Choosing new audio and phone integration

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Sun Oct 02, 2022 5:52 pm

Good evening fellows,
I’ve searched through older threads but couldn’t find specific info so humbly requesting help and insight…

I have a 2005 e85 with 10-speaker top hifi audio (aka premium audio) with carvers, digital dsp with coaxial cabling for cd changer, but none installed. The headunit is an OEM non-nav Business CD and I don’t have MFSW.

Over the years I’ve gone through several integration interfaces which have become obsolete. The two first ones were older generation iPod-integrations via the connectors in the boot, with a dsp-converter. Then I’ve had a couple of BT phone integrations, CK100 (6310 and 9800 era) and the most recent one being a Nokia CK300, a Nokia S60-era kit with BT audio and phone integration right to the headunit (using aux and phone line-ins). The the BT profiles of the kit are old and basic ones and no wonder, the kit increasingly struggles with my iPhones. Time to move on, I think.

Looking for a new kit, I can see that old school automotive integration kits with separate controls like Nokia’s CK or Parrot exists no more. Browsing the forum and Amazon I could find Bluemusic and GROM being the closest match and most popular — even only ones?

The ideal functionality would include:

A. BT audio interface with
A1. ability to repeat or skip tracks from headunit buttons
A2. artist and song titles shown on headunit
A3. decent sound quality, and

B. BT phone connectivity with
B1. phone ringing through the speakers, and
B2. ringing even when in FM radio or CD mode
B3. ability to answer the phone from a button on the headunit
B4. ability to end call from the headunit
B5. ability to activate Siri from the headunit

Tecnically the headunit connector has a pin, activation of which displays ”phone” on the headunit and interrupts all other audio sources in favor of line-in signals from a phone. From what I’ve read about Bluemusic and GROM, neither takes advantege of this functionality (and thus spec B2 would not be possible) but I could be wrong.

Now you in the know, with either Bluemusic or GROM installed, which of the above specifications are met by these modules? Or is there any other kit I should look into?

wiseguy · Post by **wiseguy** » Mon Oct 03, 2022 8:11 am

While my still-functioning dice media bridge 1500 is going strong, I don’t think it is made any longer. I believe Audiovox might have bought them out, as they made the units for years thereafter. I do see brand new in box units for sale on eBay. Mine works great for charging my iPhone 13, connecting to my bmw factory radio, and allowing for head unit control of my phone for music. I can connect my phone to the media bridge via Bluetooth or usb.

Here’s a new one on EBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363274832354

I use my steering wheel controls for calling or answering calls, so I don’t know if the head unit would do that. It’s possible I guess.

Jellyfishfields · Post by **Jellyfishfields** » Mon Oct 03, 2022 2:28 pm

It says Audi VW only, but it will also work with an e85/86?

pungo · Post by **pungo** » Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:13 pm

https://www.bluebus.dev/

wiseguy · Post by **wiseguy** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 5:06 am

Jellyfishfields wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 2:28 pm It says Audi VW only, but it will also work with an e85/86?

You’ll need to buy the one with a connector for the E85 cd changer. It has to be bmw compatible that way, so I doubt the Audi version will work.

wiseguy · Post by **wiseguy** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 5:07 am

pungo wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:13 pm https://www.bluebus.dev/

Wow, that looks interesting. My doors no longer lock when I drive off, so perhaps that unit could fix that issue.

Too bad it’s preorder. Nobody can say how their experience with it has been.

M@_ · Post by **M@_** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 2:01 pm

I’m waiting to get one. Should be here mid October. If you can wait that long I’ll have some feedback.

I don’t think this will fix your new door issue though. That sounds more like a GM5 if it just started happening.

M@_ · Post by **M@_** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 2:01 pm

I’m waiting to get one. Should be here mid October. If you can wait that long I’ll have some feedback.

I don’t think this will fix your new door issue though. That sounds more like a GM5 if it just started happening.

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 4:23 pm

pungo wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:13 pm https://www.bluebus.dev/

Thanks, this one seems to tick most or all of the specs I listed. The firmware (and even the hw) is open source and availabe from github, which is cool. One of the ECS reviews stated that an aux in mic can be used instead of a BMW oem one (which I don’t have).

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 5:45 pm

Sent a message to Bluebus support about the phone controls as I don’t have a mfsw or phone prewiring, e.g. can one pick up and end a phone calls via head unit buttons.

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Wed Oct 05, 2022 7:00 pm

DMike wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 5:45 pm Sent a message to Bluebus support about the phone controls as I don’t have a mfsw or phone prewiring, e.g. can one pick up and end a phone calls via head unit buttons.

Got an instant mail reply from Ted, who developed the module and software. Phone prewiring is not necessary, an aux microphone will be fine. Incoming calls can be answered from the headunit ’3’ button. Placed an order today. Thanks pungo for the hint!

wiseguy · Post by **wiseguy** » Sat Feb 04, 2023 11:00 pm

M@_ wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 2:01 pm I’m waiting to get one. Should be here mid October. If you can wait that long I’ll have some feedback.

I don’t think this will fix your new door issue though. That sounds more like a GM5 if it just started happening.

Please let us know how well the bluebus works. My Media bridge has finally starting to circle the drain. It’s only 13 years old.

M@_ · Post by **M@_** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:24 pm

So far it’s working pretty good. I’ve got something going on with the door lock programming. I think it’s my car though.
Bluebus was very easy to install. It works well and it’s easy to program. I like that it lets me fast forward or skip just like factory.

It’s been installed for about 1000miles.

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:57 pm

I received my unit in november but the zed is hibernating and I’ve not had time to install it yet. Also bought a steering column trim and an oem mic. I don’t have prewiring, but the route from the steering column to the boot is fairly simple.

m453 · Post by **m453** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 3:01 am

M@_ wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:24 pm So far it’s working pretty good. I’ve got something going on with the door lock programming. I think it’s my car though.
Bluebus was very easy to install. It works well and it’s easy to program. I like that it lets me fast forward or skip just like factory.

It’s been installed for about 1000miles.

I got my Bluebus the other day and I'm in the trunk of my 03 e85 looking for the right wires. I have the wiring diagram but I'm having trouble finding the connector. You didn't happen to take any photos? Did you have to dig deep to find them?

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