Combox -- Overview BMW X3 F25

INTRODUCTION

Starting in 09/2010, ULF-SBX-High (option 6FL) and the TCU (option 639) will be gradually replaced by the Combox in all BMW models. The Combox provides the customer many new functions which are described in the following training material.

Some of these functions include

1. Connection of audio players via Bluetooth
2. Simultaneous connection of cell phones and audio players via Bluetooth
3. Contacts with images
4. Direct Bluetooth profile software update by customer (via BMW website download to USB stick as of 04/2011)
5. Connection of certain iPods using the original USB cable
6. Album cover display (for iPod, MTP players, MP3 via USB)
7. Office SMS, calendar and notes from cell phone (not available with all phones)
8. Office with email from cell phone (not available with all phones)

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INDEX EXPLANATION REFERENCE CHART

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INDEX EXPLANATION REFERENCE CHART

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INDEX EXPLANATION REFERENCE CHART

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INDEX EXPLANATION REFERENCE CHART

For vehicles without USB hub (all except F0x), both the USB audio interface and the base plate are connected directly to the Combox. If a USB hub is installed, only one USB connection (USB 1) of the Combox is used.

The Combox control unit is located in a housing that has been designed for installation without a holder. Thus in certain vehicles, the Combox is installed without an additional sheet metal holder.

In the event of a collision, however, the impact energy is transmitted directly to the control unit when there is no sheet metal holder. Therefore the Combox control unit must be checked for external damage after the vehicle has been in a collision.

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Versions

Although the Combox is only available in combination with the BMW Assist (option 639), different versions of the control unit are used depending on the vehicle's electrical system and optional equipment.

Therefore, there are currently four versions of the Combox

Vehicle electrical system BN2000 (L2 [E8x, E9x] and L4 [E7x] as of 09/2010)

1. Combox with telematics (With BMW Assist)
2. Combox with telematics and GPS receiver (With BMW Assist and Navigation)

Vehicle electrical system BN2020 (L6 [F0x] as of 09/2010)

1. Combox with telematics (With BMW Assist)
2. Combox with telematics and GPS receiver (With BMW Assist and Navigation)

Interfaces and components

To make it easier to tell them apart, the system connector is white for the vehicle electrical system BN2020 and black for the vehicle electrical system BN2000. The Combox is connected in the L2 and L4 to the K-CAN and in the L6 to the K-CAN2. Because the K-CAN and K-CAN2 have different speeds, the color-coding was implemented to prevent them from being mixed up.

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INDEX EXPLANATION REFERENCE CHART

Use of the Combox in L2 vehicles as of 09/2010

The following optional equipment is available in conjunction with the Combox in the L2 vehicles

1. Radio Professional (option 663)
2. BMW Assist with Bluetooth (option 639)
3. iPod and USB adapter (option 6FL)
4. Smartphone Integration (option 6NF)
5. Navigation system (option 609)

As of 09/2010, the ULF-SBX High and TCU control units will be replaced by the Combox.

Currently, to get Bluetooth and USB audio interface functions we must order BMW Assist with Bluetooth (option 639), which includes the Combox controller. (See the table below)

Note. BMW Assist (SA639) is currently standard equipment only on the X5 M, X6 M, 5, 6 & 7 Series. It is part of the Premium Package on all other models as of 9/2010.

The following table provides an overview of which options are combined with the Combox

COMBOX REFERENCE CHART

Use in L4 and L6

A Combox is installed in L4 and L6 vehicles in combination with one of the following optional equipment packages

1. BMW Assist w/Bluetooth option 639)
2. USB audio interface (option 6FL)

Bluetooth devices

Cell phones and audio players can be connected to the Combox via Bluetooth. To provide the customer with a simpler, easy-to-understand overview of the currently "tested" devices, the website at http://www.bmwusa.com/bluetooth is being constantly updated. Customers are able to use the website to determine which devices and functions work and which do not with their specific BMW model.

The following information is available

1. The tested phones are organized based on BMW model and wireless carrier.
2. Detailed information regarding individual functions is organized based on phone manufacture and on which functions the specific phone can perform
3. Information about how to improve cell phone to vehicle compatibility (by means of a downloadable Bluetooth profile software updates will be available 04/2011)

At first, only phones will be included in the device database, they will be followed by audio players and other devices that can be connected with the Combox via Bluetooth.

Audio player via Bluetooth

The Combox makes it possible to stream audio signals wirelessly via Bluetooth from a corresponding source. To do so, the source must support the A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile). A source can be a cell phone or MP3 player, for example. The A2DP profile is used to transmit the audio signal only.

The AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile) is used for remote control of the source. The range of functions of the remote control depends on the version of AVRCP supported in the source. Initially the Combox will support Version 1.0 and 1.3 of AVRCP. As of 03/2011 version 1.4 of AVRCP will be implemented.

Note. For optimum functionality of the audio player via Bluetooth, use only BMW recommended devices. For a list of these devices, please visit http://www.bmwusa.com/bluetooth

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Multiple Bluetooth coupling

With the introduction of the Combox, multiple devices can be coupled via Bluetooth simultaneously. Thus the audio player of one device and the telephone function of another device can be used at the same time.

Another benefit of having two phones paired at the same time is that one will have full functionality through the iDrive while the additional one is used just for incoming calls.

The respective function used appears in the form of a symbol behind the device name in the "Add new device" display.

Contacts with images

With the introduction of the Combox images can now be stored in contacts. These are transmitted from a supported mobile phone via Bluetooth and stored temporarily on the Combox.

Note. This feature is not currently supported by all phones. For a detailed list of BMW tested phones and their features, please visit http://www.bmwusa.com/bluetooth.

The contacts from the mobile phone are displayed only if the mobile phone supports this function. Contacts can be created and edited using the Drive.

The addresses can be taken over as a destination for the Navigation system and the phone numbers can be dialled.

When calling someone from the address book, his or her image appears in the central information display.

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If another party joins a call, a list of participants with image is shown in the central information display.

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Office

The Combox enables customers to access the SMS messages, calendar, notes, email, tasks and reminders stored on a supported cell phone. The "Office" menu item replaces the "Contacts" item in the central information display.

Although access to the cell phone is always read-only and the Combox does not modify existing data on the phone, once you open a new email via the iDrive, the status of the email on the phone will change to "read".

The "Current Office" menu item informs the user about the number of new messages, active tasks and upcoming appointments.

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Appointments of the last 30 and the next 90 days can be shown in the calendar.

If an appointment includes phone numbers or email addresses, they can be used directly or stored in the contacts.

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Emails, SMS messages, calendar appointments, tasks and notes can be read aloud with the text to speech function available in combination with Voice Command (option 620).

Note. This feature is not currently supported by all phones. For a detailed list of BMW tested phones and their features, please visit http://www.bmwusa.com/bluetooth.

USB audio interface

With the Combox, an iPhone or iPod can now be connected using the customer's "original" white USB cable. This feature still requires the optional equipment iPod and USB adapter (option 6FL). In this case all data and other information, including the audio data, are transmitted via the USB cable. Because the device is now also charged via this cable the familiar Y cable is no longer needed.

Note. Non-compatible iPods (e.g. first-generation iPod Nanos) still have to be connected using the familiar Y cable.

Album covers

For MP3 players, USB sticks, MTP players, iPhones and iPods, album covers are displayed if the MP3 file contains the album cover. For iPhones and iPods, the album cover is not displayed if the connection is made via the Y cable. The album covers are displayed for a connection via USB (option 6FL) and the "original" white USB cable only.

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Note. When iPods are connected via the familiar Y cable the display of the album cover function is not supported.

Software updates

The Combox will enable the customer for the first time to update the software of a system component. To update the Combox, the Bluetooth profile software update must be downloaded from the BMW website http://www.bmw.com/bluetooth and stored on a USB stick. For this purpose, any conventional USB stick with sufficient storage capacity can be used. The software is then transferred from the USB stick to the Combox via the USB audio interface (option 6FL) in the center console.

Note. This function is still under development and is expected by 4/2011. Please check the http://www.bmw.com/bluetooth website for availability.

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The Service Advisor/parts salesperson will be able to use a USB stick to carry out a one-off software update for the customer. The customer can then carry out additional updates on his or her own via USB stick.

Telematics

With the introduction of the Combox the Telematic Control Unit (TCU) is no longer needed nor installed.

All BMW vehicle telematics functions are enabled by the Combox with no additional control units required.

Emergency call

In BMW vehicles with Combox, the emergency call is carried out using NGTP (Next Generation Telematics Protocol). The customer will not notice any difference from the existing emergency call system. With the Combox, the emergency call is always placed via the backup speaker.