Bmw Powered Usb Hub

[IK6SPEED]

Looking at the BMW OEM Powered USB Hub.

From appearance and based on other non-automotive USB hub, looks like a simple USB Plug in and 2 USB Plugs out with a power input.

Knowing that BMW likes to complicate things beyond what is needed, I can only assume it’s not a simple Plug and Play that every other Electronic Device has used for about 25 years.

Does anyone know is this a simple USB hub or does it take coding to activate?

If coding is involved, anyone know what and where it is?

[Encanto]

USB Hub = 84109355549

Only included if 6NW is optioned - USB ports in the center console and in the trim under the AC panel. Connected to USB1 in the back HU_NBT2. USB1 is coded for HUB at the HU_NBT2. USB2 is active only for BMW Apps and will charge devices -it will not work as USB regardless of HUB connected or coding.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by Encanto

USB Hub = 84109355549

Only included if 6NW is optioned - USB ports in the center console and in the trim under the AC panel. Connected to USB1 in the back HU_NBT2. USB1 is coded for HUB at the HU_NBT2. USB2 is active only for BMW Apps and will charge devices -it will not work as USB regardless of HUB connected or coding.

Thank you for response.

I understand the powered USB Hub is included OEM only if 6NW is ordered.

From you post, i understand you to say, the black connector plugs into USB1 jack on the back of NBT EVO unit.

What would normally connect to the 2 USB Ports on the other side of the USB Powered Hub (white and blue connector) in an OEM installation?

Am I reading your post correctly that the 1) center console arm rest USB jack AND the 2) USB Port below AC and above drink holders in center console would be on the white and blue outputs of the hub?

Thanks

[Encanto]

Correct.

[IK6SPEED]

Thanks!

[jmciver]

Ok, so I have a related question....

I did a VIN look-up and it appears I have 6NW (the VIN decoder actually came back with S6NWA Phoning with Wireless Charging). So if my car has this USB hub and it is plugged into the USB1 spot on the back of my NBT_EVO unit (which feeds the USB ports below the AC controls and the one in the center console), what is plugged into the USB2 port on the back of the NBT_EVO unit?

Can I run a BMW USB cable from the USB2 port to the blank USB port in the glove box (along with the applicable USB adapter to go in the glovebox)? You mentioned that the USB2 port is only good for power and BMW Apps, what BMW Apps are you referring to - map updates and similar?

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by Encanto

Correct.

What he said above ^

Also, could one stack 2 USB Hubs to get 3 USB outlets?

And where does USB Port in Glovebox come into play...or have those been removed?

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

And where does USB Port in Glovebox come into play...or have those been removed?

From what I have read, early F30's had a USB port in the glove box. If you look inside your glove box you should see a small square "blank" plate where the USB port was located. I believe that port was originally designed to perform software update tasks (like navigation map updates) and was not specifically designed to be used with consumer devices (like phones, iPods, etc). BMW has since removed that port and replaced it with the port in the armrest and for some models, the USB port now located below the AC controls.

Some have retro-fitted the USB port back into the glove box as it is a great spot to keep an iPod permanently connected, powered and out of sight - Link Here. However, I have only seen this retro-fit done with older NBT or CIC head units. If I understand how this retrofit may work, it appears that when the retro-fit is done, you lose the USB port located in the armrest due to the USB plug configuration on the back of the different head units, unless you are able to use the BMW USB hub mentioned in this thread (which I guess also requires coding in addition to the USB hub hardware).

I have seen schematics and pictures of the NBT_EVO units, which also have two usb ports on the back: USB1 and USB2 - Link Here. I just assumed that one went to the armrest and the other went to the USB port below the AC controls (based on what I read from the info in the link above). The info in this thread says otherwise as I didn't know we had the USB hub in our cars with the 6NW option.

[Encanto]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Ok, so I have a related question....

I did a VIN look-up and it appears I have 6NW (the VIN decoder actually came back with S6NWA Phoning with Wireless Charging). So if my car has this USB hub and it is plugged into the USB1 spot on the back of my NBT_EVO unit (which feeds the USB ports below the AC controls and the one in the center console), 1) what is plugged into the USB2 port on the back of the NBT_EVO unit?

2) Can I run a BMW USB cable from the USB2 port to the blank USB port in the glove box (along with the applicable USB adapter to go in the glovebox)? You mentioned that the USB2 port is only good for power and BMW Apps, 3) what BMW Apps are you referring to - map updates and similar?

1) There is nothing plugged into USB2
2) Yes. Search for P/N in this forum.
3) BMW Apps is the OEM app that handles the integration of BMW-approved smartphone apps. You can run full-feature Spotify or Pandora for example but not your iPod music as it uses the USB connection side of this port for unknown reason. Trying all coding available on USB2 did not make any difference.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by Encanto

1) There is nothing plugged into USB2
2) Yes. Search for P/N in this forum.
3) BMW Apps is the OEM app that handles the integration of BMW-approved smartphone apps. You can run full-feature Spotify or Pandora for example but not your iPod music as it uses the USB connection side of this port for unknown reason. Trying all coding available on USB2 did not make any difference.

Thanks

Any idea about stacking USB Hubs to get 3 connections?

[Encanto]

In paper, one hub per USB (1-2) can be installed, giving 4 USB ports, albeit the 2 connected to USB2 will have a limited feature set. More testing has to be done with coding and hub in USB2 to find out why it cannot be used as a full USB port.

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Thanks

Any idea about stacking USB Hubs to get 3 connections?

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by Encanto

1) There is nothing plugged into USB2
2) Yes. Search for P/N in this forum.
3) BMW Apps is the OEM app that handles the integration of BMW-approved smartphone apps. You can run full-feature Spotify or Pandora for example but not your iPod music as it uses the USB connection side of this port for unknown reason. Trying all coding available on USB2 did not make any difference.

Thanks for clearing that up. I was actually looking into buying that HUB to retro-fit the USB port in the glove box. I am glad I don't need it now.

But I have a follow-up question about the BMW Apps piece you mentioned regarding the USB2 port. Right now I have several BMW Apps running in my car using the BMW Connected App on my phone via Bluetooth - the apps are installed on my phone, like Pandora, show up in my iDrive menu. If I understand what you are saying about the functionality of the USB2 port, I could plug my phone into this port (using the applicable BMW USB plug/cable combo) and be able to access the BMW Connected Apps on my phone, with bluetooth on my phone turned off?

Also, I don't suppose you know the specific p/n for the cable/plug that goes to the USB2 port? I know the two USB ports are "keyed" differently and if you get the wrong cable you can trim it to make it fit. But given a choice, I would rather order the right cable and not trim anything to make it fit. A search revealed multiple part numbers but it is difficult to tell which is the correct one and I would rather not pull out the radio to check if I don't need to.

[Encanto]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Thanks for clearing that up. I was actually looking into buying that HUB to retro-fit the USB port in the glove box. I am glad I don't need it now.

But I have a follow-up question about the BMW Apps piece you mentioned regarding the USB2 port. Right now I have several BMW Apps running in my car using the BMW Connected App on my phone via Bluetooth - the apps are installed on my phone, like Pandora, show up in my iDrive menu. If I understand what you are saying about the functionality of the USB2 port, I could plug my phone into this port (using the applicable BMW USB plug/cable combo) and be able to access the BMW Connected Apps on my phone, with bluetooth on my phone turned off?

BMW Connected apps = BMW Apps

Also, I don't suppose you know the specific p/n for the cable/plug that goes to the USB2 port? I know the two USB ports are "keyed" differently and if you get the wrong cable you can trim it to make it fit. But given a choice, I would rather order the right cable and not trim anything to make it fit. A search revealed multiple part numbers but it is difficult to tell which is the correct one and I would rather not pull out the radio to check if I don't need to.

Any OEM HSD cable for USB port will work as long as you shave the key guides... make it universal.

[jmciver]

So I thought I would revive this thread as I decided to play around with this mod. I purchased the USB2 cable (with the curry colored plug) and the USB socket to go into the glove box. The USB2 cable I purchased was a newer one that cost ~$30 and superseded the older one that cost ~$60+ or so. However, to my surprise, the other end of this cable had a blue connector, not the white connector that will plug into the USB socket. A little bit of digging and that blue connector is apparently keyed for either a combox (used with other BMW head units apparently, my car does not have a combox) or the USB hub mentioned above. Makes me wonder what the original intent of the USB2 port on the NBT_Evo head units was designed for.

I guess I will probably end up shaving down the blue connector to make it work with the USB socket I have. But I was hoping to not have to do that ..... BTW, where is the USB hub located? I don't plan on pulling the dash apart or anything to find it, but when I have it apart to install this cable, I might want to investigate a bit further if the hub is not too buried.