[Heethster]

Please do not shoot me down as I know there are lots of threads, but they become too technical for me!

My beloved E90 was smashed into so I now have a shortlist of F31 (LCI due to ULEZ, and tasty lights).

It was going to be a 320d but I've been driving a courtesy car with Apple Car Play. The wife and kids love it so I did a deal - we'll get Car Play if I can get a 330d or 335d. She actually agreed so I need to move fast! (Of course, I wear the trousers!).

So I've been looking for Car Play-equipped cars and there aren't many. Then a dealer told me I could buy car play if the car has the correct options. Unfortunately he wasn't sure other than need Professional Media.

Then he went on to say he has an Apple phone and doesn't need Car Play, so I have these questions:

1. What options/upgrades do I need to buy Car Play as an app?
2. Does the BMW system have full music functionality as per my Car Play experience (i.e. play music stored on my iPhone and show album art)?
3. Is Car Play actually needed - Waze aside?

Ok, that was 3 questions. Cheers

[muffking]

1. What options/upgrades do I need to buy Car Play as an app?

You need a late F30/31 with CarPlay built in. I forget the IDV number, but it's only available to be enabled or retrofitted to the post NBT system.


2. Does the BMW system have full music functionality as per my Car Play experience (i.e. play music stored on my iPhone and show album art)?

It mirrors from the phone if that answers your question.


3. Is Car Play actually needed - Waze aside?
Not needed for music is you have the Enhanced BlueTooth option. I have this on my 2014 NBT which streams music & album art via BlueTooth. The only thing I'm missing is Waze, which I would need Car Play for.

[Sam77]

You need pro nav after a certain date- not sure when but someone will advise. I think if you're going for LCI you should be ok, and you also need enhanced Bluetooth, which also comes with WiFi prep, then you can buy car play through the portal.

Using the native system You can still control music that's on your phone, including playlists and search through artists genres etc. It also pulls through artwork. The music doesn't need to be downloaded to your phone- if you use Apple Music, you just need to have stuff in your library, and it will stream through the native system in the car, obviously your device needs a data connection.
If you connect through USB, and you have a connected drive subscription you also have access to voice processing which improves voice commands and means you can use voice command to control music - e.g say "play Stormzy" ... it won't let you browse Apple Music generally though- I.e it won't let you browse music/playlists that aren't on your phone like it does in CarPlay. The native system also pulls full track listings etc, which you can fully control through the car controls, CarPlay isn't quite integrated in this regard- for instance the track/artist info doesn't pull through into the instrument cluster using CarPlay.

[Heethster]

Muffking & Sam77 - respek.
So basically I don't need Car Play.
Last question - to Muffking. Is the 330 enough?

[kitster]

I believe you need at least NBT Evo running iD5/6, prob 2017 onwards. For me the audio isn't why I got CarPlay, running full screen Waze/Google Maps were the killer features.

Wireless CarPlay also requires WiFi Antenna, which is pretty easy to install. It use the BT for the handshake but then switches to WiFi.

@Sam77 is correct, you don't get the same level of audio control. Using the steering wheel controls/HUD, all I can see is the next/previous track.

[RobUK]

Here's a useful page about the iDrive versions - https://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/ite...cic-nbt-nbtevo

As mentioned you need NBT Evo ID5 and above for Apple Carplay. So on F3x's that's the ones with 'tiles'.

[SkyJawa]

Originally Posted by Heethster

Muffking & Sam77 - respek.
So basically I don't need Car Play.
Last question - to Muffking. Is the 330 enough?

According to many the 320d is all the car you ever need, so 330/335 comes more down to personal choice if you want something quicker and smoother.

[gr4z]

I have ID4 with my 2016 440i. CarPlay is not available. Spotify works OK over BT or USB but sometimes crashes, requiring a restart of the app on your phone.