Aftermarket Screen

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Hi All,

Just picked up a 2012 Z4. I was not able to find one in the spec I wanted with SAT NAV/iDrive so got one without the screen/iDrive

It has storage compartment on the dash board (Where the OEM screen goes).

I have been looking at a number of posts but cant seem to find any solutions in order to fit a screen.

I take it there is no possibility to fit a OEM screen etc however is there a possibility to fit the central display (Pop up screen) with an android screen that would be connected to the car and in built radio or are there other options that would allow me to fit

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E86-2003-2008-Navigation-Monitor-Central-Information-Display/254647565500?epid=1909553267&hash=item3b4a2d7cbc:g:nl8AAOSwh1xfBbj1

Sorry for the questions, I presume the fact that my google searches have come up with limited results means this is something that is not possible to undertake

Thanks again

 

[tintoverano]

hi,

welcome to the forum

check this post

 

[AnubisZed]

Oliver,

You can go either OEM (ie:retrofit iDrive with the pop up screen) which could cost you anywhere upwards of £900. Or you could fit the Android touchscreen keeping you current sound system. The Android screens cost about £750 (from China, far more expensive if bought from the UK/Europe)

As in the link above, by tintoverano, I'm currently retrofitting OEM iDrive to my Z4. I've now removed my Android screen (absolutely nothing wrong with them, they are a great bit of kit) and am currently in the process of fitting the OEM kit. I hooked ever8up this morning, as I now have all of the parts required, and everything except for Bluetooth is working perfectly. It's not an easy job to do though.

 

[Zed Baron]

Hi Dave
Ive got Idrive but it didn't have bluetooth fitted, now Ive got an alternative bluetooth system (also has streaming) fitted... but is it expensive /difficult to go OEM? (contacts come up on the Idrive screen etc) :?

 

[AnubisZed]

Hi Dave
Ive got Idrive but it didn't have bluetooth fitted, now Ive got an alternative bluetooth system (also has streaming) fitted... but is it expensive /difficult to go OEM? (contacts come up on the Idrive screen etc) :?

The parts are relatively inexpensive (about £120 to £160 for the combox conversion) then you'd need someone with an ICOM to code it. This is the problem I've currently got with my MULF set-up as I need an ICOM which aren't cheap (about £250+), but as this is probably all I'd use it for I haven't got it yet, I may or may not I haven't decided if I can justify it for Bluetooth when I dont really use it. But it certainly is do'able

 

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Thanks I have been looking at the android screens just a shame they don’t have these as pop up like the OEM screen

 

[AnubisZed]

Thanks I have been looking at the android screens just a shame they don’t have these as pop up like the OEM screen

Oliver,

Some more info for you....

Every now and then someone will put a full retrofit kit up on eBay, something like this.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E89-PROFESSIONAL-CIC-NAVIGATION-KIT-9257193/163999122368?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144
Now that one is from a 2011 and comes with the combox (BMW Apps and streaming bluetooth etc), Whereas the set up I'm fitting doesn't have the combox it has the MULF instead (Bluetooth calls)..... it's a bit more indepth than that, but for this I'll leave it at that!

OK now I bought all of my parts separeatly at just under £900, so that's about average.

Now you can buy bits n pieces as and when you find them at good prices, for instance here is the headunit... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-BMW-Z4-E89-2009-To-2016-Satellite-Navigation-CD-Unit/193519313614 and they are taking offers.
And here is a screen... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/928202203j-multifunction-screen-bmw-z4-e89-2009/174339128214 and I know he'll accept £200 for this, because I pointed out to him that it's not complete (it's missing the frame that mounts it to the dash, but I just happen to have a non-working screen available )

What I'm doing with mine is making it almost OEM, so to anyone looking in it looks all original. Now a lot of people think that the OEM sat-nav is outdated, but that's not a problem as you can add on a plug-n-ply box to this and then have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on the screen, which is what I'm doing for mine. I enjoyed having the Android screen but simply wasn't using it to it's full potential as all I used was Android Auto as that had all my music, apps and sat-nav directly from my phone.





Some people probably think I'm mad for ditching the Android screen that I had, but at the end of the day I'm happy with what I'm doing.

The subject on both the Android screen and retrofitting iDrive is not a short one and there are a lot of things to consider with either, but if there is anything you want to know then don't hesitate to ask.
Oh and to answer you question, there is not an aftermarket device that flips up & down for this, it's either the OEM screen or the fixed Android, the way I'm doing it is the compromise. And no you cannot fit the Android screen into the housing of the iDrive screen, I looked into this as well.

 

[Zed Baron]

Hi Dave
Ive got Idrive but it didn't have bluetooth fitted, now Ive got an alternative bluetooth system (also has streaming) fitted... but is it expensive /difficult to go OEM? (contacts come up on the Idrive screen etc) :?

The parts are relatively inexpensive (about £120 to £160 for the combox conversion) then you'd need someone with an ICOM to code it. This is the problem I've currently got with my MULF set-up as I need an ICOM which aren't cheap (about £250+), but as this is probably all I'd use it for I haven't got it yet, I may or may not I haven't decided if I can justify it for Bluetooth when I dont really use it. But it certainly is do'able

Thanks Dave, I might ask you for a quote for this and the cruise retrofit (makes the journey worth while) thats if you don't mind

 

[Silverstar]

What I'm doing with mine is making it almost OEM, so to anyone looking in it looks all original. Now a lot of people think that the OEM sat-nav is outdated, but that's not a problem as you can add on a plug-n-ply box to this and then have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on the screen, which is what I'm doing for mine. I enjoyed having the Android screen but simply wasn't using it to it's full potential as all I used was Android Auto as that had all my music, apps and sat-nav directly from my phone.

I have always wondered how much better the in car entertainment experience would be with CarPlay / Android Auto. Well yesterday I went with my mate to pick up his Mercedes to which he had one those CarPlay / Android Auto boxes fitted. After seeing it installed in his car I have to say it does make a huge difference, way better having all your music showing on the screen, all controllable via the steering wheel buttons or Merc Command system (like BMW iDrive) and choice of navigations apps to choose plus being able to fire off some quick messages be it text or by Whats App, all controlled by voice whilst driving is great.

Couple of observations with these multimedia boxes, when the phone is connected to the CarPlay multimedia box (by cable) and at the same time connected to the car via bluetooth, whilst in CarPlay mode you can't get audio through the car speakers for telephone calls. To do that you have to disconnect the bluetooth connection to the car and the second thing I noticed was the audio quality for telephone calls via the CarPlay box wasn't great.

I don't know if the above two small gripes are applicable to all these boxes since they all seem to come from the same factory in China or if they were somehow specific to the unit my mate had installed. Either way though it is impressive!

 

[AnubisZed]

Hi Dave
Ive got Idrive but it didn't have bluetooth fitted, now Ive got an alternative bluetooth system (also has streaming) fitted... but is it expensive /difficult to go OEM? (contacts come up on the Idrive screen etc) :?

The parts are relatively inexpensive (about £120 to £160 for the combox conversion) then you'd need someone with an ICOM to code it. This is the problem I've currently got with my MULF set-up as I need an ICOM which aren't cheap (about £250+), but as this is probably all I'd use it for I haven't got it yet, I may or may not I haven't decided if I can justify it for Bluetooth when I dont really use it. But it certainly is do'able

Thanks Dave, I might ask you for a quote for this and the cruise retrofit (makes the journey worth while) thats if you don't mind

I'll see what happens, I have my eye on an ICOM at the moment so may just buy myself one, but got to get the credit card down a bit first

 

[Zed Baron]

Thanks Dave, let me know if you do... it would justify the journey down from Scotland (think its only ever been south of Carlisle once in its life)

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Thanks I have been looking at the android screens just a shame they don’t have these as pop up like the OEM screen

Oliver,

Some more info for you....

Every now and then someone will put a full retrofit kit up on eBay, something like this.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E89-PROFESSIONAL-CIC-NAVIGATION-KIT-9257193/163999122368?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144
Now that one is from a 2011 and comes with the combox (BMW Apps and streaming bluetooth etc), Whereas the set up I'm fitting doesn't have the combox it has the MULF instead (Bluetooth calls)..... it's a bit more indepth than that, but for this I'll leave it at that!

OK now I bought all of my parts separeatly at just under £900, so that's about average.

Now you can buy bits n pieces as and when you find them at good prices, for instance here is the headunit... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-BMW-Z4-E89-2009-To-2016-Satellite-Navigation-CD-Unit/193519313614 and they are taking offers.
And here is a screen... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/928202203j-multifunction-screen-bmw-z4-e89-2009/174339128214 and I know he'll accept £200 for this, because I pointed out to him that it's not complete (it's missing the frame that mounts it to the dash, but I just happen to have a non-working screen available )

What I'm doing with mine is making it almost OEM, so to anyone looking in it looks all original. Now a lot of people think that the OEM sat-nav is outdated, but that's not a problem as you can add on a plug-n-ply box to this and then have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on the screen, which is what I'm doing for mine. I enjoyed having the Android screen but simply wasn't using it to it's full potential as all I used was Android Auto as that had all my music, apps and sat-nav directly from my phone.

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Some people probably think I'm mad for ditching the Android screen that I had, but at the end of the day I'm happy with what I'm doing.

The subject on both the Android screen and retrofitting iDrive is not a short one and there are a lot of things to consider with either, but if there is anything you want to know then don't hesitate to ask.
Oh and to answer you question, there is not an aftermarket device that flips up & down for this, it's either the OEM screen or the fixed Android, the way I'm doing it is the compromise. And no you cannot fit the Android screen into the housing of the iDrive screen, I looked into this as well.

I have this in my watch list!

I am daunted by all of those cables.

Did you have to wire all of this in?

 

[AnubisZed]

I have this in my watch list!

I am daunted by all of those cables.

Did you have to wire all of this in?

It really depends what you currently have. Do you have bluetooth at the moment? Do you have USB in the armrest?

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

I have this in my watch list!

I am daunted by all of those cables.

Did you have to wire all of this in?

It really depends what you currently have. Do you have bluetooth at the moment? Do you have USB in the armrest?

USB in arm rest, and bluetooth for calls yeah.

 

[Anonymous]

I have this in my watch list!

I am daunted by all of those cables.

Did you have to wire all of this in?

It really depends what you currently have. Do you have bluetooth at the moment? Do you have USB in the armrest?

USB in arm rest, and bluetooth for calls yeah.

iPod compatible player into usb or a usb with music and playlists is your best option if you want music quality I assume no idrive?

 

[AnubisZed]

I have this in my watch list!

I am daunted by all of those cables.

Did you have to wire all of this in?

It really depends what you currently have. Do you have bluetooth at the moment? Do you have USB in the armrest?

USB in arm rest, and bluetooth for calls yeah.

If you already have Bluetooth and USB then no you don't need to wire all of that in. Presumably you'll have a MULF in the boot (behind the panel to the left og the ski hatch). So in that case all you really need is the headunit, the screen, the iDrive controller and the USB to go in the glovebox (all of that is included in the link I posted, along with a lot of wiring you don't currently need). So with what you have and what I've just listed you'll also need a GPS receiver and the radio cage (as it's different from the standard headunit). This will give you sat-nav, radio, CD, USB music, AUX input and bluetooth for calls.
It would still require some coding though and the sat-nav may still require an FSC code to work (or an emulator adaptor which is probably cheaper!)

 

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Thanks for all comments

The retrofit does worry me with all the cables I have usb in arm rest and Bluetooth. Would most of the cables be already installed? Is there a simple step by step guide for this?

I am swaying on Android but can I check one thing do you have to run an aux cable from android to arm rest aux input or is there somewhere hidden to connect this. If not how do you do this is it a matter of making hole in arm rest storage and feeding cables through?

I also don’t have the mulf unit in the boot.. what is this for?

 

[AnubisZed]

Thanks for all comments

The retrofit does worry me with all the cables I have usb in arm rest and Bluetooth. Would most of the cables be already installed? Is there a simple step by step guide for this? Alas, currently there is no step-by-step available for this, until I make it anyway If you already have USB and Bluetooth then no you do not have to run all of that cabling as it's already there

I am swaying on Android but can I check one thing do you have to run an aux cable from android to arm rest aux input or is there somewhere hidden to connect this. If not how do you do this is it a matter of making hole in arm rest storage and feeding cables through? As you have the standard headunit then there is AUX input in the back of it so the adaptor loom would pick this up. BUT you also have the MULF unit (USB and Bluetooth go through it) and on iDrive cars so does the AUX so I couldn't be 100% sure which way yours does.

I also don’t have the mulf unit in the boot.. what is this for? Yes you have, it's behind the bulkhead panel cover next to the passthrough hatch (or where it would be if you had the hatch) in the boot. It connects the uSB and Bluetooth inputs to the headunit.

 

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Cheers thanks for that will go android then I thought the MULF was in the compartment on left in the boot but there’s nothing in there.

 

[Oliver Ciaravella]

Right I have been searching for ages trying to find Android 10 for non CIC with no iDrive but can’t find it anywhere for UK