Bluetooth Audio Output for Carplay

[E92Adan]

I have a 2009 e92 and I guess aux is the only way to output audio? I have a CarPlay head unit and because I can’t play music through it with Bluetooth I’m stuck using the aux cord and it’s kinda annoying. Is there a way to be able to output audio via Bluetooth with some type of device so I can actually use the CarPlay with Bluetooth audio?

[Thumbie]

Possibly, but unfortunately there is no easy answer. These cars were built right when bluetooth streaming was first becoming popular so some have it (my 2011 does) and some do not. And those that have it, some are good and some are not. The hardware itself is outdated now and borderline obsolete. There seems to be no easy answer as to the best way to connect phones to these cars. I went the mr12volt route, which I like, but it has it's own limitations.

Do you know what CarPlay unit you have? I'm really surprised you can't bluetooth to it. How do you connect to it?

[RocketyMan]

Do some research. Pre-LCI have a MULF--which is not "bluetooth streaming." This is only to connect your phone for phone-calling purposes. Personally I think this is a bit of a misnomer and is very easily to confuse.

Vehicles with a combox (like LCI with the appropriate options) do have the bluetooth streaming (barring coding). There are many threads on converting CCC to CIC with combox. I've done this myself and was very successful with it.

[E92Adan]

Originally Posted by Thumbie

Possibly, but unfortunately there is no easy answer. These cars were built right when bluetooth streaming was first becoming popular so some have it (my 2011 does) and some do not. And those that have it, some are good and some are not. The hardware itself is outdated now and borderline obsolete. There seems to be no easy answer as to the best way to connect phones to these cars. I went the mr12volt route, which I like, but it has it's own limitations.

Do you know what CarPlay unit you have? I'm really surprised you can't bluetooth to it. How do you connect to it?

I can bluetooth to my CarPlay but I can’t output audio

[Thumbie]

How does your carplay device output audio? Most of them just run a line to the aux input

[Z K]

I think this would be a nice option if aftermarket carplay units could output bluetooth. Then you can avoid the aux input.

[E92Adan]

Originally Posted by Thumbie

How does your carplay device output audio? Most of them just run a line to the aux input

It is aux, but I would like to do it with Bluetooth instead so I don’t have the cord dangling lol

[Thumbie]

Ah I see. That might be too much bluetooth. What Carplay unit do you have?

[ygoz]

No - your unit outputs audio over aux and that's the only way for it to output audio.

If you are just worried about the cord you could remove some panels and hide it - but the audio quality is not ideal.

There is a Mr12Volt carplay solution that utilises the cars MOST bus instead of aux - which is an optical multimedia bus most german cars use to send audio/video.

[Thumbie]

Originally Posted by ygoz

No - your unit outputs audio over aux and that's the only way for it to output audio.

If you are just worried about the cord you could remove some panels and hide it - but the audio quality is not ideal.

There is a Mr12Volt carplay solution that utilises the cars MOST bus instead of aux - which is an optical multimedia bus most german cars use to send audio/video.

^ this


I went with mr12volt. I am a fan.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Thumbie

^ this


I went with mr12volt. I am a fan.

The Mr12volt is not without issues. I've been following the thread and there are bugs people are working with. But that solution may have the best audio out of all the aftermarket add-ons because it uses Canbus.

My M3 is a low mileage weekend car so I just use my phone for navigation and audio over bluetooth. It works fine.

[ygoz]

Originally Posted by Z K

The Mr12volt is not without issues. I've been following the thread and there are bugs people are working with. But that solution may have the best audio out of all the aftermarket add-ons because it uses Canbus.

My M3 is a low mileage weekend car so I just use my phone for navigation and audio over bluetooth. It works fine.

The bugs are minor compared to other carplay units. I had the cheapo AliExpress units and now have the Mr12V, there are some microphone quality issues - but i put mine in the OE microphone spot, and its OK, not perfect, but i don't take many calls in the car - same issues exist on other units.

Connection issues are minor on start/stop exist - but also existed on the cheap units, and were worse. Overall, this is the best solution apart from retrofitting NBT Evo, which is ultra expensive and complex.

Also - the audio quality has nothing to do with CAN bus - this is a control network for car modules to communicate, its due to the MOST bus - this is an optical multimedia bus the car uses for audio/video.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by ygoz

The bugs are minor compared to other carplay units. I had the cheapo AliExpress units and now have the Mr12V, there are some microphone quality issues - but i put mine in the OE microphone spot, and its OK, not perfect, but i don't take many calls in the car - same issues exist on other units.

Connection issues are minor on start/stop exist - but also existed on the cheap units, and were worse. Overall, this is the best solution apart from retrofitting NBT Evo, which is ultra expensive and complex.

Also - the audio quality has nothing to do with CAN bus - this is a control network for car modules to communicate, its due to the MOST bus - this is an optical multimedia bus the car uses for audio/video.

Sorry, yes, the MOST bus, I get the two buses confused. I'm glad it is working for you.

I am keeping it simple for now until someone comes up with a more elegant solution. Audio over bluetooth sounds good and my phone screen is good enough for navigation. My daily driver has Carplay and all the fancy new tech so I do not miss it. In the M3, I only need music and navigation sometimes. It is mostly a point A to point A car.

[Thumbie]

CAN bus, MOST bus, and here I am on the SHORT bus.

Yeah my mr12volt had a couple issues but it's great overall. Worth the $350 and tentative issues? Debatable...