BMW E87 USB & bluetooth help

[Doom5003]

Good day all,

I was tolled that this is the go to place for info and help with everything BMW related.

Firstly I know very little about cars, only the everyday things.
Car model is a E87 2006 model

So now for the help:
I would like to add Bluetooth functionality to my car to mostly be able to play music from my phone and add usb playback as well
It currently has the OEM Business model loader and the stereo socket behind the handbrake.

Could those in the vehicle, especially BMW market please help me with what is required and what would the costs be?
Ill be buying and have it installed at the local dealer. But knowing they might sense I lack real knowledge, they might try and sell me some extras that I don't need thus pushing the price up.

The end sound quality I get from using those FM transmitter is deafeningly bad. And on those long trips, having to change CDs is a real pain in the ass.

If price is a no go, then at least a list of parts/items and if possible part numbers would be awesome. At least I wont look/sound like a complete noob when asking about the price when phoning them. And they might not try the whole, but you'll also be needing this and that and those and these.

Thanks

 

[momo1]

The most cost effective way is to ditch the OEM unit and get an aftermarket one.
retro fitting OEM would cost a lot, not sure how much but a lot.

 

[CA_130]

You could do a Bluetooth retrofit but this only works for calls and not music streaming and are quite expensive and complex (MULF retrofit), also those head-units are a little difficult to come by, and guys will usually charge you extortionist fees.

The later professional head-units had Bluetooth and USB as an option (they average about R2000 second hand for radio only), but you will have to buy the socket and fakra cable for under the armrest, as well as the Mic for the Bluetooth, which is even harder to come by, and each are like R700 to a R1000 at BMW.

So unless you are very, patient, resourceful, and electrically knowledgeable, it will be cheaper to go aftermarket. If you are lucky enough to find the parts listed above for a good price, you'll still be spending R2400+ and have to do the install yourself

And even then your time and wallet are at the mercy of the scrapyards.

 

[MikeR]

:thumbs: rather go aftermarket - for the Bluetooth and especially for better sound quality it will be night and day....OEM are weak in that respect.

 

[Doom5003]

Thanks all for the replies.
I have had a look at the aftermarket option and have to say there are some very nice options, especially those android drives 2 din.
But on all those I see that the facelift on the dash is required, which I do not have, and I take those cost an arm and a leg as well....

---

If I were to buy a single din drive, ill probably need a faceplate to keep the look professional. Those have to be bought separately as well, are they one size fits all or do I have to find a specific model that would fit which ever loader I take?

 

[supertramp]

Go Parrot MKi9200 all sorted and less hassle, thats what I did, you can see one of my threads if you are interested :fencelook: