Speed limits and alerts (UK)

[placetobe]

I've joined the i3 cult, helped very significantly by a friend who will probably notice this thread. 2018 with REX, basic model.

The BMW navigation is ok, but I really miss the speed limit info from Google Maps. From researching a bit (including on here) it seems fairly clear that you can't get the iDrive display of the speed limits if you don't have the hardware (Drive Assist?).

I think my options are:

1. Drive more carefully and pay attention to road signs. Obviously a good thing.
2. Use an app with audible alerts (e.g. Waze though I've heard the alerts are flaky). I'm on Android, which makes this harder (I don't want the expense and faff of trying to get Android Auto working). I have an old iPhone which I could probably get running, though.
3. Buy a dedicated device, e.g. an Aguri or Snooper dashcam with speed alerts. But these require manual map updates which would also be bit dull.

Has anyone else in the UK recently gone through this process? Where did you end up, pun intended?

 

[JamesInLondon]

My i3 didn’t have either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto fitted when I bought it, so one of the first things I did was to have an aftermarket unit fitted under the rear seat which gives me both.

 

[placetobe]

My i3 didn’t have either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto fitted when I bought it, so one of the first things I did was to have an aftermarket unit fitted under the rear seat which gives me both.

Which unit? Though it may be a while ago.

 

[JamesInLondon]

This is he unit I had fitted
https://unique-ad.co.uk/product/wireless-carplay-bmw-i3-widescreen-8-8/

 

[Wing Pang]

I also had a unit fitted under the rear seat and reused the existing screen for Android Auto. I can recommend the people who did mine if you are in the Midlands or DIY if you are competent enough.

 

[jfran2]

I suspect you've already tried this, but on my 2015 i3 Rex, you go to "Settings, Instrument Cluster and Speed Limit Information." Maybe that's just on cars with Adaptive Cruise Control, though.

 

[oldstumpybiker]

Just a word of warning on aftermarket apple/android car play devices, Wisely Automotive (UK i3 specialists, I recommend following them on YouTube) advise against them as I think they said they can cause problems with the cars software, sorry I can't put a link to their article as I can't find it at the mo, but there's one in their many excellent posts somewhere.

 

[drcarrera]

I find Waze just as reliable (if not more so) than the in built camera-based systems on our other cars which frequently miss speed limit signs or unrestricted signs, so that's what I use (on Android). It has the advantage of warnings for hazards such as potholes and speed cameras as well.

 

[g0rsq]

Just a word of warning on aftermarket apple/android car play devices, Wisely Automotive (UK i3 specialists, I recommend following them on YouTube) advise against them as I think they said they can cause problems with the cars software, sorry I can't put a link to their article as I can't find it at the mo, but there's one in their many excellent posts somewhere.

Would like more details, as contemplating fitting one soon.

 

[JamesInLondon]

Just a word of warning on aftermarket apple/android car play devices, Wisely Automotive (UK i3 specialists, I recommend following them on YouTube) advise against them as I think they said they can cause problems with the cars software, sorry I can't put a link to their article as I can't find it at the mo, but there's one in their many excellent posts somewhere.

That’s interesting, my car came from Wisely and when Arthur drove it some time later, he commented on the Apple Car play gizmo and asked me for the details of where mine came from. He never said anything negative about it at all

 

[oldstumpybiker]

I'm sorry I can't direct you to the specific part, I think it was Martin doing a video about one of their i3's, he just said it as a passing comment on that particular car which had it as an aftermarket fitting rather than originally fitted by BMW, something he just said to be careful about, I don't think that car had any issues at the time but that he had seen issues in other i3's that didn't have factory fitted software/hardware. I'd have to re-watch dozens of videos to pick it out!

 

[tob1as]

I’ve run an aftermarket (Alibaba sourced) unit for close to 5 years now in a 2017 US spec i3. The unit itself occasionally forgets the phone connection/has to reboot, but the car software seems unaffected in any way (as far as I can tell).

 

[placetobe]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

So far as I know (from my knowledgeable friend), if you connect Google Map/Waze/ABRP via Auto/CarPlay you don't get any real change in function compared to the phone? For example, I like the nice BMW navigation lane display.

Probably the simplest and dullest option is to put my Android phone in a cradle and have the apps running on it for a while in parallel, to see whether I prefer them. I could certainly do that with Waze for speed limit alerts.

In terms of aftermarket, anyone used https://premiumretrofit.net/product/premiumretrofit-mmi-v6/ ?

 

[tob1as]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

So far as I know (from my knowledgeable friend), if you connect Google Map/Waze/ABRP via Auto/CarPlay you don't get any real change in function compared to the phone? For example, I like the nice BMW navigation lane display.

Probably the simplest and dullest option is to put my Android phone in a cradle and have the apps running on it for a while in parallel, to see whether I prefer them. I could certainly do that with Waze for speed limit alerts.

In terms of aftermarket, anyone used https://premiumretrofit.net/product/premiumretrofit-mmi-v6/ ?

 

[tob1as]

That’s exactly my point: With an MMI kit (like I installed - similar to what you linked but direct order through Alibaba for lower cost), apple car play, an OBDII Bluetooth dongle (connected to the Mi3 app), and linked to ABPR, you get modern route planning, including weather, traffic, and direct linked data from the vehicle on state of charge and “real-time” (less the small communication delay between Mi3 and ABRP) consumption. It makes it a modern system, unlike the legacy BMW system, which looks antiquated and lacks updates. It still is easy to switch between the MMI unit and the BMW head unit by just pushing and holding the “menu” button on the iDrive controller (toggles between MMI and stock BMW system), to access vehicle info (like tire pressure, climate control settings, radio, short cut buttons, etc.). The only thing this won’t do is battery preconditioning for the charging stops, but that isn’t available on i3-s anyways and probably not necessary/of limited use at 50kW/h max charge speed.