BlueBus: A fully integrated A2DP Bluetooth solution

[WOLFN8TR]

Has anyone experienced issues with dimming of the dash lights after installing the BlueBus? I thought it was my LCM going bad so I replaced it and no luck. Driving at night my dash lights are stuck at full dim with the odometer info and SMG lights at full bright.

UPDATE: I did some troubleshooting and started with pulling fuses 7,39 and 41. The dash lights dim properly using both the new and my original LCM. I will proceed with unplugging the BlueBus and the CarPlay unit from Carphonic’s to see which one is causing the problem.

FIXED: Turns out it was the"Parking Lamps" feature, it was turned ON in the BlueBus settings. I did an update from Baris when I installed my CarPlay and apparently it turned itself "ON". All lights dim properly with both my original and extra LCM modules.

LCM Issue: https://github.com/tedsalmon/BlueBus/issues/166

[Keith_MN]

Up & running! Mostly was making things harder for myself than necessary but in my defense, there was some well done aftermarket wiring that I overlooked and caused some rework.

Now I'm motivated to finally do the Bavsound upgrade that has been sitting around. ...as soon as the heat breaks.

Thanks for the help!

[t3ddftw]

No worries, I knew you were out and this certainly isn't a priority.

All the audio components have been reinstalled. Bluebus plugged in and the blue light comes on but not getting any indication of it at the head unit or bluetooth populating. Cycled the key several times, drove it once, repositioned it, etc, still nothing. AM/FM stereo works.

I found this plug in the glovebox which I will attempt to trace, not sure if it's related to what was plugged in in the trunk but seems like it may be. That's the next order of business but likely not until next week. Posting in case someone recognizes this...

That plug is probably the other end of what you had to disconnect the three and six pin from in the trunk. I would leave it be.

What is the blue LED on the unit doing? Solid or blinking?

Thanks!
-Ted

[Shonky]

The 3 pin is the ibus and power for the Bluebus. 6 pin is the audio only. The 3 pin alone should be enough for the head unit to be able to indicate it's working. You have to change source using the "Mode" button to what would have been the CD changer. It doesn't show as a new menu or anything.

On my factory nav car it's after the AM/FM source so it should cycle through "AM/FM" -> "CDC" which is now the BlueBus but might show as CDC and then change to Bluetooth -> "CD"/"Tape" (in the head unit) -> "Aux" (if adapter is fitted) -> "AM/FM". I presume non nav cars are basically the same in that respect."

[Keith_MN]

Sorry for the lag -- currently on our yearly family vacation

-Ted

No worries, I knew you were out and this certainly isn't a priority.

All the audio components have been reinstalled. Bluebus plugged in and the blue light comes on but not getting any indication of it at the head unit or bluetooth populating. Cycled the key several times, drove it once, repositioned it, etc, still nothing. AM/FM stereo works.

I found this plug in the glovebox which I will attempt to trace, not sure if it's related to what was plugged in in the trunk but seems like it may be. That's the next order of business but likely not until next week. Posting in case someone recognizes this...

[t3ddftw]

Ted, that is awesome! Exciting transition, I'm rooting for you!

Thanks, George!!

Tore all the audio componentry out of the trunk and have the same question. The bundled up unused harness has the 3 pin connector that fits. There is no sign of the 6 pin connector.

The two connectors in the trunk closest to the front of the car (pic 1000053908) has both the 3pin & 6 pin connectors that fit, but I don't think that's what I'm supposed to be using. Tried it just to see and no luck.

I don't really know what to try next here... Doesn't appear to be any modifications to the harness by previous owners. Anyone else have a 6 pin connector they couldn't locate?

You found them, but it wasn't clear because someone plugged something aftermarket into them:


Use those for the BlueBus, not the three pin you found in the telephony bundle.

Sorry for the lag -- currently on our yearly family vacation

-Ted

[Keith_MN]

https://www.bluebus.dev/telephone-adapters

Aren't the adapters just for telephone functionality? Can't find any decent photos but this kind of makes it look like it has the 6 pin plug. I'm annoyed at how unclear this supposedly simple thing is.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-599393-bluebus-54-pin-tcu-adapter/

[heinzboehmer]

Tore all the audio componentry out of the trunk and have the same question. The bundled up unused harness has the 3 pin connector that fits. There is no sign of the 6 pin connector.

The two connectors in the trunk closest to the front of the car (pic 1000053908) has both the 3pin & 6 pin connectors that fit, but I don't think that's what I'm supposed to be using. Tried it just to see and no luck.

I don't really know what to try next here... Doesn't appear to be any modifications to the harness by previous owners. Anyone else have a 6 pin connector they couldn't locate?

https://www.bluebus.dev/telephone-adapters

[Keith_MN]

Tore all the audio componentry out of the trunk and have the same question. The bundled up unused harness has the 3 pin connector that fits. There is no sign of the 6 pin connector.

The two connectors in the trunk closest to the front of the car (pic 1000053908) has both the 3pin & 6 pin connectors that fit, but I don't think that's what I'm supposed to be using. Tried it just to see and no luck.

I don't really know what to try next here... Doesn't appear to be any modifications to the harness by previous owners. Anyone else have a 6 pin connector they couldn't locate?

[Keith_MN]

Since you don't have the CD changer, it is probably bundled up in the black tape somewhere.

When i first glanced at it I thought the DVD/nav unit was the changer so I was expecting it to be a little more straightforward. Once I got into it I realized I have no changer. I'll just take out the big stuff then and report back with hopefully good news...

I would rather do rod bearings than touch a single wire.

[Slideways]

Trying to make the most out of my 10-15min increments I have to work on this, so bear with me...

I found the three pin harness bunched up with some others but not the six pin. I thought that was supposed to be bunched with it? Do I need to fully disassemble all the components to find it? I've been digging around in the car, searching the thread and YT with nothing very conclusive. Don't need any telephone connectivity.

Since you don't have the CD changer, it is probably bundled up in the black tape somewhere.

[Keith_MN]

Trying to make the most out of my 10-15min increments I have to work on this, so bear with me...

I found the three pin harness bunched up with some others but not the six pin. I thought that was supposed to be bunched with it? Do I need to fully disassemble all the components to find it? I've been digging around in the car, searching the thread and YT with nothing very conclusive. Don't need any telephone connectivity.

[Der_Spanier]

This is super weird. I have had it happen on the bench as well and resorted to replacing the Bluetooth module, which seemed to fix it. However, that could've been anything else too since it's such an inconsistent issue.

As I said, it appears to be completely random. The only consistency here comes from the fact it's happened with all firmware versions of the Bluebus 😂 I've always assumed it was an issue with the iPhone and not the Bluebus.

[George Hill]

Still being worked on, but not much progress has been made lately. Honestly, I am spread very thin at the moment, especially since I am now also manufacturing the unit myself. I am actively trying to work on cutting my day job hours so I can focus on expanding this into an actual business.

-Ted

Ted, that is awesome! Exciting transition, I'm rooting for you!

[t3ddftw]

bump!

Still being worked on, but not much progress has been made lately. Honestly, I am spread very thin at the moment, especially since I am now also manufacturing the unit myself. I am actively trying to work on cutting my day job hours so I can focus on expanding this into an actual business.

Yeah this happens to me on occasion. Usually resolved by manually closing and restarting the app on my iPhone. I really only use Spotify.

I've never narrowed down if it's a phone or BlueBus issue.

My V1 Bluebus likes doing that, not just in the situation you describe, but simply when you connect the phone.

I can’t spot a pattern, sometimes it connects and plays music just fine, sometimes it won’t produce any sound despite being connected.
Only way to fix it is to switch Bluetooth off and back on on the iPhone and reconnect.

Maybe it’s an iPhone issue. We have the problem with both my girlfriend’s iPhone 12 and my 13 Mini.
That Bluebus is now in my parents’ E39 and so far they’ve not complained about pairing issues. They use Android (Samsung).

My V2 so far has had none of these issues. It also appears to connect faster.

This is super weird. I have had it happen on the bench as well and resorted to replacing the Bluetooth module, which seemed to fix it. However, that could've been anything else too since it's such an inconsistent issue.

-Ted