Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

15

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

4

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Connector
  • 2 steps
  • AirPort/Bluetooth Board Assembly
  • 6 steps
  • AirPort/Bluetooth Board
  • 5 steps

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0

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
  • Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.
  • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
  • When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.

Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

1024

Step 2

  • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.
  • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Step 3

              Battery Connector
  • For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but is recommended as it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.
  • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.
  • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to “walk” it out of its socket.

For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but is recommended as it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.

Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to “walk” it out of its socket.

Step 4

  • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

Step 5

              AirPort/Bluetooth Board Assembly
  • Pull the camera cable connector straight out of its socket on the logic board.
  • Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board toward the optical drive opening.

Pull the camera cable connector straight out of its socket on the logic board.

Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board toward the optical drive opening.

Step 6

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable up off its socket on the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable up off its socket on the logic board.

Step 7

  • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the four antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the four antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Step 8

  • De-route all four antenna cables from their channels in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.
  • De-route the camera cable from its channel in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

De-route all four antenna cables from their channels in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

De-route the camera cable from its channel in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

Step 9

  • Remove the following two screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly to the upper case:
  • One 8.6 mm Phillips screw
  • One 3.9 mm Phillips screw

Remove the following two screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly to the upper case:

One 8.6 mm Phillips screw

One 3.9 mm Phillips screw

Step 10

  • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly from the upper case, minding any cables that may get caught.

Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly from the upper case, minding any cables that may get caught.

Step 11

              AirPort/Bluetooth Board
  • Peel and remove the piece of EMI tape wrapped around the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly.

Peel and remove the piece of EMI tape wrapped around the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly.

Step 12

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth cable away from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.
  • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth cable from the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth cable away from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth cable from the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly.

Step 13

  • Remove the three Phillips screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board to the AirPort/Bluetooth board housing.
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to dislodge the AirPort/Bluetooth board from its recess in the AirPort/Bluetooth board housing.

Remove the three Phillips screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board to the AirPort/Bluetooth board housing.

Use the flat end of a spudger to dislodge the AirPort/Bluetooth board from its recess in the AirPort/Bluetooth board housing.

Step 14

  • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth board from its aluminum housing.

Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth board from its aluminum housing.

Step 15

  • Before securing the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket to the upper case, be sure the small tab on its left edge is inserted into the small void cut into the black plastic optical drive opening.

Before securing the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket to the upper case, be sure the small tab on its left edge is inserted into the small void cut into the black plastic optical drive opening.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Miroslav Djuric

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paolobetti - Aug 4, 2016

Reply

I’m interested to replace the Airpot/Bluetooth Board on my MPB Late 2011 (MacbookPro 8,2) that currently has the board BCM 2070B0. I need to be sure that the replacement board at this link (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Macbook-Pro-A127…) will fit with my MBP.

The next question is related to the replacement of the aluminium frame as well as mentioned at the beginning of this article or is the current one is ok as well. I have available the images of the HW data of my MBP if need to properly answer the questions.

Many thanks for your great help.

Best regards

Paolo

James Wang - Sep 2, 2017

Reply

Used this to replace my late 2011 Airport/Bluetooth board with a slightly later one that fits the same and enabled Bluetooth 4.0. BCM94331PCIEBT4AX => BCM94331PCIEBT4ACX.

Colin - Oct 12, 2017

Do you mind if I ask which Bluetooth board you updated to and where you bought it?

Matt - Apr 9, 2018

Reply

Question : If I upgrade my late 2011 MBP to BT4.0 running H Sierra 10.13.4 will I have full functionality with handoff, continuity etc…I have read that many people are having issues

okieh esuark - Mar 14, 2021

Reply

hello i have a MacBookPro 6.2. Midle 2010

i’m also interested to replace the Airpot/Bluetooth Board for a higher Version. ?!

is there a option, an with witch Card.