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MMI installation - question for the master

Nice.

I wonder, if I dropped £25k on the nicest 35is money could buy, but then loaded a nice picture of my wife on the MMI startup screen, I'd get away with it?
 
Timmyboybunter said:
Nice.

I wonder, if I dropped £25k on the nicest 35is money could buy, but then loaded a nice picture of my wife on the MMI startup screen, I'd get away with it?
Click to expand...

Definitely worth a try, tip could even use one from when she was younger and tell her it’s a mirror :wink:
 
Feeling more motivated so I thought I'd finally make a start.
Step one for me is the camera, went with the Auto vox unit mentioned before. Small hole drilled in the bumper for the cable, fed said cable through a grommet on the left/passenger side. The grommet holds a rubber tube going to the exhaust. No idea what the tube does but best not to cut it I reckon :)

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As a quick test I set up a small monitor. The distance between the camera and the object I want to avoid is 50cm. As mentioned before, not the best position for a camera but better than nothing. Won't be necessary most of the time anyway as carparks around me ALL use parking blocks to stop people backing into other cars.

All done without removing bumper or rear light. Next step, run some cables from the back to the glovebox down the passenger side. Need some more motivation for next week :thumbsup:

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Quick question... again to AnubisZed.
Got my set up ready to go, just finding time..... The people at Andream suggest the following A# to B#, but I know your setting is with L# to B#, which works. What's the difference?
I've seen several versions of their manual, all different :) and none of them suggest L# to B#. Not doubting your video info at all, just curious.
Closer inspection shows A# labelled "Low Can", B# is high Can :? ?


Connector A B.jpg

Choices choices.......

3 methods.jpg
 
Roddy said:
Quick question... again to AnubisZed.
Got my set up ready to go, just finding time..... The people at Andream suggest the following A# to B#, but I know your setting is with L# to B#, which works. What's the difference?
I've seen several versions of their manual, all different :) and none of them suggest L# to B#. Not doubting your video info at all, just curious.
Closer inspection shows A# labelled "Low Can", B# is high Can :? ?


Connector A B.jpg

Choices choices.......

3 methods.jpg
Click to expand...
Attempt 6 at typing this, now resorting to my phone as the forum keeps kicking me off the page after typing the answer!!!!
In short, as I cant be bothered to write that all again, I simply don't know. I do know that L to B works, and I've found this out by trial and error.
Wish these manufacturers put a bit more effort into explaining stuff.
 
Bit more info after fiddling today.

Car aux setting should be about 80%.

Crucial setting seems to be the 'alter volume' one on the MMI box - this is the SPEECH within Android (e.g when reading directions or responding to voice comnands) and if not set low, the voice distorts. This then means you can have the main 'volume' setting cranked right up, without distortion, and far less hiss.

Tada!

(bit more fiddling possibly required to achieve the 'perfect' combination of settings regarding hiss, distortion, and relative volume between Android speech and general output such as music)
 

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Timmyboybunter said:
Bit more info after fiddling today.

Car aux setting should be about 80%.

Crucial setting seems to be the 'alter volume' one on the MMI box - this is the SPEECH within Android (e.g when reading directions or responding to voice comnands) and if not set low, the voice distorts. This then means you can have the main 'volume' setting cranked right up, without distortion, and far less hiss.

Tada!

(bit more fiddling possibly required to achieve the 'perfect' combination of settings regarding hiss, distortion, and relative volume between Android speech and general output such as music)
Click to expand...


I've got my main volume set to about 75% of the max setting and the alter volume at around 8 seems to work well with Apple CarPlay. When I first fired up the MMI box the alter volume was set at the same level as the main volume from the factory and whenever turn directions etc were read out they were crazy loud, giving me an ear ache every time! I have the main volume set to a level so that when you switch from the MMI box over to the normal radio it matches it's volume, so you don't have to turn the volume up or down whenever you switch.
 
You're one stage further along than me then - what you describe is what I mean by the 'perfect' settings but matching tha car's native volume is another factor - good shout 👍
 
Finally got it installed today, back ache now, I'm not made of elastic as I was 30 years ago!
Refitting the head unit is fun...... not. And after fitting, testing and refitting the glove box, I found the antenna on the floor :headbang: Glovebox off and on again!

So I am here, studying the phone set up procedure now. Rear camera works, but as AnubisZed mentioned, it isn't perfect.
By the way, A# connected with B# works ok, strange they have 2 CAN connections which do the same thing.


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So I tried to set up my phone and it seemed to pair OK. Didn't seem to work so I came inside for a rest. Back to the car, tried again and bingo.
Seems too slow for me using bluetooth, so I may just go wired, after I figure out how to use it. It's working though :thumbsup:
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Great result, congrats - I felt the same after finishing, I'm not supple or small enough to be messing around in cramped cars in the freezing cold for hours at a time! (I also feel your pain on the glovebox - I think I would have had a little cry if I had to do that whole removal and refit twice)

Strange what you're seeing with regards to the bluetooth connection though, no noticeable lag from what I've tested.
 
Just need to get used to it I think. One issue maybe have been I was outside the house, phone was trying to pick up a weak wifi signal instead of 4G? I'll go out for a drive tomorrow and test it. First impressions: Google maps on satellite view, very nice. Sound through the aux is shite, need to play with it some more.
Any clues on optimum settings would be appreciated :thumbsup:
 
Roddy said:
Sound through the aux is shite, need to play with it some more.
Any clues on optimum settings would be appreciated :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Have a look at the last few replies above - should point you in the right direction on what needs to be tweaked :thumbsup:
 
Timmyboybunter said:
Roddy said:
Sound through the aux is shite, need to play with it some more.
Any clues on optimum settings would be appreciated :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Have a look at the last few replies above - should point you in the right direction on what needs to be tweaked :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks. Tested again this morning after some adjustments, the sound is definitely better.
BUT, still issues with bluetooth and my phone, Zenfone 7. Got in the car and phone told me it was connected to Android auto. Switched to Android auto and Google maps popped up and seemed OK except when I tried to set a route I got a message saying offline on the map. Also when I tried Spotify it said couldn't connect. Rebooted everything and changed to wired connection, this time it was OK, I listened to some UK radio to test the sound.
So looks like I'll be wired from now on :|
Another question, I switch off the car when using Android, when I restart the iDrive menu is default, is that normal? I don't mind it, will stop my wife getting confused when she drives it!
 
Does your phone function ok on its own in the same location? It sounds like either your phone signal isn't good enough, or as you say there is an issue with connection between your phone and the MMI unit - where did you put the aerial in the end?

I couldn't find any setting about 'starting' in MMI mode rather than iDrive - when I thought about it a bit further, as it usually takes a short while to get fully into e.g. Google maps I wouldn't actually want it to start with the MMI options menu as it looks a bit rubbish, so I'm happy with starting with iDrive then a quick press, should I want to, to then bring up Android Auto.
 
Timmyboybunter said:
Does your phone function ok on its own in the same location? It sounds like either your phone signal isn't good enough, or as you say there is an issue with connection between your phone and the MMI unit - where did you put the aerial in the end?

oks a bit rubbish, so I'm happy with starting with iDrive then a quick press, should I want to, to then bring up Android Auto.
Click to expand...

Yes the phone works perfectly well in the same location, it's connected to iDrive, maybe that's an issue?
The antenna is in the glovebox, and I left that open for testing. Wired it works perfectly, so I've reset BT on the unit and my phone to avoid nagging when I get in :D
 
From a fresh start the iDrive will start in the last used iDrive menu (Nav, Music, Radio etc) but not in the MMI setting as that is not an iDrive menu. So, yes you will always have to press and hold the MENU button to access it.

On the point of connection, then this is entierly down to the phone. Don't forget that the Zenfone 7 is not an officially recognised Wireless Android Auto phone, so there could still be problem with the wireless connection. Also it's always best to consult your box supplier and see if you are running the latest software as there are inprovements all the time, eg; since the latest update for mine my connection for my Samsung A70 is already connected by the time I've presed the MENU button, so it's improved it's conectivity.
 
AnubisZed said:
On the point of connection, then this is entierly down to the phone. Don't forget that the Zenfone 7 is not an officially recognised Wireless Android Auto phone, so there could still be problem with the wireless connection. Also it's always best to consult your box supplier and see if you are running the latest software as there are inprovements all the time, eg; since the latest update for mine my connection for my Samsung A70 is already connected by the time I've presed the MENU button, so it's improved it's conectivity.
Click to expand...

I tried my Zenfone 5 with Android 9, can't see that at all, 7 connects but temperamental, on the plus side the box can find my neighbours TV :D
I can live with wired, I'll contact the company anyway to check for updates.

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In my case the car almost always starts already in Apple CarPlay but on the odd occasion it starts in the native BMW Idrive screen and I have to hold and press the Menu button for 3 seconds but as I say usually always starts in CarPlay mode.

Not sure if there is a difference between Android Auto and CarPlay for this to happen?
 
Silverstar said:
In my case the car almost always starts already in Apple CarPlay but on the odd occasion it starts in the native BMW Idrive screen and I have to hold and press the Menu button for 3 seconds but as I say usually always starts in CarPlay mode.

Not sure if there is a difference between Android Auto and CarPlay for this to happen?
Click to expand...
Yeah now you mention it I think it did it on my box a couple of times my wife was in the car with her iPhone.
 
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