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      05-29-2020, 08:50 PM   #1
Movnmik
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Android Auto

Hi everyone..first time caller...long time listener.. I finally purchased an X1, a car I coveted since the 2016 model came out. It's a 2017, fully optioned so it has the Prem, Tech, Cold Weather, Lux, Driver assist packages..I love the car. Coming from a Subaru Impreza is a big change..I finally can actually get my blue tooth connected just by getting in the car..not so with my Subaru..

So now to my question. I've been looking at the forum and see a lot of Apple Car play questions but I'm on the other side, call it the dark or light side but I'm an Android guy. I would love to upgrade the screen to the touch version, and have Android Auto but not lose any of the integrated features I have with IDrive. I've gone too long with a crappy interface and love what BMW has done..just a little lacking as it concerns to Android integration. I've see a number of replacement screens but not sure which one would be the best to accomplish the goal of keeping all the great BMW Idrive bits but also get connectivity to Google, maps, assistant, internet, Android Auto...etc.. Can anybody point me to an aftermarket that would work?

Thanks

Mike
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      05-29-2020, 10:04 PM   #2
SDriver18i
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I've been looking into this too. Here's what I've come up with:

1) There's the new Android 10 Screens, they're great, some members on the F30 Forums are having some bugs, they're debugging it and fixing it on their own and sharing files, some have it working flawlessly.

Android 10 Discussion
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1699764

I'm sure you can find better links in the forum, this was the one I got from there about 2 month ago when I was first looking into this.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3287...963f7849dg01eG

2) You have the MMI Box that you retrofit and it gives you CarPlay and Android Auto with whatever screen you have. The bugs are mostly simple graphics and weird sound GUI related and very often fixed with updates that sellers post

MMI Discussion
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1675929

Link to buy from an F30 Member:I'm sure you can find other links by inquiring there.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/25461156468...m=254611564688

3) And finally, you have the OEM Setup which will give you the Touch Screen, maybe there's a standalone touch screen out there but I haven't found any. You're still gonna have to get the MMI Box with this but you do get the Touch Screen.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-X1-F48-...UAAOSwjZFeAHjj

What I've decided to do is get one of the bigger 8.8inch screens, get an upgraded idrive controller and get the MMI. No touch screen but car play will do fine.
8.8 Screen https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...07407&_sacat=0
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      05-29-2020, 11:38 PM   #3
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As an aside, I understand from viewing news reports and blogs that as from July 2020 the BMW iDrive version 7 will have Android Auto either integrated or supported.
I know this does not help anyone with any X1 even the 2020 LCI version will not get it because it has the older iDrive version 6.
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      05-31-2020, 01:08 AM   #4
Movnmik
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SDriver..thanks for your detailed post. I appreciate it. I will check the links out and see where it gets me.

Mike
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      06-03-2020, 02:37 PM   #5
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Hi,

I also installed a MMI box and I'm almost satisfied with it.
The MMI box offers both wired and wireless connection of the phone.
Considering the price of around 250 €, I can say that this is the best solution.

Regards,
Stefan
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      06-03-2020, 08:04 PM   #6
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No Droid Auto

I'm not a fan of Android Auto and with all the rental cars that I've rented over the past few years every time I would go down to Florida to my condo for extended stays, I would never every use it again. The app would take over my smartphone. I had a Samsung Galaxy S6 and it became a burden alway getting in the way of using the phone. Since October last year I have a Samsung Galaxy S10 and rented a car for few days in November last year while my car was in the garage. I figured I would try it to see if anything had improved with both the newer version, the vehicle and my new smartphone and it was the same disappointment. Especially because I prefer using my phone for the navigation rather then the sloppy connection to the screen. I agree that with Navigation is kinda cool but now most vehicles come with Navigation that's even better than Google Maps especially like the one in the X1 voice control and 3D and all the cool things like gas stations and restaurants available within the database. That database of course is going to change... I see no point in using that app. Even Spotify is better without needing that app. I have a special holder for the phone that let's me see the phone when I'm parked because otherwise I don't need to use it. I really like SiriusXM and know how to negotiate a good yearly subscription fee and Bluetooth for my own music is amazing too and much improved over older versions. My wife has a new iphone and Apple Car play would be too complicated for her. She's not a techy although she knows her way around a computer and her Apple tablet. Just my 2 cents....don't waste your time and money....
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      06-03-2020, 11:34 PM   #7
Movnmik
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Stefan, thanks for your response.. What MMI box did you use?

Xorbitman..thanks for your insight.. still doing research on all the units. It wouldn't only be for Android Auto but all the other functionality a touch interface brings with it. I have the 8.8 non touch version and it's quite irritating not to be able to touch the screen..maybe I need to get use to iDrive more..
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      06-03-2020, 11:40 PM   #8
Xorbitman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Movnmik View Post
Stefan, thanks for your response.. What MMI box did you use?

Xorbitman..thanks for your insight.. still doing research on all the units. It wouldn't only be for Android Auto but all the other functionality a touch interface brings with it. I have the 8.8 non touch version and it's quite irritating not to be able to touch the screen..maybe I need to get use to iDrive more..
I hardly ever use the touch screen. First of all it leaves annoying fingerprints all over the screen which isn't easy to clean. Second you can use voice activation for many functions and third I have that controller on the steering wheel and I also like the iDrive controller. Mine has a touch pad that does character recognition. Not worth the time, trouble or $$$ IMHO.
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      06-04-2020, 02:56 AM   #9
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Android 10


Unique's MMI
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      06-04-2020, 11:51 PM   #10
Movnmik
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After combing through several sites, Avin, 4x4CA and AliExpress..I decided to go with the Avin BAVF48-1025. I added the 1920 screen, CarPlay/AA. There aren't many 1920 SnapD HUs which was fortunate for me or I would have agonized over this for a much longer time. I compared it to the unit from carnavi https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3302...c00uphZ0W&mp=1 and seemed to have everything I wanted but didn't have to deal with customs, long ass shipping/hanlding and trying to haggle the price down..they are not very responsive to any of my communications via Aliexpress. So I translated that to poor service after I buy the unit. The 4x4shopca unit seemed to have similar specs but it cost about $40 more so I chose Avin.

I did look at the MMI box and was about to place an order as it had the benefit of having CarPlay and AA both being wireless.The HU I chose doesn't have wireless AA but is touch interface and I valued the touch interface as well as the other capabilities over the MMI box.

I should get it in by next Wednesday and it will take me some time to get it installed. Once I do I'll try to share some pics and thoughts about the unit.

Last edited by Movnmik; 06-04-2020 at 11:57 PM.. Reason: Add detail
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      06-05-2020, 06:20 AM   #11
iceman7
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One thing about 1920 screens, I have not yet figured out properly, is how the iDrive part looks on them.
The native resolution is lower so the iDrive should be upscaled!
How would this look?
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Last edited by iceman7; 06-05-2020 at 07:09 AM..
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      06-05-2020, 04:49 PM   #12
Movnmik
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iceman7 good question..once I install it I'll take some pics.
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      01-05-2023, 09:08 AM   #13
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What exactly are you trying to connect to your car? Just an additional panel or just a sound analyzer?
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      01-10-2023, 05:01 AM   #14
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Yes, I have encountered such a situation. But unfortunately, there are almost no solutions. In fact, you need to find a car that will support the Android system. It's not so easy to do because, most of the time, you need additional hardware. Even if you had a phone from Apple, you would still face this problem. Therefore, study this issue carefully if it is fundamentally vital when choosing a car. Now there are many car services like this site, which cover these topics as much as possible. Unfortunately, it is not such a fundamental question for me, so I chose a car by other criteria.

Last edited by PattyFalcon; 01-20-2023 at 09:53 AM..
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      01-23-2023, 04:13 AM   #15
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I was thinking about MMI box, the sound from it is comparing to original or is it worse?
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      01-23-2023, 06:15 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cinek07 View Post
I was thinking about MMI box, the sound from it is comparing to original or is it worse?
it’s same - no audio loss at all.
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