DIY Carplay/Android Auto Carsara Install and Setup Tips

Cyberdemon wrote

Is the correct source selected? IE are you expecting sound but aux isn't defaulted to on?

Have you tried forgetting the IDrive Bluetooth audio entirely?

bighindu79 wrote

Out of curiosity I've been using Android Auto instead of CarPlay for the past month. I am posting my experience here for any android only person considering this retrofit.

Overall, Apple's implementation is far superior in my opinion but with the recent updates to AA (i.e. AA split screen for screens 7"+) the experience is getting better.

My carsara installation:

1. Not using the iDrive harness. Connected carsara connection A to B.
2. Coded to get AUX audio through quadlock.

What I don't Like:

1. When I get in the car and start it up. AA is slower to startup compared to CarPlay. Sometimes, it would take up to a minute to startup. During this time, the iDrive screen would be pitch black. Sometimes, it would even timeout connecting and I would have to go on the phone to restart the connection. Never had any of these issues with CarPlay.
2. Once it started up, I had to hold the Menu button down to switch over to the carsara and then confirm the stupid android prompt to start AA and then the AA dashboard would show up. Again, never had to do any of this with CarPlay.
3. I can't navigate the UI with the iDrive menu,option, and back buttons. I have to use the IDrive controller wheel to navigate and select. This is the most annoying part for me as this really makes navigating cumbersome especially when you want to switch to another app or navigate within an app. Again, in CarPlay all buttons work to navigate around and makes the experience that much better.

Other than the issues mentioned above, I think AA with Carsara works just fine. I don't have any sound or mic issues. Google assist responds with the steering wheel button. AA has better wallpaper options if that's something you care about. The new split screen update looks pretty good on our 8.8" CIC screen but probably would look better with the newer wider screens. Apple's dashboard is still far superior as it uses the screen real estate more efficiently.

With that, I think I'll be going back to CarPlay as my default and keep tinkering as AA releases updates. I'll post back with any new findings.

GTiceman wrote

bighindu79 wrote

Out of curiosity I've been using Android Auto instead of CarPlay for the past month. I am posting my experience here for any android only person considering this retrofit.

Overall, Apple's implementation is far superior in my opinion but with the recent updates to AA (i.e. AA split screen for screens 7"+) the experience is getting better.

My carsara installation:

1. Not using the iDrive harness. Connected carsara connection A to B.
2. Coded to get AUX audio through quadlock.

What I don't Like:

1. When I get in the car and start it up. AA is slower to startup compared to CarPlay. Sometimes, it would take up to a minute to startup. During this time, the iDrive screen would be pitch black. Sometimes, it would even timeout connecting and I would have to go on the phone to restart the connection. Never had any of these issues with CarPlay.
2. Once it started up, I had to hold the Menu button down to switch over to the carsara and then confirm the stupid android prompt to start AA and then the AA dashboard would show up. Again, never had to do any of this with CarPlay.
3. I can't navigate the UI with the iDrive menu,option, and back buttons. I have to use the IDrive controller wheel to navigate and select. This is the most annoying part for me as this really makes navigating cumbersome especially when you want to switch to another app or navigate within an app. Again, in CarPlay all buttons work to navigate around and makes the experience that much better.

Other than the issues mentioned above, I think AA with Carsara works just fine. I don't have any sound or mic issues. Google assist responds with the steering wheel button. AA has better wallpaper options if that's something you care about. The new split screen update looks pretty good on our 8.8" CIC screen but probably would look better with the newer wider screens. Apple's dashboard is still far superior as it uses the screen real estate more efficiently.

With that, I think I'll be going back to CarPlay as my default and keep tinkering as AA releases updates. I'll post back with any new findings.

I think this is a super helpful post and I have never used CarPlay, nor do I plan on getting an iPhone, but the comparison is great.

What stupid AA pop are you getting? I have never had a pop on AA that I had to click through.

I do hate that I have to hit the menu button for three seconds to get the Carsara box up, are you saying that you never need to do that with CarPlay? For some reason I never had to do that with AA when I first installed but need to all the time now.

I also tried to code the quad lock but for some reason I only have CDMM_AUX_HU and CDMM_USB_AUDIO_SINGLE but coding them didn't do anything it seemed.

bighindu79 wrote

when I get in the car and start it up and switch to the carsara screen, there is a pop-up waiting asking to confirm to connect to AA with my Android phone's name (Galaxy S9) displayed. I have to press the idrive wheel down to confirm and thats when the AA dashboard shows up. Not sure if there is a setting to disable this confirmation. if there is please do share.

to your second question, yes, when using Carplay, as soon as I get in and start the car the carplay dashboard is up and ready to go. No holding down menu button to switch over or confirm any pop-up.

GTiceman wrote

bighindu79 wrote

when I get in the car and start it up and switch to the carsara screen, there is a pop-up waiting asking to confirm to connect to AA with my Android phone's name (Galaxy S9) displayed. I have to press the idrive wheel down to confirm and thats when the AA dashboard shows up. Not sure if there is a setting to disable this confirmation. if there is please do share.

to your second question, yes, when using Carplay, as soon as I get in and start the car the carplay dashboard is up and ready to go. No holding down menu button to switch over or confirm any pop-up.

I tried looking through settings and didn't see anything, might be a Samsung specific item. Sorry can't help with that but perhaps I could look for my old S8 and see if it happens on that device.

FloorBeamer wrote

Hey guys,

Great to read all your tips & tricks for installing and using the Carsara system.
I have a E91 LCI CIC Navi Pro and was planning on installing the Carsara (or Kremersino) unit


I contacted the Carsara store with the following questions:

1. Does the CarPlay menu start automatically when starting the car?
Answer Carsara: “No, always have to push the menu

2. does your system support my rear radar when using an after market camera?
Answer Carsara: support this function for cars after year 2013

3. Does the CarPlay system automatically switch to OEM radar when reversing?
Answer Carsara: if no camera, it will not show parking radar when you reverse when screen is in carplay

What are your findings on this?

I asked Kremersino the same questions, and the do support al the options I asked about.

Thanks in advance ! 🙏

Cyberdemon wrote

FloorBeamer wrote

Hey guys,

Great to read all your tips & tricks for installing and using the Carsara system.
I have a E91 LCI CIC Navi Pro and was planning on installing the Carsara (or Kremersino) unit


I contacted the Carsara store with the following questions:

1. Does the CarPlay menu start automatically when starting the car?
Answer Carsara: "No, always have to push the menu

2. does your system support my rear radar when using an after market camera?
Answer Carsara: support this function for cars after year 2013

3. Does the CarPlay system automatically switch to OEM radar when reversing?
Answer Carsara: if no camera, it will not show parking radar when you reverse when screen is in carplay

What are your findings on this?

I asked Kremersino the same questions, and the do support al the options I asked about.

Thanks in advance ! 🙏

1. My car will switch to CarPlay as long as it detects my phone and I was using carplay last.

2. This works fine for all CIC cars. My 2011 with camera displays the PDC sensors.

3. Can't confirm this because I have a camera. If I go into reverse before the box has completed booting then I will still get the standard BMW PDC screen.

gazosnic wrote

Had my Carsara initially working now getting red screen when switching over. Checked connections and the normal drive screen works. Any ideas?

Cyberdemon wrote

1. My car will switch to CarPlay as long as it detects my phone and I was using carplay last.

2. This works fine for all CIC cars. My 2011 with camera displays the PDC sensors.

3. Can't confirm this because I have a camera. If I go into reverse before the box has completed booting then I will still get the standard BMW PDC screen.

alwaysgoing wrote

Hey guys, I'm new here and proud new owner of a '13 M3 E92!

Couple extra tips I found:

-To adjust gps/waze guidance volume, go to the audio settings of the unit and change "Alter Volume". My settings below:



-EQ is a work in progress, but I did realize that leaving the unit EQ standard and adjusting on iDrive is way better and with less distortion:







Cheers!

smokinjoe64 wrote

Good tips/observations!

Curious? My understanding was the CarPlay unit was independent of iDrive with CarPlay audio not impacted by iDrive settings [i.e. bass, treble, eq].

Appreciate to hear more insights on this topic...

Cyberdemon wrote

The Carplay box has its own EQ, but it is not independent.

Your BMW treats the Carplay box as an aux audio source. The output of that source is driven by the Carplay module.

I found that leaving the BMW EQ set a way that made my other audio sources sound good meant the Carplay box required it's own tweaks. If you only use Carplay as an audio source then maybe that's not a concern.

alwaysgoing wrote

Hey guys, I'm new here and proud new owner of a '13 M3 E92!

Couple extra tips I found:

-To adjust gps/waze guidance volume, go to the audio settings of the unit and change "Alter Volume". My settings below:



-EQ is a work in progress, but I did realize that leaving the unit EQ standard and adjusting on iDrive is way better and with less distortion:







Cheers!

satianv wrote

Just wondering if anyone is having issues with the CarPlay module sometimes connects quickly ie as soon as you start the car, other times it either takes a long time or does not connect at all.

It seems to be fine when you do a manual "CarPlay" off-on from the iPhone settings, it connects almost instantly.

Also does anyone know what the latest Firmware / MCU version is for Carsara?. Ta

FloorBeamer wrote

Hey guys,


I still can not choose between de Carsara and the Kremersino.

So one more question to finally help me to make a decision:

Is it possible to mirror you (iPhone) screen wireless to the Carsara unit?
The Kremersino claims it can, see this video at 07:55.

Hope you have the answer!
Thanks in advance!

Cyberdemon wrote

Yes it's possible, my personal experience for the Carsara though is it is a bit of a pain in the ass because of how the iPhone handles hopping between the two. If you want to frequently switch between mirroring and Carplay it's not ideal, but remember that these boxes are almost all using the same basic GPLink architecture so the capabilities are all basically the same with some slightly different UI.

In my case it was easier to pair my Android device when I wanted to watch a video and leave Carplay enabled by default than it was to forget the carplay settings and switch to Airplay.