[SigmaPiFSC]

Hi Gang,

I bought a 2023 530e. It came with the NFC pad (the icon shows what looks like a phone with wifi antena) I bought what looks like a replacement on ebay (icon looks like a phone, with battery inside and antenna) ,

Has anyone does this job?
1: Can you post links to videos or pictures?
2: Can I just replace the current one with the new one and not half to code? Will this break my NFC digital key?

I read that I would need to code to enable the "phone left in charging tray" but I never used that in my old 530e (2018) so I wont miss it. I'm more concerned about doing this and then the digital key won't work or will need to be coded somehow.

Any thoughts?
Thx!
Ethan-

[Joe-BMW33]

You will most likely need to initialize the new pad. Not really coding, but you will need some advanced tools like ISTA or Protool. Bimmercode can't do this.

[SigmaPiFSC]

Thanks Joe,

Any suggestions for what I might search for online? Is this something I can do on my own? I do have the special cable to connect my laptop to the car if needed. I've just never used it. If you know of any videos, or sites that talk about this kind of initializing, or search terms, that would be awesome!
Thx
Ethan-

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SigmaPiFSC

Thanks Joe,

Any suggestions for what I might search for online? Is this something I can do on my own? I do have the special cable to connect my laptop to the car if needed. I've just never used it. If you know of any videos, or sites that talk about this kind of initializing, or search terms, that would be awesome!
Thx
Ethan-

Ethan,

I am certainly no pro at this stuff, but when I had my passenger seat mat installed by the dealer, I asked them to not initialize it because I knew they would just flash the whole car and wipe out my coding.

I have ProTool (full license) and the Protool team remoted into my car and initialized it without touching my coding. They did not charge me. May be worth $100 for ProTool assuming you have an Android Tablet.

[SigmaPiFSC]

Thanks Joe! Do you have a link to the ProTool website? I use Mac, but am not against picking up a cheap android tablet if that is what is needed to make the magic!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SigmaPiFSC

Thanks Joe! Do you have a link to the ProTool website? I use Mac, but am not against picking up a cheap android tablet if that is what is needed to make the magic!

Ah, here is the rub, for something like initializing components, they will want to connect to your car with a Windows laptop. I am also a MAC guy, but I use my work machine for this kind of stuff.

Here is the link for ProTool so you can see what it is and what it does.

https://www.bimmergeeks.net/protool

You may also want to join the FB group. It is run by the Protool staff. If you run this question by them, at the very least you will get answers on how to. They will probably do it for you to.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BimmerGeeksProTool

[SigmaPiFSC]

Thx Joe! this is great. I ordered the bundle! In the mean time, I picked up a galaxy A7 tablet, downloaded the software, and have been trying to get my enet ethernet with USBC adapter to work. No luck. I've been emailing them. They said for enet, I need to enter IP info manually, but the galaxy won't let me "save" the save button is greyed out when I try and enter IP info. So, the game continues. Once the cabler from them shows up, I should be able to play!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SigmaPiFSC

Thx Joe! this is great. I ordered the bundle! In the mean time, I picked up a galaxy A7 tablet, downloaded the software, and have been trying to get my enet ethernet with USBC adapter to work. No luck. I've been emailing them. They said for enet, I need to enter IP info manually, but the galaxy won't let me "save" the save button is greyed out when I try and enter IP info. So, the game continues. Once the cabler from them shows up, I should be able to play!

Keep pinging them, they are super hands on and helpful. Personally, I went with the MHD wifi adapter which has an ethernet port if I choose to use that over wifi, but I have only used the wifi connection so far. It works well.

[SigmaPiFSC]

UPDATE!
Ok, progress not perfection! So, I got the new pad I bought on Ebay. It has NFC digital key AND wireless charging. I installed it. Took me 20 min. I can get the card that came with the car to work, but I can no longer get my iphone to work. (looks like a credit card). It works awesome! So cool... BUT.... I can't get my iphone 14 Pro to work as a digital key. It did work on the old NFC only pad. But not on the new one.

I launch the bmw app, and follow instructions to set up digital key. It looks good. says it’s connecting, says paiiring, but then I get an error message on both the phone and car screen.

I’ve tried the “Reset fuction” on the digital key screen. I’ve tried restarting my iphone. I’ve tried initiating the connection from the car, when the phone gives me an option to enter the code sent to my email.

All with the same result of an error message.

It shows pairing… but then stops… in the car the screen reads “Error activating your device. Please try again” on the iphone it reads “Cannot Add Car Key There was a problem adding this BMW key to wallet.”

I have both keys in the car. I have the car off, but in stand by (meaning I hit the start key, but don’t actually start the car.

The digital card, works! So that’s cool.. but now I can’t get the iphone to work again. The iphone is an iphone 14 pro IOS 16.5

I'm open to any suggestions! I feel like I'm close!

[SigmaPiFSC]

Update: I bailed on this project. I never got the combo to work. In fact, as it turned out the the NFC and wireless charing combo pad, was not actually the right part. I realized upon further inspection that it did not sit in the plastic frame properly because it was thinner than the original NFC only pad that came with the car. So, while it kind of worked, I just took it out and put the original NFC back in. then bought a $20 wireless charging pad that ironicaly fits perfectly on top of the NFC pad and is only 1/4" thick. I ran the USB cable underneath inside the trim and into the bottom of the storage box, and plugged it into the USB port. Now, I can place my phone there, and it does wirelss charing and the NFC that came with the car works as well. Not perfect, but, gotta say, pretty close to it! Here is a link to the USB charger I bought. It literally is a perfect fit. And it has a flat cable that goes out the back of the NFC space. So, no drilling, cutting or anything. The cable is 100% hidden and it all works great!
https://a.co/d/4qrwySh

Now... if anyone know the actual part number for the NFC & wireless charging combo pad for a 2023 530e (G30) please let me know! Or where / how I can find that part number. I'd still love to do this project one day.

[Qsilver7]

Now... if anyone know the actual part number for the NFC & wireless charging combo pad for a 2023 530e (G30) please let me know! Or where / how I can find that part number. I'd still love to do this project one day.

I bet if you call or dropped by your local BMW dealership's PARTS DEPT (do NOT go to the SERVICE DEPT)...they could look this info up in the BMW parts database. Make sure you have at least the last 7 digits of your VIN so they can look specifically for you car.