Installing Apple car play into a BMW 3 Series E91

This is the most technical video I've ever made! Here Steve attempts to modify his EMW 325d (E91) to bring it up to date with Apple Car play functionality, with those famous last words: "how hard can it be?" !

[@jskoust]

Please stop constantly interrupting him. It's SO annoying..

[@kc2213]

The unit listens on the CAN bus network which is why it knows when the headlights are turned on/off. It’s the same reason the idrive controller can be used to control the apple CarPlay menu.

[@johnpaull135]

That is actually a good tip if you disconnect your battery on your BMW any model and reconnect it totally resets the car a good thing to do periodically 👍

[@Nerojan]

Great video! Do you have the link to what you purchased? Also, does the Carplay drain the phone battery?

[@StephenC999]

There’s a link in one of the comments below. It does use the phone battery yes, but I have my phone plugged into the car charging all the time anyway

[@cedric7016]

Just a tip! You can choose quick select buttons on this car, like when you select night mode on the oem navigation and immediately press and hold one of the 6 radio buttons it will save that input. When I press 1 for 2sec it will immediately change to night mode and vise versa… Any problems with the unit till now?

[@FrankiE90jl]

Post a video about how to wire and place the CarPlay box

[@Alwebbie83]

Hi Guys. Who makes the forward facing camera? I’ve fitted the CarPlay system, it works fine but it broke my car. Lights locks and windows do not work. And I did not hot plug anything. Anyone else hear about this fault?

[@rapazitul]

MEN: check Never read instructions: check Post on the internet how he figured out after talks with someone from BMW late in the night, reconnect cables, switch cables, AND STILL DIDN’T READ THE FUCKING INSTRUCTIONS.... Definitely a like

[@justinasmargelis407]

tell a guy to buy a bmw proTool. it will make his life easier

[@Toddyk92]

Great video guys! Really helped me through my own installation problems which were near identical to yours 👍

[@johnny-S]

Glad it helped!

[@cromekunal]

Really good video. Like your content. Very real. 🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@tonyroolze]

Was your iphone using Bluetooth to connect CarPlay or was it hard wired (usb)

[@MegaPapout]

Hi, can you put the link for purchase?

[@spartanrob]

Thanks for the video, just ordered mine for my e93. I like where you mounted the box, i'm going to have to look into that, were the cables long enough or did you have to find a way to extend them. And, confirming, you did NOT connect anything to the iDrive controller in the center. FWIW, i purchased the Andream unit.

[@JAKETHESNAKKE]

Did you not remove your battery when installing the carplay?

[@johnny-S]

We didn't, but learned afterwards that we should have disconnected it first! Thanks for watching.

[@willbruce1]

Does the unit have a USB connection for the iPhone as well, or is it WiFi only?

[@StephenC999]

Yes it does, I don’t use it but the usb connector is part of the wiring loom included

[@bokchannal]

Hi Johnny, Can we get an update on the car etc to date as I’ve seen u mention somewhere that he’s had reverse camera fitted,etc and just his years experience with the remap, gearbox flash, apple CarPlay and just general experience of the car ownership. That would be great!!! & Really enjoy these videos, they’re great help. Cheers

[@AleJandro-xl3us]

How is the sound quality Running over the aux ? Thats the only thing keeping me from buying it, because im afraid of Low sound quality. Thx

[@johnny-S]

From my limited ear quality it sounded great, but that would depend on how refined your music source is too. hard one to answer. Thanks for watching.

[@mohierlova5190]

and i have a question about the box. so when i install this System on my e91 can i use the oem bluetooth connection to Stream musik Even when im on the mmi Menu?

[@Bardockvision]

What’s the brand of the device ? 🤔

[@johnny-S]

It didn't appear to have a brand on it, sorry. But on of the comments has this link: www.taautoupgrades.com/product-page/bmw-nbt-cic-plug-play-carplay-box

[@user-em5wd2zc6b]

amazing i want that too, thx for this very nice video

[@johnny-S]

You're welcome 😊

[@chitlxo]

How’s he getting on with the unit 10months later? Any problems..?

[@johnny-S]

So far no problems! Thanks for watching.

[@chino7665]

Did it affect the sound at all?

[@anthonyfaivre6347]

Thank you for the video, I am trying to install a similar unit myself without any instructions. When you went through the cables included you left out the video usb cables and the CIC cables. Did you ever need to go back and install additional cables?

[@eddiegiha2750]

I installed one a few weeks ago. Yes you need to connect the CIC cables. One to the I drive knob and the other to the harness.

[@anthonyfaivre6347]

@@eddiegiha2750 I installed one from Aliexpress, Carsara is the brand. I contacted the seller after some issues getting it to work, I learned I didn't need to connect the Microphone or the CIC controller cables. Here are the directions - For the CAN cable in the new power harness: 1. Connect B# head unit can cable to A# low can cable, without connecting the idrive cable(CIC-KT), check if control knob operate menus normally; if not, operate step 2. 2. Connect A# low can cable to idrive cable(CIC-KT), connect the other end of idrive cable to car idrive control knob. I did also learn, very important to remove the negative batter cable when installing the unit and if you have to make any changes to the DIP switches. Mine wouldn't work with just unplugging the mmi computer unit and changing the switches, had to remove the battery cable.

[@drew2540]

@@anthonyfaivre6347 without hooking up the mic are you not able to use the CarPlay phone function? I have a Carsara unit on its way.

[@anthonyfaivre6347]

@@drew2540 in the end, I needed to use the external mic for Google / carplay commands. You will use the cars bt for phone calls. Some models may be able to skip the external mic. You won't need to add the harness up in the headliner, I put mine behind the climate controlled. Let me know if you need any help.

[@Paulization22]

Great video.. How was the new unit installed behind the cubby hole to the right of the steering wheel? Was it fixed or just left loose? Thanks

[@StephenC999]

It’s just wedged in and resting in there behind the cubby at the moment. There’s nothing really to fix it too as that whole bottom panel comes down with the three screws so I just placed it on there and put the panel back and screwed it in!

[@Paulization22]

@@StephenC999 thanks for the reply. Have you had any other issues since installation? I take it all the music goes through the Aux connection in the arm rest does that still have the effect of dulling the bass & volume??

[@StephenC999]

@@Paulization22 I find if you unlock the car and the unit connects to your phone, and say you go back into the house leaving the car on and so it disconnects so it’s out of range, when you get back in the car it’s a devil to get it to connect again. Sometimes a ‘forget car’ and reconnect on the phone. The only other issue is that I can’t get the voice or alerts to work from google maps or waze. Doesn’t bother me massively as the visual alerts suffice but it is something I haven’t been able to work out yet. Might be to be with the way in playing the audio as detailed below.... Other than that it’s been fine really, I connect my phone via Bluetooth in the normal way if I was using the CIC unit and then it operates through the CarPlay aswell.

[@Paulization22]

@@StephenC999 hello I tried to set my MMI box up today with no joy.. It won’t toggle between idrive & CarPlay. It doesn’t seem to be getting power..Did you connect the idrive up within the new loom as that’s the only thing I didn’t do?? Can you send the link to the video you used on KZbin please.

[@saeedrashid35]

Big up Solihull

[@punishbudhiraja7038]

Hard work pays !!!

[@breepasquotto1]

Hello my idrive joinstick is not working do y know what could be ?

[@johnny-S]

Sorry, we not BMW specialists. Sounds like you need to contact a specialist on that. Thanks for watching.

[@krbenyo]

Thanks for sharing! is it work with the smaller 6.5" screen?

[@tomharris571]

Yes mate, if your interested at looking into these drop me a message over at www.taautoupgrades.com/product-page/bmw-nbt-cic-plug-play-carplay-box

[@miasaralsamaraee7181]

Nice video guys, where did you get the unit from? The link you have below doesn’t work 😔 Did you connect it to the cars microphone?

[@johnny-S]

I will have to let Steve answer that one. Thanks for watching.

[@miasaralsamaraee7181]

@@johnny-S thanks. I’ll be waiting for his reply. I want to install one

[@robsorce6809]

Any updates on this?

[@madformodz7252]

Amazing this guy is full off luck it dint usually go easy as this 👏👍

[@johnny-S]

Believe me - it wasn't easy! He had a couple of sleepless nights setting it up! Thanks for watching.

[@markviccars6877]

Great video, can I confirm it works with iPhone?

[@johnny-S]

Yes it works with the iPhone - not sure whether all models of iPhone will work though. Thanks for watching

[@MultiLogina]

hi buddy i just installed my carplay and i cant use cic controller anymore? any tips?

[@richardkovach3935]

Ran into same issue where idrive knob doesn’t work, did you manage to get it to work again? Tried both connection methods that came with the instructions

[@MultiLogina]

@@richardkovach3935 my one had a labels on wires su i just tried to do multiple options probably it was B-D or something just follow the picture

[@Winter1256]

Hello sir does this work for CCC or just CIC?

[@johnny-S]

Hi, its best to direct those questions to the supplier of the product, sorry I can't answer that one. Thanks for watching!

[@nathaniel6465]

I think Steve should add a reverse camera next!

[@johnny-S]

He has done just that! We'll post an update. Thanks for watching

[@nathaniel6465]

@@johnny-S Looking forward to that, thanks for uploading. Great content.

[@johnpaull135]

Did you forget the step of wiring into the iDrive. Also you seem to have forgotten the microphone. Bimmertech have really good instructions but their unit which looks the same is VERY expensive.

[@eddiegiha2750]

I didn’t buy the Bimmertech model because it was 3x as much. This model works just fine. I’ve had no issues so far. And I added the reverse camera.

[@johnpaull135]

@@eddiegiha2750 Thanks for responding yes I agree that’s why I have not purchased anything at this stage. Seems to be lots of alternatives that basically look like the same hardware. Can I ask where you sourced yours from Thanks 🙏

[@imyeg6]

Good work, I’m picking a E90 later this week. Where did you buy the unit for? Where can I get it fitted?

[@StephenC999]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254707849952 That’s the exact one bought. Aftercare was poor, but unit was fine. If you get him to fit it, or follow the diagrams online and how I’ve done it in the video then that’s fine, just don’t expect to get help/answers from the seller!

[@StephenC999]

There’s a lot of the same units on Aliexpress aswell and they have excellent customer care.

[@imyeg6]

StephenC999 thanks buddy. I live a stones throw away see how much he charges for fitting.

[@bokchannal]

imyeg6 did you find out how much he charges for fitting mate?