XTRONS 14.9 Android Head Unit for BMW F10 - Best Display Upgrade?

[@rdbetta]

Dam it looks so original it truly belongs there 🔥

[@BestCarMods]

my thoughts exactly ... it is looking much better than the 12.3 ...

[@tomaszbeczek3025]

The question is necessary to install the microphone from the kit or will the factory one work? Really good movie. Pozdrawiam

[@BestCarMods]

You need the MIC for this unit.

[@AlexisLemesianos]

Hello there nice video keep it up One quastion Any idea how to change the start up screen/ image? I want to change it so it show bmw m animation Thanks in advance

[@BestCarMods]

It has it in the menu. Go and explore all the settings. I think you need to use the factory security code. Get in touch with the seller and they will guide you to it. And if you really want to go crazy, you could upload your graphics, as XTrons have used their logo.

[@johnfelipe5408]

Great video; thanks. Do you experience any echo when making a call using CarPlay ?

[@BestCarMods]

did not make any calls.

[@richarde7919]

Thank you for your in depth video. Can I ask, if you were listening to the radio before turning the car off, will it start on the radio the next time you start the car? Also, does the radio still play if you're using Google maps on car play? Thanks in advance

[@BestCarMods]

will test later, at the time I have done some mods to my car, and I don't have the radio working anymore :)) ... also I have a big backlog of client work that has priority vs my car. theoretically on many android units you can set what to load. and also on some, they have the memory function. radio vs google maps, might be where you need to install that additional speaker that comes in the box. also why not listen to radio in carplay ?you have so many apps for that.

[@מדינט]

The GPS is on your phone when using Apple carplay. Thanks for the review.

[@Alexxs2137]

Hi, quick questions: Is there an option to turn on Android auto on this unit or does it behave as a "android tablet" only? Is there any virginizing, programming or flashing with these units? I just bought a F10 lci with a stolen screen and im thinking of using this as a easy diy fix instead of autorepair. Have you found something that doesn't work with oem? I really enjoyed the comment on the sensors Thank you for your videos, you are a life saver! ❤

[@BestCarMods]

Android Auto runs on your phone and outputs video on the cars screen. No coding needed ... but if you come from a small screen unit you might want to code big screen option to see bigger image when in oem screen. I see not reason to buy the original screen. get any android screen and you are good to go. all Oem functions work.

[@rickywong5551]

I have multiple questions. As your review is quite recent, I'm hoping you will see this. Does it have a fast wake up mode? (Does it cold boot up each time the car is started?) Does it start music on immediately? How is the call functionality? Does the volume change during a call? (does it have this bug despite changing this in the settings.) Is the Bluetooth crippled? (Will it ONLY connect to phones? Or is it using stock android Bluetooth that will allow accessories such as game pads.) Does it have a front camera option? Thank you very much in advance.

[@BestCarMods]

wake up time is decent, however noticeable ... it will show xtrons logo , the android menu and then jump in android auto/carplay (approx 30 to 60s). Yes it will cold boot each time. music via AA or CP is started automatically (and i included it in the 30 to 60s ... i don't like guessing, i should go and time it for us to be precise, might go and do it later today) call quality I have not tested yet, however there is a option in the menu that it you don't unclick it you will not have sound in calls. I did not test, but I have seen that Xtrons offer an ELM 3XX for obd reading that will connect to the Bluetooth of the unit, so it should work. I did not see the actual input for a front camera. might go later and film the boot up, so that other "detail oriented" people can have an answer.

[@rickywong5551]

@@BestCarMods I've been told but cannot confirm there is a setting buried in the settings that allow some form of hibernation restart so similar to a screen off function in a tablet. Could you confirm this? It maybe I the "factory/ advance" settings.

[@BestCarMods]

@@rickywong5551 I haven't had the time to play to much with it. I have recorded the boot up video for you . Will edit and upload. it is less than 60s.

[@BestCarMods]

@@rickywong5551 tomorrow you have the video going live for the boot up time.

[@MagnetiqLabs]

I was waiting for this review from you of this 14,9 screen. I like it. The only thing that i don't like is that how original iDrive interface stretches because of different aspect ratio. I know that there is an option to put some clocks on the right side of the screen to make the iDrive appears on the left side with proper proportions. But as i saw this clocks is in the blue color so it doesn't match to the iDrive design. But carplay looks amazing on a wide screen. So as i understand you like the physical look of this 14,9 unit more than 12" version?

[@BestCarMods]

the oem menu feels strange just for the 1st day ... after that it feels normal. also you don't actually use it that much ... carplay/aa loads and you have the map and the music all well integrated. the screen itself looks more natural/more at home on the dash. Now I am chasing XTRONS to find a way to improve gps lag and have high rez for AA and CP. also note that the colors look strange in my video because I had a ND filter on the camera and the screen itself has some sort of blue light filter on it.

[@MagnetiqLabs]

@@BestCarMods Hm... So the CarPlay has lower resolution than the screen itself? Does it looks visibly worse with soft image and blurry texts? Or it's not that visible? About the looks, yes, i was surprised that it looks so at home on F10 than the 12 inch version. Even considering that it has sharp edges. I have an F07 5GT, and inside F07 it looks also good, but on a F10 it looks even better somehow. Thank you for the review Bogdan!

[@BestCarMods]

@@MagnetiqLabs you can't tell it is lower rez until you see one that has the high rez back to back...

[@MagnetiqLabs]

@@BestCarMods ok, i understand. Nice to know that it's not a huge drawback

[@bobbycvi]

You should add also the 360 degree system to the BMW :).

[@BestCarMods]

I don't want to drill holes for 4 more cameras and take the car apart for that.

[@bobbycvi]

@@BestCarMods gotcha! but it would be nice :D

[@BestCarMods]

@@bobbycvi yes it would 😏

[@aeronaut747]

Does the unit shake and make noises when driving on uneven roads and over bumps ?

[@BestCarMods]

negative.

[@amandus99]

I just bought the 12“ But got no signal with the original menu. I have a cic with 8.8” BMW F11. Any recommendation? Is it because of wrong resolution settings?

[@BestCarMods]

yes. the resolution can be the cause. if you adjust that from the android screen menu and still don't have it working, there are some other, more detailed settings, that the seller will ask you to perform.

[@filipejesus4677]

@@BestCarModshave got same Problem on my f31 no idrive image, when holding the menu button goes all black, already tried different resolutions, can bus, all wires correctly connected but no luck, anyone able to help?

[@BestCarMods]

@@filipejesus4677 contact the seller and see what he says

[@IdranRO]

Can i still use the OEM Maps which indicates the turns and direction on cluster?

[@BestCarMods]

yes, as the oem navigation can run on the cars hardware. but you will need to choose what sound you get in the speakers . this unit is like a parasite, stays ontop of your existing hardware and displays a different image.

[@IdranRO]

@@BestCarMods thank you!

[@adamgreenmgturb]

Thk u

[@johnnymutada]

Serious question, can you review this video and understand how he doesn't need to have the AUX cable installed to get audio? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYXagJp5jah6gpY I purchased this unit for that same reason, but its funny that some need to install this and some do not.

[@BestCarMods]

the car seems to have a NBT media unit. for nbt you don't need the aux cable.

[@johnnymutada]

Thank you for this

[@xDriver69x]

This is nonsense, they just make bigger screens, more CPU, but still ignore the fundamental core most important problem! These are meant for SOUND! and they can't even connect to the orginal audio via bluetooth! They still use a crappy analog line in cable. This is unacceptable and ridiculous. They must have OPTICAL multichannel output or their sales deserve to crash. The audio out should be through multichannel Bluetooth 5.3+ LDAC audio! Not being able to have 7.1 channel Dolby Atmos sound properly sent to the original head unit/amp is too antiquated. They should also be able to have a MOST interconnect on the device so the optical loop in BMWs can also be interfaced with. They are literally ignoring have the most important integrations with the car in the most high fidelity manners to just shovel trickery. Even the locations of the SD Card and SIM card is terrible. there is no reason it isn't on the front edge or top where it is easily accessible.

[@BestCarMods]

:) finally someone that likes details ... I will also add software integration & UI to your list ... but at the end of the day it is night, and sadly this is all we have.

[@xDriver69x]

@@BestCarMods We get what we accept, folks need to get loud about the deficiencies or they won't make it better. I have bought a few for multiple of my bmws, but tell everyone not too until they do this. There is no excuse not to have proper connectivity in 2025. more CPU cores is irrelevant.