanks to bimmernav site ) and it's working great !
the only thing I'm dissapointing about - my "perfect" english pronosiation the system doesn't understand my version of digits sometime

[R1MAN]

Originally Posted by nwizard

R1man, Ambishop right completely - I just replace my assist module (a silver thing with thin black wire (cellular antenna) coming in to the thing on your pictures, just below the cd-changer) to ULF (thanks to bimmernav site ) and it's working great !
the only thing I'm dissapointing about - my "perfect" english pronosiation the system doesn't understand my version of digits sometime

That’s funny, anyway that makes both of us, sometimes when I call some company who has voice directory, their system can't understand me, but it'd understand my girlfriend perfectly, so she give me a lot of **** about it thanks for advise bro, just one more thing, let say I replaced the BMW assist with ULF, I assume beside cell phone, I can use voice recognition to work with navigation, is that correct?
thanks again for all the help guys.