I have good news for i9100 and iXPS (gen1) owners who want to install the Truemobile 350 Bluetooth 2.0 module.

The TM300 (2U381) for the i9100/iXPS can be replaced with the TM350 (X5166) for the i9300.

The X5166 has the exact same form factor as the 2U381. Both BT adapters have the same size, length, and thickness. This is what I did for my iXPS:

1) Download the TM350 bluetooth driver for the Dell i9300 from Dell's download page.

2) Go to the Control Panel and uninstall the Dell Bluetooth (Widcomm) software. This will also uninstall the TM300 BT adapter and the BT Network adapter from the Device Manager.

(if you're using Microsoft for BT support then you'll need to figure it out)

3) Shutdown the i9100/iXPS, remove the battery, remove the BT cover plate, and carefully remove and disconnect the TM300 from the cable.

Using a small flashlight and 3x magnifying reading glasses, examine the TM300 and the BT connector on the i9100/iXPS. You will notice that the connector on the cable is keyed and will only insert into the BT adapter when properly matched to the TM300. This is also true for the TM350 (X5166).

4) Connect the TM350 (X5166) to the BT cable. Carefully reinsert the TM350 and replace the BT cover plate. Install the battery. Plug in a USB mouse (or use the the touchpad/stick when you boot the system).

5) Turn on the i9100/iXPS. Wait for it to find and install the new hardware.

(At this point I deleted the Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator from the Bluetooth Devices in the Device Manager. I don't know if I needed to do this or not. I'll explain below).

6) Install the i9300 TM350 driver. The driver software is from Toshiba and you'll hear the "new hardware" beep about 20 times during the install process. This is OK.

After it completed installing, I paired my Thermaltake BT mouse with no problems.

I then reviewed the contents in the Device Manager. Under the Bluetooth Devices the entry for the Dell TM350 was no longer present and several entries for Toshiba were added. Under the Universal Serial Bus controllers is an entry for the Dell TM350.

There is no "My Bluetooth Places" with the Toshiba software. All the tools are on the BT icon (on the System Tray) or from the "Bluetooth Information Exchanger" icon (which gets added to the desktop every time the PC boots). The software options for the TM350 seem to be quite good. I have nothing to take advantage of the BT 2.0 yet - so I'll have to wait. So why did I replace the TM300 with the TM350? ....I wanted to see if it would work, and it does.

I already hate the "Bluetooth Information Exchanger" icon. I do not like it that Toshiba auto-reinstalls it every time. I want it on the Start Menu - so I can launch it only when I need it - otherwise I don't want to see it.

The Dell Truemobile 350 for the i9300 was purchased from Dell Spare Parts on March 31. Part Number: X5166 , price (USD) $13.95 + $8.00 for shipping.

When I called DSP, I only gave them the part number and my Dell account number. I told them that I have an iXPS but was buying it as a gift for my cousin to upgrade their i9300 to include BT - and that I did not have the Service Tag for my cousin's i9300. When asked I told them that the TM350 would not be leaving the USA. They bought the story and sold me the TM350.

I think it's also compatible on other older models (i8600, d800,.., but not 600m ) as well since they have the same bluetooth card/connector.

Btw, is the bluetooth connector on the xps motherboard recognized as a usb port?

Here is a link to 2 pictures from the Device Manager that I placed in the photo gallery forum (I did not want to host the images so I uploaded them).

The 1st pic may appear washed out. click on the zoom button and enlarge it for readability.

http://notebookforums.com/showpost.php?p=796609

Could you explain this?

All that means is the cable is designed so you can only connect the device the right way. If you flip the cable over (upsidedown) it will not fit in the bluetooth module.

Oh, okay, great. I was like "huh", not sure if that meant it would fit the TM350 or not.

I assume the black cable with the white connector is the cable it is refering to, correct?

CRAP! no more X5166 in Stock itseems (( Called like 3 times already!

I haven't had any luck either. Here's another discussion about ordering the Bluetooth module:

How much is the bluetooth card for the 9300?

Does the 300/350 Bluetooth card support : the headset or hands-free profile. ?? Since I am planning to buy PLANTRONICS M3000 to be able to use on VOIP like SKYPE etc.... Thx.

I have reviewed the Dell on-line service manuals for notebooks that may also be compatible with the TM350 BT upgrade that I did on my iXPS. I have listed the results at the bottom of this page.

I may have missed some notebooks - especially any that do not have a service manual posted on-line.

Also, please don't ask me if your particular notebook is compatible with the TM350 BT upgrade. I'm not doing any more research on the topic.

It works with the I6000 also. Dell (small business) Spare parts had it. 13.95 + .70 tax (free ship).

Trying to install 350 card (sys didnt come with BT originally) In my Lat. D600 It doesnt have CABLE to connect the jack to the card? in my Inspiron 9200 there is cable that was used to connect to 350. Does D600 need this cable or it only uses TM 300? pls advise. Thanks.

Service MANUAL PIC : http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ue.htm#1000550

Does this from the i300m: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...ot.htm#1084976

look like the card from your D600?

(Richard Dawson voice) Survey Says! NO.

The TM300 (2U381) from the iXPS and the TM350 (X5166) from the i9300 are externally identical - which explains why swapping one for the other (and other models) is easy.

In my research I did not find TM350 modules of the form factor that the D600 uses. If you are a really good at soldering, have an i300m's BT cable, have a copy of the BT wiring diagrams for the D600 and i300m, and cannibalize the connector from the D600's TM300 THEN you might be able to build a conversion cable that might (just might) work.

As Astro would say: "Rotsa Ruck!"

How many pins/wires does the TM350 cable have? As I recall there are at leasts 6 pins on the D600/i600m/d500/i500m BT module/connector

EDIT: I did find out that the BT cable has 10 pins and I believe (though I have to recheck when I open it again) that the BT connector/module for the D600/i600m/d500/i500m systems also has 10.

EDIT 2: I'll have some time over the summer to experiment (i.e., destroy things) so I'll see if it's feasible to somehow attach the ten cable wires to the i600m's BT connector (will have to break it off though first ).

I just opened up my notebook and saw that there are indeed also 10 pins on the BT mobo connector/module of i600m:



Now:

I am willing to build a connector that attaches to the TM350 cable/module but need a pin out for both the cable and the i500m/i600m/d500/d600's BT module