BlueBus: A fully integrated A2DP Bluetooth solution

[Der_Spanier]

You're not wrong, but that mic kinda stinks.

The full retrofit is $25.

Thanks!
-Ted

Is it really that bad?

Pulling the roof lining down is literally the last thing I’d like to do…

Thanks for your very quick feedback btw! I’ll keep that in mind. I was thinking about ordering a second Bluebeard for my parents’ E39 (they’ve seen it in mine and really liked the idea), so I might just order the harness when I get that. Otherwise shipping costs to Europe will be prohibitive just for the wiring.

[cobra]

1. Sounds like poor signal. Is the blue LED on the unit facing the cabin? In my own M3 Coupe, this makes a huge difference. On the Touring, not so much. Do you keep the phone in your pocket or place it somewhere?
2. "Call Vol. Offset", or if you have Navigation, Settings > Calling > Vol. Offset -- try +3 or +4.

Thanks!
-Ted

1. Definitely doesn't seem like a signal issue. As soon as I cycle the power, it can work flawlessly for hours without a single hiccup. I keep my phone in my pocket. I have it situated with the cables/plugs pointing towards the passenger side, mounting tabs lined up with the studs.
2. I will give that a shot!

[t3ddftw]

There’s a third option: getting the mic used in the last E46 convertibles, which is mounted on the steering column, just behind the steering wheel.



How much do you charge for the full-on harness if you don’t mind me asking?

You're not wrong, but that mic kinda stinks.

The full retrofit is $25.

Thanks!
-Ted

[Der_Spanier]

It can cover telephony functionality (though there is some added expense), but if this is a slicktop, then you're going to have to partially drop the headliner to install the mic. The other option is to free-hand cut a hole for the mic into the headliner, hah.

-Ted

There’s a third option: getting the mic used in the last E46 convertibles, which is mounted on the steering column, just behind the steering wheel. It’s what I have in the Touring.

How much do you charge for the full-on harness if you don’t mind me asking?

[t3ddftw]

That sounds like just what I need!

I'll get in touch when I get the car... Would that cover the telephone functions too, or just music playback?

It can cover telephony functionality (though there is some added expense), but if this is a slicktop, then you're going to have to partially drop the headliner to install the mic. The other option is to free-hand cut a hole for the mic into the headliner, hah.

-Ted

[Der_Spanier]

I make this with the help of some AliExpress connectors (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802762548801.html) -- I actually got into the business of making these to support sales in Europe where pre-wiring is rare...

Thanks!
-Ted

That sounds like just what I need!

I'll get in touch when I get the car... Would that cover the telephone functions too, or just music playback?

[t3ddftw]

Couple questions:
1. I have noticed that maybe 5-10% of the time when I start the car, the audio will be very choppy and skip every 1-2 seconds. It is fixed by turning off the car, waiting 15 seconds, and restarting. Is that a known issue?
2. My phone call volume is very low relative to music volume. Is there a way to adjust them independently?

1. Sounds like poor signal. Is the blue LED on the unit facing the cabin? In my own M3 Coupe, this makes a huge difference. On the Touring, not so much. Do you keep the phone in your pocket or place it somewhere?
2. "Call Vol. Offset", or if you have Navigation, Settings > Calling > Vol. Offset -- try +3 or +4.

Thanks!
-Ted

[cobra]

Couple questions:
1. I have noticed that maybe 5-10% of the time when I start the car, the audio will be very choppy and skip every 1-2 seconds. It is fixed by turning off the car, waiting 15 seconds, and restarting. Is that a known issue?
2. My phone call volume is very low relative to music volume. Is there a way to adjust them independently?

[t3ddftw]

Ted, any updates on your carplay bluebus module?

Not much -- I haven't found the time to lay out the prototype board, but the software has matured already. I'm hoping to get a Prototype sometime in October.

Hi everyone, I'm looking into buying a 325ti Compact E46 (no clue whether it was ever sold in North America...).

It's got an original CD53 radio and that's it: no prewiring for the CD changer or the phone. I already went through the trouble of taking my interior apart in my E46 Touring to retrofit the Bluebus. Are you guys aware of an easier wiring solution? Maybe someone sells shorter wiring harnesses to install the Bluebus behind the glovebox?

Any help would be appreciated! I really don't want to rip the interior apart... but I still want to be able to enjoy my Bluebus 😁

Thanks!

I make this with the help of some AliExpress connectors (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802762548801.html) -- I actually got into the business of making these to support sales in Europe where pre-wiring is rare...

Thanks!
-Ted

[Der_Spanier]

Hi everyone, I'm looking into buying a 325ti Compact E46 (no clue whether it was ever sold in North America...).

It's got an original CD53 radio and that's it: no prewiring for the CD changer or the phone. I already went through the trouble of taking my interior apart in my E46 Touring to retrofit the Bluebus. Are you guys aware of an easier wiring solution? Maybe someone sells shorter wiring harnesses to install the Bluebus behind the glovebox?

Any help would be appreciated! I really don't want to rip the interior apart... but I still want to be able to enjoy my Bluebus 😁

Thanks!

[Will ZCPM3]

Older firmware versions have trouble going to bootloader mode. Remove the unit from the case, then locate the "RECOVERY" jumper and connect it to both pins. Try it again, then restore the jumper to how it was prior to messing with it.

Thank you Ted, I'm not very electrically inclined, but that was very straight forward. All updated.

For anyone having the same issue, here's what the jumper looks like:

Normal:

Recovery:

[sev]

Ted, any updates on your carplay bluebus module?

[t3ddftw]

Hi t3ddftw, on my 03 M5, every now and then the audio signal switches itself from digital to analog and I have to manually set it to digital again. I am using the digital audio cable you suggested before. Any idea why this is happening and/or how to prevent it?

Yeahhhhh, there's a really stupid fix for this as it's some kind of timing issue. Follow this guide: https://github.com/tedsalmon/BlueBus...g-the-Terminal

Then run this command:
set log ibus on

The added lag of debug logging somehow fixes this issue

Anyone else run into an issue updating the firmware via mac? My issue seems very similar to this: https://github.com/tedsalmon/BlueBus/issues/156

Not a cable or connectivity issue, just times out. Maybe something to do with the terminal shell? ZSH vs bash?

Same issue as 0-60

Older firmware versions have trouble going to bootloader mode. Remove the unit from the case, then locate the "RECOVERY" jumper and connect it to both pins. Try it again, then restore the jumper to how it was prior to messing with it.

t3ddftw - really happy to have Bluebus in my M3 now. Q on the microphone gain. The FAQs says default is -23, but I don't see any choices below 0. Am I missing something? TIA!

Calling

• Handsfree: Enable / Disable Calling. Note that this will also disable the connectivity LEDs. Default: On
• Mic Gain: The gain of the microphone audio. The lower the number, the less sensitive the microphone will be. Default: -23dB
• Vol. Offset: This setting defines how much louder the call audio should be when a call comes in. This is NOT compatible with "Call Mode: TCU". The best way to set this setting is to place a call, then count the number of pushes to the Volume Up button on the Steering wheel to attain the most comfortable volume for the call. That value should be used as the offset.
• Mode: Toggle the use of "TCU" mode, where call audio is piped to the amplifier or radio over the Telephone audio wires, or if it should only use that mode when it cannot use the regular audio path. NOTE: Not available for HW 1.x users because it isn't necessary to toggle it.

-23dB is the default for the V1 BlueBus. For V2, use 8dB.

Thanks!
-Ted

[BlueBimmers]

t3ddftw - really happy to have Bluebus in my M3 now. Q on the microphone gain. The FAQs says default is -23, but I don't see any choices below 0. Am I missing something? TIA!

Calling

• Handsfree: Enable / Disable Calling. Note that this will also disable the connectivity LEDs. Default: On
• Mic Gain: The gain of the microphone audio. The lower the number, the less sensitive the microphone will be. Default: -23dB
• Vol. Offset: This setting defines how much louder the call audio should be when a call comes in. This is NOT compatible with "Call Mode: TCU". The best way to set this setting is to place a call, then count the number of pushes to the Volume Up button on the Steering wheel to attain the most comfortable volume for the call. That value should be used as the offset.
• Mode: Toggle the use of "TCU" mode, where call audio is piped to the amplifier or radio over the Telephone audio wires, or if it should only use that mode when it cannot use the regular audio path. NOTE: Not available for HW 1.x users because it isn't necessary to toggle it.

[Will ZCPM3]

Anyone else run into an issue updating the firmware via mac? My issue seems very similar to this: https://github.com/tedsalmon/BlueBus/issues/156

Not a cable or connectivity issue, just times out. Maybe something to do with the terminal shell? ZSH vs bash?

Same issue as 0-60

Can't connect to the Bluebus for some reason. This has not happened before. Need to update the firmware as mines pretty old. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks.