[steddyman]

I thought the I drive Touch controller was the handwriting module, or is that something different. I've seen plenty of NBT units for sale that come with the Touch Controller.

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by steddyman

I thought the I drive Touch controller was the handwriting module, or is that something different. I've seen plenty of NBT units for sale that come with the Touch Controller.

No. The iDrive Touch controller requires a Handwriting Module that you can't see, that mounts underneath the controller.

I have seen many NBT Retrofits for sale, with iDrive Touch controllers pictured, but usually the needed Handwriting Module is not shown, leaving me to conclude it is often not included.

Hers is the Touch Controller and Handwriting Module:

[steddyman]

Once again thanks for the detailed knowledge you are providing. I don't suppose you understand why those fakra connectors don't fit and what a converter would need to look like. If I could use a converter rather than modifying original connectors then there really are very few things preventing putting the original head unit back for servicing.

[shawnsheridan]

I thought the Fakra connector fit and it was just that the pinout was different so it was rewired using same connector housing.

[steddyman]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

I thought the Fakra connector fit and it was just that the pinout was different so it was rewired using same connector housing.

That doesn't look to be the case going by the picture under step 5 posted by 1lyfe above. Perhaps the original poster could chip in?

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by steddyman

That doesn't look to be the case going by the picture under step 5 posted by 1lyfe above. Perhaps the original poster could chip in?

I think going from CIC to NBT, the connector is the same, but the Pinout is different. I think in his case going from HU_CHAMP, the Pinout was surprisingly the same, but maybe connector housing was different.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

I think going from CIC to NBT, the connector is the same, but the Pinout is different. I think in his case going from HU_CHAMP, the Pinout was surprisingly the same, but maybe connector housing was different.

When 1lyfe was working on my F30 with CIC, he noted that the GPS Arial connector from my CIC was different and could not fit into the NBT so we had to break the connector to put the bare metal plug into the female end of the connector on the NBT.

For the HSD cable connecting the armrest USB to the combox, we had to run that to the front and also shave all the plastic around the connector so that we could rotate it 180 degrees to match the pinout for the NBT.

The only HSD connector that fit was the beige armrest USB cable and that can go right into the beige port on the NBT but the USB port will still not work since the pinout is different. I haven't tried this myself but I think you can just take the beige cable from your glove box, shave the connectors and rotate it 180 degrees to use the glove box USB port for media and data transfer. It's probably a lot easier than removing that 20 feet cable from the combox and running it back to the NBT.

[shawnsheridan]

Thanks for clarifying.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

You can run NBT with regular non touch iDrive controller. If you add touch controller, you have to add the handwriting module, which would have to be spliced in.

But, for any connection that is needed, splicing can be replaced with custom plug-n-play harnesses. Splicing is not necessary.

Any idea where the splicing is needed? I know that underneath the trim piece where the controller is connected to, there's a small 3 pin connector for the CIC controller.

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by Aritaurus

Any idea where the splicing is needed? I know that underneath the trim piece where the controller is connected to, there's a small 3 pin connector for the CIC controller.

No, sorry. Need to check ZBE Wiring in ISTA/D to see where it connects.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by steddyman

Once again thanks for the detailed knowledge you are providing. I don't suppose you understand why those fakra connectors don't fit and what a converter would need to look like. If I could use a converter rather than modifying original connectors then there really are very few things preventing putting the original head unit back for servicing.

I don't think it's even possible to have a 100% undetectable retrofit but most of the splicing and cutting is underneath all the panels so I highly doubt your dealer will ever find out unless they need to do some electrical work on your head unit.

Right now, all of my FAKRA connectors have their heads removed (Sat Radio, GPS Arial, FM Radio), my USB cable that original runs to the combox is completely pulled out and moved to the NBT with all the prongs shaved off the connector.

When I'm taking my car in for service, all I need to do is remove the centre console trim and the climate control piece, take out the NBT, put all the connectors back into the CIC and put the original screen back in. My USB port in the armrest will not work but I highly doubt that they will care. It's about a 10 minute swap.

[steddyman]

Thanks for the detailed response Aritaurus.

I will be coming from a new HU_ENTRY to HU_NBT. Are all my connections also not going to fit, or are they likely to be the right connectors already?

[steddyman]

One more question. Aren't all NBT units for the F30 from BMW Touch Pad versions? I'm being told by somebody selling a NBT unit with controller that it is not a Touch Pad version.

[shawnsheridan]

No. I think for U.S. Spec'd car, where NBT was introduced in F30 2014 Model Year, they are all iDrive 4.2 with Touch Controller, but in other parts of the world where NBT was introduced earlier, it came with older non-touch controller.

[steddyman]

Brilliant. Thanks again Shawn.

How easy is it to swap the non-touch Nav Pro controller for the HU_Entry one? There are two additional buttons for Media and Nav that are not on my current controller.

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by steddyman

Brilliant. Thanks again Shawn.

How easy is it to swap the non-touch Nav Pro controller for the HU_Entry one? There are two additional buttons for Media and Nav that are not on my current controller.

That should be a direct swap, with no additional wiring.

[steddyman]

Ace. Decisions made

[steddyman]

Would I need to somehow splice, then require the USB cable? Could be good if we could make this switched?

[steve@codemybimmer]

Don't worry about splicing. Just shave the connector so so that you can rotate it 180 degrees and you're good. That's what I did.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by steddyman

Thanks for the detailed response Aritaurus.

I will be coming from a new HU_ENTRY to HU_NBT. Are all my connections also not going to fit, or are they likely to be the right connectors already?

FM radio should be the same. Bluetooth Arial should fit as well. The only plug you need to modify is the armrest USB white hsd connector.

You will probably need to get a aftermarket gps arial and also shave that connector. 1lyfe currently has my CIC and he mentions that nav works fine with the aftermarket antenna. I think he just ran the cable to the top of the dash so it sits just below the windshield.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by steddyman

Brilliant. Thanks again Shawn.

How easy is it to swap the non-touch Nav Pro controller for the HU_Entry one? There are two additional buttons for Media and Nav that are not on my current controller.

Once you pry out the trim piece that holds the controller, there's one 3 pin connector that goes into the controller. You just need to plug that into the CIC controller and you're good.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by steddyman

Thanks for the detailed response Aritaurus.

I will be coming from a new HU_ENTRY to HU_NBT. Are all my connections also not going to fit, or are they likely to be the right connectors already?

Btw, do you have the 6WA cluster or the basic cluster? If you have the basic cluster, you won't be able the see the directional arrows when route guidance is running.