My current project - Retrofit iDrive

R.E92 · Post by **R.E92** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:14 pm

Beeacon wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:42 pm
R.E92 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:09 am Out of interest, what would it take to retrofit bluetooth audio streaming to a 2009 car?

I know a combobox module needs adding and a little coding is needed, is that it?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ViseeO-Tune2Ai ... BFRNG18J6P

I don't have a combox and have the above Tune2Air bluetooth adapter. This allows me to stream spotify on my iPhone over the stock iDrive, it shows up song info and allows me to use the steering controls too.

The downside is that it doesn't have anywhere near the additional functions added in the lci Z4s or the android screen.

That's a nice bit of a kit but I'm similar to Dave in that I want to retrofit it just because. Something to do while the pubs are still shut

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:35 am

R.E92 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:09 am Out of interest, what would it take to retrofit bluetooth audio streaming to a 2009 car?

I know a combobox module needs adding and a little coding is needed, is that it?

As far as I'm aware you need the combox, the adaptor loom from MULF to combox (I'm assuming you have MULF now), then code it in and in theory it should work (loads of info on combox swap on e90post.com)

Beeacon wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:42 pm https://www.amazon.co.uk/ViseeO-Tune2Ai ... BFRNG18J6P

I don't have a combox and have the above Tune2Air bluetooth adapter. This allows me to stream spotify on my iPhone over the stock iDrive, it shows up song info and allows me to use the steering controls too.

The downside is that it doesn't have anywhere near the additional functions added in the lci Z4s or the android screen.

I've had this before, great piece of kit for streaming, control of music via the steering wheel buttons, and if you have an iPhone then you get track info as well on the headunit (or even better with iDrive)

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:08 pm

OK, an update.....

So the project is getting there, slowly but it's getting there

So the damaged Z4 is now in Lithuania and I'm now just waiting on info about the headunit cage. ** 08/07/20 ** Cage now posted to the UK!

The OEM iDrive controller..... Alas I missed out on the last e89 controller on eBay the other week so I got hold of an e90 version instead. The only difference between them is the bracket that it's screwed to the centre console with, and that comes off, so I ordered the proper e89 bracket and it finally arrived yesterday. Now it looks perfect in it's proper place

The bracket cost me £18 delivered and the e90 controller cost £75 so not too bad considering the average price of the e89 version is £100.

And I've managed to get hold of the e89 flip-up screen, for FREE

Alas, so far it's not displaying anything, it glows, but doesn't flip up or show anything on it, so something to investigate. If I get it to work then I may take this project in a slightly different direction

Still no joy with the bluetooth working though, so that is also still under investigation.

Next thing is I'm going to list the current (wrong) headunit on eBay and then get hold of the proper one for the e89, might as well have the correct headunit, especially if I do go with the flip-up screen.

That's it for now, hopefully some more progress soon

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 10:11 am

Another update**

I've now listed the "wrong" headunit on eBay and have bought the correct version which should be with me in a few days.
The cage should also be here in a few days as well.

I've checked over the flip-up screen, that I got for free, and cannot find what is wrong with it. I did do a fault code check and it stated that there was a fault in the video input cable. The cable I have from the headunit to the screen works OK as it displays on the Android screen, so I checked out both fly cables on the screen and they both have through signals with my meter, so it looks like something is wrong internally with the screen.
Not to worry it didn't cost me anything so no lose. So I'm now actively searching for a working flip-up screen and have decided to remove the Android screen and fit a wireless CarPLay/Android Auto adaptor box instead. I'm currently pursuing two screens to see what the best price is.

Once complete it should look something like this...

: b59vGiKh.jpg (120.13 KiB) Viewed 1374 times

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 12:30 pm

Love a man with the bit between his teeth

Deepseaskateboard · Post by **Deepseaskateboard** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 12:48 pm

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 10:11 am Another update**

I've now listed the "wrong" headunit on eBay and have bought the correct version which should be with me in a few days.
The cage should also be here in a few days as well.

I've checked over the flip-up screen, that I got for free, and cannot find what is wrong with it. I did do a fault code check and it stated that there was a fault in the video input cable. The cable I have from the headunit to the screen works OK as it displays on the Android screen, so I checked out both fly cables on the screen and they both have through signals with my meter, so it looks like something is wrong internally with the screen.
Not to worry it didn't cost me anything so no lose. So I'm now actively searching for a working flip-up screen and have decided to remove the Android screen and fit a wireless CarPLay/Android Auto adaptor box instead. I'm currently pursuing two screens to see what the best price is.

Once complete it should look something like this...
b59vGiKh.jpg

This is the dream

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:49 am

OK a quick update;

The cage is arriving today.
And I've ordered the headunit for the e89 which should also be arriving today.

I've bitten the bullet and have sold my Android screen and bought an OEM flip-up screen and have also ordered the add-on box for CarPLay / Android Auto so I'll have the new features that I actually use and then everything else will look OEM.

I'm also probably going to have to get an ICOM to get the bluetooth working properly, but we'll see.

That's it for now, I'll post some pictures when the new items are here

tintoverano · Post by **tintoverano** » Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:13 am

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:49 am I'm also probably going to have to get an ICOM to get the bluetooth working properly, but we'll see.

mine is on the way, didn't buy genuine - I will see, if it works

you could wait till I figure out, as it is cheaper than the original

it should get it in a month or so

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:25 pm

Right so everything is now here, and I went for a test fitting this morning.

The new (correct) headunit...

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The new screen...

: 20200716_100925.jpg (213.76 KiB) Viewed 1294 times

and the new cage...

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And then the test fitting....

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: 20200716_085627.jpg (235.04 KiB) Viewed 1294 times

So everything went well. It's a Japanese imported headunit, but that doesn't matter as as soon as I coded it to the car it changed over to ECE (Europe).
So Saturday morning I'll be fully installing it and videoing everything ready for my YouTube channel.

bluetooth · Post by **bluetooth** » Fri Jul 17, 2020 1:58 pm

Looking forward to seeing the report on youtube Dave.....mind your knuckles....but I think you know where all the sharp bits are by now....

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Sun Jul 19, 2020 8:40 pm

Well after a few hours work yesterday I managed to fully install the full iDrive system

I'd already installed the MULF and Bluetooth antenna a couple of weeks ago for testing purposes so that was already set up. ** Note - The OEM MULF does not sit on top of the glovebox, it is suppose to sit in the boot to the left of the pass-through hatch, but that entails taking a lot more panels off for no gain whats-so-ever, and there is space above the glovebox, so why not

That also included the AUX and USB inputs from the centre console. With this I also sorted the problem with the glovebox USB not working so that is now fully operational as well.
So a lot of the dash panel had to come out so that I could get to the radio cage, this was a bit of a nightmare really as I was trying to avoid taking too much out, but I managed it in the end with a bit of bending (parts of the dash as wel as myself!!).
This is the stage just as I'd removed the old cage and before I'd put the new one in...

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Here we go with the first full test run of the system running...

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Then I placed everything back in as it should go, along with a final test run to make sure it was working properly...

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I've been informed that my Apple CarPlay/Android Auto box is now in the country and with Royal Mail for delivery, so I should have it in the next couple of days. Then I've got the fun of trying to get it fitted behind the headunit, with very little space!

Timmyboybunter · Post by **Timmyboybunter** » Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:04 pm

Amazing progress, love reading threads like this.

2 quickies:

1) is that the later iDrive controller unit?

2) my head unit is different, has buttons 1 to 8. Just wondering why!

Still waiting for a heated wheel to come up for sale so I can be your Guinea pig

Silverstar · Post by **Silverstar** » Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:28 pm

AnubisZed wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19, 2020 8:40 pm I've been informed that my Apple CarPlay/Android Auto box is now in the country and with Royal Mail for delivery, so I should have it in the next couple of days. Then I've got the fun of trying to get it fitted behind the headunit, with very little space!

Excellent work so far! Could you put the CarPlay box behind / above the glovebox assuming there is still space after the MULF unit?

tintoverano · Post by **tintoverano** » Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:47 pm

Dave, the bad news is that there's enough room behind the head unit, but you knew that already

congrats

AnubisZed · Post by **AnubisZed** » Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:05 am

Timmyboybunter wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:04 pm Amazing progress, love reading threads like this.

2 quickies:

1) is that the later iDrive controller unit?

2) my head unit is different, has buttons 1 to 8. Just wondering why!

Still waiting for a heated wheel to come up for sale so I can be your Guinea pig

Thank you, there's more to come

1) No, it's just a big button from Ebay that fits over the original. The centre cap was scratched so I got this as I quite like the bigger button.
2) The reason the front buttons are different is because this is a Japanese imported headunit, I wasn't aware of this at first, but it's working ok for now. Despite not being able to sort the maps out, not bothered as I'll be having Google Maps from my phone on the screen shortly. The buttons can all be programmed just the same as a uk unit so no problem there. I may try to clone a uk hard drive that should sort the problem, but looks like a bit of work to do, we'll see

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com