I am trying to decide what to do for a head unit on my 2005 R50. I just changed the radio due to a bad volume potentiometer with one I pulled from a fairly low option 2006 R53 ($21 !). It works great (except for the missing ****!) and I also have the aux cable that works with my phone. What I would like to do is have hands free calling but I am uncertain if that is something it can do. I noticed the phone button on the steering wheel as well as one that is marked "R/T"( if memory serves) and they don't seem to do anything. Is this something that can be used with a modern Android phone? Oh, and this is the base model stereo, not the Harman Kardon system, if that makes any difference.

 

There was an OEM bluetooth option that utilized those buttons. It's very rare and very expensive. There are some aftermarket solutions discussed here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...h-options.html

Some enable the buttons, some just use the aux-in. There are other threads on it as well.

 

Thanks. It looks like an aftermarket headunit will be my cheapest option then unless I happen upon a car with the factory setup in the junkyard.

 

When you install an aftermarket head unit into a BMW product, you need 3 adaptors. One connects the antenna to the A/M head (BMW use a wierd plug), one mates up the wiring looms (brand specific), and the final one (the one that you're talking about) preserves the factory communication to the steering wheel buttons. The first 2 are under $20 but the final one is about $75.

 

I already have the first two and have looked at the adapter for the steering wheel. From what I've seen it needs a special box with a board in it to translate between the two. The cheapest I have seen it so far is $50. It won't be going in any time soon, so I bought a new volume **** and will stay stock for now. I gotta pay down my credit card from all the other work I did to this thing!

 

There are some radios that are compatible out of the box. I have a Pioneer that works well, although the phone button will only answer an incoming call and the R/T button is just decorative.

I ordered mine from Crutchfield and it came with the wiring harness and Scoshi dash adapter etc.