[MJE60]

Many owners of 2017-2019 F48 ask if Apple CarPlay can be installed in their (X1) or X2, or why they are denied an OTA (over the air) subscription in the BMW “connected drive” store.

The quick answer is, that to get CarPlay in an F48 it depended on build date, for mid 2017 to late 2018 cars they originally had to have been factory installed or for the few “fully loaded” car with correct options BMW would provide CarPlay through an OTA subscription. Then for late 2018 and 2019 built models, owners were only able to order OTA CarPlay via BMW “connected drive” if the car had factory build option 6CP (car play preparation). Luckily from Aug 2019 it became possible (for most cars with Entrynav 2 HU , i.e build dates from approx April 2017, with wireless antenna socket in HU) to buy a genuine BMW fsc code via a connected source in this forum (but not directly from BMW!), see later posts in this thread. To check if you have Entrynav 2 look in navigation for map version, if it includes word “Way” in map version then you have Entrynav 2. If you have word route then you have have Entrynav 1 and unfortunately Carplay cannot be installed into the HU and you will have to look at a “plug-in” android box type solutions. Finally a rare alternative which makes retrofitting CarPlay possible, is if you have option S609 “professional navigation” because it means you will probably have an NBTevo HU and sellers can “code” CarPlay for you. This rare option appears confined to Russia and Far East (China, Japan & Taiwan).

The Long answer ....

The X1 (F48) hardware varies from country to country so It is unwise to generalise, but most X1 will have ENTRYNAV/ENTRYNAV2 HU installed. For China, Japan, Taiwan & Russia the X1 are fitted with a “tall” HU so one assumes they have NBT and professional navigation as either standard or available option (may be due to mapping). I can confirm that Japanese F48 with professional navigation definitely have NBTevo HU installed.

BMW models with NBTevo HU can have CarPlay easily retrofitted and FSc codes are widely available to do it, the problem is many owners and a lot of suppliers do not know the F48 does not normally have an NBTpro or NBTevo HU. This confusion is compounded by Bimmercode and Carly coding apps naming the HU module HU_NBT and that the ENTRYNAV/2 HU software having “skins” (screen appearance/layout) mimicking appearance of evo id5/id6

Unfortunately professional navigation (s609) does not appear to be/have been offered as an option in U.K/EU & USA. BMW instead used terms “ Nav” and “Nav plus” (options S6UNA & S6UPA), both have same ENTRYNAV HU and business nav software, just different CID , either 6.5” or 8.8” Display (in U.K this option included HUD) . So, most F48 came/come out of the factory with ENTRYNAV (up to approx 04/2017) or ENTRYNAV2 (from 07/2017) Head Units. Prior to Aug 2019 there were no known FSC codes to enable CarPlay through direct install or OTA (over the air provision) for these HU. There are still no 3rd party fsc codes available and if you enter your VIN to order on sites offering to install Carplay, they should pretty quickly, tell you it is not available. You can also go into your nav settings and look at map version. For a rare few based in a limited number of markets (not EU & USA) If you are lucky and it contains the word NBT then you are good to go.

To add further confusion, for 2018 and early 2019 build dates BMW moved to a “subscription only” service for CarPlay. Cars can be ordered with option 6CP “CarPlay preparation or “CarPlay ready” with an initial subscription period which can be renewed. Prior to late 2019 the only F48 outside of the USA to have lifetime CarPlay installed were, I believe, 2017 models. For the USA, BMWUSA specified all 2019 onward F48 models to be APPLE Carplay ready (but do check when ordering). Outside if USA If you have an X1/X2 from late 2018 or 2019 onwards and it does not have build option 6CP you will not be able to order OTA CarPlay through connected drive regardless of specification.

The only options for Most F48/F39 without CarPlay or CarPlay ready installed at factory, are;

-UPDATE AS AT AUGUST 2019. - it is now possible to purchase a genuine BMW fsc code for “lifetime” 143 CarPlay if your car has option 6UP (larger 8.8” display and WiFI/WLAN capability. Unfortunately this option is only available informally and through a “connected” forum member who I believe may work for BMW or is able to purchase the code from BMW. The code is VIN specific and you would also need to have it installed using E-sys coding tool (and if not already fitted , plug in a fakra wifi antenna into the back of your HU). It is also possible to buy Carplay enabling without an fsc code for Entrynav 2 HU and this costs significantly less but can be lost if the HU is updated by a BMW dealership. It would not be appropriate (I do not have their permission) to give you contact details however a little careful research further in this thread or some other posts in this forum might get you in touch with the necessary people.

- for late 2017/early 2018 F48 check on BMW connected drive to see if you are lucky and your car has the right (rare/fully loaded) hardware configuration (so 8.8” screen, extended Bluetooth and WLAN module & antenna - or to put it “fully loaded) to enable OTA CarPlay. Unfortunately BMW used a Bluetooth & WiFi combo to run CarPlay. or

- fit an aftermarket android box (essentially plugs into the HU aux input) with 10.25” screen and loads of apps including CarPlay. Please note however that there is a consensus developing that as at 04/2019, these units are really only compatible with first generation (non touch screen) F48 Head Units [but watch this space for updates], or finally

- fit an NBTevo id5/id6 HU or “tall” HU from another model* (best done as a complete kit with install support where they provide fsc codes. Be warned you may lose all “connected drive” services using this option.

- From Aug 2019 for cars with certain specifications (e.g. wireless antenna/socket is essential)it is possible to buy a genuine BMW fsc code, see later posts on this thread,

Because the BMW “connected drive” store checks your factory build option (you have to enter your VIN) before offering OTA CarPlay, it means retrofitting a bigger 8.8” CID, WLAN antenna and extended Bluetooth will not work unless there is a way of getting BMW to “update” this information, no-one has succeeded yet. The only hope for an oem solution is that BMW decide to offer a retrofit Kit.

Finally a general caution about how BMW configure Carplay, namely BMW uses a combination of Bluetooth and wireless data transfer (bluetooth alone does not have sufficient data transfer capacity to cope with many apps), unlike many other car manufacturers who use a wired usb connection. The problem with the BMW configuration is that the loss of either Bluetooth or wireless can result in Carplay hanging/crashing. The loss of either connection may be due to other Bluetooth devices or wireless connectivity issues and is the reason for many complaints about problems running Carplay in BMW vehicles.