RepositoryItemComboBox: how to obtain a selected index when an edit value is changed

Hi folks,
I have a grouping function on a ComboBoxEdit (code below). How do i transfer this to a RepositoryItemComboBoxEdit located on a Menubar (BarManager). I have read all articles and KB's but cannot get it working. I have tried the code at the end but not working.
    Private Sub cbEquipListGrouping_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cbEquipListGrouping.SelectedIndexChanged
        If cbEquipListGrouping.EditValue.ToString().IndexOf("----") >= 0 Then
            cbEquipListGrouping.SelectedIndex = cbEquipListGrouping.Properties.Items.Count - 1
        Else
            SetGroupIntervalEqList(cbEquipListGrouping.SelectedIndex)
        End If
    End Sub
    Private Sub SetIntervalEqList(ByVal column As GridColumn, ByVal interval As ColumnGroupInterval)
        column.GroupInterval = interval
        column.GroupIndex = 0
    End Sub
    Private Sub SetSortModeEqList(ByVal column As GridColumn, ByVal sortMode As ColumnSortMode)
        column.SortMode = sortMode
        column.GroupIndex = 0
    End Sub
    Private Sub SetGroupIntervalEqList(ByVal index As Integer)
        AdvBandedGridView2.BeginSort()
        Try
            AdvBandedGridView2.ClearGrouping()
            For Each column As GridColumn In AdvBandedGridView2.Columns()
                column.GroupInterval = ColumnGroupInterval.Default
                column.SortMode = ColumnSortMode.Default
            Next column
            Select Case index
                Case 0
                    SetIntervalEqList(colEnquiryPackage, ColumnGroupInterval.Value)
                    colSkidReference.GroupInterval = ColumnGroupInterval.Value
                Case 1
                    SetIntervalEqList(colSkidReference, ColumnGroupInterval.Value)
                Case 2
                    SetIntervalEqList(colEquipTag, ColumnGroupInterval.Value)
                Case 3
                    SetIntervalEqList(colSpecNo, ColumnGroupInterval.Value)
                Case 4
                    SetIntervalEqList(colLocation, ColumnGroupInterval.Value)
                Case 5
                    SetIntervalEqList(colPIDNo, ColumnGroupInterval.Value)
                Case 6
                    AdvBandedGridView2.CollapseAllGroups()
                    colSkidReference.SortOrder = ColumnSortOrder.Ascending
            End Select
        Finally
            AdvBandedGridView2.EndSort()
            AdvBandedGridView2.CollapseAllGroups()
        End Try
    End Sub
Tried Following Code (Not Working)

Private Sub BarEditItem1_ItemClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ItemClickEventArgs) Handles BarEditItem1.ItemClick
        Dim val1 As Object = BarEditItem1.EditValue
        Dim selectedIndexInBar As String = RepositoryItemComboBox9.Items.IndexOf(val1)
        If BarEditItem1.EditValue.ToString().IndexOf("----") >= 0 Then
            val1.selectedIndexInBar = val1.Properties.Items.Count - 1
        Else
            SetGroupIntervalEqList(val1.selectedIndexInBar)
        End If
    End Sub
Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian