[teaston]

I just thought I'd share this little mod I did, it gives you an extra USB socket which can be connected to behind the dash as I've done with my Brodit phone mount, or it can go in the glovebox where you could plug in an iPod, Flash Drive or HDD.

Or you could use it to retrofit the USB under the armrest if you don’t have it, using a cable and socket like this: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F153342388495
You would need to check that 150cm is long enough to reach, and you’d need to cut a square hole in the blanking plate inside the armrest, or buy the one from BMW, looks like part number is 51169366765 part 10 here: https://www.etkbmw.com/bmw/EN/search...dX/ECE/51_7745

It is handy if like me you have the phone mounted on the dash and want to use USB audio without running a cable from the USB in front of the cupholders, also so you can have 2 devices attached without the need to swap them over.

This is for cars with no factory EBT (unless you want to disconnect the socket in the armrest), as this second USB goes in the USB2 socket on the back of the head unit, which is only empty if the car does not have EBT. Also you need to code EBT for playing stored music, however, Spotify etc. will work without coding, giving louder, better quality sound than Bluetooth. It will of course charge your phone as well.

Guide:

1) Buy a cable like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-CIC-N...YAAOSwRE5aVVFL

2) Remove head unit as shown here
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/g...nit/1VnbgcYJTA





3) Connect cable to the empty USB2 socket as shown in pics here (this was my F30 but virtually identical on Gxx):



4) Either plug your phone cable in and feed out under the dash trim, or run the cable to the glovebox.

5) Turn off Bluetooth audio on your phones settings in idrive.

6) Code EBT if you want to play stored music on your phone, ipod, flash drive or HDD.

Don't forget to appreciate this post if you found it helpful!

[Diaolos]

Would this not be easier using the existing socket? Not in the dash but close enough, less of a headache and cheaper

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00MA8...UZ1F&psc=1

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Diaolos

Would this not be easier using the existing socket? Not in the dash but close enough, less of a headache and cheaper

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00MA8...2T2EUZ1F&psc=1

How would that give USB audio? And how would you route the cable without it being visible and looking a mess? My solution cost £18 and took about 20 minutes to do, really no headache at all.

[Diaolos]

Originally Posted by teaston

How would that give USB audio? And how would you route the cable without it being visible and looking a mess? My solution cost £18 and took about 20 minutes to do, really no headache at all.

My apology read the thread to fast. Missed the audio part. Sorry about that.

[SROC3]

Wow, that's a great DIY! I'm happy with the sound coming from Apple CarPlay for now but fantastic option in the future! I like it that right now I have LESS distractions from my phone as it stays hidden in the console forward of the cupholders (where the charging pad would have gone).

[DigiSage]

I appreciate you taking the time to develop and post this! Honest question- what benefit does this provide for people who have the charging mat + CarPlay audio (which uses wifi, not bluetooth, and is lossless)?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by DigiSage

I appreciate you taking the time to develop and post this! Honest question- what benefit does this provide for people who have the charging mat + CarPlay audio (which uses wifi, not bluetooth, and is lossless)?

I haven’t tried Carplay audio so I can’t comment in the quality compared to USB. Strange that it uses Wifi though, I would have thought that would give worse quality than the A2DP Bluetooth.

As you’ve got the wireless charging you also have the armrest USB, so you couldn’t do this mod unless you unplug either the armrest USB or the one in front of the cup holders. The advantage of this would be mainly that you can have the phone in view for using google maps, Waze, speed camera apps, spotify etc. whilst also having something else on the idrive screen, and also I believe it charges faster than wireless.

This is mainly for people without carplay and enhanced BT though.

[Rhidium]

Nice mod. I was thinking of adding another USB port but for QC3 fast charge for my Samsung. Now I think I might do this to hack in the data pins to the head unit with a bit of splicing..

[Rhidium]

Hmm.. would that cable be the same for the G01? From description it was for the F series.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Rhidium

Hmm.. would that cable be the same for the G01? From description it was for the F series.

Yes, same head units, I reused the cable from my F30.

[Rhidium]

Originally Posted by teaston

Yes, same head units, I reused the cable from my F30.

Thanks. Now to just find a supplier in the US..

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Rhidium

Thanks. Now to just find a supplier in the US..

That one does ship to US. Or of course you could order it from your dealership.

[808ron]

That’s for sharing the mount. I just ordered that. Lol

[Rhidium]

Originally Posted by teaston

That one does ship to US. Or of course you could order it from your dealership.

That listing say "May not post to United States"

I'll have to figure out the part # and contact BMW about it. Thanks.

[nogren]

Originally Posted by teaston

I believe it charges faster than wireless.

Unless you saw it in another thread; I believe Wireless charging can come up to 5W in ideal conditions, and the HU USB can charge 7.5W, to Apple devices at least...

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by teaston

I haven’t tried Carplay audio so I can’t comment in the quality compared to USB. Strange that it uses Wifi though, I would have thought that would give worse quality than the A2DP Bluetooth.

As you’ve got the wireless charging you also have the armrest USB, so you couldn’t do this mod unless you unplug either the armrest USB or the one in front of the cup holders. The advantage of this would be mainly that you can have the phone in view for using google maps, Waze, speed camera apps, spotify etc. whilst also having something else on the idrive screen, and also I believe it charges faster than wireless.

This is mainly for people without carplay and enhanced BT though.

This is great information. My (first hand) experience with EBT (and Samsung Galaxy Note8 phone) was less satisfying compared to SiriusXM for playing similar music genres, rock, classical, smooth jazz, jazz, r&b. SiriusXM playback just had (to me) more volume, staging and imaging from the speakers. I assumed, had to be the bluetooth audio related.

I don't mind the usb cable if that will net me better audio from usb, than wifi and bluetooth. I will try this, since when i'm in this car, i would really, really prefer to use Spotify. Perhaps the mobile usb audio input runs at the typical usb 2.0 audio profile, stereo pcm with 44.1 and 48 khz's.

I hope i can drive USB audio from both the USB1 (by the wireless charger) and USB2 (by the armrest) connections.

[BuddhaTB]

Excellent DIY. Thank you for sharing the process to get this setup!

[Bang321]

Originally Posted by teaston

I just thought I'd share this little mod I did, it gives you an extra USB socket which can be connected to behind the dash as I've done with my Brodit phone mount, or it can go in the glovebox where you could plug in an iPod, Flash Drive or HDD.

I'm at a loss here. I got the first trim piece off, but I cant for the life of me figure out how to remove the HVAC/Radio unit. I see from the instructions that its mounted by 4 pegs but try as I might, I cant figure out if there is a latch I'm supposed to undo or what. The guide says to "press out" the radio? Anyone have any advice? Thanks

This is where Im stuck

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Bang321

I'm at a loss here. I got the first trim piece off, but I cant for the life of me figure out how to remove the HVAC/Radio unit. I see from the instructions that its mounted by 4 pegs but try as I might, I cant figure out if there is a latch I'm supposed to undo or what. The guide says to "press out" the radio? Anyone have any advice? Thanks

This is where Im stuck

Stick a plastic trim tool under the bottom edge and pop it out.

[Bang321]

Thanks!! I just really had to get over my fear of majorly breaking something

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Bang321

Thanks!! I just really had to get over my fear of majorly breaking something

Yeah it’s a bit nerve wracking the first time.

To refit it you need to put the top edge in first btw.

[Bang321]

Originally Posted by teaston

Yeah it’s a bit nerve wracking the first time.

To refit it you need to put the top edge in first btw.

Yah. Thanks for the tip. I figured it out after a few minutes of futzing around with it.