jeffd
New member
Hopefully this could be a sticky, please moderator 
There are some links but (I think) I've broken them to allow me to post.
Background:- It seems that BM has gained a bad reputation and even some Fiat dealers seem to wash their hands of it. I have recently bought a Grande Punto, for my wife, and had the pleasure of getting it working A lot has been learned from trawling and searching the forums so thanks to all the helpful people out there. Hopefully this post will help and save a lot of frustration. I don’t understand much about modern cars but I am a computer geek (allegedly) and I understand computers and Microsoft but I can’t offer “technical support”. If you’re having problems with BM, have a read, hopefully it will help. If you find something not covered and have a solution, please let me know.
Basics: All modern cars seem to have an on-board computer and this is often blamed for for many problems. Unfortunately you have to rely on a main dealer to connect the car to a diagnostic device (another computer), if you go to a dealer that has the “proper” kit, most problems can be resolved by re-setting the on-board computer. Fortunately there are some dealers that don’t take your arm off, I found a place in Leeds (Turin Motors) that only charged £30 + Vat but most charge double that.
Likely symptoms: (Not specific to BM)
a) Flashing odometer on the multi-function display.
b) Random error messages.
c) Buttons not working on steering wheel.
Likely cause: Dodgy battery, flat battery, other battery problems. Wear n tear is also a factor.
First, fit new battery or at least get your battery checked properly.
Second, got to dealers and have a “Proxy Alignment” done - basically this reboots the on-board computer to get it to recognise all the kit. Generally this will also resolve any BM issues that you may be having.
If you don’t fancy going to dealers, you could try removing the -ve (negative) lead from the battery and leave it off for at least 30 mins. On connecting the lead again, you might find that this has sorted out the problem. It didn’t on mine but my battery was knackered.
Blue & Me (BM): The ethos of the BM system appears to be “keep your hands on the wheel and use voice commands”. Pressing the “Windows” button on the steering wheel activates the voice command system, start by saying “help” and you should get a sexy voice advising the commands available. You could download the BM PDF from:- trebledub.blueandme.net/blueandme/index.aspx?brand=fga&lang=en#/support/download/ and get to know the commands.
Pressing Windows button - nothing happens. Fix = Proxy Alignment or try removing -ve cable. You could also try removing fuse #51 (under dash ,not easy to get to)
Pressing Windows button - display shows “no English”. Fix = download English language pack from:- trebledub.blueandme dot net/resources/download/APPLICATIVI/Cambio_Lingua/Page/Html_Lingue/index_en.html
Software update fails. Fix = try installing the language pack again. While you are doing anything with software updates or installing language packs. TURN OFF THE RADIO AND DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS, WAIT PATIENTLY FOR IT TO COMPLETE.
Software Update, get from:-
trebledub.blueandme dot net/blueandme/index.aspx?brand=fga&lang=en#/support/download/
Choose model of car. Read the instructions
Problems playing music:-
a) Tracks play randomly. Fix = voice command, “Random off”
b) Tracks repeat. Fix = Voice command, “Loop off”
This didn’t work in my case. I tried making sure the ID3 tags were correct by using MP3Tag on my laptop and “Personal Renamer” to make sure there were no spaces but the fix that worked for me was to use PLAYLISTS. You shouldn’t need to mess about removing spaces from song titles etc.. The ID3 tag can be empty unless you want to play by genre. (There is an option to do so)
How to make PLAYLISTS:- (assumes you know how to use Media Player)
a) Use your PC/Laptop and copy all the music files that you want to play on to a USB stick (up to 32GB). It’s easier if you retain folders but you can have everything in the “root” of the USB drive (no folders), if you prefer.
b) Open Media Player on your PC. While the USB stick is in your PC
c) Create playlists using “Windows Media Player”
d) Save the Playlist and Copy it to your USB stick.
e) Edit the playlist (use notepad) to remove the “Path” (see example)
f) Save the playlist on to your USB stick (overwrite)
How to use Playlists:-
1. Press Windows button on steering wheel, speak Music > Playlist.
2. Look on the dash and your playlists will be shown.
3. Use the up/down arrows on the wheel to select a playlist.
4. Press the Source or Phone button.
5. Your playlist should now start playing your brilliant music.
Example Playlist - opened in Notepad
This is an example when the USB stick is inserted in your PC. You need to edit the <media src lines. In this example the USB stick is showing up as drive “D”. But it might be E, F etc on your PC. When you put the stick in the car, it won’t be drive D!
<?wpl version="1.0"?>
<smil>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Windows Media Player -- 12.0.9200.16578"/>
<meta name="ItemCount" content="30"/>
<title>DefJovi</title>
</head>
<body>
<seq>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\04 - Lets Get Rocked.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\05 - Two Steps Behind.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\06 - Animal.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\07 - Heaven Is.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\01 - Livin On A Prayer .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\02 - Keep The Faith .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\04 - Always.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\10 - In These Arms .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\11 - Bad Medicine .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\14 - Runaway.mp3"/>
</seq>
</body>
</smil>
Use the “replace” option to find “D:\” (without the quotes)
Replace with “blank” (leave the box empty)
Replace all.
The <media src lines should now read like this:-
<media src="Def Leppard\04 - Lets Get Rocked.mp3"/>
<media src="Def Leppard\05 - Two Steps Behind.mp3"/>
<media src="Def Leppard\06 - Animal.mp3"/>
Note. Keep the quotes in the <media src lines. This helps prevent problems if you have any spaces in the song titles and folder names
There are some links but (I think) I've broken them to allow me to post.Background:- It seems that BM has gained a bad reputation and even some Fiat dealers seem to wash their hands of it. I have recently bought a Grande Punto, for my wife, and had the pleasure of getting it working
A lot has been learned from trawling and searching the forums so thanks to all the helpful people out there. Hopefully this post will help and save a lot of frustration. I don’t understand much about modern cars but I am a computer geek (allegedly) and I understand computers and Microsoft but I can’t offer “technical support”. If you’re having problems with BM, have a read, hopefully it will help. If you find something not covered and have a solution, please let me know.Basics: All modern cars seem to have an on-board computer and this is often blamed for for many problems. Unfortunately you have to rely on a main dealer to connect the car to a diagnostic device (another computer), if you go to a dealer that has the “proper” kit, most problems can be resolved by re-setting the on-board computer. Fortunately there are some dealers that don’t take your arm off, I found a place in Leeds (Turin Motors) that only charged £30 + Vat but most charge double that.
Likely symptoms: (Not specific to BM)
a) Flashing odometer on the multi-function display.
b) Random error messages.
c) Buttons not working on steering wheel.
Likely cause: Dodgy battery, flat battery, other battery problems. Wear n tear is also a factor.
First, fit new battery or at least get your battery checked properly.
Second, got to dealers and have a “Proxy Alignment” done - basically this reboots the on-board computer to get it to recognise all the kit. Generally this will also resolve any BM issues that you may be having.
If you don’t fancy going to dealers, you could try removing the -ve (negative) lead from the battery and leave it off for at least 30 mins. On connecting the lead again, you might find that this has sorted out the problem. It didn’t on mine but my battery was knackered.
Blue & Me (BM): The ethos of the BM system appears to be “keep your hands on the wheel and use voice commands”. Pressing the “Windows” button on the steering wheel activates the voice command system, start by saying “help” and you should get a sexy voice advising the commands available. You could download the BM PDF from:- trebledub.blueandme.net/blueandme/index.aspx?brand=fga&lang=en#/support/download/ and get to know the commands.
Pressing Windows button - nothing happens. Fix = Proxy Alignment or try removing -ve cable. You could also try removing fuse #51 (under dash ,not easy to get to)
Pressing Windows button - display shows “no English”. Fix = download English language pack from:- trebledub.blueandme dot net/resources/download/APPLICATIVI/Cambio_Lingua/Page/Html_Lingue/index_en.html
Software update fails. Fix = try installing the language pack again. While you are doing anything with software updates or installing language packs. TURN OFF THE RADIO AND DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS, WAIT PATIENTLY FOR IT TO COMPLETE.
Software Update, get from:-
trebledub.blueandme dot net/blueandme/index.aspx?brand=fga&lang=en#/support/download/
Choose model of car. Read the instructions
Problems playing music:-
a) Tracks play randomly. Fix = voice command, “Random off”
b) Tracks repeat. Fix = Voice command, “Loop off”
This didn’t work in my case. I tried making sure the ID3 tags were correct by using MP3Tag on my laptop and “Personal Renamer” to make sure there were no spaces but the fix that worked for me was to use PLAYLISTS. You shouldn’t need to mess about removing spaces from song titles etc.. The ID3 tag can be empty unless you want to play by genre. (There is an option to do so)
How to make PLAYLISTS:- (assumes you know how to use Media Player)
a) Use your PC/Laptop and copy all the music files that you want to play on to a USB stick (up to 32GB). It’s easier if you retain folders but you can have everything in the “root” of the USB drive (no folders), if you prefer.
b) Open Media Player on your PC. While the USB stick is in your PC
c) Create playlists using “Windows Media Player”
d) Save the Playlist and Copy it to your USB stick.
e) Edit the playlist (use notepad) to remove the “Path” (see example)
f) Save the playlist on to your USB stick (overwrite)
How to use Playlists:-
1. Press Windows button on steering wheel, speak Music > Playlist.
2. Look on the dash and your playlists will be shown.
3. Use the up/down arrows on the wheel to select a playlist.
4. Press the Source or Phone button.
5. Your playlist should now start playing your brilliant music.
Example Playlist - opened in Notepad
<?wpl version="1.0"?>
<smil>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Windows Media Player -- 12.0.9200.16578"/>
<meta name="ItemCount" content="30"/>
<title>DefJovi</title>
</head>
<body>
<seq>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\04 - Lets Get Rocked.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\05 - Two Steps Behind.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\06 - Animal.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Def Leppard\07 - Heaven Is.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\01 - Livin On A Prayer .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\02 - Keep The Faith .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\04 - Always.mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\10 - In These Arms .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\11 - Bad Medicine .mp3"/>
<media src="D:\Bon_Jovi_Cross_Road\14 - Runaway.mp3"/>
</seq>
</body>
</smil>
Use the “replace” option to find “D:\” (without the quotes)
Replace with “blank” (leave the box empty)
Replace all.
The <media src lines should now read like this:-
<media src="Def Leppard\04 - Lets Get Rocked.mp3"/>
<media src="Def Leppard\05 - Two Steps Behind.mp3"/>
<media src="Def Leppard\06 - Animal.mp3"/>
Note. Keep the quotes in the <media src lines. This helps prevent problems if you have any spaces in the song titles and folder names
