Bluetooth adapter

[Mike 91 318ic]

Good day fellow E39 drivers. I recently installed the AUX kit in my 2002 540i Msport (I upgraded the radio to a 2004 from a E53) I see there are bluetooth transmitters that connect via a 3.5mm cable. Could I plug in the BT transmitter into the AUX port? This would be great so I don't have to run a wire from the phone to the aux port?

I'm looking at a Taotronics Wireless Portable Transmitter on amazon but there are many other options.

Much appreciated
Mike

[computiNATEor]

Yes, you can. I personally use a Tunai Firefly, as I don't need the microphone/calling features built in to many of those little things. I have the factory BMW ULF Bluetooth system, which takes care of calls. My iPhone 7 intelligently and usually seamlessly switches between the streaming bluetooth device (A2DP) and the calling device (HFP).

The only thing I'll note is that the Firefly did require a ground loop isolator for when the phone is not pushing audio to the Firefly, like when a song ends; the "silence" of the Firefly is not at all silent, likely because it connects power from the car and audio so close together in the glovebox.

[amancuso]

I thought about getting one of these units, but my set up is the same as Nate's. With an iPhone X there's only one jack for power and audio, so I just have a slim adapter that combines the two wires into one. Since even with the BT I'd be plugging the phone into charge, it doesn't make sense to get a BT audio adapter since I'd be plugging in something anyway.

[DennisG01]

Any of those little BT adapter dongle thingies should work just fine. Even those $15 ones should be fine. All it does is convert whatever it receives into the Aux port... I know, that was a really technical explanation, right?! But, yes, there's absolutely nothing special to these things.

[Twistytee]

If I don’t have the factory ULF (car is wired for phone but I don’t have the unit), is a GROM the best for Bluetooth and phone? I have a Belkin A2DP puck that streams flawlessly through the aux in but it doesn’t do calls well at all.

[Joe///540i]

I have Taotronics and I use it to stream from iPhone X to it to the AUX. It works incredibly well. I also have wireless charging dock to charge the phone, so I don't need to plug it in. Lastly, I have the ULF and use this for voice. My Taotronics has both voice and audio, but my phone has no problem connecting to both ULF and Taotronics devices at the same time and know to use the ULF for voice.

The Taotronics has a single wire that split at the end to USB and AUX. These run into my glovebox discreetly and plug into switched power (USB) and the AUX jack. I use a proclip to mount my iotti fast charging dock and also run the wire discreetly to the glove box. The Taotronics is the black circle to the left of the radio. I can skip tracks directly from this.

[DennisG01]

When wired into the Aux port, all functions (streaming music, phone calls, etc) are dependent on the phone and it's interaction with the specific dongle being used. Meaning, anything downstream of the Aux port (the actual stereo) doesn't come into the mix in terms of how well everything functions. The Aux input is simply an input - whatever it receives it transfers to the stereo. If anyone is experiencing things not working, when using a simple/cheap dongle, the issue is between the phone and the dongle - not the car side of things.

[Joe///540i]

My setup works perfectly. No sound issue, no hiss - when paused it's like the head unit is off. $22 bucks on Amazon. Could not be happier. Again, both the streaming audio and the voice receivers connect flawlessly on start-up. They remember volume settings and even though the Taotronics has voice functionality, the ULF takes precedence and is the default for voice calls. No wires visible and switched to power. The Taotronics I chose does not have an internal battery like some others which is my preference.

[Joe///540i]

The only thing I'll note is that the Firefly did require a ground loop isolator for when the phone is not pushing audio to the Firefly, like when a song ends; the "silence" of the Firefly is not at all silent, likely because it connects power from the car and audio so close together in the glovebox.

My AUX Input and Power Source are literally on top of each other. I wonder it is your Firefly or you have a ground problem in the car somewhere?

[DennisG01]

I'm not sure what brand I have (might be that Tao brand), but it's just a little wireless thing with only a 3.5MM plug (it's rechargeable/usable while driving, though). It's about an inch and half long, rectangular in shape. I think it might have "skip"/"pause"... but not sure. I just plug it into the glovebox (and leave it in there) and forget about it - using my phone to control playback functions. Nothing fancy, I suppose - but serves the purpose.

[Mike 91 318ic]

Thank you all for the input, I've ordered a taotronics unit.

[Touring530i]

I bought a cheap setup on eBay that claims to be specifically for the E39. It is bluetooth only; no 3.5 jack. I didn't want to see any wires, and I wanted something that I didn't have to turn on and off. It plugs into the AUX connector in the back of the CD player, and is small enough to hide in the dash. When I start the car, my phone pairs automatically, and all I have to do is pick a song and hit Play.

[computiNATEor]

I bought a cheap setup on eBay that claims to be specifically for the E39. It is bluetooth only; no 3.5 jack. I didn't want to see any wires, and I wanted something that I didn't have to turn on and off. It plugs into the AUX connector in the back of the CD player, and is small enough to hide in the dash. When I start the car, my phone pairs automatically, and all I have to do is pick a song and hit Play.

Link?

[Joe///540i]

I bought a cheap setup on eBay that claims to be specifically for the E39. It is bluetooth only; no 3.5 jack. I didn't want to see any wires, and I wanted something that I didn't have to turn on and off. It plugs into the AUX connector in the back of the CD player, and is small enough to hide in the dash. When I start the car, my phone pairs automatically, and all I have to do is pick a song and hit Play.

Link +1?

Based on your description it still plugs into the AUX correct? I also could leave mine out of site but I like the controls available


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[computiNATEor]

Link +1?

Based on your description it still plugs into the AUX correct? I also could leave mine out of site but I like the controls available


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I think it is either this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Bluetoo...r/362375648998
This one requires running a wire to power and ground. It plugs into the factory radio and uses its auxiliary input. I bet you could re-pin it to fit the factory connections so you could retain CD changer compatibility.

Or this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-M...D/223036009427
Which doesn't work with our navigation/DSP systems.

[Joe///540i]

I think it is either this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Bluetoo...r/362375648998
This one requires running a wire to power and ground. It plugs into the factory radio and uses its auxiliary input. I bet you could re-pin it to fit the factory connections so you could retain CD changer compatibility.

Or this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bluetooth-M...D/223036009427
Which doesn't work with our navigation/DSP systems.

Does the top one work with DSP/NAV and I assume steering wheel controls don’t work with it since it’s simply an AUX in?


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[computiNATEor]

Does the top one work with DSP/NAV and I assume steering wheel controls don’t work with it since it’s simply an AUX in?


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I would assume yes on both accounts.

[Joe///540i]

I would assume yes on both accounts.

I’m talking about changing tracks specially. I’ll look into these more, but if these are purely AUX inputs, I don’t understand how the steering controls can communicate to either of these devices to change songs on my iPhone. I also thought you said these weren’t for our cars. (DSP/NAV)


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[Twistytee]

I’m talking about changing tracks specially. I’ll look into these more, but if these are purely AUX inputs, I don’t understand how the steering controls can communicate to either of these devices to change songs on my iPhone. I also thought you said these weren’t for our cars. (DSP/NAV)


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The second item linked claims it works with steering wheel controls for non-nav/DSP cars, so I guess it taps into the canbus via the cd changer interface. Similar concept to the dice mediabridge or Grom unit. I think it’s just stating it won’t allow steering wheel control for a player plugged in via its 3.5mm aux in jack. Assuming if you connect via Bluetooth then the steering wheel volume and track forward/back will work.

[computiNATEor]

I’m talking about changing tracks specially. I’ll look into these more, but if these are purely AUX inputs, I don’t understand how the steering controls can communicate to either of these devices to change songs on my iPhone. I also thought you said these weren’t for our cars. (DSP/NAV)

The second one won’t work with DSP/nav.

[Joe///540i]

The second one won’t work with DSP/nav.

And the first one won’t allow steering controls other than volume


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[computiNATEor]

And the first one won’t allow steering controls other than volume


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Right. But only car volume, not phone volume.

[Joe///540i]

Right. But only car volume, not phone volume.

Yeah after seeing these links I was thinking there was a Bluetooth streaming module that could take the place of or piggy back the changer to integrate the next and previous tracks buttons.

I’m good with my set up other than having it affixed to the dash.

[Touring530i]

The first link is the one. I re-pinned it to keep the existing wires (I think the CD changer that I don't have) and ran power from the flashlight charger in the glove box.