My current project - Retrofit iDrive

[Deepseaskateboard]

Another update**

I've now listed the "wrong" headunit on eBay and have bought the correct version which should be with me in a few days.
The cage should also be here in a few days as well.

I've checked over the flip-up screen, that I got for free, and cannot find what is wrong with it. I did do a fault code check and it stated that there was a fault in the video input cable. The cable I have from the headunit to the screen works OK as it displays on the Android screen, so I checked out both fly cables on the screen and they both have through signals with my meter, so it looks like something is wrong internally with the screen.
Not to worry it didn't cost me anything so no lose. So I'm now actively searching for a working flip-up screen and have decided to remove the Android screen and fit a wireless CarPLay/Android Auto adaptor box instead. I'm currently pursuing two screens to see what the best price is.

Once complete it should look something like this...
b59vGiKh.jpg

This is the dream

 

[AnubisZed]

OK a quick update;

The cage is arriving today.
And I've ordered the headunit for the e89 which should also be arriving today.

I've bitten the bullet and have sold my Android screen and bought an OEM flip-up screen and have also ordered the add-on box for CarPLay / Android Auto so I'll have the new features that I actually use and then everything else will look OEM.

I'm also probably going to have to get an ICOM to get the bluetooth working properly, but we'll see.

That's it for now, I'll post some pictures when the new items are here

 

[tintoverano]

I'm also probably going to have to get an ICOM to get the bluetooth working properly, but we'll see.

mine is on the way, didn't buy genuine - I will see, if it works

you could wait till I figure out, as it is cheaper than the original

it should get it in a month or so

 

[AnubisZed]

Right so everything is now here, and I went for a test fitting this morning.

The new (correct) headunit...


The new screen...


and the new cage...


And then the test fitting....




So everything went well. It's a Japanese imported headunit, but that doesn't matter as as soon as I coded it to the car it changed over to ECE (Europe).
So Saturday morning I'll be fully installing it and videoing everything ready for my YouTube channel.

 

[bluetooth]

Looking forward to seeing the report on youtube Dave.....mind your knuckles....but I think you know where all the sharp bits are by now....

 

[AnubisZed]

Well after a few hours work yesterday I managed to fully install the full iDrive system

I'd already installed the MULF and Bluetooth antenna a couple of weeks ago for testing purposes so that was already set up. ** Note - The OEM MULF does not sit on top of the glovebox, it is suppose to sit in the boot to the left of the pass-through hatch, but that entails taking a lot more panels off for no gain whats-so-ever, and there is space above the glovebox, so why not That also included the AUX and USB inputs from the centre console. With this I also sorted the problem with the glovebox USB not working so that is now fully operational as well.
So a lot of the dash panel had to come out so that I could get to the radio cage, this was a bit of a nightmare really as I was trying to avoid taking too much out, but I managed it in the end with a bit of bending (parts of the dash as wel as myself!!).
This is the stage just as I'd removed the old cage and before I'd put the new one in...


Here we go with the first full test run of the system running...


Then I placed everything back in as it should go, along with a final test run to make sure it was working properly...




I've been informed that my Apple CarPlay/Android Auto box is now in the country and with Royal Mail for delivery, so I should have it in the next couple of days. Then I've got the fun of trying to get it fitted behind the headunit, with very little space!

 

[Timmyboybunter]

Amazing progress, love reading threads like this.

2 quickies:

1) is that the later iDrive controller unit?

2) my head unit is different, has buttons 1 to 8. Just wondering why!

Still waiting for a heated wheel to come up for sale so I can be your Guinea pig

 

[Silverstar]

I've been informed that my Apple CarPlay/Android Auto box is now in the country and with Royal Mail for delivery, so I should have it in the next couple of days. Then I've got the fun of trying to get it fitted behind the headunit, with very little space!

Excellent work so far! Could you put the CarPlay box behind / above the glovebox assuming there is still space after the MULF unit?

 

[tintoverano]

Dave, the bad news is that there's enough room behind the head unit, but you knew that already

congrats

 

[AnubisZed]

Amazing progress, love reading threads like this.

2 quickies:

1) is that the later iDrive controller unit?

2) my head unit is different, has buttons 1 to 8. Just wondering why!

Still waiting for a heated wheel to come up for sale so I can be your Guinea pig

Thank you, there's more to come 8)

1) No, it's just a big button from Ebay that fits over the original. The centre cap was scratched so I got this as I quite like the bigger button.
2) The reason the front buttons are different is because this is a Japanese imported headunit, I wasn't aware of this at first, but it's working ok for now. Despite not being able to sort the maps out, not bothered as I'll be having Google Maps from my phone on the screen shortly. The buttons can all be programmed just the same as a uk unit so no problem there. I may try to clone a uk hard drive that should sort the problem, but looks like a bit of work to do, we'll see

 

[AnubisZed]

I've been informed that my Apple CarPlay/Android Auto box is now in the country and with Royal Mail for delivery, so I should have it in the next couple of days. Then I've got the fun of trying to get it fitted behind the headunit, with very little space!

Excellent work so far! Could you put the CarPlay box behind / above the glovebox assuming there is still space after the MULF unit?

I probably will put it there as the loom is long enough and there us room

 

[Nictrix]

I am quite amazed by your determination in doing this and well done.
I have thought about this but after seeing the amount of work needed to complete I dont think I would attempt it. I wouldnt mind doing it if it was just a case of sourcing all the parts and once fitted it worked but I couldnt mess about with coding.

 

[AnubisZed]

**Another update**

So the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto box arrived yesterday so I installed it. It was relatively easy to install as it is basically Plug-n-Play. It's just a case of removing the headunit, plugging the new loom sections into the car loom and then finding somewhere to place the box. As my MULF is on top of the glovebox it was sensible to place the new box in the same location as there was plenty of new loom to do that.
I also hooked my old reversing camera up to it and got that set up as well (I say old as I now have a new replacement to go on the number plate location as a surround instead of the numberplaet light hole I curently have).

Someone on another forum mentioned that I have only 6 numbered buttons on the front of the headunit and asked why was that. Well it's because the headunit is a Japanese import one. When I bought it I didn't realise this, but upon checking found out, no big problem, I thought, as I'll simply change it to Euro maps. Errmmm, no, apparently you can't do this with Japanese headunits, you can with any other country but not these ones, well not without major surgery to the hard drive. So as I want this all to be working correctly I'm now sending it back and getting my money back on it. I've managed to locate another (UK) headunit which will be with me tomorrow, so that will just go straight in and be fine with a map update (if it needs it) which I can do without any bother at all :wink:

It works perfectly with my wifes iPhone, in wireless mode and also with my Samsung A70, also in wireless mode, which I'm very happy about. If I'm honest I think I prefer the CarPlay screen to the Android Auto screen view, it just seems a better layout.
All controls work, you can use the iDrive controller to move about the various screens and also the steering wheel track skip buttons work too.
So here are some photos of the new screen, alas only in Android Auto mode as I only had my phone with me at the time....



And here is the reversing camera view, it even shows the correct Z4 picture for the PDC (alas I don't yet have my OEM PDC installed so it's just showing full coverage)

 

[sammyz]

Incredible skills and knowledge
Would love to upgrade my screen like this!

 

[Silverstar]

Is your CarPlay wireless? can you connect via bluetooth to both the CarPlay MMI box and to the BMW phone bluetooth at the same time? also what is the call quality like for phone calls when in CarPlay? I ask because my mate recently had this type of box fitted to his Mercedes although his is a wired model. If he is connected via bluetooth to the Mercedes Command and connected via cable to the CarPlay box at the same time, he can't get any audio through the car when in CarPlay he has to switch off the bluetooth connection to the car for it to work. Also I noticed that the call quality for the phone in CarPlay mode wasn't great.

 

[Anonymous]

Great work..out of interest you referred to acquiring an ICOM interface to do some of the coding...could you not do it with the old USB/DCAN type connector?

 

[clarker63]

**Another update**

great work indeed... I'm very impressed. Although it looked a nightmare when you took the dash apart.. hopefully no squeaks from the dash after that!

Now all you need to do is swap out the manual gearbox for the DCT, and upgrade to the 3litre... surely that's all just coding work :rofl:

 

[R.E92]

Great work..out of interest you referred to acquiring an ICOM interface to do some of the coding...could you not do it with the old USB/DCAN type connector?

He needs to program the MULF which lives on the MOST bus. The normal K+DCAN cable can only communicate on the CAN network.

The ICOM unit has multiple heads which give it the ability to connect to the MOST bus in the car.

 

[Anonymous]

Great work..out of interest you referred to acquiring an ICOM interface to do some of the coding...could you not do it with the old USB/DCAN type connector?

He needs to program the MULF which lives on the MOST bus. The normal K+DCAN cable can only communicate on the CAN network.

The ICOM unit has multiple heads which give it the ability to connect to the MOST bus in the car.

Thank you..

 

[AnubisZed]

Incredible skills and knowledge
Would love to upgrade my screen like this!

Thank you I'm learning all the time