Hi I am new here. Bought a 2009 500 1.2 lounge with B+M. Considering fitting either a single din motorised head or a double din screen. I know from double din I will need the facia with vents for A/C but what about cabling so that my steering controls work? I have read many posts about a canbus adapter and stuff but will I get use of all my cars functions?
My B+M is not working properly, wont update or play any music files, does work with my phone though but only for calls, USB will not run music either. My only option is spend a fortune to get it fixed or change head unit. What I am considering is a Philips CED780 from H*****ds @£350 which has just about everything on it. Any thoughts please

Have you actually considered taking the car to a Fiat dealer to update the software on the Blue and Me? I'm sure I read somewhere that there has been an update somewhere along the line and it could work out considerably cheaper than messing about changing the head unit out. You might be surprised, it might not actually be as expensive to sort out by a dealership than you think. It's your choice though.

Welcome to the forum by the way

sifut said:

Any thoughts please

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Fitting an aftermarket stereo will spoil the look of the dasboard in my opinion.

Hi and thanks for the reply. Yes I did approach the dealer who said with a smile that it would need to be brought in for a diagnostic. He didn't say how much or for how long but I guess it wont be cheap. My B+M is at 5.5, even downloads the file to USB to put into the update site which then tells me to download 5.6. It works away at updating and then returns with error 10. Even tried doing the update over my phone with same result.
Have been told the B+M module may be defective with costs going as high as £400 +/- so I thought it might be simpler to just replace the head unit with something that could also offer more features. Also need to add an alarm too in that case. I don't really know if I am going down the right track or not, usually I have bigger cars which are more straightforward to work with

A diagnostic hook up can cost from £60 upwards but is usually included anyway with a dealer service. Again, you would need to shop around concerning diagnostic hook ups because it isn't unknown to be quoted ridiculous money.

I know 60 quid for example is a bitter pill to swallow, but if it sorts the problem out, then it's cheaper than forking out 300 odd quid on a complete new system. Of course your vehicle is way out of warranty, so if the B and M unit is defective, then you probably won't want to be bothered forking out the money to fix it.

If it were me, I'd probably do the diagnostic thing first. If it solves the problem, it's cost you less than a new unit and if it doesn't, you've lost a bit of money. Whatever you do, it'll cost you money. That's the way the world spins sadly.

Frupi, thanks for that advice. Will go the way of diagnostic first and see what they say. It could be a simple fix and all done. If B+M is duff then it will remain so however.
Thanks guys for the helpful thoughts, goodnight.

Disconnect the battery for 15 minutes. B&M will probably work after.

306maxi said:

Disconnect the battery for 15 minutes. B&M will probably work after.

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Possibly, but definitely not a given. Agreed, zero cost option first worth doing, but I'd still be inclined to get the car in and have it looked at properly. I believe the Blue and Me is now at update 7.0?

https://www.fiatforum.com/blue-me/331417-blue-me-7-0-available.html

I realise it's all about the money, money, money, but sometimes you just can't get away from the fact you may have to stick your hand in your pocket, or do as lots of people do, just leave it and put up with the situation.

frupi said:

Possibly, but definitely not a given. Agreed, zero cost option first worth doing, but I'd still be inclined to get the car in and have it looked at properly. I believe the Blue and Me is now at update 7.0?

https://www.fiatforum.com/blue-me/331417-blue-me-7-0-available.html

I realise it's all about the money, money, money, but sometimes you just can't get away from the fact you may have to stick your hand in your pocket, or do as lots of people do, just leave it and put up with the situation.

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For newer cars, but for older cars 5.6 is the newest update.

I just tried to update to 5.6 and it didn't work

Just getting back to the op. What phone and are you trying to play music off a flash drive or the phone?

Seen some posts from people who ended up with flashing mileage after disconnecting the battery and admittedly I am not wanting that. My phone is a Nokia 625 and flash drives I have tried from 1gb to 8gb formatted in FAT and FAT32. It does read them to see the update, sees my phone to do calls and get contacts. Be good if it would work, everything else does.

I've never seen anyone get flashing mileage after disconnecting the battery. If that was to happen it would sort itself out fairly quickly.

Disconnecting the battery is the first step in troubleshooting any blue&me problem.

A windows phone won't play music with Blue&Me sadly.