[lehtee]

Originally Posted by Firefly1337

First of all, thanks for the review!




What is your original HeadUnit called?
NBT does not ship with 6.5" screen, do you have HU_ENTRY?
So no AUX cable, does that mean you connected the optical cable from the original quadlock connector?

Can you upload a screenshot of your version screen?

Thanks!

I don't remember the HU_ name, can check later. not sure if its exactly 6.5” but its small. It's 2016 model so it's definitely NBT.

Yes connected optical cable (2-pin) from original quadlock to android qudlock, as the instructions said.

[floc]

Originally Posted by Firefly1337

What is your original HeadUnit called?

same android headunit from exclusivecarauto (thus, great support imho, I will buy from them again for sure!).

I had NBT_EVO (Base variant: HU_NBT2) and no aux cable needed. Just unplug 2 optical cable from original quadlock and stick in original headunit once the Y quadlock adaptor is set. No need to hook the aux cable to the armrest

[Firefly1337]

Originally Posted by lehtee

I don't remember the HU_ name, can check later. not sure if its exactly 6.5” but its small. It's 2016 model so it's definitely NBT.

'NBT' is always Navi Professional i.e. 8.8" (or 10.25" in some models), for example with the split screen functionality.
Small screen in that model year is either 'Entry' (Radio Prof) or 'EntryNav' (Navi Business).

Originally Posted by lehtee

Yes connected optical cable (2-pin) from original quadlock to android qudlock, as the instructions said.

Originally Posted by floc

I had NBT_EVO (Base variant: HU_NBT2) and no aux cable needed. Just unplug 2 optical cable from original quadlock and stick in original headunit once the Y quadlock adaptor is set. No need to hook the aux cable to the armrest

Very good to hear!
With good audio quality I am thinking of buying. But at the current rate of updates I think I will still wait a couple of months until all bugs are fixed (and maybe some other improvements are available).

[machman767]

Similar to lehtee I thought I too would put my thoughts down, information as they say is power!

My 2017 car had nearly everything I wanted but only business nav so the small 6.5" screen plus no chance of having CarPlay which I find very useful, it being available in my wife's Citroen C1! Having previously had an Avin 4.4.4 unit in my last car, which I was more than happy with, I decided to order from them again, one of their 9.0 models with separate CarPlay adapter.

Installation was straightforward (had to move optic cable, did NOT have to run cable to aux plug) having previously installed one, but this time I added a nav splitter from Amazon even though the idea was to use CarPlay only not any of the native apps. One top of this I also had the screen coding done (thanks, Michael) so when in OEM side the screen was properly filled plus I could have split screen, happy days. When I got home from coding the OEM nav placed me about 8 miles from my home location, tried everything to resolve it to no avail so put everything back to stock and had the coding put back as I booked the car in for investigation. Low and behold it sorted its self out so cancelled visit to garage and reinstalled unit but without splitter, everything worked well. Redid the screen coding and everything is still fine but no gps plugged into unit, no issue as I'm just using CarPlay.

Incidentally, I got the Avin wireless dongle which I'm plugging into so my phone keeps charged, I have tried it wirelessly and it works perfectly, sound quality is just the same as OEM. Screen is readable even when the English sun decides to shine, there was a set of screen protectors included which I didn't order, haven't got round to installing one. Idrive control works well, can do everything in CarPlay without issue, haven't tried steering wheel controls but have rarely used them anyway.

Delivery from Hong Kong took about 5 days to uk, had to pay DHL £20 odd for customs but overall very happy with it. Reading this thread regularly I can't understand why updates are constantly being looked for, unless people are having problems, if it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto!

Avin have now got a support website up and running so I guess as and when there are any updates they will be there so I just check now and again.

So overall very impressed with it, the newer all black screen looks more OEM and the display is spot on, I would have no hesitation in recommending it, I guess all these units are broadly the same so it's the old "you pay your money, you take your pick" situation.

Mick

[lehtee]

Originally Posted by Firefly1337

'NBT' is always Navi Professional i.e. 8.8" (or 10.25" in some models), for example with the split screen functionality.
Small screen in that model year is either 'Entry' (Radio Prof) or 'EntryNav' (Navi Business).

Not sure where you got that info from,but I checked with bimmercode and my HU is HU_NBT. And it was 6,5”. Here you can see someone with the same screen: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1367465, no nav.

[Firefly1337]

Originally Posted by lehtee

Not sure where you got that info from,but I checked with bimmercode and my HU is HU_NBT. And it was 6,5”. Here you can see someone with the same screen: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1367465, no nav.

TIL, thanks!
That's very weird, I guess it's different for non-german markets.

[floc]

Originally Posted by Firefly1337

[...] I think I will still wait a couple of months until all bugs are fixed (and maybe some other improvements are available).

I don't have any "real" bug, there are only 2 issues:
- original knob only works in original interface (home app imitating id6/id7 bmw interface) and not in other launcher or apps like nova launcher/spotify and so on
- navigator instructions (navigation audio channel) have a background noises if I dont start original media app before start the navigation apps.
Fixed with tasker opening/killing original app at startup

About the sim card, 3g works decently despite the bands are not optimal for europe. It's not blazing fast but is sufficient for google assitant spotify and navigation.

[Kri]

Originally Posted by DarkIrata

Did someone tried installing / using Magisk on the Snapdragon HU?

what benefit would magisk have ?

probably the main issue is that you have no usb keyboard support at bootloader /normal recovery Menu.

the only thing where usb keyboard was working was at a critical issue with message "can`t load Android system",
where i was able to select "try again" or "factory data reset".

Chri

[seaman5705]

I wonder if touch function of newer idrive buttons could be used with this Android units.
I would very much like to use this like a touchpad, thus avoiding to touch the screen.

[lehtee]

Originally Posted by seaman5705

I wonder if touch function of newer idrive buttons could be used with this Android units.
I would very much like to use this like a touchpad, thus avoiding to touch the screen.

This. I know you can connect a mouse to an android device via USB/bluetooth and it will show a cursor just like on PC.

I think one solution is you could get some touchpad from aliexpress, mount it in convenient place and connect it to android with USB/BT.

[floc]

Originally Posted by seaman5705

I wonder if touch function of newer idrive buttons could be used with this Android units.
I would very much like to use this like a touchpad, thus avoiding to touch the screen.

as written, idrive only works in original (redish) home app, not in android. So, no touchpad functions.

[zimasha]

Originally Posted by lehtee

This. I know you can connect a mouse to an android device via USB/bluetooth and it will show a cursor just like on PC.

I think one solution is you could get some touchpad from aliexpress, mount it in convenient place and connect it to android with USB/BT.

https://youtu.be/PPa5-Q9vdSc

Check this out. I made this video with my old 4 4.4 unit, but it still works with my new px6 androud 9 unit.
I have bought it from aliexpress a year ago, i can not find it in stock now, but it was also available on ebay. Just search idrive touch mouse cover.

[zimasha]

Installation guide

[Adamantio]

Hi guys, I currently have an Android 8.1 on my F36 purchased from naviodm, I would be willing to switch to the Snapdragon 4-64 Android 9.0 unit but I have 2 curiosities:With Android 8.1 I am succeeding in having OEM audio and Android audio at the same time, in the sense that while listening to the OEM radio, I can also listen to the voice of Google maps (but the audio only comes from the left speaker), is it normal or is it a bug?(in case it is normal I am happy, because in this way I do not have to switch over with the AUX source every time).
I wonder if switching to Android 9.0 I will lose this feature or not

[lehtee]

Originally Posted by zimasha

https://youtu.be/PPa5-Q9vdSc

Check this out. I made this video with my old 4 4.4 unit, but it still works with my new px6 androud 9 unit.
I have bought it from aliexpress a year ago, i can not find it in stock now, but it was also available on ebay. Just search idrive touch mouse cover.

Nice,looks great! Too bad I can’t seem to find that on sale anywhere (aliexpress/ebay)

[marakeh]

Originally Posted by Firefly1337

TIL, thanks!
That's very weird, I guess it's different for non-german markets.

normal for 2015+ models.

the radio prof for those models are castrated nbts with a lower end dsp 4x35w vs 4x50.

- removed gps header
- removed optical harness (optical header still available)

[seaman5705]

Originally Posted by zimasha

https://youtu.be/PPa5-Q9vdSc

Check this out. I made this video with my old 4 4.4 unit, but it still works with my new px6 androud 9 unit.
I have bought it from aliexpress a year ago, i can not find it in stock now, but it was also available on ebay. Just search idrive touch mouse cover.

This is what I meant . I think I've seen your achievement on another forum.
It was a site who sold this mouse cover , but I could not finalize transaction for some reason . I could not find anywhere else this cover.
I my original interface , touch idrive button is pretty useless.

[seaman5705]

Originally Posted by lehtee

This. I know you can connect a mouse to an android device via USB/bluetooth and it will show a cursor just like on PC.

I think one solution is you could get some touchpad from aliexpress, mount it in convenient place and connect it to android with USB/BT.

I explored this possibility but the touchpads on aliexpress are big and ugly. Mo space to integrate them in center console .
zimash's solution is what I want . I've even seen someone using only that touch cover in the central console

[Kri]

Originally Posted by zimasha

https://youtu.be/PPa5-Q9vdSc

Check this out. I made this video with my old 4 4.4 unit, but it still works with my new px6 androud 9 unit.
I have bought it from aliexpress a year ago, i can not find it in stock now, but it was also available on ebay. Just search idrive touch mouse cover.

Hey zimasha, how where you able to connect to BT mouse ?
Afaik all HU`S from Android 7.1 on have locked BT Module which does only work with the built in BT Telephone app anymore, and is not visible to Android itself.
Or is BT on your Unit unlocked on Android side ?

Originally Posted by Adamantio

Hi guys, I currently have an Android 8.1 on my F36 purchased from naviodm, I would be willing to switch to the Snapdragon 4-64 Android 9.0 unit but I have 2 curiosities:With Android 8.1 I am succeeding in having OEM audio and Android audio at the same time, in the sense that while listening to the OEM radio, I can also listen to the voice of Google maps (but the audio only comes from the left speaker), is it normal or is it a bug?(in case it is normal I am happy, because in this way I do not have to switch over with the AUX source every time).
I wonder if switching to Android 9.0 I will lose this feature or not

This behaviour is a feature not a bug
Alot of manufacturers do promote that gps voice commands do come from the left front speaker.

Chri

[smahel]

look at post 233l, you will see a tiny USB BT dongle ...

[seaman5705]

It would be interesting to find what kind of input sends original idrive touch function to the original unit and see if it can be converted in an usb input to use with Android unit.

[rsm_CR]

Originally Posted by seaman5705

It would be interesting to find what kind of input sends original idrive touch function to the original unit and see if it can be converted in an usb input to use with Android unit.

I guess the Chinese already figured that out if it already works in their launcher, right? I'm no developer but I think that'd be an interesting starting point in trying to reverse engineer this thing.