Can I update my macbook pro early 2011 to use bluetooth 4.0

Seriously guys check the previous pages would you? There were several places mentioned where to buy. One more time, I bought mine here WiFi Airport Card 607-7291 For Macbook Pro A1278 A1286 A1297 Bluetooth Card 2011 The guy still has 7 of them. Just ask him to send the "CAX" one.

Hi, thanks to all those who figure this stuff out for the rest of us! I have access to a fleet of various unibody 13" MBPs. Many are from 2012 and 2013. I have a lone 17" MBP unibody from late 2011 that I would like to be compatible with SMS on my iPhone. First, do I need Bluetooth 4.0 for texting from Yosemite, or is that a wifi thing? Second, if I do need a new BT4.0 card, can I just swap my 2011 card with one from a 13" unibody from 2012 or 2013? Easy as that? Thanks for the advice!

I can confirm that the iMessage functionality works WITHOUT updating the BT module. It therefore must be using WiFi. I'm running a Early 2011 MBP (Yosemite) with an iPhone 5 running IOS 8.1 and was able to succesfully setup the iMessage (texting) last night. I did have to add my iCloud email address to the contact information in the settings on my iPhone. I did NOT have to add it on my MBP. Once I did that I no longer needed the authentication code which I was getting prompted for on my iPhone. There are earlier posts about this with the instructions on how to add the iCloud email to your iPhone message contacts. I will say that I could NOT remove it after I got things connected, even though some others have reported that they could. To me it doesn't matter but for others it might be.

That being said, I've got a 2012 BT/WiFi card on the way and am going to do the upgrade to get the handoff features to work. If you aren't interested in those features then you'll be all set without having to swap the card.

Hello All,

I am following this thread very closely. My system specs are as follows:

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011, MacBookPro8,3), 8 GB RAM/2.5 Ghz Intel Quad Core i7/512 GB SSD/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1 GB VRAM and Intel HD 3000 Graphics, iPad, Wi-Fi, 64 GB, iPhone 6+, 64 GB, Mac OS X Yosemite, version 10.10

Forgive if I'm wrong, but I think a few with a MBP such as mine has tried this with success.

With the recent release of OS X Yosemite vs. 10.10 I'm holding off implementing this to see how stable it works in the community now that the final OS has been released.

I too feel robbed due to the significant investment I have made in Apple products. I love my MBP, and I just can't justify buying a new one just to take advantage of a few OS features. Although I would love to have it merely for productivity purposes.

I do have a few questions regarding the BT card replacement: (forgive me if I'm being redundant)

1. From what I understand, the BT card is a combo Airport/BT card right (both wireless network and bluetooth)? I have both wireless and ethernet on my MBP. Just clarifying for my technical understanding.

2. Only the correct BT chipset is needed to run OS X Yosemite Handoff/Continuity features, right? It doesn't rely on a correct network card too does it? Just to clarify.

3. Does the chipset model discussed (BCM94331PCIEBT"4CAX" BCM4331) also take advantage of the new 802.11 AC network protocol?

If this does end up working, I too, hope Apple implements the proper code for older MBPs to use ALL of Yosemite's features. Loyalty counts for something doesn't it? 🙂

Hey unkind,

Thanks for replying to my post.

I need to correct myself in question #3. I originally asked:

3. Does the chipset model discussed (BCM94331PCIEBT"4CAX" BCM4331) also take advantage of the new 802.11 AC network protocol?

What I was really trying to ask was:

3. Does the Airport card on the "4CAX" replacement card (not Bluetooth chipset) support at least the 802.11 AC networking protocol?

Thanks.

Also, has anyone found reliable vendors in the U.S. that sell the needed Airport/Bluetooth card? I am researching as well. Thought I'd ask since so many have ordered or are going to order.

gtmars wrote:

Also, has anyone found reliable vendors in the U.S. that sell the needed Airport/Bluetooth card? I am researching as well. Thought I'd ask since so many have ordered or are going to order.

I found my seller on Apple's website at:

https://locate.apple.com (For USA)

On that page, choose "Service"

Then put in your zip, and choose Mac from the dropdown.

The next page should have a list of Apple Stores and Authorized Resellers. I called the one closest to my house and they ordered the part for me. 2 days later I went down and picked it up. It cost about $95 for them to order it.

Hope this helps.

Thanks aquariusrick,

I found my seller on Apple's website at:

https://locate.apple.com (For USA)

I will investigate that one too.

Also, in response to James Reid1:

Scroll up in this discussion. There are several links to vendors selling the "...CAX" card.

Yes, I saw those when I read the pages here, and I definitely will review such posts as well. I was asking in case members found vendors they used, but didn't post the info here.

Thanks for both of your replies.

Since there are a lot of scammers on eBay who pretend to sell the 4.0 BT enabling item by not making the name of the piece totally, clear, I thought to indicate this other solution to all those from Germany or Europe, you can get a compatible Broadcom BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX card at this place for roughly 45 Euros: http://www.cdx.de/store/products/APPLE-ERSATZTEILE/MACBOOK-PRO/Airport-Karte-Mac Book-Pro-Mid-2012-Bluetooth-4-0.html

Note: I am not affiliated at all, just ordered / tested / am using one of those successfully in my MBP 17" late 2011.

Yes it works. He stoled my idea, but he wrote a better program with the GUI (I check the code, is the same), so congrats to the guy! Don't worry, it works like a magic. He does also a backup of the kext, like I did, so you can restore the old one in the case something will go wrong.

Yes take my script and open it with a text editor, take a look to the code if you want. The code is almost identical, I use the commands "perl" and "xxd", instead he did all the stuff only with "xxd", I don't know why but it works.

what is the part number in the front of the airport card that has BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX if i will bought it at apple store?

i tried the following part number 607 8959 and 607 7291 is not available at the official apple store.

Hi Sander! First of all, thanks for the detailed tutorial. Just one doubt, in the link you provide to buy the chip, they claim "The item is "4AX" not "4CAX". They are different with bluetooth compatibility." and you point that replaced the old Bluetooth Board: BCM94331PCIEBT4AX for the new BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX. But since it worked for you, i'm confussed. Hope being clear. Thanks in advance.

The card that you want is BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX....the original should be BCM94331PCIEBT4AX.

Make note of the last three digits....CAX, as that is the one that you want. It worked for him, because he used the one with CAX as the replacement.

ThijsBoehme wrote:

_bigdip_ wrote:

Check this out guys:

https://github.com/dokterdok/Continuity-Activation-Tool/

Has anyone tried this instead of doing the hex stuff?

Has anybody tried this since updating to 10.10.2?

Why you mention Wrong Card URL?

On you GUIDE said BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX But you point the URL to OLD version BCM94331PCIEBT4AX😢

http://www.os-store.com.de/broadcom-apple-bcm4331-bcm20702-bt-wlan-card-module-a 1278-a1286-a1297-661-5867-607-7291-607-8792.html

The Problem is... I was order this card too without Check more details... as far I know, URL produk for BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX version is

http://www.os-store.com.de/broadcom-bcm94331pciebt4cax-bcm4331-bluetooth-bt-wlan -wireless-card-module-for-apple-a1278-a1286-a1297-661-5867-607-7291-2011.html

And this product currenly out of Stock 😟