Add usb in glove box?

[Anonymous]

Cool. That saves me the expense and work getting something done that I wouldn't even use that much

It does look neater than resting the phone on the pax seat...

I have the iPhone 5 adapter but quite often just leave the phone in my pocket...

 

[cmp999]

It is possible to remove the phone cradle part from the arm rest storage compartment and there is rubber mat the same as the rubber mats at the bottom of the cup holders available from BMW to fit in the space left and cover any holes.
I removed the one from our car as it was just taking up space and was never going to be used.

Hi Nictrix,

Was it a straight forward job? I'm the same as you, never lightly to use it so more space sounds good

Cheers, Colin.

 

[mcbutler]

My 2009 23i with iDrive is the same configuration.
You can connect an iPod via a lightning to aux cable and play music after selecting AUX as the input from the iDrive.
You will not be able to navigate through the iPod music this way however, you will need to select music directly from the iPod..

 

[Smartbear]

It is possible to remove the phone cradle part from the arm rest storage compartment and there is rubber mat the same as the rubber mats at the bottom of the cup holders available from BMW to fit in the space left and cover any holes.
I removed the one from our car as it was just taking up space and was never going to be used.

Hi Nictrix,

Was it a straight forward job? I'm the same as you, never lightly to use it so more space sounds good

Cheers, Colin.

My armrest compartment came without any phone malarkey & just has an open tray for storage-I could take a pic if you were interested?
Rob

 

[Lazza]

My 2009 23i with iDrive is the same configuration.
You can connect an iPod via a lightning to aux cable and play music after selecting AUX as the input from the iDrive.
You will not be able to navigate through the iPod music this way however, you will need to select music directly from the iPod..

Which is a problem these days because as soon as you touch your phone while driving you are breaking the law.

 

[Nictrix]

It is possible to remove the phone cradle part from the arm rest storage compartment and there is rubber mat the same as the rubber mats at the bottom of the cup holders available from BMW to fit in the space left and cover any holes.
I removed the one from our car as it was just taking up space and was never going to be used.

Hi Nictrix,

Was it a straight forward job? I'm the same as you, never lightly to use it so more space sounds good

Cheers, Colin.

My armrest compartment came without any phone malarkey & just has an open tray for storage-I could take a pic if you were interested?
Rob

Its straight forward but can be difficult to get the phone cradle part out of the tray it sits in as it is kinda snapped into place.
Once its out there are 4 screws holding the tray down and once these are removed the wiring for the phone part can be tucked underneath the tray and then the tray screwed back into place.
Hardest bit is getting the cradle part out without marking anything. I used a combination of plastic rulers, old bank cards, trim removal tools and force. The cradle parts lugs will probably break as I don't think they are designed to be removed and refitted.
I think I still have the old parts so when I get a chance I will take a pic of what holds them in, it might give a better idea of where to put pressure.

 

[Smartbear]

This is the storage I have under the armrest

Rob

 

[Nictrix]

This is the storage I have under the armrest
IMAG5183.jpg
Rob

Different from ours as our compartment is split in 2 with 2 cupholders on 1 side and the phone cradle would be on the other side.
I am sure though that the whole tray can be swapped if you had cupholders and didn't want them. If you were to lift the mat on the bottom of your tray there would probably be the same 4 screws holding it in place.

 

[Smartbear]

This is the storage I have under the armrest
IMAG5183.jpg
Rob

Different from ours as our compartment is split in 2 with 2 cupholders on 1 side and the phone cradle would be on the other side.
I am sure though that the whole tray can be swapped if you had cupholders and didn't want them. If you were to lift the mat on the bottom of your tray there would probably be the same 4 screws holding it in place.

I think you’re right & I just have an alternate insert fitted, the extra storage is pretty useful though
Rob

 

[Nictrix]

Sorry for the dodgy pic, it was dark and on my phone.

And this is the underside of the cradle, you can see the 6 clips that hold it in place and can see that a couple of them broke taking it out.

 

[cmp999]

This is the storage I have under the armrest
IMAG5183.jpg
Rob

Different from ours as our compartment is split in 2 with 2 cupholders on 1 side and the phone cradle would be on the other side.
I am sure though that the whole tray can be swapped if you had cupholders and didn't want them. If you were to lift the mat on the bottom of your tray there would probably be the same 4 screws holding it in place.

I think you’re right & I just have an alternate insert fitted, the extra storage is pretty useful though
Rob

Thank you both for that, mine is different again, I have 2 shallow storage trays. 1 side is the phone setup and the other a shallow storage tray, no cup holders!

 

[mcbutler]

SO, back to the original question, can you retrofit an aux/usb combination socket in place of the single aux socket?
I have found a combination socket on Ebay here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292070446989?ul_noapp=true
It shows the connection quite clearly if anyone is familiar with the item maybe you can give an opinion..

 

[Gaffa22]

Good find mcbutler, so if the connector is present it should be an easy fix, need to hear from someone who has removed the unit, as it might be part of the phone cradle wiring.

I will be removing the phone cradle from mine in due course but I already have the USB socket

 

[Lazza]

SO, back to the original question, can you retrofit an aux/usb combination socket in place of the single aux socket?
I have found a combination socket on Ebay here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292070446989?ul_noapp=true
It shows the connection quite clearly if anyone is familiar with the item maybe you can give an opinion..

I’d seen that on eBay but just fitting a socket, even if there is somewhere to plug it in isn’t really the problem. The audio unit doesn’t have an option for music from usb. Is this something that can be “switched on” somewhere? If not then its all a non-starter.

 

[mcbutler]

SO, back to the original question, can you retrofit an aux/usb combination socket in place of the single aux socket?
I have found a combination socket on Ebay here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292070446989?ul_noapp=true
It shows the connection quite clearly if anyone is familiar with the item maybe you can give an opinion..

I’d seen that on eBay but just fitting a socket, even if there is somewhere to plug it in isn’t really the problem. The audio unit doesn’t have an option for music from usb. Is this something that can be “switched on” somewhere? If not then its all a non-starter.

I took my auxiliary socket out to check the connection. It's entirely different from the connection on the combined port. So no go unless you install the USB module and wiring which should then link to the I drive and give the relevant info.