E89 Wired Apple CarPlay

[Myfirstbm]

Evening All,
I’m looking in to adding Apple CarPlay to my e89 2010 and have found this box on eBay. Has anyone had any experience with this type box? I have contacted them for some info but the answers have been a little vague and as long as I have an aux point it will work.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WIRELESS-APPLE-CARPLAY-WIRED-ANDROID-AUTO-BMW-Z4-SERIES-E89-2009-CIC-/283782690795?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

 

[mcbutler]

They are charging £16.50 delivery! Looks like a rip off merchant to me.
You might try searching the old you tube for videos on installation etc.

Also noted this 'getout' clause in there extensive and confusing literature;

" Its advisable that you 'dry-line' the unit before installing, this means, connect the systems cables but dont fully install the unit. Should you install the unit and find fault, this is likely to cause the item to have installation scrapes, this can effect your return of the unit if need be as all items must be returned in accordance with consumer rights legislation where the item has be sent back in the same condition as received"...

Reading between the lines they are actually saying that even if you can actually connect it without fitting it, if it goes wrong a few months down the line and you have scratched it during fitting/removal you can forget about a replacement...

 

[AnubisZed]

If you don't mind waiting then there's this on AliExpress….. (saving yourself £80! for the same product)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001125071314.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.37812e0eVzQbCs

This'll be the one when I fit my full iDrive system to replace my Android screen.
The one you have linked seems OK and a decent price considering some of these boxes cost up to £500 to do exactly the same job (and even those ones aren't built any better then these ones!) bear in mind though that they are only selling on behalf of the Chinese manufacturer as they are in partnership with them, which is a strange thing to state on an advert! So you are still buying the same quality Chinese made product no matter who's name is on the outside!

 

[Myfirstbm]

Thanks for the responses and even though Dave is yet to fit his, it is encouraging that you are looking at a similar box. I’m always wary of buying these bits of kit because you always wonder what exactly you are going to get and will it work like you’re expecting. I’ll keep plugging away with them because it does say they offer support from the UK and when questioned about firmware updates in the future, they can support that too. If and when I decide to go with it I’ll up date my findings when fitted.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses and even though Dave is yet to fit his, it is encouraging that you are looking at a similar box. I’m always wary of buying these bits of kit because you always wonder what exactly you are going to get and will it work like you’re expecting. I’ll keep plugging away with them because it does say they offer support from the UK and when questioned about firmware updates in the future, they can support that too. If and when I decide to go with it I’ll up date my findings when fitted.

What features of CarPlay are you attracted too?

Does your car have the usb / Bluetooth options?

What audio system do you have fitted?

Presumably you don’t have the flip up nav system?

 

[Myfirstbm]

Pbondar probably hit the nail on the head there, what do I actually want Apple CarPlay for? To be honest I don’t know just a gimmick I suppose. I have flip up nav and play my music through a Tune2air adaptar which works fine. Have use of steering wheel controls and even see tracks on screen. All in all don’t really need it just fancied it I suppose

 

[Silverstar]

I would rather a pay a little more for a supplier in the UK rather than buy from China even if they are selling exactly the same thing. If you ever need aftersales service or warranty repairs more often then not you will have to send the unit back to China and the cost for doing that will outweigh any savings you make not to mention when they return the item you have the hassle of customs (even though you don't pay anything since it's a warranty replacement) and add the time taken to do all that. On top of that should something go wrong you have the backing of UK consumer law, try getting any recourse in China! Also consider you have to pay duties and taxes when the product lands in the UK.

 

[AnubisZed]

I've used the Tune2Air previously and find them very good (I'd always recommend them!). As I don't have iDrive at the moment I fitted the Android touchscreen and just over a year down the line now I find all I actually use is the Android Auto option as I have everything I need (music, phone, messages, maps etc). And this is the reason why as I'm actually fitting a part iDrive system I'm possible going to go all the way with the flip-up screen as well and remove the Android screen and fit one of these boxes, as it does all that I actually need. Also when my wife uses my Z4 she has her iPhone plugged in so uses CarPlay which she loves.
Alas I need to get a few more things working before I actually take the plunge and buy one, so it may be a few months before I have any reviews to put out.

 

[AnubisZed]

I would rather a pay a little more for a supplier in the UK rather than buy from China even if they are selling exactly the same thing. If you ever need aftersales service or warranty repairs more often then not you will have to send the unit back to China and the cost for doing that will outweigh any savings you make not to mention when they return the item you have the hassle of customs (even though you don't pay anything since it's a warranty replacement) and add the time taken to do all that. On top of that should something go wrong you have the backing of UK consumer law, try getting any recourse in China! Also consider you have to pay duties and taxes when the product lands in the UK.

That's a very good point.
Timewise I certainly agree with you, but at an £80 saving you're not going to be paying anywhere near that if you need to send it back! But yes, saving on hassle

 

[Silverstar]

I would rather a pay a little more for a supplier in the UK rather than buy from China even if they are selling exactly the same thing. If you ever need aftersales service or warranty repairs more often then not you will have to send the unit back to China and the cost for doing that will outweigh any savings you make not to mention when they return the item you have the hassle of customs (even though you don't pay anything since it's a warranty replacement) and add the time taken to do all that. On top of that should something go wrong you have the backing of UK consumer law, try getting any recourse in China! Also consider you have to pay duties and taxes when the product lands in the UK.

That's a very good point.
Timewise I certainly agree with you, but at an £80 saving you're not going to be paying anywhere near that if you need to send it back! But yes, saving on hassle

I deal with China on a regular basis for my business and have had to return goods a number of times and if you send it via low cost shipping e.g. Royal Mail intl tracked firstly it takes ages to get there and half the time it never does, the number of packages I have had returned is more than I care to remember. Send it via express courier and you will be looking at around that price difference very easily. Once they sent a warranty replacement and the item took 2 months to clear through customs, not because they had to do an inspection but because they wanted to charge duties and taxes again! trying to get that sorted was a nightmare. Also as I mentioned if something drastically goes wrong at least in UK you have your consumer rights to protect you, you get jack all with China.

 

[mcbutler]

I would rather a pay a little more for a supplier in the UK rather than buy from China even if they are selling exactly the same thing. If you ever need aftersales service or warranty repairs more often then not you will have to send the unit back to China and the cost for doing that will outweigh any savings you make not to mention when they return the item you have the hassle of customs (even though you don't pay anything since it's a warranty replacement) and add the time taken to do all that. On top of that should something go wrong you have the backing of UK consumer law, try getting any recourse in China! Also consider you have to pay duties and taxes when the product lands in the UK.

That's a very good point.
Timewise I certainly agree with you, but at an £80 saving you're not going to be paying anywhere near that if you need to send it back! But yes, saving on hassle

Not in this case if you read the fine print carefully

 

[AnubisZed]

At the end of the day "you pays your money and takes your choice!"...... £185 directly from China, £260 Chinese UK company with dodgy sounding terms & conditions, or close to £500. They are all made in the same place (Shenzen!), doesn't matter what fancy name some European company puts on it and charges you for the privalage. That's why there is choice.

Last year I took the plunge and bought the Android screen, it came from Shenzen just the same. I had nah-sayers saying it wouldn't last 3 months, well 15 months later it's still working fine with absolutely no problems whats-so-ever.

 

[Silverstar]

At the end of the day "you pays your money and takes your choice!"...... £185 directly from China, £260 Chinese UK company with dodgy sounding terms & conditions, or close to £500. They are all made in the same place (Shenzen!), doesn't matter what fancy name some European company puts on it and charges you for the privalage. That's why there is choice.

Last year I took the plunge and bought the Android screen, it came from Shenzen just the same. I had nah-sayers saying it wouldn't last 3 months, well 15 months later it's still working fine with absolutely no problems whats-so-ever.

Are you forgetting customs duties taxes and clearance charges on the 185 GBP? add that and it will more than likely come close to what the UK vendor is asking. Of course you pay your money and take your choice for me IF the difference in price isn't huge I would always buy from a reputable vendor in my country over taking a chance with someone in China.

The small difference is worth the peace of mind for me. Saying that I am not advocating the ebay vendor mentioned in this thread as clearly he is in foul of the distance selling regulations on a couple of points which in any case he will find he can't enforce and if you ran into that situation ebay or Paypal would resolve the issue in your favour.

 

[lewis1962]

I had a unit connected that was also wireless, but the quality of the audio thru aux was awful, so I had it removed.