DIY Carplay/Android Auto Carsara Install and Setup Tips

[InnerBlueSkies]

Just throwing this out to you all. The AVIN will not fit without fabrication. Either that, or I have a unique dash board. That said, EXTREMELY HAPPY with the unit.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by riso1988

Just got my unit today - going to begin the install but a few things im still unclear of. First, I never got instructions. Is it supposed to come with some factory guide?

"E9X M3 Note: The iDrive extension cable does not work for everyone. I recommend removing it entirely, the Carsara box should pick up the iDrive signals directly from the Quadlock (labelled L#->B# for Canbus High, or A#->B# for Canbus Low.). The white jumper terminator loop (D#) should be removed entirely. Note: You will not able to code the CIC headunit after this change is made. If you wish to try the iDrive connector, connect it to your iDrive controller, then connect it to either A# or B# and see if your iDrive menus respond. Multiple people have responded that they may have faulty harnesses, but it is not clear and is not needed."

A little confused about the above - Planning to go the coding route for audio and will leave out the idrive extension cable. To do that, do I just disconnect the jumper (D) or do I need to change the can connections - i.e. connecting L#->B#? If so what about A# as there is only one B#?

Other thing is the backup camera. I currently have an aftermarket installed using an emulator based on this guide:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1005301

I was planning to remove the emulator and connect my wiring up to carsara. Do I need to do anything with the purple "Reverse Detect" wire or just wire up the red power, yellow 12V and ground to my video cable?

Thanks!

All previously covered in-depth, take the time to...

[mrvedit]

Originally Posted by riso1988

Just got my unit today - going to begin the install but a few things im still unclear of. First, I never got instructions. Is it supposed to come with some factory guide?

"E9X M3 Note: The iDrive extension cable does not work for everyone. I recommend removing it entirely, the Carsara box should pick up the iDrive signals directly from the Quadlock (labelled L#->B# for Canbus High, or A#->B# for Canbus Low.). The white jumper terminator loop (D#) should be removed entirely. Note: You will not able to code the CIC headunit after this change is made. If you wish to try the iDrive connector, connect it to your iDrive controller, then connect it to either A# or B# and see if your iDrive menus respond. Multiple people have responded that they may have faulty harnesses, but it is not clear and is not needed."

A little confused about the above - Planning to go the coding route for audio and will leave out the idrive extension cable. To do that, do I just disconnect the jumper (D) or do I need to change the can connections - i.e. connecting L#->B#? If so what about A# as there is only one B#?

Other thing is the backup camera. I currently have an aftermarket installed using an emulator based on this guide:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1005301

I was planning to remove the emulator and connect my wiring up to carsara. Do I need to do anything with the purple "Reverse Detect" wire or just wire up the red power, yellow 12V and ground to my video cable?

Thanks!

My unit did not come with instructions; well, maybe some useless diagram.

It is best to complete the programming before starting; or, if you already have the new harness installed, before removing the jumper D.
Since you have E92 M3, refer to my M3 specific step-by-step in post 382.

Sorry, I cannot help you with the emulator and backup camera.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by riso1988

Just got my unit today - going to begin the install but a few things im still unclear of. First, I never got instructions. Is it supposed to come with some factory guide?

"E9X M3 Note: The iDrive extension cable does not work for everyone. I recommend removing it entirely, the Carsara box should pick up the iDrive signals directly from the Quadlock (labelled L#->B# for Canbus High, or A#->B# for Canbus Low.). The white jumper terminator loop (D#) should be removed entirely. Note: You will not able to code the CIC headunit after this change is made. If you wish to try the iDrive connector, connect it to your iDrive controller, then connect it to either A# or B# and see if your iDrive menus respond. Multiple people have responded that they may have faulty harnesses, but it is not clear and is not needed."

A little confused about the above - Planning to go the coding route for audio and will leave out the idrive extension cable. To do that, do I just disconnect the jumper (D) or do I need to change the can connections - i.e. connecting L#->B#? If so what about A# as there is only one B#?

Other thing is the backup camera. I currently have an aftermarket installed using an emulator based on this guide:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1005301

I was planning to remove the emulator and connect my wiring up to carsara. Do I need to do anything with the purple "Reverse Detect" wire or just wire up the red power, yellow 12V and ground to my video cable?

Thanks!

You can use L# or A# -> B#, both should work. Remove the D# jumper entirely and save it along with the iDrive harness.

Remove the emulator entirely.

The backup camera wiring depends on your transmission and the details are listed in the first post for DCT or MT. You may also need to modify the reverse detect setting in the Carsara UI depending on which mode you will use.

[Crimson92]

Just installed mine today.

Idrive controller gave me trouble but sorted it.

Played with it for a bit. Pretty happy with the results.

Quick question for all. Did you lose the PDC beep?

[georgebmwM3]

Any install tips for fitting in wires or use of AUX without cable?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

Quick question for all. Did you lose the PDC beep?

Nope, had no issues with PDC sound afterwards.

Originally Posted by georgebmwM3

Any install tips for fitting in wires or use of AUX without cable?

Fitting in wires behind the CIC? Once you get everything tested and working look at where the cables are bunched up or tangled and work on tucking as many of them off to the side so that when you push the unit back they don't all get smooshed. Some small zip ties can help dress it neatly.

Use of aux without cable - not sure what you mean, the instructions for coding and getting aux via quadlock are in the how-to.

[vento1]

Hello, thank you to all those who have contributed this wealth of information.

I’m just starting to do this install and my first step has been to code the head unit using bimmercode and the instructions provided in the “How to”.

I searched for the following values:

CDMM_AUX_HU
aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_SINGLE
nicht_aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B
nicht_aktiv

Using the search function my cic module has: CDMM_AUX_HU and CDMM_USB_SINGLE. I do NOT have the CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B value. I DO however have CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE. Can I go ahead and code the 2 values I have and still have the Apple Car Play unit send audio directly to the head unit? rather than the aux cable provided. Should I also code the CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE value instead of the CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B I do not have?

Really appreciate any help - thx

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by vento1

Hello, thank you to all those who have contributed this wealth of information.

I’m just starting to do this install and my first step has been to code the head unit using bimmercode and the instructions provided in the “How to”.

I searched for the following values:

CDMM_AUX_HU
aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_SINGLE
nicht_aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B
nicht_aktiv

Using the search function my cic module has: CDMM_AUX_HU and CDMM_USB_SINGLE. I do NOT have the CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B value. I DO however have CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE. Can I go ahead and code the 2 values I have and still have the Apple Car Play unit send audio directly to the head unit? rather than the aux cable provided. Should I also code the CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE value instead of the CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B I do not have?

Really appreciate any help - thx

I would have to assume that the value you have and the one with the _0B suffix are the same and just modified because you're using the app not NCS Expert. Most likely you only need to change two settings anyways depending on your config. So change them as listed above and then just test that the audio works. One easy way to tell if the coding worked is your CIC should display "AUX Front" instead of "Aux In" (or whatever the standard text is) after the coding.

[vento1]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

I would have to assume that the value you have and the one with the _0B suffix are the same and just modified because you're using the app not NCS Expert. Most likely you only need to change two settings anyways depending on your config. So change them as listed above and then just test that the audio works. One easy way to tell if the coding worked is your CIC should display "AUX Front" instead of "Aux In" (or whatever the standard text is) after the coding.

Thanks Cyberdemon for the response. I did experiment and coded all 3 values as described but unfortunately I was not able to get it to work. (i had no AUX in the iDrive menu) I removed everything, coded back to stock and reinstalled and everything worked fine. (interestingly my iDrive displays AUX Front after coding back) Any idea why I was not successful with the code? Also I have seen on a couple of other threads where people have said that using the included white jumper you can code the CIC unit without having to remove the whole aftermarket harness. Anyone know if this is true and if so where on the aftermarket harness you plug the jumper in?

Thanks

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by vento1

Thanks Cyberdemon for the response. I did experiment and coded all 3 values as described but unfortunately I was not able to get it to work. (i had no AUX in the iDrive menu) I removed everything, coded back to stock and reinstalled and everything worked fine. (interestingly my iDrive displays AUX Front after coding back) Any idea why I was not successful with the code? Also I have seen on a couple of other threads where people have said that using the included white jumper you can code the CIC unit without having to remove the whole aftermarket harness. Anyone know if this is true and if so where on the aftermarket harness you plug the jumper in?

Thanks

If your iDrive says Aux front, that should be what you want.

There's not enough info here for me to give you a full response.

Now that it says Aux Front, try connecting the Carsara box and make sure Aux Front is selected as the audio input with the volume turned up to see if you are getting sound coming in. I didn't think it worked at first but then realized I had to reselect Aux Front from the IDrive in order to get it working. My shortcut key that was previous configured to Aux In no longer worked.

The iDrive harness and white Jumper should not be used, very few people indicated they could get it to work correctly, you are welcome to try but the success rate has been low and its one more cable to run. The configuration will be printed on the label on the harness for that one I don't remember off the top of my head.

[georgebmwM3]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

I would have to assume that the value you have and the one with the _0B suffix are the same and just modified because you're using the app not NCS Expert. Most likely you only need to change two settings anyways depending on your config. So change them as listed above and then just test that the audio works. One easy way to tell if the coding worked is your CIC should display "AUX Front" instead of "Aux In" (or whatever the standard text is) after the coding.

Cyberdemon,
Have you ever coded a ccc for aux with the Andream to work without a cable to center console? I used BimmerCode for my ccc system, but it’s very different from cic menus listed above. Mine has “not mounted” under “Aux” but the aux/usb works in my center console and Aux/usb is listed in my idrive. Thank you for your helpful posts.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by georgebmwM3

Cyberdemon,
Have you ever coded a ccc for aux with the Andream to work without a cable to center console? I used BimmerCode for my ccc system, but it’s very different from cic menus listed above. Mine has “not mounted” under “Aux” but the aux/usb works in my center console and Aux/usb is listed in my idrive. Thank you for your helpful posts.

No sorry, you can try asking in the general Android thread - trying to not get this thread too murked up with non-Carsara stuff, it'll make it less useful down the road.

[GTiceman]

Originally Posted by vento1

Thanks Cyberdemon for the response. I did experiment and coded all 3 values as described but unfortunately I was not able to get it to work. (i had no AUX in the iDrive menu) I removed everything, coded back to stock and reinstalled and everything worked fine. (interestingly my iDrive displays AUX Front after coding back) Any idea why I was not successful with the code? Also I have seen on a couple of other threads where people have said that using the included white jumper you can code the CIC unit without having to remove the whole aftermarket harness. Anyone know if this is true and if so where on the aftermarket harness you plug the jumper in?

Thanks

So I had a similar issue. My car says AUX Front but the unit only outputs via the AUX plug. 2009 build

[unrulyteach]

Has there been any software updates

[unrulyteach]

I've seen it been ask throughout the thread but no response. Is there any firmware updates? Or can any create a firmware like a couple of the guys on f30 post?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by unrulyteach

I've seen it been ask throughout the thread but no response. Is there any firmware updates? Or can any create a firmware like a couple of the guys on f30 post?

There is no response because the answer has been no. A few people have mentioned newer versions since the earliest units were shipped, but there are no known manufacturer listed firmware updates. You could consider reaching out to them for an update if something on your box wasn't working correctly.

The firmware images listed on the F30post thread seem to indicate that later builds of the software are no longer cross-compatible.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...16&postcount=3

[muniz_ri]

Originally Posted by unrulyteach

I've seen it been ask throughout the thread but no response. Is there any firmware updates? Or can any create a firmware like a couple of the guys on f30 post?

Can you post a pic of your mmi's software version screen?

[xraycat]

I’ve got an ‘11 E90 auto.

I installed the box following the Bimmertech video.

I’ve tried all three wiring methods: B—>A, B—>L, and with the iDrive extension cable. When holding MENU for a few seconds all three have the same result: when the button is released iDrive goes back to the main menu and the dial is unresponsive. It only responds after pressing the RADIO button.

I can’t figure out how to get the Carsara screen to launch.

[xraycat]

Originally Posted by xraycat

I’ve got an ‘11 E90 auto.

I installed the box following the Bimmertech video.

I’ve tried all three wiring methods: B—>A, B—>L, and with the iDrive extension cable. When holding MENU for a few seconds all three have the same result: when the button is released iDrive goes back to the main menu and the dial is unresponsive. It only responds after pressing the RADIO button.

I can’t figure out how to get the Carsara screen to launch.

Turns out I had the LVDS cables wrong. When I was holding MENU and iDrive was unresponsive it was because the controller was operating the box but I just couldn’t see it.

[unrulyteach]

Originally Posted by muniz_ri

Can you post a pic of your mmi's software version screen?

When i drive it again, Mickey Mouse broke in my driveway

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by muniz_ri

Can you post a pic of your mmi's software version screen?

Software version from my unit received Mar 2021...