Recently purchased a 2011 X5 and I’m really enjoying it. I’d forgotten how many nice little hidden features and details BMW’s have, and the iDrive unit is by leaps and bounds more responsive and better designed than the head unit and system software of the 2015 Audi Q7 I had before (despite Audi having designed and produced their’s many years later!)

Only one issue for which the world’s smallest violin playeth. Oddly enough, in November of 2010 the X5 started rolling off the line with A2DP Bluetooth (music streaming) enabled as part of a mid-cycle upgrade, for whatever reason. But of course mine was produced in October.

So apart from updating the maps, I will likely need to upgrade the combox if I want native BT support without a dongle. And in doing this, I will seek the support of a quality forum, ...the BMW enthusiasts equivalent of OF.

It seems like there are only two, maybe three credible contenders out there. I thought to check here first and see if there were any strong opinions.

 

@gatorcpa Frontrunner, for sure. Looks well organized and maintained.

 

Bimmerfest is the best catch all forum.

I stick around m3forums and e46fanatics for my model.

As for your model it may just be upgrading the headunit as the radios tend to have multiple versions. Ie on the e46 the early ones did not support mp3 data cd’s but the identical looking ones later did and my head unit mysteriously got a bad lcd and had to be replaced under warranty

Did you already research it was a module that needs to be swapped? Does it need a programming change also? BMW’s of these generations tend to be very modular.

 

I'm guessing that if you ever need parts : Bavarian Autosport always worked for me.

 

Sort of. Bimmer-tech sells a kit. But the central component of this (the combox) is widely available on eBay for a little less than 200. So I don’t know if the harnessss and/or other codes are necessary and if so, if they can’t be found elsewhere cheaper.

My car is in the best possible position as it already has Bluetooth and audio-in/USB ...so it might be “only” a matter of swapping out the combox and then probably a bit of coding.

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/shop/bmw-x5-e70/connecteddrive-retrofits/combox-media-pnp-retrofit

 

bookmarked... as my BMW days are about to commence! looking forward spring/summer time to test the advertised 0-60 mph acceleration

 

Sounds like a module swap and maybe recode.

Call bimmer tech and ask what’s involved with your model then source the part with the correct version number on eBay. YouTube the DIY to swap it. The DIY might actually have everything you need to know actually.

Most dealers charge 36$ to 1/2 hour to recode. Or find a local specialist shop to do the recode. The recode is simple plug it in then change the correct value from a menu.

 

I have used Pelicanparts in the past as well, but they're predominately known for their Porsche content.

BTW - congrats on your "new" X5. Having owned both brands, I'm in agreement, BMW is head and shoulders above Audi. The MMI in my Q5 was glitchy and non-responsive during hot days.

 

Agree - for me large forums like Bimmerfest are like WUS - variety of cars covered and variety of posters/quality of posts.

I always found I got more out of the model specific forums - I haven't been on any for a number of years but at one time Z4-Forum was very much like OF for me - quality posts and a lot of fun had by people who shared a close interest in that model line.

Not sure if there is an X5 specific forum, but if there is that is another place I would look.

 

Bimmerfest.com and bimmerforums.com
Bimmers are the best! Great choice on your new vehicle.

 

I used to frequent this amazing site - http://www.e38.org/ , mostly dedicated to the E38 7-series but included lots of other info for BMW owners - when I owned my (sold long ago but) still favorite sedan to-date



It's almost Tuesday, so need to slide in my (still owned) favorite watch to-date

 

Very discreet! It’s all tied together now.

 

Congrats on your recent purchase! I graduated from a LR Disco II to an '01 X5 (E53) a years ago, and learnt the most from Local BMW owners here in Dubai. It was a bit of a mess to be honest, I'm not sure if the car was properly tested for the scorching heat and dust as the car gave almost all of us E53ers a nightmare in Servicing and Repair costs after the warranty expired.

I would recommend seeing if there are any BMW car clubs in your area, maybe someone would have encountered a similar issue and has fixed it or found a workaround.

 

BMW forums are more car specific. M3Post/M5Post etc are all tied in.

 

NO. They were clearly no tested here or in any warmer region. I must have evaluated a dozen X5’s before finding the one I bought, which was so incredibly well kept and maintained, and looks more like a car from 2015 than 2011.

But of the many other X5’s I saw there was only one other “good” one. The others were to some degree or another, garbage. The weather sealing on the body, doors and windows of most of the others was either cracked and brittle or tranformed to a syrupy goop – just severely degraded, and much of the plastic trim inside had turned sticky, and was actually mouldable, where an indentation could be made by just poking with your finger! Weird. Though the kids would have enjoyed that. What a mess. The larger twin turbo V8’s were by far in the worst shape of all.

All in all, not a great scene, but par for the course in the used car market here. Most people do not truly care for their cars here, let’s put it that way. And the climate sure isn’t helping. And BMW sure didn’t help by producing crap plastics and not testing in warmer climates.

Another funny observation on the X5’s. Every single one I saw had paint faded and worn off the fan speed button – including mine, which as noted was otherwise pristine. I ordered a new one on eBay for 14 bucks.

 

Always prefer vintage!

 

I refuse to attach a picture-poster of my Speedy on the trunk of my new car

 

Hehe ... it's an old (vintage? 1997) car