Change radio for bluetooth???

daniel5616 said:

Well back in Feb when my wife picked out the Terrain, she didnt want nothing special and decide to go with the SLE model. Well now she's want bluetooth for the truck. I know that the bluetooth is ran off the radio and was wondering if i changed her radio for another radio for a Terrain with bluetooth, would that work like that? Thanks for the help, Dan

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Adding OEM BlueTooth to a GM vehicle is a very complicated and expensive process.

I have done this upgrade on my 07 Yukon Denali and can explain it to you but so far GM is taking a very aggressive position with customers retroactively adding BlueTooth to vehicles that didn't have it from the factory.

It was the 2009 MY that GM started to introduce Bluetooth connectivity from the factory in various vehicle lines. The BlueTooth is NOT in the radio it resides in the On* Vehicle Communication Interface Module (VCIM) module.

There is lots of good info on GM-Truck Forum and the Chevy Avalanche Forum if you want to read about it.

Essentially you have to swap your VCIM, also purchase the BT antenna that plugs into the VCIM and you also will need the steering wheel controls that you see on the SLT Terrains (right side of the wheel)

Here's the catch......GM decided to restrict the sale of the On* VCIM's, so you actually cant buy one even if you wanted to. Unless you go on Ebay or go to an Auto Wrecker. But it gets more complicated because you need a VCIM out of a 2010 Terrain or Equinox with BlueTooth.

I bought a 2010 Camaro VCIM and tried it in my 07 Yukon but wouldn't work. Then I bought one from a 2009 Yukon and it work perfect for the BlueTooth.

The next hurdle is On*, they wont activate your account after you swap your VCIM, for some reason in the GMT900 trucks they say the 09 BT VCIM wont work with an older 07 truck. Even though when I push the red emerg button it connects fine and they see my vehicle. So I gained BT functionality but lost On*. The reality is several 07 GMT900 owners have got 09 VCIM's and done the swap and the On* account carried over from the previous original truck and it works fine. So it proves technically it can be done but On* or GM doesn't want to allow it.

Now with a 2010/11 Terrain it may not be as difficult because the vehicle line had BlueTooth as an OEM option so you could try and buy the parts and be OK with doing the install yourself.

VCIM is approx $300
BT antenna is approx $30
Steering wheel switches approx $60

But you could confirm pricing through GM Parts direct or your dealer.

I would go to your dealer price the parts out and see what they say.

If you decide its too expensive then look at Scosche or BlueAnt, they make good aftermarket kits that integrate with GM radios.

Chevrolet Customer Svc said:

I would recommend contacting your local dealership for more specific information. They should be able to let you know if it is possible to get bluetooth as an aftermarket addition for the vehicle. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Thank you.

Tricia, GM Customer Service.

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Hi Tricia

Unfortunately the sad reality is that the dealerships both in the Service and Parts Department dont really understand all this new technology because there hasnt really been that type of in service training for them.

I have spoken to many really knowledgable people at several dealerships and they simply say they dont know and will usually just call GM TAC support.


Having GM Customer Service helping us on this forum is great and assists us in speaking with the right technical people who really understand these newer vehicles.

Is it possible you could inquire for us about the GM Music Connect and the ability for 2010/11 Terrains to have this feature.

Many would also like to know if add factory Navigation is an option after purchase.

Thanks