[Metzroth]

I've searched. Believe me.

I had an 08 E92 w/ idrive about 6 years ago, and all I had to do to stream music via Bluetooth was plug in a cheap box under the armrest. It had USB and aux inputs in the armrest.

This '11 E90 doesn't have idrive (which is fine with me) and apparently that means it also doesn't have a USP port in the armrest. (or anywhere else that I've found.

All I'd like to be able to do is stream music with decent quality via Bluetooth.

Feel free to flame me for asking a question that has been asked a million times, but I've looked over countless threads and there is usually a missing variable that keeps the answers from applying directly to my situation.

So again...flame me...but then share a link or a solution with me.

Thanks!

[Thumbie]

Is there an aux port at all?

If so I guess problem solved, as there are some good quality Bluetooth receivers and you can use cigarettes' lighter USB to power it.

If no aux at all....there is a lot more involved lol. sorry I am not more help.

[ctuna]

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1499808

You can find these on Amazon
You have to be able to enable the cdc function.

This gives you usb, sd card , bluetooth phone and streaming and a extra aux.

https://www.amazon.com/Most-Bluetoot...1157075&sr=8-4

There are also cheaper things that plug directly into the Aux.

Try doing and advanced search here with bluetooth in the header search parameter.

[Metzroth]

Originally Posted by ctuna

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1499808

You can find these on Amazon
You have to be able to enable the cdc function.

This gives you usb, sd card , bluetooth phone and streaming and a extra aux.

https://www.amazon.com/Most-Bluetoot...1157075&sr=8-4

There are also cheaper things that plug directly into the Aux.

Try doing and advanced search here with bluetooth in the header search parameter.

That is exactly what I was hoping for.

I'll need to get a cable for coding again and refresh my memory on how everything works.

I was looking at doing an aftermarket head unit install and it just didn't seem like it was worth the headache.

Thank you.

[Metzroth]

Originally Posted by Thumbie

Is there an aux port at all?

If so I guess problem solved, as there are some good quality Bluetooth receivers and you can use cigarettes' lighter USB to power it.

If no aux at all....there is a lot more involved lol. sorry I am not more help.

Ultimately I'd like to add a Bluetooth box, but I may go with the 12v powered Bluetooth receiver to 3.5mm aux in the meantime.

Is there one you have experience with that you'd recommend?

Obviously, there are a million of them if you search on amazon. I didn't find any BT receivers that are simply 12v power source/receiver straight to 3.5mm. Most of them are a BT/radio converter that runs off the 12v plug.

[andy_06xi]

I used the Tunai Firefly:

https://www.amazon.com/Firefly-Bluet...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

My car had the cigarette lighter right next to AUX_IN in the armrest. So:

cigarette lighter socket -> low-profile USB power supply -> Tunai FireFly -> AUX_IN

no problem closing the armrest with the Tunai plugged in.

However I changed over to the Eonon 9465 Head Unit instead and I'm very happy with it. Allows A2DP bluetooth -- higher quality -- and so much more. This would cost you around $300.

[ctuna]

Read the link . (the installation one)
I have one it works fine .
I stream ytube music on it . It has steering wheel controls.
I was initially only using the USB for music but got tired of my
library.
The only downside is there are basically no instructions as far a
operations goes . To change sources you have to double tap the power
button . It defaults to the sd or usb source on power up if you have those
plugged in. phone works and the audio is good but there are no
instructions for that either.

Really read the big thread on installation there are plenty of reviews there.

I decided this would be the way to go after reading a ton of the reviews
on the cheap aux and not so cheap aux plug ins. Not sorry.
Aux degrades audio.

[Metzroth]

Originally Posted by andy_06xi

I used the Tunai Firefly:

https://www.amazon.com/Firefly-Bluet...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

My car had the cigarette lighter right next to AUX_IN in the armrest. So:

cigarette lighter socket -> low-profile USB power supply -> Tunai FireFly -> AUX_IN

no problem closing the armrest with the Tunai plugged in.

However I changed over to the Eonon 9465 Head Unit instead and I'm very happy with it. Allows A2DP bluetooth -- higher quality -- and so much more. This would cost you around $300.

I ordered the Bluetooth 5.0 version of what you shared to use in the interim. Do you have an E90/92/93? Do you mind sharing some photos that show the head unit fitment? On the product page it looks like they are targeting E46 owners.

[Metzroth]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Read the link . (the installation one)
I have one it works fine .
I stream ytube music on it . It has steering wheel controls.
I was initially only using the USB for music but got tired of my
library.
The only downside is there are basically no instructions as far a
operations goes . To change sources you have to double tap the power
button . It defaults to the sd or usb source on power up if you have those
plugged in. phone works and the audio is good but there are no
instructions for that either.

Really read the big thread on installation there are plenty of reviews there.

I decided this would be the way to go after reading a ton of the reviews
on the cheap aux and not so cheap aux plug ins. Not sorry.
Aux degrades audio.

I'm going to go with an amazon BT/AUX converter so that I don't have to listen to the radio anymore, but ultimately I will likely end up going this route.

Looks like there is a ton of work involved in installing an aftermarket head unit in these cars. I do have the factory amplifier and all of that jazz, so I guess there is an additional cost involved too. My heated seat buttons would also need to be relocated from my understanding. I realize that isn't too big of a job...but just something else I'd have to do.

Thanks for sharing!

[ctuna]

How hard it is to install an aftermarket system depends totaly on
which system you start with . The head unit is not the the
system but effects the install . If you have the Hi Fi system 676 it's pretty easy
by a Technic Harness a 6 channel amp or amp/dsp that does differential inputs
and one of the many (now) available plug and play speaker kits.

Blue tooth aux converter don't convert anything they just use Aux as the Input to the
system.

[andy_06xi]

Originally Posted by Metzroth

I ordered the Bluetooth 5.0 version of what you shared to use in the interim. Do you have an E90/92/93? Do you mind sharing some photos that show the head unit fitment? On the product page it looks like they are targeting E46 owners.

The unit looks very OEM for E90. Basic installation is plug-and-play and would take less than an hour. Note that seat heater buttons can be preserved (see photo) by swapping in a climate control panel from a 135i. Additional tasks would be:

1) Running a new 'always on' power wire to avoid reboot-on-start

2) Mounting GPS and Microphone (I spliced in to existing OEM Mic) and running wires to Head Unit.

3) Mounting Rear View camera and running power and video wires.

4) Coding to eliminate 'SOS' error if OEM Head Unit was fiber-optic based. (note in this case you'd also need an audio-to-fiber-optic converter box).