Wireless CarPlay and AA on stock MKIV nav screen, including touch screen support!

[sev]

so in the US we either need the TV tuner unit OR the retrofit cable or both? im not sure I'm clear

[Bry5on]

However, the USA cars would need to decide how they will fit it, whether replacing mk4 nav or adding tv tuner retrofit loom. One is free, but lose the mk4 interface and the other costs are around $150(need to check with dealers in the US).

When you say lose mk4, do you mean just the navigation function, or the whole native BMW interface (radio tuner, CD changer, etc)?

I’m sure most people here in the US would be happy to give up the native nav interface alone for CarPlay, particularly since most cars came with business CD. I’d love to be able to retrofit to this touchscreen with CarPlay while keeping my rear view camera.

Two more questions: 1) What’s the resolution of the touchscreen and 2) Do CarPlay phone calls use the OEM microphone?

Thanks!

[TropicalM3]

My M3 was originally equipped with the "Business" audio unit. Besides moving the HVAC controls down, what would be required to swap in a MKIV?

Jesse

Think you would have to change out the radio harness to accomplish this.

[Baris - Carphonics]

Part number for the TV tuner retrofit loom is 61120144096

[Baris - Carphonics]

As mentioned you can still use intravee or bluebus, since the cd changer connectors do not get used.
The carplay works off the auxiliary mode, to be able to get stereo sound. For older cars without auxiliary it will work off the tv tuner audio output. It won’t have left and right signal, but the sound quality will still be good and the carplay has options to adjust bass and treble.

Ay big dawg, just wanted to say the track vid of your car vs. the B7 RS4 was always a favorite hahaha.

That being said, let me know if an M5 kit would make sense, I could setup a group that would be interested in this.

Classic video

Group buy is possible. However, the USA cars would need to decide how they will fit it, whether replacing mk4 nav or adding tv tuner retrofit loom. One is free, but lose the mk4 interface and the other costs are around $150(need to check with dealers in the US). Both the e46 coupe and e39 already should have the brackets for the tv tuner.

l could ask someone in UK if they want to make multiple TV retrofit looms, as he has done a few.

For cars without factory navigation system, I am working on making a loom for it, as I have had quite a few enquiries for it. Or you can buy the retrofit loom from the dealers, but it costs over £250 in UK.

[D-O]

My M3 was originally equipped with the "Business" audio unit. Besides moving the HVAC controls down, what would be required to swap in a MKIV?

Jesse

[BMWahba]

I thought the Car Phonics product with CarPlay would be connected via Bluetooth and allow music streaming? Wouldn't that take the place of the BB then?

In theory yeah, carplay would do everything music wise the BlueBus does.
Where the BlueBus comes in is all the other UI features, coolant temp, oil temp, etc.

[Sharocks]

Thank you everyone for the kind words. This new product has excited me for my car system as well.
I have tried a few different android headunits in my car in the past and they were either too slow, and too slow to boot up once the ignition is turned on. I was never a fan of the branded systems, as they never looked right in the car.
With this product, I’ve designed it so it comes on as soon as you unlock the car or open the door. So by the time you get in and turn the ignition on, it would have paired with your phone and you’re ready to go.

I believe in the USA, most cars didn’t come with a TV tuner. The carplay / android auto is installed into the tv tuner. You have an option of either replacing the navigation unit with the tv tuner, or buying a tv tuner retrofit loom from bmw or eBay.
If you replace the navigation unit, then your original system will use the tv tuner graphics. But once clicked onto carplay/android auto, it doesn’t matter so much. This is how I have my car setup now. (Lightweight track car!)

A see a few questions about the touchscreen. I would need to modify the monitor for this to work, and then a cable is fed from the monitor to the tv tuner in the boot.
If you have a cd player or are using tape, those functions still work.

To change the television wording to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it’s done via the mk4 navigation unit, using a modified firmware disc. Cannot do it with just the TV tuner option.

Any other questions anyone has, I’m happy to answer.

Ay big dawg, just wanted to say the track vid of your car vs. the B7 RS4 was always a favorite hahaha.

That being said, let me know if an M5 kit would make sense, I could setup a group that would be interested in this.

[George Hill]

Could also do both! I think that’s where my M5 will end up.

I thought the Car Phonics product with CarPlay would be connected via Bluetooth and allow music streaming? Wouldn't that take the place of the BB then?

[Obioban]

This is really awesome. Looking forward to seeing some real world feedback. I'm building a new car and was planning on a MKIV retrofit with a bluebus, but this is now something certainly worth considering as well.

Could also do both! I think that’s where my M5 will end up.

[George Hill]

This is really awesome. Looking forward to seeing some real world feedback. I'm building a new car and was planning on a MKIV retrofit with a bluebus, but this is now something certainly worth considering as well.

[Baris - Carphonics]

Some more close up photos. Ignore the ripples, as that’s just the camera making that effect.

[Baris - Carphonics]

I'm trying to get an idea of the image quality. Not worried about the reverse camera. I've previously had a car pc using the composite input so I know it has limits especially on the ~400x234 LCD.

Do you have any close up shots showing the image quality?

Here are some photos I took in high resolution.

[Shonky]

It uses the composite input. If you have rear camera on your car, I would need to add relays inside the tv tuner, to replace the ones you have in your car.

I'm trying to get an idea of the image quality. Not worried about the reverse camera. I've previously had a car pc using the composite input so I know it has limits especially on the ~400x234 LCD.

Do you have any close up shots showing the image quality?

[Baris - Carphonics]

Is this using the composite rear camera input on the TV tuner (I think) or is it using RGsB?

It uses the composite input. If you have rear camera on your car, I would need to add relays inside the tv tuner, to replace the ones you have in your car.