Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Retrofit

[cannyjock]

According to this video, unless you use the full iDrive harness on the Carsara box, plugged directly to the iDrive controller, you lose the ability to code the CIC. I (and I assume most others with this) have just plugged the 2 can cables in the main harness together, which works but gets the iDrive controls from the canbus.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by cannyjock

According to this video, unless you use the full iDrive harness on the Carsara box, plugged directly to the iDrive controller, you lose the ability to code the CIC. I (and I assume most others with this) have just plugged the 2 can cables in the main harness together, which works but gets the iDrive controls from the canbus.

Interesting, I couldn't get the iDrive harness working in any permutation I tried, so wondering why that end of the cable causes a problem. But good to know, wouldn't want to spend the time trying to figure out how to code the thing just to realize it no longer worked because of the new hardware pinouts.

Now that so many others bought the box I'm interested to hear the consensus on audio compared to other methods.

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by cannyjock

According to this video, unless you use the full iDrive harness on the Carsara box, plugged directly to the iDrive controller, you lose the ability to code the CIC. I (and I assume most others with this) have just plugged the 2 can cables in the main harness together, which works but gets the iDrive controls from the canbus.

{Video removed}

Is this for sure the same box as the Carsara box?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by PACarGuy

Is this for sure the same box as the Carsara box?

Yes it looks like it. My box (CIC not NBT) did not have that 360 Camera input that he shows, but Carsara shows it in their latest description though, but I suspect this might be something only used if you order the NBT 2012+ config?



I didn't watch that video enough to see what year he was setting up the device for if it was 2012+ that'd make sense.

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Yes it looks like it. My box (CIC not NBT) did not have that 360 Camera input that he shows, but Carsara shows it in their latest description though, but I suspect this might be something only used if you order the NBT 2012+ config?



I didn't watch that video enough to see what year he was setting up the device for if it was 2012+ that'd make sense.

Yes, the box definitely does look like it, but the eBay description/pics differs a bit from the description/pics on Alibaba as there seem to be many makers of these boxes now. Just hard to tell if they're both the same manufacturer.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by PACarGuy

Yes, the box definitely does look like it, but the eBay description/pics differs a bit from the description/pics on Alibaba as there seem to be many makers of these boxes now. Just hard to tell if they're both the same manufacturer.

Not sure which unit they have on Ebay. The one from Aliexpress got to me in just about 2 weeks, so shipping wasn't bad. The camera I ordered on the other hand still seems to be stuck in US customs so that was a waste of money.

[cannyjock]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Interesting, I couldn't get the iDrive harness working in any permutation I tried, so wondering why that end of the cable causes a problem. But good to know, wouldn't want to spend the time trying to figure out how to code the thing just to realize it no longer worked because of the new hardware pinouts.

Now that so many others bought the box I'm interested to hear the consensus on audio compared to other methods.

Been playing round with the audio more, I don't think it's great but it's not terrible either. I've got Individual Audio (might be called something else in the US but it's the top version) and the bass sounds fantastic with other sources - not mega sub-bass like an aftermarket amp and sub, but really tight, hard hitting and tuneful. Switching over the to Carsara box sounds ok, but as I turn it up the bass doesn't sound as well defined, and overall tunes just sound a bit messier. I would give it 6 or 7 out of 10 compared to other sources. Again, one of the guys on the UK forum is able to use aux via the harness and reckons it sounds ok, but as we know it looks like a pain to convert ours to use this.

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Not sure which unit they have on Ebay. The one from Aliexpress got to me in just about 2 weeks, so shipping wasn't bad. The camera I ordered on the other hand still seems to be stuck in US customs so that was a waste of money.

This seems to be the eBay unit that the video references: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-IO...MAAOSwJ9Rfm3Eu

[cannyjock]

Originally Posted by PACarGuy

This seems to be the eBay unit that the video references: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-IO...MAAOSwJ9Rfm3Eu

That looks identical to the Carsara unit I bought on AliExpress.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by PACarGuy

This seems to be the eBay unit that the video references: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-IO...MAAOSwJ9Rfm3Eu

Yeah, looks visually the same although the link shows it for the F30 in the description?

Higher price than Aliexpress either way.

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Yeah, looks visually the same although the link shows it for the F30 in the description?

Higher price than Aliexpress either way.

Yeah, that was my question. Looks the same, but description is different so wasn't sure. The review says the audio quality seems good, but not sure if he really tested the bass response, etc.

BTW, in one of the comments in the video, the reviewer mentions that there is an AUX input in the back of the CIC headunit:

"This one is mint. Sound is spot on. But it's one of the newer more expensive units. That said, one thing we did do, it is connected to the aux in the back of the CIC unit. This reduces the length of that audio cable which in turn reduces the chance of interference. Were you connecting to the aux in in the centre console by any chance?"

I don't recall seeing an AUX input in the back of my head unit when I did the Kremersino v1 install, but it's been over a year so I don't recall exactly. Did anyone notice one who did a recent install?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by PACarGuy

Yeah, that was my question. Looks the same, but description is different so wasn't sure. The review says the audio quality seems good, but not sure if he really tested the bass response, etc.

BTW, in one of the comments in the video, the reviewer mentions that there is an AUX input in the back of the CIC headunit:

"This one is mint. Sound is spot on. But it's one of the newer more expensive units. That said, one thing we did do, it is connected to the aux in the back of the CIC unit. This reduces the length of that audio cable which in turn reduces the chance of interference. Were you connecting to the aux in in the centre console by any chance?"

I don't recall seeing an AUX input in the back of my head unit when I did the Kremersino v1 install, but it's been over a year so I don't recall exactly. Did anyone notice one who did a recent install?

My understanding is the aux is routed from the center console, to the MULF/Combox, then back up through the Most Loop via the two optical pins that are swapped on the quad lock connector. If audio is coming through this loop the only way I could see changing this goes to what Cannyjock was saying earlier, coding the CIC to believing that audio is coming in from some other pins on the quad lock.

There's no extra connector, these pins seem to run through the quad lock but are disabled when you have a car with the MULF or Combox.

This is the pin out I posted a few pages back.
https://pinoutguide.com/Car-Stereo-A...n_pinout.shtml

If someone manages to sort it out and it doesn't require tearing the entire system back apart to code the CIC maybe I'd try it.

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

My understanding is the aux is routed from the center console, to the MULF/Combox, then back up through the Most Loop via the two optical pins that are swapped on the quad lock connector. If audio is coming through this loop the only way I could see changing this goes to what Cannyjock was saying earlier, coding the CIC to believing that audio is coming in from some other pins on the quad lock.

There's no extra connector, these pins seem to run through the quad lock but are disabled when you have a car with the MULF or Combox.

This is the pin out I posted a few pages back.
https://pinoutguide.com/Car-Stereo-A...n_pinout.shtml

If someone manages to sort it out and it doesn't require tearing the entire system back apart to code the CIC maybe I'd try it.

OK, thanks for that. So sounds like it's only AUX via center console again if I have Combox and also Individual Audio.

[cannyjock]

Originally Posted by PACarGuy

OK, thanks for that. So sounds like it's only AUX via center console again if I have Combox and also Individual Audio.

I believe so, although I don't think it's individual audio that makes the difference. The headunit can accept aux via the harness, but if you have 6FL aux/usb via the combox the sound will only come via the armrest (crappy) aux input.

[coniman]

You can enable HU AUX via coding but you’ll loose AUX and USB on the armrest. I’ve done it today on my 13’ F30 with COMBOX using BimmerCode app.
You have to set this codes:

CDMM_AUX_HU
aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_SINGLE
nicht_aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B
nicht_aktiv

[Gto3]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Not sure which unit they have on Ebay. The one from Aliexpress got to me in just about 2 weeks, so shipping wasn't bad. The camera I ordered on the other hand still seems to be stuck in US customs so that was a waste of money.

What camera?

[tdott]

Originally Posted by coniman

You can enable HU AUX via coding but you’ll loose AUX and USB on the armrest. I’ve done it today on my 13’ F30 with COMBOX using BimmerCode app.
You have to set this codes:

CDMM_AUX_HU
aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_SINGLE
nicht_aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B
nicht_aktiv

Where does the hu aux plug in? Do you need to wire a headphone jack to certain pins in the quad lock?

[brettcp]

Originally Posted by brettcp

Audio Quality:
They have improved the AUX audio quality issue with this box. No significant difference between BT combox audio quality and the V3 AUX audio quality. With my V2 unit (and my E93 EPS factory sound), carplay AUX audio quality was nearly identical to combox BT quality after adjusting the V2 carplay’s built in EQ settings. The V3 audio quality is what you’d expect, and it’s good that they’ve addressed this because the V3 does NOT have an EQ (at least not that I can find). So if you wanted to make any adjustments to the V3 sound settings, you’re limited to the BMW factory EQ settings. I do get an occasional momentary cut-out or hiccup in the audio, will have to troubleshoot this further, could just be a poor wireless connection between my phone and the carplay box.

Quick update regarding the "occasional momentary cut-out or hiccup".. Got an iPhone 12 Pro Max today and this issue no longer occurs. I suspect it was something to do with a bad installation or settings in Waze on my last iPhone (11 pro max), as the volume on Waze would jump up and down seemingly at random. I think this was responsible for the cut-outs in the carplay audio, as it no longer occurs now that I did a fresh install on a new phone.

[cannyjock]

Originally Posted by tdott

Where does the hu aux plug in? Do you need to wire a headphone jack to certain pins in the quad lock?

As far as I understand, the Carsara box already has wires that go direct to the headunit via the quad lock.

[cannyjock]

Originally Posted by coniman

You can enable HU AUX via coding but you’ll loose AUX and USB on the armrest. I’ve done it today on my 13’ F30 with COMBOX using BimmerCode app.
You have to set this codes:

CDMM_AUX_HU
aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_SINGLE
nicht_aktiv

CDMM_USB_AUDIO_DOUBLE_0B
nicht_aktiv

Very interesting - does Bluetooth audio still work via Combox? I'll check it Bimmercode, it looks easier than NCS Expert etc

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by Gto3

What camera?

I got one of the ones Sangria recommended with the Sony 720p chip. It actually just showed up yesterday and has the same connector as my current camera so I may plug it in and see if there's a obvious difference. My current camera looks 720p but not fisheye.

If anyone wants a camera I'll sell whichever one I don't use.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by cannyjock

Very interesting - does Bluetooth audio still work via Combox? I'll check it Bimmercode, it looks easier than NCS Expert etc

Are you going to try this with the CarPlay box still installed to see if it'll work? Or disconnect it code and then reconnect?