[SchweiZ4]

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

Thanks for the info on the Fakra connectors! Yes, I purchased the USB socket which you showed. The HSD cable M-F is exactly what I need, but can't find them anywhere in the US. The site you linked will ship to US I believe, but the final cost is crazy...about $75 US!!!

I've been searching online for different vendors and can't seem to find others. Plenty of the RF/coax versions all over the place and for cheap. I can get a male-male cables (or is it female-female...I always get that mixed up when there are male pins, but the connector housing is female) really cheap. That would require me to rip apart the dash to get to the head unit and run a new cable which, when I think about it, is worth paying $75 to avoid.

Ooh I just thought of something. I could cut the connector off the snap-in base and splice the wires on the end of the M-M cable. That would work...

You are totally right, this cable is a pain in the a** to find and is very expensive for the few available.
This makes the new USB socket quite expensive..

In my case, I am using the USB socket mainly to charge phones. From time to time I plug a USB key with songs on it in order to transfer them, but the rest is going through Bluetooth connection.
That is why I am looking for a USB charger and I would be done in term of phone connection in my car.

[SchweiZ4]

Originally Posted by cshawkeye

Just removed it myself. Took 20 minutes, it was a little finicky with getting the cables loose but the guide and pictures posted here helped out big time!

Glad it helped!

Originally Posted by cshawkeye

Now the question is what do i do with this phone holder?

Same question here, we can try to sell it on classified ads..

[Fronzdan]

I managed to find a Fakra cable manufacturer in China on aliexpress.com who will make me a custom extension cable for $30 shipped. I'll let you know how it works out.

[smithf80]

Spoiler alert: adding a USB port works.

[Fronzdan]

I got the new port...just waiting on the cable...must be coming on the slow boat. I ordered the plastic tray too. Back ordered and not in stock until tomorrow.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

I got the new port...just waiting on the cable...must be coming on the slow boat. I ordered the plastic tray too. Back ordered and not in stock until tomorrow.

I'm just getting the white HSD Fakra BMW one that most dealers have availability on and I'm going to cut off the keying so that it will fit in the blue plug... easy.

[Fronzdan]

Yeah I almost got my flush cutters out to remove the key tabs on the remaining cable, but then I really wouldn't mind a bit more length and slack so I can mount the new port near the standard one.

Does the white BMW cable have a male on one side and the email on the other?

Where are you mounting your new port?

[RalphyBMW]

Did you guys see my earlier post?
There is a provision for a USB port in the glove compartment. You can get the complete cable, with socket from eBay.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by RalphyBMW

Did you guys see my earlier post?
There is a provision for a USB port in the glove compartment. You can get the complete cable, with socket from eBay.

I saw your post and link to the cable. So can this second USB port be used to connect a USB stick or USB HDD? My plan would be to put a USB HDD with all my music on it in my glove box.

If this doenst work, I suppose I could cut the keying features off from the connector, then plug the USB cable from the glove box into port #12 on the back the head unit. Then I can move the existing connector in port #12 to #13. That would allow me to plug my phone into the USB in center console which makes more sense.

[RalphyBMW]

Both the original USB, and the phone cradle replacement USB appear to have identical functionality.

Spotify, BMW apps, etc work just the same.

I haven't tried doing an update through the phone cradle replacement USB.

I use my iPhone for most things and can use either port, but generally use the original USB in the armrest.

As far as I can tell, the main difference is that they have different icons on the display to differentiate between them; one being a USB symbol, the other the phone cradle symbol.

[Fronzdan]

Yeah aware that there's a third USB that you can add. This would normally be the "glovebox" port. But you have to run a cable to the head unit. That means pulling apart the dash. And that makes me a little nervous.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by RalphyBMW

Both the original USB, and the phone cradle replacement USB appear to have identical functionality.

Spotify, BMW apps, etc work just the same.

I haven't tried doing an update through the phone cradle replacement USB.

I use my iPhone for most things and can use either port, but generally use the original USB in the armrest.

As far as I can tell, the main difference is that they have different icons on the display to differentiate between them; one being a USB symbol, the other the phone cradle symbol.

Do you know if the cable you referenced in your ebay link will fit directly into port 13 on the back of the headunit or do I need to remove the keying features on the connectors?

I am pretty sure I can use these parts and remove the keying features:
cable: 61-11-9-251-703
usb port: 84-10-9-229-294

I got these from this thread:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1108386

If I can verify that the phone usb port will recognize a standard USB hard drive I will be all over this!

EDIT: I have read other members who have done this saying connecting a USB HDD is no problem. Parts ordered now. Doing this mod!

[RalphyBMW]

FWIW, no mods were needed to connect to the cradle port.

[tboooe]

Just to update this thread, I did the USB retrofit to the glovebox using the directions and parts in the thread I posted above. Everything works great! iDrive recognizes my music and movies stored on my 2TB Seagate HDD.

Here is a link to my build thread with a bit more detail on the retrofit.
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=466

iDrive sees my Seagate HDD (Media HDD). Notice that the HDD is identified as the phone cradle.

[TMR]

Originally Posted by RalphyBMW

Did you guys see my earlier post?
There is a provision for a USB port in the glove compartment. You can get the complete cable, with socket from eBay.

Link?

[RalphyBMW]

Originally Posted by TMR

Link?

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/251474371845?_mwBanner=1

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by RalphyBMW

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/251474371845?_mwBanner=1

Or purchase these parts, shave off one part of the keying feature on the connector.

cable: 61-11-9-251-703
usb port: 84-10-9-229-294

Here is a pic of what needs to be shaved off:

[GuiltyNL]

Originally Posted by SchweiZ4

Okay, I did it - I removed the phone cradle and got more space for less than $20 in less than 45 min.

I have written everything below with pics to help out.

Thanks alot! Because of your detailed how-to, I was able to remove my cradle quick and painless!

[benwf]

To the folks who were looking for an extension cable to bring the USB port into the center console storage ****...

Question: why not just put the port where the cable ends (inside), and use a (fairly short and high quality) USB extension cable to bring it out?

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by benwf

To the folks who were looking for an extension cable to bring the USB port into the center console storage ****...

Question: why not just put the port where the cable ends (inside), and use a (fairly short and high quality) USB extension cable to bring it out?

The problem is that the connector at the end of the cable is not a standard USB.

[benwf]

Originally Posted by tboooe

The problem is that the connector at the end of the cable is not a standard USB.

Exactly - you would still need to buy the socket that attaches to the cable left after removal of the cradle...

USB socket retrofit
Something like this: RealOEM USB Socket part 04 #84109229294

But I'm suggesting just attaching that socket directly (no extension) and running the standard USB extension out from there.

[Fronzdan]

The leftover cable (after removing the cradle) has the wrong type of connector for the USB socket assembly. I had a Fakra cable custom made with the right ends. One side plugs into the leftover cable, the other plugs into the USB socket.