Apple CarPlay Retrofit Upgrade is available for those BMW F Badge vehicles, from 2012 to 2016

Factory Apple CarPlay Setup - For iDrive NBT-EVO 6 equipped vehicles

As Apple CarPlay is available for latest models from car manufacturers, most of 'near new' or recent models are left with same / similar looking Infotainment screen systems, yet missing out Apple CarPlay features and can't be updated.

Due to most of Factory infotainment systems those came out before Apple CarPlay equipped one, will not have video inputs to support connecting your phone

for Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto also.

In BMW's situation, from 2017, most of BMW vehicles came out with either iDrive 5 or iDrive 6, whilst both of them are considered as a iDrive NBT-EVO and supports Apple CarPlay via download form BMW's ConnectedDrive.

Whilst is a great gesture that BMW do offers one like Mercedes Benz and Audi, It is only available if vehicle has ConnectedDrive feature which is also an optional package, with additional purchased involved, and same goes to Apple CarPlay app.

Furthermore, ConnectedDrive is only available for after 2014 (MY15) model, and seems to be not retrofit-able for those vehicles already delivered, and mostly, only compatible with professional / business version iDrive (with big screen display ones), with version above iD5.

Having said that, early F series models or vehicle got delivered without one seems near impossible to obtain Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto - (which, Android Auto is officially not supported by BMW)

So the questions are, Will BMW provide support for those cases, and will owners in that situation not be able to get one in their vehicle?

In our opinion, the answers are No and Yes.

Us Naviplus team, have been offering smartphone Mirroring System for BMW vehicles for last couple of years, throughout Australia and our customers from overseas - mainly from Europe.

And now, we are officially providing an Apple CarPlay also, for those BMW vehicles from 2012 (MY13) to current, those with iDrive CIC-NBT models without Apple CarPlay nor EVO grade audio setup by BMW.

Without change nor removal of anything from the vehicle, we provide complete retrofit type Apple CarPlay Platform into non-EVO iDrive CIC-NBT system.

Which will result with Apple CarPlay system to be displayed on the existing iDrive screen - regardless of the screen size nor vehicle difference, and you will be able to connect your iPhone to dedicated USB port, and control with existing iDrive Controller.

Which works like below

Just like above, up on press and hold of MENU button on iDrive controller, will switch screen display mode between iDrive radio and Apple CarPlay mode.

And from there, you can use existing iDrive controller to move around ,select app and command via button / voice with SiRi.

Those of you are seeing this blog post right now, may have some knowledge or have basic idea of what Apple CarPlay is and how it actually works - yet for those of you who aren't , let us breakdown the benefit of having CarPlay in your bimmer.

CONTROL of the iPhone on the iDrive Screen.

If you still need to use your phone while driving, at least use it through car audio screen with full control of essential features, supported by Apple.

Here's what you will find in the Apple CarPlay once meets with your BMW's iDrive, with Naviplus's Integration service.

Navigation with Apple Maps / Waze GPS app – Free turn-by-turn navigation with lane guidance, live traffic conditions, points of interest, and more
Hands-free phone and messaging – Make calls and send messages without taking your hands off the wheel, via Phone and iMessage
Info and assistance – Get weather, traffic, commute information and more organized into simple cards
Bring your music – Listen to your music and playlists in the car with your built-in stereo system

GPS NAVIGATION WITH APPLE MAP

Perhaps the main & solid reason why people are after the Apple CarPlay in their vehicle.

Well known accuracy and Live Traffic service provided by Apple Map's Navigation along with its great voice command and recognition - It will come in to your BMW's iDrive screen.

Although iDrive system do supports Navigation and as well as Realtime Traffic, again - some vehicles do not come with Navigation as a standard & Realtime can be provided only if the vehicle has ConnectedDrive.

With bare minimum consumption of mobile data from your iphone, It will provide latest GPS Map info, Live Traffic, fastest route for your destination and stress free of map update.

Not to mention It will search wherever you want to go with simple voice command.

MEDIA STREAMING -MUSIC

If you are in the car, Odds are that you want to listen to music while driving, even want more if you happened to have some flyest jams in your phone.

With Apple CarPlay, along with Music App and Spotify that everyone uses, It will provide live stream of music through car speakers, without touching your phone for just 1 second.

Communication - Handsfree iMessage and PHONE calL

Whilst Apple CarPlay is involved with an idea of 'using mobile phone while driving', at the same time it's set to offer a safer driving experience.

There will be a time that you will need to check your phone while driving, and it is indeed dangerous act for both you and others on the road.

Luckily, Apple CarPlay supports Messaging function, that reads out the message to you and reply to it without you actually touching the phone.

Also with Phone call, whether It will collaborate with Factory fitted bluetooth phone call feature, and also own phone call mic and more.

Compatibility

And compatible with vehicles of below:

BMW F20 1 SERIES

BMW F22 2 SERIES

BMW F30 3 SERIES

BMW F32 4 SERIES

BMW F10 5 SERIES 2013 - 2017

BMW F06 6 SERIES

BMW F01 7 SERIES

BMW F48 X1

BMW F25 X3

BMW F15 X5

BMW F16 X6

All of them are supported, those with CIC High NBT iDrive displays,

regardless of the iDrive screen size.

In case you are confused - above vehicles are compatible with Naviplus' BMW Apple CarPlay Retrofit service, not that those vehicles have it already and ready to be used from the purchase of the vehicle.

Which, We confirm with confidence that this will work with above vehicle, without any change nor removal from the car in terms of appearance and feature wise.

Naviplus's Apple CarPlay Retrofit service for BMW with CIC-NBT iDrive is currently available, for local customers in Melbourne VIC Australia and soon to be expand to Aus-wide and World-wide.

Thank you for reading, and click below link if you require a further information.