Apple car play/Android auto on older i3's

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Joined
Sep 24, 2024
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A while ago I said to be careful about aftermarket fitting of the above, as opposed to OEM. I couldn't find the YouTube mention of this by Wisely (UK), but yesterday they have released a new video on this subject, well worth a watch.
It turns out if you have BMW do any work on your i3 & they check your cars software, any non OEM stuff may be disabled & probably "brick" your head unit. Here's a screenshot of part of their YouTube page.
 

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Let’s simplify things because there’s a lot being discussed in the video, unnecessarily. What we know is that for i3s manufactured after 2017, it is possible to activate CarPlay via software on the EVO and Entrynav 2 head units using codes that can be purchased from various sources. These software patches the head unit and uses a fake FSC to activate it. The issue arises when the dealer wants to update the software. In most cases, only CarPlay disappears and the navigation menu gets greyed out. In the worst case, the update stops and the head unit gets bricked.

In the first case, simply running the CarPlay installation software again will fix everything. In the second case, the head unit needs to be reflashed, which is a more complicated task, but it can be done remotely, and we can help with that. The downside is if the car is under warranty, it could void the warranty for the entire infotainment system, which could be a problem.

For those who don’t want to take any risks, or have an older system but want Android Auto or CarPlay functionality, the MMI Box is definitely the solution. Among these, I’d like to highlight our own product, which is specifically designed for the i3. It doesn’t interfere with the car’s OEM system at all, and it’s very easy to install in just a few minutes under the back seat without needing to route any long cables through the car or disassemble anything. This means there’s no risk of breaking plastic parts or fasteners.

It has numerous advantages over other MMI modules available on the market. The hardware and software are significantly more advanced. But for those interested, check out the feedback in our Facebook group and on the product page.

www.premiumretrofit.net
 
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