Modernization and technology upgrade of the iDrive system by Evolve Automotive

[M3E93]

Can't wait for them to test the iDrive system upgrade. Hopefully they will offer this soon. Anyone see this?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1uiQ...RlODBiNWFlZA==

[Bmwdeven]

Would be cool if they offered it for CCC system

[smokinjoe64]

Actually, nothing new for either CarPlay or Android retrofits for e9X.

Several solutions been available since circa 2019 with thousands of posts, DIYs, etc.
>For example: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1788909

Installed CarPlay in 2020...works flawlessly.

[omgzirra_exe]

i mean at that point just buy a mr12volt.

[kolosy]

didn't feel like watching the whole thing.. did they make their own mr12volt ripoff? or is it more than that?

[gh0stE92M3]

Looks and works just like the mr12volt from what they’ve shown. Goes through the CD for sound. I have the mr12volt and though it’s cool and sound is way better than the android units using aux. I still find a few glitches sometimes and I find myself having to restart my unit or fumbling to have it reconnect via Bluetooth.

Seeing the cost of the mr12volt is around $500 IMO save up a little and just do a full NBT EVO retrofit, that would be seemless and works as it should. Plus have other options from the factory. Plus the oem option to have rear camera is better than the Chinese low res camera. Just my 2¢

Not knocking mr12volt but I want something to work 100% of the time vs 98.9%

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by gh0stE92M3

Looks and works just like the mr12volt from what they’ve shown. Goes through the CD for sound. I have the mr12volt and though it’s cool and sound is way better than the android units using aux. I still find a few glitches sometimes and I find myself having to restart my unit or fumbling to have it reconnect via Bluetooth.

Seeing the cost of the mr12volt is around $500 IMO save up a little and just do a full NBT EVO retrofit, that would be seemless and works as it should. Plus have other options from the factory. Plus the oem option to have rear camera is better than the Chinese low res camera. Just my 2¢

Not knocking mr12volt but I want something to work 100% of the time vs 98.9%

funny, i've always thought the opposite. even with a full evo retrofit, you've got crap maps, and dated UI. mr12volt gives you carplay / android auto and when i used it i almost never went out. never saw the point in spending the money on a new screen + all the other stuff vs just gettinf one of these.

[gh0stE92M3]

Originally Posted by kolosy

funny, i've always thought the opposite. even with a full evo retrofit, you've got crap maps, and dated UI. mr12volt gives you carplay / android auto and when i used it i almost never went out. never saw the point in spending the money on a new screen + all the other stuff vs just gettinf one of these.

Yeah the new evo retrofits have the full Apple CarPlay and android auto available and the newer maps. Basically functions like the new bmw idrive units. Plus having the newer tpms screen being able to monitor psi/temps. Having M lap timer (never used it before) I just see more benefits to the newer nbt evo with the evo touch screen.

Like I said I want something working 100% of the time. Mr12volt is cool when it syncs up but even when making calls it switches back to the oem Bluetooth and the map disappears, I’m not gonna pay to get the newest version just to have oem mic compatibility. I’d rather have something oem and works and is updatable over air vs having to use a micro sd card. But to each their own. Back in 2019 the nbt evo retrofits were super expensive and now it’s actually more affordable.

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by M3E93

Can't wait for them to test the iDrive system upgrade. Hopefully they will offer this soon. Anyone see this?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1uiQ...RlODBiNWFlZA==

It's Mr12volt.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by gh0stE92M3

Yeah the new evo retrofits have the full Apple CarPlay and android auto available and the newer maps. Basically functions like the new bmw idrive units. Plus having the newer tpms screen being able to monitor psi/temps. Having M lap timer (never used it before) I just see more benefits to the newer nbt evo with the evo touch screen.

Like I said I want something working 100% of the time. Mr12volt is cool when it syncs up but even when making calls it switches back to the oem Bluetooth and the map disappears, I’m not gonna pay to get the newest version just to have oem mic compatibility. I’d rather have something oem and works and is updatable over air vs having to use a micro sd card. But to each their own. Back in 2019 the nbt evo retrofits were super expensive and now it’s actually more affordable.

You get the new tpms with that? Now you have my attention. Interesting.

[M3E93]

Do you guys like Mr12Volt or Bimmertech MMI prime better?

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/category...y-mmi-retrofit

[kolosy]

Mr12Volt, hands down. The bimmertech one uses the aux port for audio which is hot garbage. Mr12Volt goes through the MOST connection which is a digital optical bus.

[fastmatt613]

Originally Posted by M3E93

Do you guys like Mr12Volt or Bimmertech MMI prime better?

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/category...y-mmi-retrofit

I have MMI prime in my CIC M3 and Mr 12 Volt in my CCC 330i. Needless to say, now that I have used both, I will be going Mr 12 Volt in the M3 as well.

[fs34]

Only had my Mr12volt installed for a few days but I haven’t noticed any issues. After reading up a little bit it seems like the newer versions have addressed issues like OEM mic integration and low bass, etc. I’ll be installing one in my f30 as well.

For what I need, mr12volt checks the boxes. NBT retrofit sounds like a ton of work for essentially the same end result the way I would use it.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by kolosy

didn't feel like watching the whole thing.. did they make their own mr12volt ripoff? or is it more than that?

It’s that.

[SSJVegita]

if evolve offers up something that is a bit more reliable and functions better then those older offers, I would be interested in it. All I want is applecar play with quality sound, not the Aux signal.

[kolosy]

i really don't get what the reliability quips about mr12volt are. maybe i just got lucky? i had two of them, one in a cic car, one in a ccc car, and once installed they were bulletproof.

[ygoz]

Originally Posted by kolosy

i really don't get what the reliability quips about mr12volt are. maybe i just got lucky? i had two of them, one in a cic car, one in a ccc car, and once installed they were bulletproof.

Overall - its a great solution, better than any other aftermarket solution for obvious reasons.

On my Mr12V unit the video started cutting out after a few months of ownership - i took it apart and found a cracked solder joint on the video out, re-flowed it and it has been fine since that.

Don't get the NBT EVO comparison. If you want a close to OEM HU go for it, but its heaps of money - and you end up using just carplay 99% of the time anyway.

[ygoz]

Originally Posted by M3E93

Do you guys like Mr12Volt or Bimmertech MMI prime better?

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/category...y-mmi-retrofit

MMI Prime is pure garbage. The only reason it sells and still exists is due to people not knowing there are good alternatives.

[fs34]

Curious what Evolve will charge for their version.

[OmairK]

I have the latest Mr. 12 Volt. It’s great! Wish they had one with an integrated screen and which mounted directly by the screen eliminating the placement behind or around the glovebox. One could dream!

[drwankel]

The one thing I hope Mr12Volt does in a future release is the ability to update the firmware without needing physical access to the box.

That being said, I am glad that they do regularly release firmware updates for bugs. I doubt the same is happening with the competition.