So, Has anyone swapped their VCIM for Factory Bluetooth Capabililty??

[THE YETI]

Or am I going to be the first one on TYF?

Supposedly on 07-08 vehicles, you swap the VCIM and you lose On* but you gain Bluetooth ability.

On 09+ vehicles without Bluetooth, you put the VCIM in and you can keep On* and Bluetooth too.

VCIM is like $200 and takes about 15 minutes to install.

I'll use this thread as a reference since that's where I found it:
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=123200

 

[stevek]

If I remember correctly, it's really hard to get a new VCIM that has the bluetooth capability.

 

[Modded]

I know about that. Its possible if you buy the VCIM. Pretty easy swap. Ryan, another forum member from my area did it.

 

[THE YETI]

If I remember correctly, it's really hard to get a new VCIM that has the bluetooth capability.

Pretty sure Schram auto has several. I'm off to investigate!!!

 

[plush]

Pretty sure Schram auto has several. I'm off to investigate!!!

LMK, as I had been reading about this on the caddy forums.

 

[ryanls1]

bluetooth

As modded said I did it using a 2010 chevy traverse vcim that i bought off a junk yard in NJ. It was about 100 shipped and took 20 mins to install. I still have functioning onstar and even have the onstar remote link app so i can start my car from my iphone. Everything works great and its one of the best mods i have done for the money. To get onstar back i pushed the onstart button and told the lady that my vcim had crapped out so i bought a used one online and she did everything else. The only thing that is not correct is when i log onto onstar or talk to any rep they think im in a traverse lol.

BTW I have a 08 Tahoe

 

[felixgun]

As modded said I did it using a 2010 chevy traverse vcim that i bought off a junk yard in NJ. It was about 100 shipped and took 20 mins to install. I still have functioning onstar and even have the onstar remote link app so i can start my car from my iphone. Everything works great and its one of the best mods i have done for the money. To get onstar back i pushed the onstart button and told the lady that my vcim had crapped out so i bought a used one online and she did everything else. The only thing that is not correct is when i log onto onstar or talk to any rep they think im in a traverse lol.

BTW I have a 08 Tahoe

Wow that is awesome. If I had onstar, I would definitely do this mod just for the cool Onstar Remote Link app for the iphone!!! So you can use Onstar AND bluetooth on an 08? I thought ScSS said ya couldn't since it was 07-08...

 

[THE YETI]

Wow that is awesome. If I had onstar, I would definitely do this mod just for the cool Onstar Remote Link app for the iphone!!! So you can use Onstar AND bluetooth on an 08? I thought ScSS said ya couldn't since it was 07-08...

I was only going off what was said on the linked website on the first post. I am all over this like flies on ****!!!

 

[ryanls1]

Ya i did alot of research on some other forums about it, and some people lost onstar and some kept it. I think it just depends on the onstar rep you get and how nice you are to them. It took maybe 20 mins on the phone with them and everything was working. They even gave me a free trial again

 

[soulsea]

In for updaters ... never heard of this and it sounds like something to do.

My only question is how would the bt operate, meaning where would the controls for it be?
Not knowing how where it is on the latest models I'm wondering if it's inegrated in the dic or is it on the nav display for those who have nav.

 

[ryanls1]

You use the steering wheel controls like for onstar calling. I push the talk button and say onstar ready.. then bluetooth.. then call (person)...then the number you are calling shows up in the dic. It also cuts the radio and ac blower automatically. When someone calls you it shows up in the dic and you hit the talk button on the steering wheel to take the call and push the down button to end the call. Its pretty easy and nice to use. I wish it showed up on the nav screen but no such luck. You can also sync multiple phones to it but the system goes to the 1st phone if both are in the car at the same time

 

[soulsea]

Thanks Ryan.

How does one pair their phone with the truck?

 

[THE YETI]

Thanks Ryan.

How does one pair their phone with the truck?

"ONSTAR"...."PAIR"..."(name of your phone)"

(name of your phone) = what you named the phone as when it shows up on other phones, etc. Like mine is SuperchargedSS.

If you read the entire first post (the hyperlink on there), there is a link on that site that allows you to download the owners manual of a GMT900 that came with bluetooth option. It gives you the verbal commands there.

Also, the part # that I noticed alot of folks using was 20829984, was this the one you used?

 

[soulsea]

I've never read a manual in my life and I'm not gonna start now!
Sokay though, you'll come over and sort it out for me.

Anyhoot, can't wait to see if you can make this work ... although because of your model year it won't resolve the question of keeping both on star and bt at the same time.

 

[THE YETI]

I've never read a manual in my life and I'm not gonna start now!
Sokay though, you'll come over and sort it out for me.

Anyhoot, can't wait to see if you can make this work ... although because of your model year it won't resolve the question of keeping both on star and bt at the same time.

well, that was my impression, but Ryan says his 07 works with both. I don't use ON*, so I don't care if I lose it.

 

[felixgun]

well, that was my impression, but Ryan says his 07 works with both. I don't use ON*, so I don't care if I lose it.

So you just want this for bluetooth phone calls? Do you after the factory nav or an aftermarket nav? My pioneer nav dd has bluetooth calls but it sucks...

How is the clarity for the person you are calling Ryan? Can they hear you well when you are using it? Because every time I use it, whoever I'm talking to, well say they can't hear me... pretty great feature but I can rarely use it.

 

[THE YETI]

So you just want this for bluetooth phone calls? Do you after the factory nav or an aftermarket nav? My pioneer nav dd has bluetooth calls but it sucks...

How is the clarity for the person you are calling Ryan? Can they hear you well when you are using it? Because every time I use it, whoever I'm talking to, well say they can't hear me... pretty great feature but I can rarely use it.

My other car has Microsoft sync which has bluetooth for my phone. It's a lot easier to just press a button and talk rather than look or my phone, divert my attention to it, etc.

This is mainly for my wife, it's her car. We've spoken to onstar before with the wireless phone in the Burban and it's crystal clear. Considering the Bluetooth uses the same microphone and speakers, it should be consistent.

 

[ryanls1]

The qualiy is really good in my opinion. If you like the way onstar sounds then you will like bluetooth bc its all the same mic and speakers. Felix i have an 08 with factory nav and bose. I think this would work for anyone even with an aftermarket HU bc the bluetooth is controlled by the onstar module not the radio.

 

[felixgun]

The qualiy is really good in my opinion. If you like the way onstar sounds then you will like bluetooth bc its all the same mic and speakers. Felix i have an 08 with factory nav and bose. I think this would work for anyone even with an aftermarket HU bc the bluetooth is controlled by the onstar module not the radio.

Yea I noticed that when I clicked on ScSS's OP link showing on how to switch out the VCIM that the bluetooth is still there and I DO still have those steering wheel controls and the OEM stock mic.... this has me thinking if I should try to get this VCIM too so I can make phone calls through my car but still use the aftermarket nav screen to do everything else.... I don't use OnStar anyways so all i'd really be after is the BT phone calls... anyone know the cost of one of these things???

 

[ryanls1]

When i got mine it was 100 shipped from NJ, but i think alot of people have caught on to this idea. I just searched on car-part.com the place i found mine and they dont have any. Just search around for it and one will pop up eventually. I saw the cadillac forum selling them for like 250 new so it up to you buy new or wait for a deal. Also from what i have heard you cant buy these things at the dealer. I guess GM knows what we are doing and is trying to stop us. Must be their way of trying to get me to buy a new tahoe just for blutooth lol