Bluetooth Integration

Tools Required

• Basic hand tools

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Facilities Needed

• Work Bench

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Parts Required

• Parrot CK3000 "Evolution" Bluetooth System, price: $120 + shipping

• For multifunction steering wheels: Connects2 CTPPAR007 Wiring Kit, price: $80 + shipping
• For standard steering wheels: Quick Connect QCBMW-R Wiring Harness, price: $55 + shipping

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Getting Started

Integrating a hands-free "bluetooth" phone is a great way to modernize your 8-series while adding practical functionality. The information given here is based upon prior work done in the E46 Fanatics forum by sycE46 and delmarco.

Approach

Aftermarket bluetooth-capable radios are available but most compromise tasteful factory aesthetics. And seperately available but possibly adaptable systems are costly. For example: E38/39 factory kits from BimmerNav are $800-up, while E38/39 "Plain Talk" kits from Bavarian Autosport are about $480. The more affordable Dice MediaBridge ($300) is impressive but limited since it interfaces only thru the radio's CD changer connection.

Used here instead is the affordable Parrot CK3000 "Evolution" bluetooth system (also used in the Bav Auto kit) along with plug-n-play wiring adaptors (see required parts above) for use with factory radios, resulting in better integration. All for about $200. The CD changer connection remains open for use with a CD/MP3 changer or aux-in for iPod, etc.

Utilization

The highest level of factory integration is achieved by coupling this with a multifunction steering wheel, which allows control of your phone - and Parrot system - from the steering wheel buttons. You may utilize standard steering wheels as well but this will require control of the bluetooth system from the Parrot commander (although some voice commands may be used by enabling "Magic Words").

Both options require use of I-bus factory radios such as the C43 or CD43.

Operation

So what do you get? In short:

• Phone audio thru car speakers, mutes radio when in use ("PHONE" displayed on radio),
• Utilize factory mic location for OEM look,
• Voice dialing (if phone supported, most do),
• Answer/end call/redial with multifunction wheel (or commander/voice with standard wheels),
• Adjust volume with multifunction wheel (or radio with standard wheels),
• Pair up to three (3) phones.

Features not supported with this approach versus full factory integration are: display features (caller ID and phone book scrolling), phone charging, and signal reception (must rely on phone unaided by external car antenna). Therefore, unless voice dialing, keep your phone handy to select phone numbers and place calls. Also, this set-up is not suitable for audio streaming with a smart phone (it's optimized for voice only).

Too Cool: A multifunction wheel in your 8-series with the Parrot/Connects2 system! Activate Voice Dialing - press telephone button, Answer Call - press telephone button, End Call - press R/T button, Discrete Mode - press telephone button during call to switch to handset, press again to return to car, Redail - press and hold telephone button for 2 seconds, Adjust Volume - use volume buttons. VIDEO: Multifunction Steering Wheel Retrofit - Phone

Source the Parrot system from either eBay or Amazon. The "Connects2" steering wheel adaptor is sold by British vendor Dynamic Sounds (also on eBay). Standard steering wheel adaptors (and full kits including the Parrot system) are sold by U.S. vendor Quick Connect.

NOTE:

• Actual operation of the Parrot system is not covered here. Visit the Parrot CK3000 website to preview the owner's manual, read FAQ's and support forums, etc.
• Some eBay vendors sell Parrot kits labeled as "new" when they're actually reconditioned (open box). You get what you pay for!

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Procedure

The following procedure illustrates a Parrot/Connects2 bluetooth installation in an 8-series with a CD43 radio, for use with either a standard or multifunction steering wheel. Parrot/QuickConnect installation is similar.

The wiring harnesses (2) that come with the Parrot kit are not needed. Instead, the Connects2 adaptor provides all necessary wiring including power supply. (QuickConnect uses the supplied Parrot wiring. However, Connects2 can be used with standard wheels, too.)

Parrot commander must remain attached for proper system function but is not necessarily needed for daily use (especially with MF wheels). The commander is used initially for system set-up, phone pairing, and voice tagging. It may then be hidden away. (The Parrot commander is needed for use with standard wheels, although some voice commands can be enabled.)

The best installation location is behind the glove box. This allows easy wiring access with room for component mounting. And, the glove box is a great place to hide the commander. Another possible installation location is in the trunk, in place of stock telephone tranceiver.

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Microphone Preparation

Microphone placement can be a matter of personal preference. Since I strongly prefer a factory appearance, I chose the previously useless in-dash factory mic enclosure. TIP: Use a factory blank enclosure (65 61 2 255 695) and save your stock mic.

1) Remove radio and OBC. Then, unplug and remove microphone.

2) Open enclosure and remove factory mic inside. See image below, panel A. De-solder (or cut) mic from the rear clip.

3) Using a Dremel or other suitable tool, remove and reduce the protrusions on inside of rear clip, to make room for new Parrot mic. Optional: using an X-Acto knife, remove the plastic from the 2nd-4th grille openings in order to provide a wider sound opening for the new, round mic. See image above, panel B.

4) Using appropriate riser/spacer blocks and supplied mic foot, fit the mic inside factory enclosure and secure with double-sided tape. See image below, panel A:

5) Using Dremel or other tool, cut a slot in the upper right of rear clip for mic wire. See image above, panel B.

6) Install rear clip and verify overall fit. You're done! Mic direction can be adjusted from the front (thru the grille) using a small pointer tool after installation is complete.

TIP: Splice a common wiring connector into mic wire (behind mic) to allow for enclosure detachment, in case the central console needs to be removed in the future.

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Parrot/Connects2 Installation

1) Remove glove box and lower trim (radio and OBC should be removed from previous step).

2) Remove CD changer data cable (or aux input) from original radio connector and transfer it to new Connects2 radio connector. Plug original radio connector into Connects2 bridge connector and, using tie wraps, secure the resulting wiring combo to upper airbox in order to make room for new Connects2 radio connector. See image below:

TIP 1: The Connects2 and QuickConnect harnesses send phone audio thru the radio's left front speaker wire, which is amplified before being routed to the speaker. This results in harsh system signals (chirps) from the Parrot module. Resolve this by jumpering the Parrot audio output (Connects2 white wire) directly to left front low-range speaker wire (yellow/red +). TIP 2: Better yet, utilize existing voice speakers instead of the audio speakers! These are co-located inside both L/R front low-range speakers. Simply jumper white Connects2 wire directly to left voice speaker wire (green +), accessible under central console, left of shift lever and bundled with factory mic wires. Voice speakers are grounded (yellow -) thru existing telephone tranceiver (in trunk).

3) Carefully route Connects2 wiring with mic wire out bottom right of center console and down left side of passenger footwell. Secure with tie wraps. See image below. Be sure to leave enough slack in the new Connects2 radio wiring to allow for future radio removal!

4) Utilize the mostly empty, upper right storage bracket behind glove box as a component mounting location. I used a combination of Velcro and tie wraps to secure the two modules. See images below:

6) Once modules are secure, route remaining wiring up and out of the way. Use tie wraps. Plug-in Parrot module (plugs are coded for proper installation):

7) Route Parrot commander into glove box. I removed my (unused) rechargeable lamp base and used the resulting opening. If preferred, route the commander to the center console area.

8) Before trim re-assembly, test installation. Enjoy!

First Impressions: How cool it is to see "PHONE" displayed on radio while talking hands-free! Voice dialing can be temperamental. Dial manually from phone for best results. With Parrot audio wired directly to left voice speaker, system voice and "chirp" signals are smooth and clear. Still, lower the system volume for best sound. Mic location is loud and clear at slow speeds, but road noise intrudes at higher speeds - Frankie, 3/12/12

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Frankie
Austin, TX