My current project - Retrofit iDrive

[LordLolzeye]

Thanks Dave! It helps a lot

I guess i'll try to change the cage on the CIC i've bought so it moves a little bit more to the front, if it works out, i'll let you guys know. If not, i'll just get a Z4 one

 

[LordLolzeye]

Hello,

As I'll be getting the "right" CIC headunit tomorrow I have two more (and hopefully final questions) if you could help me:
1. How did you know which wire from the iDrive controller cable to connect to the right cable from the android connector loom?
2. Do I require the donor car vin for anything (now or in the future)? I can't get hold of it as the car breaker dismantled the car around 6 years ago.

Thanks in advance

 

[AnubisZed]

Hello,

As I'll be getting the "right" CIC headunit tomorrow I have two more (and hopefully final questions) if you could help me:
1. How did you know which wire from the iDrive controller cable to connect to the right cable from the android connector loom?
2. Do I require the donor car vin for anything (now or in the future)? I can't get hold of it as the car breaker dismantled the car around 6 years ago.

Thanks in advance

OK, so fortunately I took plenty of photos of when I tried this the first time, and in relaying what I took compared to the proper wiring diagram I can tell you the following;

Pin 1, Red wire of the OE plug goes to Pin1, the Yellow wire, of the Android one.
Pin 2, Brown wire of the OE plug goes to Pin 2, the Black wire, of the Android plug.
Pin 3, Yellow/Brown of the OE plug goes to Pin 3, the Green/Black Stripe wire, of the Android plug.
Pin 4, Green/Silver wire of the OE plug goes to Pin 4, the Green wire, of the Android plug.

You won't need the VIN of the doner car, but you may need to reprogram the headunit to your VIN, but then you may not.

 

[AnubisZed]

OE plug, seen here soldered into the Android loom wires


And the Android plug after being cut off the loom

 

[LordLolzeye]

Thanks!

I’ll come back with news after I’ve finished setting up everything (last thing i’m waiting for is the small bracket for the idrive controller since the headunit which comes tomorrow then I can start the retrofit process)

 

[Roddy]

My MMI unit arrived this week (Andream) and as expected there is NO installation guide. I requested by mail and was sent something totally unrelated to the product I received :headbang:
So here goes. First task will be to run the wiring from front to back for the camera. The unit has the wires in the pic:
12V acc (red)
GND (black)
12V reverse camera (yellow)
Back reverse detect (purple)

And of course front and rear video input.
Do I need just the 12V and GND or the reverse detect too? I assumed that was done by the CAN BUS.

 

[AnubisZed]

My MMI unit arrived this week (Andream) and as expected there is NO installation guide. I requested by mail and was sent something totally unrelated to the product I received :headbang:
So here goes. First task will be to run the wiring from front to back for the camera. The unit has the wires in the pic:
12V acc (red) Ignore
GND (black) Run this one
12V reverse camera (yellow) Run this one
Back reverse detect (purple) Ignore

And of course front and rear video input.
Do I need just the 12V and GND or the reverse detect too? I assumed that was done by the CAN BUS.

Android wiring.jpg

Yes reverse detection is done via canbus, you just need some power for it.

As for an installation manual, apart from my video's, here is the manual for your unit ... https://www.dropbox.com/s/rko52k57yg7w4pk/CIC%20carplay%20mine.pdf?dl=0

 

[Roddy]

My MMI unit arrived this week (Andream) and as expected there is NO installation guide. I requested by mail and was sent something totally unrelated to the product I received :headbang:
So here goes. First task will be to run the wiring from front to back for the camera. The unit has the wires in the pic:
12V acc (red) Ignore
GND (black) Run this one
12V reverse camera (yellow) Run this one
Back reverse detect (purple) Ignore

And of course front and rear video input.
Do I need just the 12V and GND or the reverse detect too? I assumed that was done by the CAN BUS.

Android wiring.jpg

Yes reverse detection is done via canbus, you just need some power for it.

As for an installation manual, apart from my video's, here is the manual for your unit ... https://www.dropbox.com/s/rko52k57yg7w4pk/CIC%20carplay%20mine.pdf?dl=0

Thanks a lot for that, very helpful and I'm sure I'll find more puzzles!
On that topic... the manual shows LVDS in "connect to the screen", in your video you say the LVDS out connects to the original cable taken out of the head unit..... which is actually opposite? :?

Also the [360 exterior input] is not on this unit and isn't on the USB cable. Don't need it anyway. I notice references to NBT on that document, don't know what differences there are with CIC.

 

[AnubisZed]

Thanks a lot for that, very helpful and I'm sure I'll find more puzzles!
On that topic... the manual shows LVDS in "connect to the screen", in your video you say the LVDS out connects to the original cable taken out of the head unit..... which is actually opposite? :?

Also the [360 exterior input] is not on this unit and isn't on the USB cable. Don't need it anyway. I notice references to NBT on that document, don't know what differences there are with CIC.

Yeah, just use the manual as a guide to set up only, the information in my video is correct, the manual is incorrect!

Not sure why they have taken the 360 camera option out completely then :?

 

[AnubisZed]

OK, so an update for anyone still interested......

This has been very convoluted, it’s not so much been a problem as finding the time to actually sort it. And by “it” I mean the Bluetooth.
As stated above I fitted a used MULF, OK not in the conventional place of in the boot but above the glovebox as there was room for it and this saved me in removing all of the panels and running cables to the boot.

A bit of tech first….
On the iDrive system you either have a MULF or a Combox. In turn this then transmits the signals from the Bluetooth, USB and AUX to the headunit via the MOST fibre optic wires.
This can also be the same in a non-iDrive Z4 that has factory Bluetooth.

So when I fitted the MULF I re-routed the AUX and USB feeds to the position above the glovebox and used the factory fitted MOST lines (factory CD changer prep). As far as the AUX and USB these worked perfectly fine with the new iDrive system, but I couldn’t find a way to activate the Bluetooth no matter what research I did. Now as I had the MMI box it wasn’t really a priority as I had Bluetooth through there, but it was annoying as I wanted it all working correctly.

Anyway I took the plunge and bought a Combox and decided to try with that and see where it went. I rewire the connections from the MULF to a new connector for the Combox plugged it all in and tested it and I got AUX and USB working perfectly. I tried the Bluetooth and instead of “Please wait…” constantly it showed options for connecting a phone, so I connected it and low and behold Eureka!!! Not only do I now have fully working Bluetooth for calls but also Bluetooth music all working.
So I’ve also managed to do a software update as well (I managed to find the VIN of an identical Z4 with iDrive) and have updated that, and now also have album art in the USB music option.


So I’m now working on one last thing for it and that is to have reversing camera image on the factory PDC screen. Apparently this is an option in the E9x series, the option to alter the written code for it is present and today I tested the VO code to see if it would accept it and it did. So the next thing to do now is to get hold of an emulator for this and test it out with my current rear camera. All being well it’ll work perfectly. And yes I know I already have it with my MMI box, but I like a challenge and I like to see factory options all working.

So I'm a happy bunny having completed this now, which means I can finish off my iDrive retrofit video and pop it up on my YouTube channel. Also managed to film another video today while I was out there, so plenty of content coming soon

 

[Mojito]

Hi Dave.... and well done.. perseverance paid off
My iDrive retrofit all working well too. Cheers Kevin

 

[Jollyjoiner]

You sure do like to set your self a challenge Dave. So what do you prefer then, the android after market screen or the oem Idrive screen ?

 

[Ed.Straker]

Very impressive research work and determination...how much was the com box?

 

[AnubisZed]

Hi Dave.... and well done.. perseverance paid off
My iDrive retrofit all working well too. Cheers Kevin

Thanks Kevin, I'm pleased it's finally sorted

 

[AnubisZed]

You sure do like to set your self a challenge Dave. So what do you prefer then, the android after market screen or the oem Idrive screen ?

I like a challenge :rofl:
Personally for what I want out of it I prefer the OE screen with the MMI box as it gives me all that I use :driving:

 

[AnubisZed]

Very impressive research work and determination...how much was the com box?

Thanks
I managed to pick the combox up for £100, so not a bad price at all as I've seen them for a lot more than that.

 

[Ed.Straker]

Very impressive research work and determination...how much was the com box?

Thanks
I managed to pick the combox up for £100, so not a bad price at all as I've seen them for a lot more than that.

Noted thnx..still looking for a car with most options already fitted but watch your upgrade threads with interest

 

[AnubisZed]

UPDATE

Almost there with the iDrive install video, just had to do some more videoing for added value

So I've also got another project for it, well more of an add-on actually and that is factory DAB module, already coded and I've got all the parts just need to find the time to actually fit it (hopefully this coming Friday) and I'll have that option as well.
Apparently you can add the DAB module to any Z4 that has the MOST lines, you just need the parts and they are not expensive

 

[AnubisZed]

So, finally after months of delays I've got the retrofit video for the iDrive installation uploaded.
Hope you like it.....
https://youtu.be/wYQgNDj4Fac

 

[Mojito]

Hi Dave,
Ah... I've been looking forward to your idrive installation video Pleased to say my retrofit continues to work perfecctly... thanks to all your help and advice along the way