How-To: E86 CD changer cables for BlueMusic Bluetooth

[inkey$]

Managed to find and locate the 2 x CD changer cables needed for the plug-and-play Amazon Blue Music bluetooth unit (link below).

From what I’ve read, the coupe is slightly harder to access than the roadster and I didn’t want to remove all the rear interior trim and tabs. Also, I don’t have the rear cubby holes behind my seats as I have speakers there, so attacking this from that direction was out too.

* My coupe had the CD changer cables, but not a CD changer - so the below may be slightly different when you get towards the end of the step-by-step.

Instead I went down and dirty as follows.

1) Remove battery cover floor panel.
2) Remove the two plastic retaining screws holding in the carpet where the boot ‘steps’ up.
3) Pull back carpet to bulkhead.
4) Lift out right side trim panel enough from the bottom and place something sturdy underneath to keep it held up (this requires a little force once you’ve push-released the trim tabs that fold into the rear bulkhead section)
5) Repeat this step on the left side, being careful not to damage the trim. Wedge this side too.
6) You should now have a gap almost the back bulkhead of around 10cms to root around in.
7) Cables should be somewhere in the centre. Get your hand up and into the recess behind the rear centre console. For me, thats where they were.

There’s enough wire for them to come forward and out, but not much further, so I’ve left the trim as is until my Amazon unit arrives.

1. Gaining access with trim lifted and wedged...



2, View in the gap under rear bulkhead carpet...



3. Close up of the wires and cavity behind centre console in which they were hidden...



Amazon Bluetooth unit...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0773MX7BG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[fredej]

Great write up! Interesting to see how the cables are accessible in the E86.

Do all Z4s come with the cables pre-wired?

My car does not have a CD changer or the "CD changer preparation" option.

 

[inkey$]

Great write up! Interesting to see how the cables are accessible in the E86.

Do all Z4s come with the cables pre-wired?

My car does not have a CD charger or the "CD charger preparation" option.

Thanks. Yeah, not sure if it's not part of the delivery spec.
Mine had 692 Cd Changer I-bus Preparation listed, so I knew they were in there somewhere.

 

[inkey$]

BlueMusic dongle arrived today from Amazon. Two minutes later, it’s plugged in, tested and tucked back into the centre console recess behind the firewall. Literally plug it in, ignition on, select CD and pair with your phone. Sounds good too.

 

[Bing]

So easy, even I could do it... this is a really capable replacement for my intravee that I cannot for the life of me to get fully functional with my iphone anymore. I have questions though ...

How are you managing charging your phone, and does this allow control of Spotify through the steering wheel controls ?

 

[inkey$]

So easy, even I could do it... this is a really capable replacement for my intravee that I cannot for the life of me to get fully functional with my iphone anymore. I have questions though ...

How are you managing charging your phone, and does this allow control of Spotify through the steering wheel controls ?

Even you couldn't screw it up if I'm capable, Al :lol:

For now I'm going to window mount my phone using one of those compact Belkin Universal phone holders...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00VHLY9VC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...then I'm going to try and hide the charge cable up and around the steering column - a bit like luxasxdiniz does here...
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=115885&start=30

I also have a spare ashtray unit from my old 3.0 roadster I'm thinking of dremel-customising/practising on for 'door-closed' charging ability.

Not tried MFSW yet, but my guess is its volume only at the very least. Will report back hen Ive had more of a play this week.

 

[Weston Matt]

Hi inkey$ What hifi have you got? I notice on Amazon it says not with DSP. I don’t know if that’s just with Mini though?

Cheers

 

[inkey$]

Hi inkey$ What hifi have you got? I notice on Amazon it says not with DSP. I don’t know if that’s just with Mini though?.

I have the 10 speaker non-dsp hifi. Literally two cable blocks to attach. I *think* there's a DSP version of this dongle with additional plug, but may have imagined that.

 

[Weston Matt]

Cheers, I’ll have a look as I have the DSP

 

[inkey$]

Cheers, I’ll have a look as I have the DSP

Failing that then other options are things like AUX with powered BT dongle - or if you're feeling flush, this $200 Bluebus solution looks really interesting.

https://youtu.be/8oEa9oZkOIo

 

[inkey$]

Update: all MFSW controls work as they should

 

[Bing]

Update: all MFSW controls work as they should

Ok so this makes me inexplicably excited :lol:

What kind of display do you get on the Nav screen, if any ?

 

[inkey$]

Update: all MFSW controls work as they should

Ok so this makes me inexplicably excited :lol:

What kind of display do you get on the Nav screen, if any ?

When you change tracks on the wheel, only thing on nav screen is Tr01, Tr02 etc showing as if it’s a CD playing but it doesn’t have any additional info.

If the nav screen is in closed position and you change tracks with the wheel, the nav screen activates and opens up. If you change track via your phone, it doesn’t.

Also, when my phone rang and I was playing music through the dongle, it switched to the cars OEM Bluetooth automatically.

 

[dougie1142]

Brilliant, was just thinking about upgrading my head unit to allow BT but i'm never a fan of non-OEM headunits aesthetics. This will solve that!

 

[inkey$]

Brilliant, was just thinking about upgrading my head unit to allow BT but i'm never a fan of non-OEM headunits aesthetics. This will solve that!

Another job for after you’ve debadged! :lol:

 

[Benderloch]

Hi All
I’ve just fitted this Bluetooth unit to my coupe and thanks to this excellent thread it was very straightforward. Once it was connected I sat in the car and connected to my phone. The problem started when I tried to select CD on the radio. It would stay on CD for a few second ( no sound) then switch to Aux. I knew I had a iPod cable in the glove compartment and thought this may be the problem so I removed the radio with in intention of removing this iPod cable. Once the radio came out I discovered a xcarlink box tucked in there. I assume I will need to remove the wiring for the xcarlink and return the CD changer wiring. Any suggestions and direction would be great.

Thanks

 

[inkey$]

Hi All
I’ve just fitted this Bluetooth unit to my coupe and thanks to this excellent thread it was very straightforward. Once it was connected I sat in the car and connected to my phone. The problem started when I tried to select CD on the radio. It would stay on CD for a few second ( no sound) then switch to Aux. I knew I had a iPod cable in the glove compartment and thought this may be the problem so I removed the radio with in intention of removing this iPod cable. Once the radio came out I discovered a xcarlink box tucked in there. I assume I will need to remove the wiring for the xcarlink and return the CD changer wiring. Any suggestions and direction would be great.

Thanks

Does sound as though you need to return the CD player wiring to stock and remove the xcarlink. The selection of CD should hopefully then default to your new BT cable rather than switching over.

 

[Benderloch]

Hi All
I’ve just fitted this Bluetooth unit to my coupe and thanks to this excellent thread it was very straightforward. Once it was connected I sat in the car and connected to my phone. The problem started when I tried to select CD on the radio. It would stay on CD for a few second ( no sound) then switch to Aux. I knew I had a iPod cable in the glove compartment and thought this may be the problem so I removed the radio with in intention of removing this iPod cable. Once the radio came out I discovered a xcarlink box tucked in there. I assume I will need to remove the wiring for the xcarlink and return the CD changer wiring. Any suggestions and direction would be great.

Thanks

Does sound as though you need to return the CD player wiring to stock and remove the xcarlink. The selection of CD should hopefully then default to your new BT cable rather than switching over.

Hi
Removed the xcarlink unit, still not connecting.


This is the head unit plug with the plug that was connected to the xcarlink box. Not sure if there should be an other cable somewhere for this to connect to.
I also have a CK 3100 parrot fitted which works perfectly, however could this be an issue with what I’m trying to do.

 

[Benderloch]

I replaced the cable harness from the head unit to the junction block and all is working properly. It appears that when the xcarlink unit was fitted this harness was also changed to accommodate the new unit. Result

 

[Mau]

Hi inkey$ What hifi have you got? I notice on Amazon it says not with DSP. I don’t know if that’s just with Mini though?.

I have the 10 speaker non-dsp hifi. Literally two cable blocks to attach. I *think* there's a DSP version of this dongle with additional plug, but may have imagined that.

Brilliant bit of kit for the money these Bluemusic modules. I have them both in my '03 - DSP-equipped - roadster, as well as my '08 - non-DSP - coupe.

The rumor has it (but admittedly the rationale for the rumor is not entirely clear) that DSP issues could arise only with the trunk-installed Bluemusic modules, as inkey$ has just installed.

These modules however also come as a direct plug for behind the head unit (with different connectors than the trunk ones). DSP issues do not exist with the ones mounted directly on the head unit. My '03 roadster is the living proof of that, so are many examples on the German forum (www.zroadster.com).

Also, these modules come as versions with a mic attached, as well as without. So if you do not have an OEM mic, you could order a Bluemusic module with a mic (albeit that the phone buttons on your MSFW button will not work; the Bluemusic module with a mic only transfers in- and outcoming sound via Bluetooth, no more than that). If you are considering a Bluemusic module WITH a mic, I would definitely recommend the module installed directly behind the head unit, as this makes the wiring of the mic easier.

Should you decide to pursue the head unit route, do not forget that you need to pull the fuse from the CD changer.