Retrofitting CarPlay

[iamvanja]

Been toying with the idea of installing a CarPlay MMI box for months now since my BMW didn't come with it.

So far there seem to be 3 options:
Bimmertech - uses factory mic, not full screen (like OEM BMW), they have been promising full screen support to arrive in October but it never materialized

Unichip - needs extra mic, wide screen, better support apparently

Unique AD
Apparently also better support than Bimmertech, possibility of wireless coming next week (https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...423013&page=13)

Has anyone taken the plunge? Anyone in Phoenix area?
What is the experience?

[thedza]

following. would love to have carplay

[re2gie01]

i installed the unichip box in my gran coupe about a month ago.

i am very satisfied. waze, tunein, spotify, siri, etc all work flawlessly. it is full screen. and although it has a seperate mic, it works very well. installation was pretty easy also.

best $500 i spent on the car.

[iamvanja]

Nice! I am leaning towards the Unichip too since it’s the only full screen solution. External mic is a drawback, but most people say they don’t care about it once installed.

Where did you place the box? How/where did you route the USB and mic?

Thanks

[re2gie01]

There is a huge space between the air vents and the glove box, and that's where I placed the box. The usb is currently running just below the radio, and the mic is in the instrument cluster where it visually disappears.

I'll send some pics later.

[iamvanja]

Thanks! Ordered Unichip in the meantime! ��

[KauvSTi]

Originally Posted by re2gie01

There is a huge space between the air vents and the glove box, and that's where I placed the box. The usb is currently running just below the radio, and the mic is in the instrument cluster where it visually disappears.

I'll send some pics later.

Would love to see the pics and link on where to purchase the unichip

[iamvanja]

Here’s the link: http://www.unichip-tec.com
Use the chat as they will most likely offer you better price than on the website.

[iamvanja]

Originally Posted by re2gie01

i installed the unichip box in my gran coupe about a month ago.

My Unichip box already arrived!
Planning to do the operation this weekend. Was there a specific guide you were following for the installation? Unichip provided one was for the 5 series and the interiors aren’t the same.

[re2gie01]

Here some pics of my installation. I'm not OCD, so it works for me! Hope this helps.







Sorry for the YUUGE pics

[iamvanja]

Looks nice! Thanks for the photos. Was struggling to find the mic in the last photo
What guide were you following for the install?

[re2gie01]

Originally Posted by iamvanja

Looks nice! Thanks for the photos. Was struggling to find the mic in the last photo
What guide were you following for the install?

That means I did my job. I didn't want to route through the dash and disassemble/unsnap panels...

Regarding the guide, Carplay sent instructions, and they're pretty easy to follow. The only thing I missed initially was to disconnect the fiber optic cables from the OEM harness and plug them into the Carplay harness.

Also, I had to return the first box because they sent me an NBT box although i told them repeatedly my car was CIC. They didn't believe me.

In the end, I am a very happy camper!!

I've attached both the CIC and NBT installation instructions so this should take care of you.

CIC Instructions HERE
NBT Instructions HERE

[burkhacs]

Originally Posted by re2gie01

That means I did my job. I didn't want to route through the dash and disassemble/unsnap panels...

Regarding the guide, Carplay sent instructions, and they're pretty easy to follow. The only thing I missed initially was to disconnect the fiber optic cables from the OEM harness and plug them into the Carplay harness.

Also, I had to return the first box because they sent me an NBT box although i told them repeatedly my car was CIC. They didn't believe me.

In the end, I am a very happy camper!!

I've attached both the CIC and NBT installation instructions so this should take care of you.

CIC Instructions HERE
NBT Instructions HERE

Do you have the part number of what you ordered? I am trying to get on chat with them to make sure I have the right one and it keeps disconnecting me and I cant get a hold of them.

Thinking it might be this guy or maybe this guy??

Extra edit: I think I am NBT so I am not sure I need this info. Wish they were easier to get a hold of....

[iamvanja]

Originally Posted by re2gie01

That means I did my job. I didn't want to route through the dash and disassemble/unsnap panels...

You did a great job. You’re right in the way that it virtually disappears in that position.

[iamvanja]

Did the installation this weekend!
Hardest part was finding the right place for the box and removing the screen.
It all works great, but there is a screen alignment issue that drives me nuts (see photos). All in all, super happy and hope to work out the alignment issue. Feels very integrated. For example, phone and media buttons maps yo phone and apple maps apps when inside CarPlay. While putting into reverse does bring up the camera, i often manually turn on the 360 camera when i am oulling i to a parking spot. Unfortunately, when in CarPlay, it doesn’t work.

Looks like photo upload doesn’t work from iOS. I’ll upload then later.

[iamvanja]

burkhacs Check if your system is CIC or NBT. Most likely it is the first one (NBT). Give them your VIN. You can contact them at sales@unichip-tec.com (you’ll probably get a better deal if you contact them vs ordering directly from the site).

[burkhacs]

Originally Posted by iamvanja

burkhacs Check if your system is CIC or NBT. Most likely it is the first one (NBT). Give them your VIN. You can contact them at sales@unichip-tec.com (you’ll probably get a better deal if you contact them vs ordering directly from the site).

Thanks for the info and thanks for the email address my man!

[re2gie01]

Originally Posted by iamvanja

burkhacs Check if your system is CIC or NBT. Most likely it is the first one (NBT). Give them your VIN. You can contact them at sales@unichip-tec.com (you’ll probably get a better deal if you contact them vs ordering directly from the site).

Agreed!

Also, try online chat around 9pm EST. They are usually on and pretty responsive. I had most conversations with them between 9pm-11pm EST.

[F06msportmia]

Originally Posted by iamvanja

burkhacs Check if your system is CIC or NBT. Most likely it is the first one (NBT). Give them your VIN. You can contact them at sales@unichip-tec.com (you'll probably get a better deal if you contact them vs ordering directly from the site).

Hey how do I know what system I have aside from the VIN? It's a 2014 GC F06.

Liking this upgrade a lot.

Thanks,

[re2gie01]

2014 should be nbt. Look at the purple connector pins on the back of your radio and/or screen and see which one it matches from the instructions I posted previously.

[FBMWWINS]

Originally Posted by F06msportmia

Hey how do I know what system I have aside from the VIN? It's a 2014 GC F06.

Liking this upgrade a lot.

Thanks,

According to this guide (no 100% accuracy guaranteed) - F06/F12/F13 models produced from March 2013 onwards should be fitted with NBT.

https://www.3ww.bimmer-tech.net/blog...cic-nbt-nbtevo


You can verify yourself by going into your current map version of your navigation system. The version of the maps will then show something like:

Road Map North America Next
NBT_XXXXXXXXX

[re2gie01]

I have 2013 and 2013 is CIC for the Gran coupe.