First, BMW TCU module is NOT compatible with the R56. It needs the newer ULF HI.

The wiring for the ULF2-HI module is NOT part of the vehicle harness and installation is not plug-and-play. You need to get the retrofit kit for the harnesses. If I remember correctly it has two, one to go up to the Radio module and one go up to the microphone area.

The ULF installs under the driver (left) seat. The carpet needs to be cut out and the plastic box included in the retrofit kit needs to be installed to the car.

 

I understand the BMW Mudule doesn't work , i believe that BMW uses MOST to where i believe the Mini is on an iBus ?? I have an iBus module. I disabled all the BMW functions in the module, like eCall and the NAD(Cell Phone). The main connector pin out is identical between all those modules. Guess the toughest part is going to be removing the driver seat and cutting away the carpet. Are you also saying the wiring harness is NOT present? I was reading the Mic cable is there, just remove the center headliner plastic cover, the connector should be there for the mic??

I am assuming the bluetooth antenna gets mounted in the center console?
Is the plastic box so the unit doesn't get wet ? Why would i need a retrokit if i have the OEM equipment?

Thanks for your help.
Tod

 

Sorry, if you have the iBus version you are out-of-luck. The ULF for the MINI looks like the attached picture. The R56 uses the MOST bus for the ULF. It connects in the chain at the head unit. There was a harness under my seat that was similar to the blue plug on the ULF, but it was not the correct harness and did not have the same pins populated.

So yes, there is *NO* MOST bus or wiring harness under the seat and no harness for the bluetooth antenna (in the retrofit it goes under the steering wheel behind the panel), and no wiring for the microphone.

Check out the install instructions, most of the dash needs to be removed to get the head unit out to re-pin the radio harness. It was really difficult to fish the harness across the dash.

http://joako.trtndns.net/misc/MINIR56Bluetooth.pdf

The retrofit kit does not include the ULF module, but does include the bluetooth antenna and mic. You maybe able to order the rest of the parts all separately, but I don't have the BMW ETK installed at the moment to see if the harnesses can be ordered separately.

 

Crap..... Well, i was hoping it to be easy and having the wiring harness already there in the Mini. BMW's have the wiring harness already there. So, you are saying that the 2007 Mini cooper is on teh MOST Bus ???? I thought the MOST bus was just in teh Mini's with the navigation system? We just have the standard radio/CD in this car...

Do you have a part number for the ULF module?

I can probably make my own wiring harness, but not sure if i want the headache now for just putting bluetooth in the Mini, even though i have a bunch of the BMW MOST modules i can reprogram to work....

Thanks.

 

Well, Doing a little more research and theoredically, the BMW TCU should work?? The Mini take a MULF module, which is a stripped down version of the BMW TCU MOST Module. I attached a drawing of it. Of course the NAD and GPS will be disabled, but it should still work transpearently as a ULF module. I am still looking into this before i even think about tackling it...

 

I have a 2008 mcS with Nav, but no bluetooth. I have researched the heck out of this, and while there are many decent after market options (like DICE Electronics), I really want the OEM setup. When I called my one and only local MINI dealer, they quoted me a whopping $2000 for the equipment and install. OUCH! So I kept searching the web and found ESC Tuning, which has OEM parts for about 20% less than my MINI dealer; I, however have to pay sales tax, as ESC tuning is in my home state.

The wiring kit (84109200822) is $192 at ESC tuning, not bad. And the ULF Module (for BT to work) is $415 at MINI and on sale at ESC for $315. So if you don't mind the labor, then it seems possible for around $500.

strobeyprobey, note that part #84109200822 has been replaced with 84109229740. Also, since you have done this upgrade/install, can you offer any advise on the install, as I am about to start this upgrade/install myself. Photos, things you missed, hints, tips etc? Also, my mini already has a built in mic for voice commands to the nav system, so I am hoping I will not need the BT mic in the wiring harness kit.

Thanks
-=Ryan

 

strobeyprobey,

Also wanted to ask; once you got your BT retro fit kit installed, did the dealer give you a hard time when you took it in to get it programmed and working? What did they charge you for programming? Did your MINI already have navigation and what year is your mini and model?

Thanks for your help!
-=Ryan

 

I don't have any photos that are worth while. The install instructions cover most of it. Getting the harness through the dash was horrific for me. I have small hands it was nearly impossible. The install instructions did not provide any idea where to run it.

If you are not going to have the dealer do the programming, you will need an OPS interface or use the J3425 (something like that) with minitechinfo.com because NCS cannot communicate with the most bus using a DCAN cable.

 

I did all of the programming myself with NCs expert.


For retrofits I have read on here most people get charged about $200-$250. But you best call your local dealers and ask them about retrofit programming because some dealers will not do it for you. Programming the retrofit in ISTA/P will update the entire vehicle software and that can take many hours to complete.

 

strobeyprobey,

Thanks for the info. What is ISTA/P ? When did you do your retrofit and program update? Did it take an hour to program? Did it work the first time? Did you only have to pay for 24 hour subscription to miniInfoTech.com? Does miniInfoTech.com explain how to use their system once you sign up? How do you connect you mini to the website services at miniInfoTech?

-=Ryan

PS.. I googled ISTA/P = Programming system Integrated Service Technical Application Programming )

 

ISTA/P is the software the dealer uses to update and program retrofits for BMWs and MINI. You can connect to ISTA/P with a J2534 Pass Through Tool. Look at the options on minitechinfo.com. Minitechinfo does not really explain how to use the software. It is designed for techs. Some have had luck with the Mongoose ISO cable.

For me, I programmed the car a different way. Using NCS Expert and a DCAN cable. Look at the threads in the electrical section for more information. I was able to do with NCS & DCAN because I was using a USED ULF module that was on a car without nav like mine. Since NCS with the DCAN cable cannot communicate on the MOST bus you would need an OPS interface if you want to go the NCS Expert route.

Dealer maybe your best bet unless you want to start making other changes to your car and if you want to be able to do all of your own computer diagnostics.

 

Well after reading through the Electric modification thread, I will be trying to get the software setup on an WinXP laptop so I can do some of the cool programming you all are talking about. I am ordering 2 cables from ecu tools:
http://bit.ly/EdiabasOBD2Cable
and
http://bit.ly/BmwInpaKcanCable

I believe I have downloaded all the necessary program files; just need to get them organized and copied to my WinXP laptop for installation and setup.

However, I may just see if my MINI dealer will do the Bluetooth retro fit programming first, before I mess with any ECU programming myself.
-=Ryan

 

Just to reiterate, the DCAN cables will not be able to communicate with a ULF module. You will not be able to program the ULF (I was able to do it because the ULF I had was pulled working out of a car). You need an OPS interface to communicate over the MOST bus with the ULF

http://www.ecutool.com/BMW-SSS--OPS_669.html

But you will be able to make a lot of other cool changes with the DCAN cable :-) And also you only need the second cable. Not sure if the first one will work.

 

strobeyprobey, I found a ULF High (Bluetooth) module (pn:84109229740) on ebay from a salvage dealer, so chances are that this module had been in a car before; so I am wondering if I will be in the similar situation to yours, where I can just use ECS Expert to get it working. ?

 

I'm not sure about the ULF module, but the equivilant BMW module, the TCU1.5, basically the same module except it comes with a built in NAD (Cell Phone) for E-Call. I think the 54-pin connector is the same pin out? The BMW unit has RS-232 on it so you can get in the back door and set up the module with all the programming. All you need is a laptop and a terminal program. Pin 43 is TXD and Pin 44 is RXD on that connector of the TCU Module. I don't have a schematic for the ULF module to verify it on that one...

 

TCU module will most likely not work in the R56.

The salvage one should work for you for phone calls, but if the car you get it from does not have nav, you most likely will not have voice control if you use NCS for the programming.

 

Thanks for the input Todney and Strobey. I received my MULF2 module today in the mail from an Oklahoma salvage company. They could not tell me if the car it came from had nav. Here are some photos.

 

Ahhh, Thats who makes the MULF module... Harman.... Thanks....

 

For those of you wanting a simpler more compatible setup, you can go with either FISCON from Kufatec or mObridge units. Both of them will communicate over the MOST bus and show up as the OEM units.

The Kufatec one is especially small and you can fit under the steering wheel, so much simpler than removing the seats etc. Also no programming is needed, it is plug and play. The voice quality depends mostly on your phone's compatibility with the Parrot chipset (BMW uses a different supplier for the earlier units, but next-gen models will come with Parrot), but I am pleased. There are also constant firmware updates which support the latest phones (installed with bluetooth-enabled laptop).

Mobridge offers the option to also include USB support like the OEM MULF2, but the module seems much larger and more difficult to place. I have no experience with this unit, but I believe it also uses a Parrot chipset.

 

alexs2d2, FISCON huh? Not heard of that. What is the model number of the one you pruchased. Did you install it in your 07 mini? Does you mini hae built in Nav? How's is the FISCON BT integration with your mini? Can you make phone calls with voice control? Will it stream music?

 

FISCON MINI Pro 38104

It works pretty much as the original, shows up the Communication area in the main menu etc. Also works with the steering wheel controls. And yes I do have OEM Nav.

Voice Control is there only if your car already has it. If not FISCON will not add it. BMWs require activation codes (incl. the R56) for the voice control to function, even if you do buy the original MULF2 unit. Some of the used MULF2's on the net, already have them burned in... Trouble is, the voice control on nav-equipped cars is handled by the main unit, not the MULF2, which complicates matters. Some factory-specced cars have 2 different mic's.

A2DP support works fine: it fools the main unit into thinking it has a CD-Changer and you control the music like and if it were a CD. Tags and other stuff are not part of A2DP standard as only the sound is streamed (like an audio-CD, NOT an MP3 disc).

 

alex, where did you buy your FISCON MINI Pro 38104?

 

I bought it directly from KUFATEC Germany, but I am located in Europe. They also have a US-site, but strangely enough it has not been updated to the latest content. There is another company distributing FISCONs at http://fiscon-mobile.eu/.

Maybe contact both and ask them... Some Hi-Fi specialists also stock FISCON units.

If not, maybe the m0bridge is an equally good choice. This system also makes use of a parrot stereo microphone for better noise suppression (but it won't fit into the dome light).

 

alex, Thanks for the info. That may be an option if I cannot get this used MULF2 module working. Since I have it and the wiring harness is on its way, I am going to give it a shot.

 

Hello everyone thank gosh I found your info. long story short we ordered a 2012 cooper S hardtop back in may 2012. today july 21st it came in and we picked it up here in San francisco bay area. Mini SF was awesome! one problem on are order everything we ordered came on the car, except the Bluetooth & USB.. This car was special ordered for my long time girlfriend which loves the bluetooth while she drives the long commute. This was vary hard to hear when i saw the steering wheel and said good it has bluetooth. Our salesman said nope you didn't order that. long story short I thought i did but no matter what looks like from all your info there is a factory retrofit kit to install the factory unit... my question is what are the updated part numbers I need and hopefully a dealer here in the SF bay area can do it. I am getting slammed for no bluetooth from my better half : ) any input thanks everyone