USB HUB
Functional description
The USB hub has its own voltage supply (terminal 30B). This allows the USB hub to supply any
device connected to a USB input with up to 500 mA or current.
The voltage transformer in the USB hub outputs a maximum of 5 V. This voltage is present in the
active USB signal amplifier and at the inputs.
Item Description Item Description
1 USB hub 2 USB connection (connection to
base plate) BLUE PORT
3 USB connection (connection to AUX-IN 4 USB connection (connection to
connection with USB connection)WHITE PORT interface box High) BLACK PORT
5 Plug connection, three-pin (voltage supply)
Wiring Diagram for installing USB Hub.
Glove BOX Diagram
USB Hub Diagram
Structure and inner circuit
The interface box High (ULF-SBX-H) is connected to the vehicle electrical system by means of a
54-pin plug connection.
The interface box High has a MOST interface, a USB connection and a connection for a
Bluetooth aerial.
The rear current distributor supplies the interface box High with terminal 30B.
Item Description Item Description
1 Interface box High (ULF-SBX-H)
Pin assignments
The graphic above shows only the supply and bus connection. The current pin assignment can
be found on the BMW ISTA (Integrated Service Technical Application) diagnosis system among
the wiring diagrams. Click on the component code in the wiring diagram to activate the
"Installation location" and "Pin assignment" tabs.
Nominal values
Observe the following nominal values for the interface box High:
Variable Value
Supply voltage 9 to 16 V
Supply voltage at USB connection 5V
Nominal current at USB connection 500 mA
Temperature range -40 to 85 °C
Diagnosis instructions
Failure of the component
If communication to the interface box High fails, perform the standard checks (global testing
procedure). If there is an internal control unit fault, the following behaviour is to be expected:
Fault entry in the interface box High (ULF-SBX-H)
Location of USB Hub
Interface Box High
The interface box High (ULF-SBX-H) is used to connect Bluetooth-capable mobile phones to the
vehicle electrical system. The other functions depend on the vehicle equipment (e.g. M-ASK
language processing system, AUX-IN connection with USB connection).
The interface box High contains no transmitter and receiver module for GSM mobile
communication. This function is contained purely within the customer's mobile phone.
The Bluetooth connection between the mobile phone and the interface box High is established
automatically. A precondition for this is that the mobile phone has logged on once to the
interface box High.
Depending on the vehicle equipment the interface box High can be installed along with the
Telematic Control Unit (TCU). In this case the Telematic Control Unit always assumes control of
the telephone.
Functional description
The function for making a phone call with a mobile phone and the interface box High (ULF-SBX-
H) is based on wireless data transmission using the Bluetooth radio standard.
Functions inside the vehicle:
• Automatic prioritisation for establishing connection according to the list of mobile
phones signed on
• Hands-free mode with full-duplex transmission, echo compensation and display of the
current operating mode
• Language processing system
• Transfer of audio data, telephone call information (e.g. GSM signal strength), telephone
book and status of the mobile phone
• Communication via a USB audio interface with connected external audio source
The USB audio interface consists of a USB connection and an AUX-IN connection. The USB
connection is used for data transfer and electrical connection of connected audio sources with
USB connections.
• Automatic charging of the mobile phone rechargeable battery if the corresponding snap-
in adapter has been installed.
4 Bluetooth mobile phones may be logged on to the interface box High at the same time.
However, the logged on mobile phones can be only be used one at a time. The automatic
connection of already logged on mobile phones takes place on the basis of the pairing list.
Mobile phones that are further up in this pairing list are logged in first and thus connected more
quickly than mobile phones that are further down. If a fifth mobile phone is logged on, one of
the first four logged on mobile phones is deleted from the pairing list.
In order for the interface box High to be functional, every mobile phone to be used must be
logged on at least once. To do this, the interface box High needs to be in pairing mode. The
linking is supported by the pairing assistant.
The pairing consists of 4 steps:
1. Activating Bluetooth on the mobile phone and in the vehicle
2. Pairing using the settings menu in the vehicle
3. Entering the Bluetooth passkey on the mobile phone and in the vehicle
4. End pairing
The Bluetooth connection is established once the pairing menu is exited.
After replacing the interface box High, log the Bluetooth mobile phone in again.
After replacing the interface box High (ULF-SBX-H) the Bluetooth mobile phones need to be
logged in again. The Bluetooth passkey can be selected at random.
The interface box High (ULF-SBX-H) needs to be re-encoded in the following instances:
• after replacing the interface box High
• after replacing the head unit
When taking a call using the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel the interface box High
switches to hands-free mode.
Connecting MP3-Audio sources to the USB or AUX-IN connections
The interface box High is always installed into the vehicle in combination with the 6FL USB audio
interface option. In the interface box High the digital audio signals sent by the USB interface are
decoded and sent to the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST). In addition the analogue
audio frequency signals from the audio socket or AUX-IN connection are prepared for the MOST
Data import via the USB audio interface (optional extra 6FL) in the centre console is not
possible. This interface is also used for connecting external audio sources (e.g. Apple iPod or
MP3 player with USB connection, USB sticks or mobile phones with MP3 players). Hard disks
however cannot be connected.
The external audio sources are played via the vehicle's audio system.
When connecting an external audio source via USB the contents of the source will be read by
the interface box high. The directory structure will be prepared for display in the central
information display (CID) and stored. Only the track information is stored in the interface box
High, not the actual MP3 files. IN addition a plausibility check is run to see if the track can be
played in the vehicle. Only tracks that can be played will be displayed.
It can take some time to prepare the files. While the database in the interface box High is being
populated with track information it is only possible to select music files by directory navigation.
Once the database is complete the tracks can be selected by genre, artist and album.
Approx. 20,000 titles can be stored in the interface box High. Once the storage capacity is
reached the tracks of the audio source plugged in first will be overwritten. If this source is then
re-plugged in the track information must be read off it again. Depending on the memory
capacity of the external audio source, this scanning can once again take a while.
The external audio source can be controlled via the central information display (CID) and the
controller (CON).
Item Description Item Description
1 Interface box High (ULF-SBX-H) 2 USB port
3 Connection for Bluetooth aerial 4 MOST interface
5 54-pin plug connection
Structure and inner circuit
The interface box High (ULF-SBX-H) is connected to the vehicle electrical system by means of a
54-pin plug connection.
The interface box High has a MOST interface, a USB connection and a connection for a
Bluetooth aerial.
The rear current distributor supplies the interface box High with terminal 30B.
Item Description Item Description
1 Interface box High (ULF-SBX-H)
Pin assignments
The graphic above shows only the supply and bus connection. The current pin assignment can
be found on the BMW ISTA (Integrated Service Technical Application) diagnosis system among
the wiring diagrams. Click on the component code in the wiring diagram to activate the
"Installation location" and "Pin assignment" tabs.
Nominal values
Observe the following nominal values for the interface box High:
Variable Value
Supply voltage 9 to 16 V
Supply voltage at USB connection 5V
Nominal current at USB connection 500 mA
Temperature range -40 to 85 °C
Diagnosis instructions
Failure of the component
If communication to the interface box High fails, perform the standard checks (global testing
procedure). If there is an internal control unit fault, the following behaviour is to be expected:
• Fault entry in the interface box High (ULF-SBX-H)
