E89 Acquired - no phone kit… calling the retro-instal experts!

[True-Blue]

Afternoon all, put a deposit down on a minty-mint one owner E89 for the Mrs earlier today.

It has a few compromises in that it doesn’t have iDRIVE or Bluetooth for calls.

Hands free calling is the biggest immediate priority, although she may well chose to go down the aftermarket touchscreen install route at a later date for CarPlay, maps etc.

What options do we have for sorting Bluetooth hands free calling?

Many thanks all

[Silverstar]

Not sure what retrofits options are available maybe Anubiszed will know but you could go aftermarket with something like Dension:

https://shop.dension.com/handsfree-car-kits

[True-Blue]

Not sure what retrofits options are available maybe Anubiszed will know but you could go aftermarket with something like Dension:

https://shop.dension.com/handsfree-car-kits

Looks worthy of a little investigation

[Pondrew]

Afternoon all, put a deposit down on a minty-mint one owner E89 for the Mrs earlier today.

It has a few compromises in that it doesn’t have iDRIVE or Bluetooth for calls.

Hands free calling is the biggest immediate priority, although she may well chose to go down the aftermarket touchscreen install route at a later date for CarPlay, maps etc.

What options doe we have for sorting Bluetooth hands free calling?

Many thanks all

In the short (or long) term there are loads of bluetooth kits that plug into the USB, or aux socket and power from the fag lighter (or USB). They are dirt cheap; starting about a tenner.

I recently bought one for my daughter's car (Mini with the same basic radio equipment as the E89). She wanted it mainly for streaming Spotify from her phone, but it does the exact same thing with calls. I got it from "light in the box" website. Has a little control pad for calls which can be mounted anywhere. £20.

[bigwinn]

I’d be canvassing Dave for a view

AnubisZed

[True-Blue]

I like the idea of the touch screen retrofit that @AnubisZed did, with the copy iDRIVE controller. It expensive, but I think it really brings the E89 interior bang up to date, especially with satnav from google maps etc on CarPlay - I’m just not sure if it has a phone kit built in?

In the interim I’ll look up the usb option.

She hasn’t seen the car yet, but it’s a cracker… I think she’s going to be really pleasantly surprised and happy to throw a few quid at it

[True-Blue]

Afternoon all, put a deposit down on a minty-mint one owner E89 for the Mrs earlier today.

It has a few compromises in that it doesn’t have iDRIVE or Bluetooth for calls.

Hands free calling is the biggest immediate priority, although she may well chose to go down the aftermarket touchscreen install route at a later date for CarPlay, maps etc.

What options doe we have for sorting Bluetooth hands free calling?

Many thanks all

In the short (or long) term there are loads of bluetooth kits that plug into the USB, or aux socket and power from the fag lighter (or USB). They are dirt cheap; starting about a tenner.

I recently bought one for my daughter's car (Mini with the same basic radio equipment as the E89). She wanted it mainly for streaming Spotify from her phone, but it does the exact same thing with calls. I got it from "light in the box" website. Has a little control pad for calls which can be mounted anywhere. £20.

Sounds good, at least as a short term fix… as long as she can answer calls without touching her phone

[AnubisZed]

Hi all

Sorry, been a busy day

Right, firstly in the meantime if you really must have Bluetooth for calls then I'd go with the kit as mentioned above or even a Bluetooth ear piece.

As for the Android Touchscreen, yes it does have Bluetooth for calls and music.

[True-Blue]

Hi all

Sorry, been a busy day

Right, firstly in the meantime if you really must have Bluetooth for calls then I'd go with the kit as mentioned above or even a Bluetooth ear piece.

As for the Android Touchscreen, yes it does have Bluetooth for calls and music.

Cheers Dave, isn’t the android screen about £800?

[Pondrew]

Sounds good, at least as a short term fix… as long as she can answer calls without touching her phone

It's the same as having a steering wheel button, just an auxiliary one, not on the wheel. I don't think we have got to the stage (yet) where you can answer calls by telepathy!

Doesn't matter to me TBH, as no-one ever calls me anyway!

[AnubisZed]

Hi all

Sorry, been a busy day

Right, firstly in the meantime if you really must have Bluetooth for calls then I'd go with the kit as mentioned above or even a Bluetooth ear piece.

As for the Android Touchscreen, yes it does have Bluetooth for calls and music.

Cheers Dave, isn’t the android screen about £800?

Yeah that's about it, depending on spec

[True-Blue]

Hi all

Sorry, been a busy day

Right, firstly in the meantime if you really must have Bluetooth for calls then I'd go with the kit as mentioned above or even a Bluetooth ear piece.

As for the Android Touchscreen, yes it does have Bluetooth for calls and music.

Cheers Dave, isn’t the android screen about £800?

Yeah that's about it, depending on spec

I’ve been searching on Ali-express, but none of the kits seem to come with a microphone in the kit? Unless I’m missing something… quite possible