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TCU Adapter Ordering Guide
Attention:
You only need the telephone adapter if you want to use the BlueBus to make and receive phone calls over Bluetooth. Further, you only need ONE adapter per vehicle.Over the years, BMW changed the telephony system available in I-Bus cars. As such, there are three distinct BlueBus Telephone Mode harness adapters. Please use the tool below to figure out which version you need. Please ensure you have the appropriate connectors by checking the driver-side trunk electronics box of your vehicle.
Find Your Adapter
Select your vehicle details below to find the correct telephone adapter.
Connector Reference Images
Use these images to verify the connector in your trunk electronics box.
SES Connector (26-pin Blue)
The SES connector is responsible for creating continuity in the six signals that the BlueBus requires. When not connected, there is no continuity from the TCU connector to the Radio, Amplifier and microphone.
Warning: If you have the SES / Voice Module (Option: S620/S620A) ensure that you remove the module! Failure to do so could result in damage to the BlueBus!
This is the SES connector, which can be found in the trunk electronics box:
If your SES connector has a "cap" (SES Jumper ES#200433) like the one pictured below, you should use the 54-pin adapter instead:
DB25 Connector
The DB25 connector is similar to an older-style printer cable. It was used on earlier models.
This is the DB25 connector, which can be found in the trunk electronics box:
54-pin Connector
The 54-pin connector is the "next generation" TCU/ULF connector used on later models.
This is the 54-pin TCU connector, which can be found in the trunk electronics box:
26-pin Black Connector (E46 Convertible)
Early E46 Convertibles used a black 26-pin connector (non-SES). Contact support@bluebus.dev for more information on this adapter.
Retrofit Wiring (Vehicles Without Factory Pre-Wiring)
Many vehicles sold outside of the United States were never pre-wired for a telephone or a CD changer, so there is no connector in the trunk for a telephone adapter to plug into. For these vehicles, retrofit wiring kits are available that connect the BlueBus directly to the back of the radio. These kits are only offered to customers outside of the United States.
Do not order retrofit wiring unless you have been instructed to by support@bluebus.dev. Email support@bluebus.dev with your chassis, radio type and a photo of the back of your radio, and you will be told exactly which kit to order. Any order for retrofit wiring placed without first reaching out via email will be refunded.
For reference, the kits are split by the connector on the back of the radio:
- 17-pin Round: E46 Business CD (CD53) and other radios with a round 17-pin connector.
- 40-pin Flat: E39, E53, E83, E85 and E86 Business CD (CD53) and other radios with a flat 40-pin connector.
And by what they add:
- Hands-Free Retrofit Wiring ($25): Adds the telephone audio and microphone wiring needed for calls. The Non-Nav version is about 14 ft (4.3 m) long to reach a radio in the dash. The Nav version is about 3 ft (1 m) long because the navigation radio module is already in the trunk next to the BlueBus.
- CD Changer Retrofit Wiring ($25): Adds the CD changer audio and power wiring needed for the BlueBus to play music through the radio.
- CD Changer & Hands-Free Kit ($40): Both CD changer and telephone wiring in a single kit. All wiring in the kit is 3 ft (1 m) long.
- Factory Microphone Retrofit Wiring ($10): 16 ft (5 m) of wiring to run a factory microphone from the headliner to the trunk.
Once support has confirmed which kit you need, use the Add Retrofit Wiring button on the order form to add it to your order.
Microphones (V2 BlueBus ONLY)
There are three distinct part numbers that you will run into, which are all different:
84316938762 - The cheapest and most readily available as it was used on the E46, E60, E65, E83, E86 and E9x. This microphone works well, but if you're taking a lot of calls, especially while driving, you may run into quality issues as it tends to pick up road noise that gets interpolated with your own voice. You can find one of these for ~$20 USD on eBay.
84318380338 - The best all around microphone and most expensive. It was used on the facelift E38 and some facelift E39s, so it's difficult to source second hand.
84318380319 - This microphone doesn't work well for most users. It has a distinctive "green" backing plate and it was used on some E39s and many E46s before the 2003.5 electronics facelift.