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      11-10-2011, 08:31 PM   #1
apw2607
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2009 X5 Combox Retrofit from Bimmer Tech / Patryk

As a follow up to my CIC retrofit post

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=589250

I'll share my experiences of retrofitting the 2012 Combox - Media in a 2009 X5. For those folks that are not familiar with combox, it replaces two ECUs (TCU and MULF) that provided BMW Assist and USB/Aux/old smartphone capabilities. The Combox also improves on the MULF's ipod integration allowing voice search, album art and digital playback of music. It also provides the gateway to BMW apps and can be configured to use two european only capabilities .. BMW Live and Internet Browser.

As I mentioned above, I installed Combox Media. This provides all the services above, apart from BMW Assist services. You can purchase Combox - Telematics, but in my case that would have being a waste of time. Despite what you might read on the forums, the *only* way to enable BMW Assist services in a combox, is from BMW themselves, and theres no way that they would have done that for me, given my car never had the combox in the first place ... along with a retrofit CIC. I just couldn't be bothered to even go there with them.

That said, I was prepared to "give up" BMW Assist. Thats a choice you need to make, if you want to do this retrofit.

As I said in the title, I used Bimmertech again, since they had done such a fantastic job on the CIC retrofit. They provide a full retrofit kit that includes the combox, as well as a retrofit harness. Installation is painless and take about 10 minutes. Simply disconnect the plugs from MULF and the TCU ECUs. Terminate the MOST connector to the MULF with the supplied termination adapter. Connect the supplied retrofit harness to the existing car harness MULF and TCU connectors. Remove the USB and Bluetooth connectors and move them over to the Combox. The remaining Roof antenna and backup antenna connections are not used since there is no BMW Assist telematics.

Once the installation was done, Bimmertech took remote control of my laptop again and programmed / coded the car. It was all very painless and over quickly.

So to summarize, I went for a pretty archaic CCC idrive system to the very latest CIC hardware and software, with the very latest connected drive features.

BMW Live has a lot of potential, and am quite excited about what comes in the future with that.

Note, BMW Live and the internet browser feature require's a phone that can be bluetooth tethered to the car for data. The iPhone can do this, so long as you have a plan that supports this.

The one thing I didn't do is plugin or video. These two items, I'm not bothered about, since I have DVD and a DVD changer !

This retrofit is completely reversible, involves no changes to the existing wiring harness, and can simply put the older TCU and MULF back in the car (along with the CCC too).

I'll answer any questions, but for pricing, speak to bimmertech direct.
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Last edited by apw2607; 11-10-2011 at 08:55 PM..
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      07-11-2012, 08:45 AM   #2
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Great Pics apw2607, I also have a 2009 X5 and after reading about the CIC retrofit I am starting to hate my old CCC. I am pretty sure I will go for the CIC upgrade, I have emailed patryk at bimmer-tech in regards to price and the options available for my particular car but have not heard back from yet. While I wait for his email I wanted to ask you about the combox, I currently have BMW assist and bluetooth in my car if I do just the CIC retrofit will my bluetooth and BMW assist still work, or do I HAVE to do the combox-telematics upgrade as well? I read that you did not have BMW assist to start with so you did not go down the combox telematics route, since I have BMW assist will I be able to activate it if I get the combox telematics upgrade?

Thanks for the advice in advance!

P.S. how is the retrofit treating you six months in?
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      07-11-2012, 09:39 PM   #3
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If you just updated the ccc to CIC and kept your existing TCU and MULF then BMW assist and the iPhone interface would still work as it worked before. No problems.

You can replace the TCU and MULF with a combox with telematics but you will be wasting your money. There is no way to transfer the IEMI code from the TCU to the combox. Each device has a unique code. This means BMW USA would have to register your combox with telematics for use with BMW assist. They simply wouldn't do that as this retrofit is not sanctioned by them so if you want combox just buy combox media. It's a bit cheaper. You will have to give up assist services.

Note though. You can still call BMW assist ... It's just you'll need to do it from your cellphone.
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      07-11-2012, 09:41 PM   #4
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Oh ... 6 months in and it all still works perfectly. BMW have added a few new apps to BMW live.
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      07-11-2012, 10:03 PM   #5
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Thanks for the info. I was just afraid that if do the CIC retrofit I would have to get the combox. I am debating the combox I have voice searching in another car i have and it never works for me!! It might be because my wife has loaded all Indian songs on the ipod and the computer just doesnt understand what I am asking! Meh Little bit of a tangent...
Now I will just wait for Patryk to reply to my info request. Just curious how long did it take him to get back to you the first time you emailed him?

Thanks!
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      07-14-2012, 08:40 AM   #6
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I tried to contact Patryk several times and no reply. Any ideas? Does anyone know what the approximate cost of this retrofit will be?
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      07-14-2012, 09:27 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by igorbmwx5 View Post
I tried to contact Patryk several times and no reply. Any ideas? Does anyone know what the approximate cost of this retrofit will be?
I guess Patryk is busy... For an approx cost you can check out his website, google bimmertech and I believe it's one of the first few links. I believe the cost depends on your particular car. I haven't tried PMing Patryk, have you PMed him?

I know this is not a direct answer, but hope it helps .
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      07-20-2012, 12:47 AM   #8
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I'll ping him and link him to this thread.
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      07-20-2012, 12:56 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by apw2607 View Post
I'll ping him and link him to this thread.
Thanks Adrian!

I was on a business trip between the 8th and 16th so sorry for lack of response.
If you still have not received any reply from us I apologize and I would like to ask you to resend your emails.
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      07-20-2012, 06:48 AM   #10
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Good stuff!

One question about the Internet connection: you are using the Bluetooth connection from your iPhone for Live. Is the connection still fast? I think the Bluetooth won't be quite as quick as 3G...
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      08-22-2012, 12:24 PM   #11
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Talking iphone 4/4s optimal resolution for video playback in X5/X6 screen

Hello everyone,

I´m about to receive my BMW Apps Retrofit kit for my 2013 BMW X6 very soon.
This allows to video playback from the iPhone directly to the screen, but I have read from other experiences that the Videos only display in small part of the screen, not full. Others have stated that it does, i would like to know if anyone out there knows or recommends some video conversion dimension to make use of most possible of the display screen. Just want to save time and start converting my collection.

Many thanks for the tips!!!

Regards
Rodrigo
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      08-23-2012, 05:56 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rodrigoventura View Post
Hello everyone,

I´m about to receive my BMW Apps Retrofit kit for my 2013 BMW X6 very soon.
This allows to video playback from the iPhone directly to the screen, but I have read from other experiences that the Videos only display in small part of the screen, not full. Others have stated that it does, i would like to know if anyone out there knows or recommends some video conversion dimension to make use of most possible of the display screen. Just want to save time and start converting my collection.

Many thanks for the tips!!!

Regards
Rodrigo
When the video starts it should convert to full screen like the TV does, and again it depends on what resolution the video you are playing in formated to.
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      08-28-2012, 08:55 PM   #13
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already have the combox in the 2012 but how do i get BMW live and weather/internet?
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      09-16-2012, 08:43 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlBoston View Post
already have the combox in the 2012 but how do i get BMW live and weather/internet?
Speak to Patryk at bimmertech
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      09-17-2012, 11:45 PM   #15
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Nice
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      05-05-2013, 12:55 PM   #16
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I'm in the US...Patryk is great to work with considering he's halfway around the globe. Got the CIC configured through him a few months ago. Very patient with concerns or issues that may arise from DIY install. Car feels completely different with the updated unit in.
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      05-05-2013, 01:29 PM   #17
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Patryk is the best! He was with me every step of the way when I worked on my CCC to CIC retrofit (including Combox). I highly recommend using Patryk and MEN for re-coding your BMW.
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      05-25-2013, 02:19 AM   #18
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Thank you guys for your feedback
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      06-13-2013, 09:56 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrys@BimmerTech View Post
Thank you guys for your feedback
sent you a contact form from your website with some questions.
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      04-24-2014, 01:45 PM   #20
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Can't wait to receive my Combox Media + BMW Apps Retrofit!!! Just ordered mine yesterday!
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      05-01-2014, 02:29 PM   #21
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Update

I got my Combox installed the other day but I haven't been able to get it coded/activated yet...I will give an update when done!
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      05-02-2014, 12:34 AM   #22
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OK guys, the Combox activation has been done and I must say that I'm very pleased with this retrofit...haven't had time to learn the whole system and see all the updates but so far everything looks great
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