[PrazVT]

Hey Guys - I'm in the process of ordering a 2015 228i M Sport and I'm a little confused about the USB / Bluetooth situation. I got burned when I ordered my 328i in 2012 and didn't add the Enhanced USB option.

I noticed that the Tech Package and Enhanced USB are now 2 separate options. Does that mean that even w/ Tech, I have to use that stupid y-adapter that's part USB and part 3.5mm analog cable?

ie. Do I have to add the other $500 Enhanced USB option to get normal USB functionality?

What about bluetooth audio streaming? Apologies if this has been asked before.

Thanks,

Praz

[hans007]

enhanced USB / BT , allows things like having 2 phones connected to the car, and things like Office Apps or something like that.

every 2 series has basic USB port for say connecting a USB stick or a phone (not sure how this works with iphone, but i dont think it needs a y cable anymore).

all 2015 models have basic BT audio streaming now (its new for this year standard). the enhanced BT just has the 2 phones allowed and some other stuff, i think you can see album covers or something over BT

[PrazVT]

Thanks for the reply, that does help a bit. I'd love some confirmation on the not needing a y-adapter part though.

[hans007]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Thanks for the reply, that does help a bit. I'd love some confirmation on the not needing a y-adapter part though.

googled a bit, and i know now at least on the 2013/2014 F30 you must have enhanced usb to not use y cable. the radios i think are the same on the f22 so i'd say likely you have to pay that $500 if you dont want a ycable or use BT audio

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by hans007

googled a bit, and i know now at least on the 2013/2014 F30 you must have enhanced usb to not use y cable. the radios i think are the same on the f22 so i'd say likely you have to pay that $500 if you dont want a ycable or use BT audio

Thanks for confirming hans007. Yeah it looks like they broke that option out of the Tech Package without actually reducing the price of the Tech Package (way to go BMW).

I ended up adding that option and just dropping auto high beams to kind of semi-make up for the extra $500.

[hans007]

Originally Posted by PrazVT

Thanks for confirming hans007. Yeah it looks like they broke that option out of the Tech Package without actually reducing the price of the Tech Package (way to go BMW).

I ended up adding that option and just dropping auto high beams to kind of semi-make up for the extra $500.

yes that does suck, they should have at least made the tech package cheaper.

the only real benefit here, is you can get enhanced usb without tech package, but i'm guessing not that many people woudl do that.

[bman6074]

I would contact BMW or a dealer to confirm the package details. I believe you do get enhanced BT with Tech pkg they just give you an option to add it to a non tech pkged car as the hardware is already in the car. Its only a code change to turn the enhanced BT on. A friend bought a car without tech and had someone modify the code within the the ECU and now he has Enhanced BT.

This is his write up about it. http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=928616

Hope this helps

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by bman6074

I would contact BMW or a dealer to confirm the package details. I believe you do get enhanced BT with Tech pkg they just give you an option to add it to a non tech pkged car as the hardware is already in the car. Its only a code change to turn the enhanced BT on. A friend bought a car without tech and had someone modify the code within the the ECU and now he has Enhanced BT.

This is his write up about it. http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=928616

Hope this helps

Thanks bman6074. Yeah it does help - let me read through that thread. I went through a similar thing w/ my 328i a few years back - I think when Patryk was just figuring out how to some of these retrofits, etc. That time, I was going to get the combox installed, but I had the wrong HU. Eventually, I kind of gave up on it. Hence I'm covering all my bases this time around

[theredducati]

is buying the cable mandatory and what software.. not quite clear where to find this.
2014 228i premium package... dealer said Bluetooth connects to phone. Dummy that I am ... figured it'd be as good as my wife's scion. not.

[PrazVT]

Originally Posted by theredducati

is buying the cable mandatory and what software.. not quite clear where to find this.
2014 228i premium package... dealer said Bluetooth connects to phone. Dummy that I am ... figured it'd be as good as my wife's scion. not.

Which cable / software are you referring to?