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      01-24-2014, 05:56 PM   #1
Jgc650i
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Thumbs up iDrive Touch Controller Retrofit Successful

Had my 650iX GC M Sport Ed in for service this week and asked dealer to install the iDrive Touch Controller retrofit I purchased from Bimmer-Tech a couple weeks ago. Didn't want to deal with pulling trim apart, so let dealer do it, but could have been self installed. Picked it up today and works perfectly. The dealer didn't have ability to make the coding change, so they worked with Bimmer-Tech to have them do it remotely (big thanks to Patryk and company). My car is a 07/13 build with the NBT iDrive unit. Install was plug and play except for remote coding. Works great, is surprisingly quick at recognizing the input, and I'm real happy with the upgrade. I bought the "ceramic controls" version to match the controller finish it replaced. Here's a few quick pics. . .
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      01-24-2014, 09:06 PM   #2
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Nice..... But for us here who drive on the RIGHT side, I won't be installing the touch controller until I learn how to write with my left hand.......
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      01-25-2014, 12:08 AM   #3
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That's a cool new option! I like!
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      01-25-2014, 05:41 AM   #4
mrjoed2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jgc650i View Post
Had my 650iX GC M Sport Ed in for service this week and asked dealer to install the iDrive Touch Controller retrofit I purchased from Bimmer-Tech a couple weeks ago. Didn't want to deal with pulling trim apart, so let dealer do it, but could have been self installed. Picked it up today and works perfectly. The dealer didn't have ability to make the coding change, so they worked with Bimmer-Tech to have them do it remotely (big thanks to Patryk and company). My car is a 07/13 build with the NBT iDrive unit. Install was plug and play except for remote coding. Works great, is surprisingly quick at recognizing the input, and I'm real happy with the upgrade. I bought the "ceramic controls" version to match the controller finish it replaced. Here's a few quick pics. . .
jgc650i,

I am interested in doing the same thing. My 650 M sport Edition coupe just got off the boat and on the way to PCD. Question for you. How much did the dealer charge to install the controller & did Patryk charge for the remote coding? Also the Bimmertech website only shows one touch controller for $665- is there a different version for the ceramic? ( as I have ceramic as well)

Thanks
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      01-25-2014, 10:18 AM   #5
Jgc650i
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Bimmer-Tech has the ceramic controls version, just not listed on their site. If you email them, they'll have you post a custom order and if I remember correctly it was $250 more. Dealer charged $500, which is a bit pricey but I didn't care for convenience factor since car was going in for other service also.
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      01-25-2014, 10:46 AM   #6
mrjoed2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jgc650i View Post
Bimmer-Tech has the ceramic controls version, just not listed on their site. If you email them, they'll have you post a custom order and if I remember correctly it was $250 more. Dealer charged $500, which is a bit pricey but I didn't care for convenience factor since car was going in for other service also.
Thanks - well the regular controller is $700+ on their website, add $250, plus $500 for install and we are close to $1500 for this. Pretty pricey. Also why so much for the install - it supposed to be pretty easy to swap out. Even at BMW's hourly rate that's alot of time.

Also, Do you happen to know what the BMW part number is for the touch controller you have? As it's a factory part, curious as to what some of the online dealers will sell it for. It should be the same part as what's in the 3,5 series ect.

Another note- the touchpad will be standard in the 2015 6 series. So dealers will be able to code it as of this spring.

Last edited by mrjoed2; 01-25-2014 at 10:52 AM..
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      01-25-2014, 03:16 PM   #7
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Agreed, the whole thing turned out much more pricey than I expected, but such is life with early adoption of retrofits. The controller is pretty big, so a lot of ceramic. Comparatively speaking it probably has 3 or 4 times or more the ceramic of all the other controllers combined (including the previous iDrive controller in the comparison). Sorry, I didn't write down the part numbers. I did query them when I first got them and they checked out as appropriate BMW OEM parts, but didn't record the numbers.
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      01-25-2014, 04:05 PM   #8
mrjoed2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jgc650i View Post
Agreed, the whole thing turned out much more pricey than I expected, but such is life with early adoption of retrofits. The controller is pretty big, so a lot of ceramic. Comparatively speaking it probably has 3 or 4 times or more the ceramic of all the other controllers combined (including the previous iDrive controller in the comparison). Sorry, I didn't write down the part numbers. I did query them when I first got them and they checked out as appropriate BMW OEM parts, but didn't record the numbers.
No problem. I'm going to live with the regular controller for a while when I get the car next month. Then when it's available through dealers & they can code it, I'll make a decision. Curious was it several parts ? you mention multiple.

Last edited by mrjoed2; 01-25-2014 at 04:17 PM..
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      01-25-2014, 04:37 PM   #9
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http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...g=50&lang=enUS
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      01-25-2014, 07:41 PM   #10
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Thanks - I was looking at realoem myself. Still confusing as to exact part number needed for the itouch controller with ceramic US version.
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      01-25-2014, 08:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjoed2 View Post
No problem. I'm going to live with the regular controller for a while when I get the car next month. Then when it's available through dealers & they can code it, I'll make a decision. Curious was it several parts ? you mention multiple.

Two parts, plus wiring. The new iDrive controller itself and the touch module (basically the touch function brain - part #3 on the realoem diagram). The controller itself is plug and play for all normal controller functions. The coding is necessary to effectively tell the NBT the touch module is installed and should be recognized by the system. That's basically the software activation for the new hardware and enables the touch portion of the new controller functionality.
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      01-26-2014, 06:46 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jgc650i View Post
Had my 650iX GC M Sport Ed in for service this week and asked dealer to install the iDrive Touch Controller retrofit I purchased from Bimmer-Tech a couple weeks ago. Didn't want to deal with pulling trim apart, so let dealer do it, but could have been self installed. Picked it up today and works perfectly. The dealer didn't have ability to make the coding change, so they worked with Bimmer-Tech to have them do it remotely (big thanks to Patryk and company). My car is a 07/13 build with the NBT iDrive unit. Install was plug and play except for remote coding. Works great, is surprisingly quick at recognizing the input, and I'm real happy with the upgrade. I bought the "ceramic controls" version to match the controller finish it replaced. Here's a few quick pics. . .
Thank you for your positive feedback!

I am glad to see you like it that much
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      01-26-2014, 10:20 PM   #13
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Sadly, the touch controller probably is incompatible with my iDrive.
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      01-27-2014, 09:15 AM   #14
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I'm curious. What are the "practical" uses of the touchpad? Or, is it just to have the latest technology? Thanks.
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      01-27-2014, 10:09 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brazz View Post
I'm curious. What are the "practical" uses of the touchpad? Or, is it just to have the latest technology? Thanks.
Admittedly, new cars and latest techno gadgets are my biggest financial vices. That said, from a practicality standpoint, the touch controller allows for entry much more quickly IMO and with much less distraction than the controller wheel. I myself am not a big fan of using voice control. Also, if you use the interactive map in NAV with any frequency, much better control, including scrolling around and pinch to zoom functionality.
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      01-27-2014, 12:43 PM   #16
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Please look at it
1:19 you will see touchpad in M6 GC Horse Edition

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      01-27-2014, 01:31 PM   #17
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Anyone with an android phone must download this app. It has made my life so much easier. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...roid.sendtocar
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      01-27-2014, 05:18 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neversummer78 View Post
Sadly, the touch controller probably is incompatible with my iDrive.

Yup, 2014 forward only
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      02-12-2014, 09:16 AM   #19
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Checked with a Ebay BMW dealer I use and gave him part # 65829286709 from realoem for the touch controller, and he says none available in US or Germany. Can anybody confirm this is the correct number for the ceramic touch controler for the '14 6 series?

Thanks
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      05-02-2014, 09:20 PM   #20
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I just received the touch controller and control unit to retrofit on my 2014 640 GC. I'm planning to do the install and code myself; does anyone know how to remove the trim that surrounds the controller? I'd think it is just attached with clips, but would like a little advise so that I don't break anything.

Last edited by DR1er; 05-02-2014 at 10:45 PM..
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      05-02-2014, 10:42 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mlai View Post
Nice..... But for us here who drive on the RIGHT side, I won't be installing the touch controller until I learn how to write with my left hand.......
haha... good point
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      05-03-2014, 01:45 AM   #22
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My 640i right hand drive came with the touchpad. I like it, but I need more practice with my left hand letter & number writing skills!!
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