E85/6 Z4M CarPlay/Android Auto with original hardware

I am also up for this but would prefer it fitted.
Would it be possible if we got enough people that wanted this to have a day at Beedubs if he and you would be happy to do this.
I live in poole but originally from Leicester so have relatives i can stay with.
Sutton Colfeild is not to far away
 
I finally received the z4 headunit, and it looks like it’s missing some buttons compared to the e46 headunit, so I’ve programmed in new ones.

I did SEL for back and 6 for menu. Menu is also on the steering wheel as the face. Both steering wheel and headunit has the controls for next and previous track. I just couldn’t show it, because if I start music, the video cuts off.


https://youtu.be/6Tjd7d_wvjU?si=qXvdeSkT4ILzSSuE

[youtube]https://youtu.be/6Tjd7d_wvjU?si=qXvdeSkT4ILzSSuE[/youtube]
 
I should explain why I decided to add the menu button as the face button on the steering wheel.

Pressing and holding menu button brings up Siri.

The next and previous buttons picks up the phone and hangs up, when a call comes in.
 
Looking at the site, not quite obvious what I would need to order (no TV tuner in the car). If I select TV tuner option, the price is £389 but does that then include the required bracket? And the microphone as well?
 
pvr said:
Looking at the site, not quite obvious what I would need to order (no TV tuner in the car). If I select TV tuner option, the price is £389 but does that then include the required bracket? And the microphone as well?

I haven’t updated the website for the new version yet.
 
pvr said:
Looking at the site, not quite obvious what I would need to order (no TV tuner in the car). If I select TV tuner option, the price is £389 but does that then include the required bracket? And the microphone as well?

You will need to check a few things in your car.

1. The original microphone can be used, but will require me to modify it first.
Do you currently have factory telephone/bluetooth system? If yes, is the microphone on the steering wheel column or by the interior lights. If it’s in the steering wheel column, then it’s a little bit more tricky to remove and send to me for modification. The one by the interior lights is easy to remove.
Sometimes, the z4 has the microphone on the column, but also has the microphone grill by the interior lights. This means you can feed a new cable up there with the OEM microphone.
To buy an OEM microphone, is £25. Universal one is free.

2. Check your boot. Some z4s have the carpet flush against the back of the car. Meaning there isn’t space for the tv tuner. A new carpet will need to be sourced.
I’m not 100% sure, but I think cars with amplifiers are ok, since the carpet sits a bit out, to allow for it.
I sell the brackets, but can also be purchased from bmw.

3. Z4s without tv tuners, can purchase a retrofit cable if you don’t want to lose the navigation unit interface and function. Else you can disconnect the nav unit, and connect the blue connector to the tv tuner. The cable is £60.

So it’s best to contact me via email or WhatsApp, so we can go through the options and see which one suits you best.
 
AC857852-4242-4196-9EC9-092EE59AA943.jpeg

I recently did the speaker retro fit, the carpet should be ok for non amp Z4 as the amp doesn’t go there anyway (is next to the battery).

F9028CB7-B11C-407D-AF66-3C49B1765705.jpeg

I assume the TV tuner goes where the carpet bulge is.

Even though I don’t care about the oem nav, looking at the plastic centre console I don’t think I can disassemble that on my current car as I see hairline cracks. On previous (new) Z4s, I took those out to get to the nav unit but would be hesitant to do that out of fear of breaking this plastic. Retrofit cable seems a safer option (not sure where that plugs in though).

I will have a look for the microphone location as on both my previous Z, they have been on the steering wheel but not sure on this one as haven’t looked.
 
This is the location of where the tv tuner sits.
The navigation connection is inside that hole. You can unplug it and plug it straight into the tv tuner.
 

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I have updated the website.

https://carphonics.co.uk/shop/shop-by-car/bmw/bmw-z4-series/e85-e86-z4-2003-2008/apple-carplay-android-auto-for-z4-e85-e86-original-system-conversion/
 
Hi baris,

Thanks for this awesome update for our aging cars. A couple of questions if possible;

1) are there any downsides to using the supplied mic? From a quality of use perspective?
2) would is be possible to connect to the unit via USB to run an ibus interface? This would unlock loads of features using this software on the screen;
https://www.ibus-app.de/index_en.html
3) I have a Bluetooth to cd changer interface installed in my car, can I redirect the audio from phone to this rather than using AUX?
4) I assume it might be possible to display car info via an OBD port interface via bluetooth, see any issues achieving that?
5) can alexa be implemented via the interface do you know?

Thanks
 
I really like the solution but was expecting it to be the same as the old price, which was basically the max I would want to spend on it. I don’t think I can justify the £521 price tag.
 
frazell said:
Hi baris,

Thanks for this awesome update for our aging cars. A couple of questions if possible;

1) are there any downsides to using the supplied mic? From a quality of use perspective?
2) would is be possible to connect to the unit via USB to run an ibus interface? This would unlock loads of features using this software on the screen;
https://www.ibus-app.de/index_en.html
3) I have a Bluetooth to cd changer interface installed in my car, can I redirect the audio from phone to this rather than using AUX?
4) I assume it might be possible to display car info via an OBD port interface via bluetooth, see any issues achieving that?
5) can alexa be implemented via the interface do you know?

Thanks

Hi Frazzel,

1. Not sure I understand what you mean. OEM microphone can be used, but I need to modify it. The universal one, does the same job.

2. No idea, I’ve never tried it. I doubt it would work though.

3. There is an option to remove sound from CarPlay. A few customers have done this. They have music from bluebus Bluetooth device and use their OEM Bluetooth hands free for calls.

You can do it, as long as you also have a hands free option, as you cannot pick and choose sound options. It’s all or nothing.

5. I don’t know, it’s not something which has ever been asked or tried. I assume Alexa pairs to your phone, and the audio outputs from the phone? If so, it might work.

4. Not sure I understand. Do you have an example?

Remember, this isn’t a usual android headunit which has carplay and android auto. It uses Linux and its main purpose is CarPlay and android auto. Which is why it works more efficiently.

5.
 
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