Question for those who have retrofitted carplay/Android auto

najnad · 08-22-2021, 07:57 AM

I am considering getting one of the units to retrofit carplay/Android auto after a drive yesterday that the BMW nav traffic info failed horribly in telling me about traffic until it was too late. One of the things that has discouraged me to this point is that all the units I have seen require a cable running to the aux port for the audio to come through. Are there any work arounds for this to more seamlessly integrate the retrofit? Will be in a 2011 X3 35i running CIC. Thanks

pungo · 08-22-2021, 08:36 AM

If you're talking about the MMI box, there's a lot of info here, not sure about the aux cable.

Fodaski55 · 08-22-2021, 08:45 AM

I would check out the Bimmertech web site. You can enter your vin numbers through there site to confirm compatibility and choose your software upgrade. I used them to upgrade/ install the upgrade to utilize the features of my apple iPhone

burningmango · 08-22-2021, 01:53 PM

Hello! I've retrofitted a wireless Apple CarPlay MMI box from ebay, I know it's currently out of stock but from my experience with this specific box is really good.

It does require a connection to your AUX port for any audio output coming from the MMI box, and frankly, the audio quality isn't that great. At higher volumes, audio tends to start clipping at high frequencies. I've tried messing with the EQ levels (through the MMI box and iDrive) and made it more bearable but it still isn't good as Bluetooth audio coming straight from my phone.

But! You can still connect your iPhone to the factory iDrive's Blueooth and CarPlay at the same time and have just your phone audio go through iDrive and CarPlay visuals/map navigation on the screen!

The advantage of this is you get to keep your song next/previous controls from the steering wheel and song info in the cluster. And you get to keep the clarity of the music going through your speakers.

There are a few caveats with this method though. First, when you're using navigation, you will not get any voice prompts if you're playing music through Bluetooth. The same goes for any notification sounds. Whenever you get a text message and interact with it using CarPlay, it will somtimes play through Bluetooth as a phone call, or in other cases, it will play through the MMI box therefore not hearing it. This also applies to talking to Siri.

evilchargerfan · 08-24-2021, 03:49 PM

I recently installed a "road top" mmi box in my bmw i3

I did not have to run a line to aux

Everything is working just fine

guyman101 · 12-06-2021, 11:05 AM

I recently installed a RoadTop MMI box in my 2019 X3.
The unit came with an aux to usb adapter, but I did not use it. Instead, I coded AUX into my Idrive (NBT EVO ID6) by using bimmercode and a Veepeak OBDII scanner. The audio just gets routed to the car's Aux but there is no physical connection to it. Initial audio quality was not great, but turned out OK after I tinkered around with the EQ settings of the MMI box.

Initial setup for wired and wireless carplay was seamless.
Android Auto was a bit more challenging, using a Samsung Galaxy S21. It took a reboot of the unit (long press on IDrive's Back button) for it to recognize the phone when connected via usb. Wireless AA was extremely laggy at 1st, but got solved after changing the wi-fi channel from 6 to 36.
Steering wheel buttons and scrolling wheel integrate very well with Carplay or AA.

Hope this helps.

08-22-2021, 07:57 AM	#1
najnad General of the Space Forces 171 Rep 721 Posts Drives: 11 X3 35i M-sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Elkridge, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW X3 x40i [0.00] 2011 BMW X3 35i M-s ... [0.00] 2017 BMW 330 GT (Wi ... [0.00]	Question for those who have retrofitted carplay/Android auto I am considering getting one of the units to retrofit carplay/Android auto after a drive yesterday that the BMW nav traffic info failed horribly in telling me about traffic until it was too late. One of the things that has discouraged me to this point is that all the units I have seen require a cable running to the aux port for the audio to come through. Are there any work arounds for this to more seamlessly integrate the retrofit? Will be in a 2011 X3 35i running CIC. Thanks __________________ Current: 2020 X5 x40i M-Sport, Arctic Grey Metallic / Ivory White, Executive Package, Luggage Compartment Package, Integral Active Steering, Tow Package, Parking Assist Package, Driving Assist Package, M-Sport brakes, Tux Mats
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-22-2021, 08:36 AM	#2
pungo Colonel 880 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 x35i [0.00] 2001 BMW 525i [0.00] 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [8.76]	If you're talking about the MMI box, there's a lot of info here, not sure about the aux cable. Last edited by pungo; 08-22-2021 at 09:00 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-22-2021, 08:45 AM	#3
Fodaski55 Enlisted Member 10 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 28i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: connecticut iTrader: (0)	Apple Car play retrofit I would check out the Bimmertech web site. You can enter your vin numbers through there site to confirm compatibility and choose your software upgrade. I used them to upgrade/ install the upgrade to utilize the features of my apple iPhone
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-22-2021, 01:53 PM	#4
burningmango New Member 13 Rep 27 Posts Drives: BMW F25 X3 35i, E46 330Ci Join Date: May 2021 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Hello! I've retrofitted a wireless Apple CarPlay MMI box from ebay, I know it's currently out of stock but from my experience with this specific box is really good. It does require a connection to your AUX port for any audio output coming from the MMI box, and frankly, the audio quality isn't that great. At higher volumes, audio tends to start clipping at high frequencies. I've tried messing with the EQ levels (through the MMI box and iDrive) and made it more bearable but it still isn't good as Bluetooth audio coming straight from my phone. But! You can still connect your iPhone to the factory iDrive's Blueooth and CarPlay at the same time and have just your phone audio go through iDrive and CarPlay visuals/map navigation on the screen! The advantage of this is you get to keep your song next/previous controls from the steering wheel and song info in the cluster. And you get to keep the clarity of the music going through your speakers. There are a few caveats with this method though. First, when you're using navigation, you will not get any voice prompts if you're playing music through Bluetooth. The same goes for any notification sounds. Whenever you get a text message and interact with it using CarPlay, it will somtimes play through Bluetooth as a phone call, or in other cases, it will play through the MMI box therefore not hearing it. This also applies to talking to Siri.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-24-2021, 03:49 PM	#5
evilchargerfan Lieutenant 269 Rep 595 Posts Drives: 2012 F25 (N55), 2014 I01 (REX) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: San Diego / Menifee iTrader: (1)	I recently installed a "road top" mmi box in my bmw i3 I did not have to run a line to aux Everything is working just fine
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-06-2021, 11:05 AM	#6
guyman101 New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: BMW X3 Xdrive30i Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I recently installed a RoadTop MMI box in my 2019 X3. The unit came with an aux to usb adapter, but I did not use it. Instead, I coded AUX into my Idrive (NBT EVO ID6) by using bimmercode and a Veepeak OBDII scanner. The audio just gets routed to the car's Aux but there is no physical connection to it. Initial audio quality was not great, but turned out OK after I tinkered around with the EQ settings of the MMI box. Initial setup for wired and wireless carplay was seamless. Android Auto was a bit more challenging, using a Samsung Galaxy S21. It took a reboot of the unit (long press on IDrive's Back button) for it to recognize the phone when connected via usb. Wireless AA was extremely laggy at 1st, but got solved after changing the wi-fi channel from 6 to 36. Steering wheel buttons and scrolling wheel integrate very well with Carplay or AA. Hope this helps.
	Appreciate 1 evilchargerfan269.00 Quote