[Mr.Smartepants]

I'm looking to upgrade my dinky 6.5" "central information display", and I've got two distinct options for my 2017 F34 (ID4/NBT).
1: OEM BMW 8.8" screen (P/N 65506822626) plus a MMI box from various vendors.
2: Self-contained 10" Android screen replacement (basically a narrow tablet).

Option #1 is the most expensive unless I can find a cheap screen from a local junk yard, but screens are available on ebay for roughly £240 plus £300 for a MMI box.
Option #2 varies in price from £250-500 depending on RAM/processor.

Now, as I understand it, the various Android "tablet" screens need time to start up when you first start the car so are not instantly available for use. However, the OEM 8.8 screen/MMI option is available for use as soon as you start the car. Please correct me if I'm wrong about this!

I'd appreciate opinions and anecdotes from forum members with experience of either of these options.

[Mr.Smartepants]

Nobody?

[Oksamit78]

Originally Posted by Mr.Smartepants

... my 2017 F34 (ID4/NBT).

To tell you the truth, surprised with ID4 in your car... Mine is 2017 F34 with 2016-09-01 build date has the ID5 NBT.

Personally, I'm thinking about going with MMI box eventually.

I've had car stereos based on Android in the past. Yes the start-up is a little slow, but manageable. If you do decide to go this route, pick the one with largest RAM available.

[washufiddyfo]

I'm guessing you'll have far more luck in the more technical sections of the forum where you're not just posting for the much smaller subset of f34 drivers.
Get back to the main f30/f31 forum page at https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/index.php
The first one under Technical Forums is the nav / idrive etc.

[Mr.Smartepants]

Originally Posted by Oksamit78

To tell you the truth, surprised with ID4 in your car... Mine is 2017 F34 with 2016-09-01 build date has the ID5 NBT.

Yeah, I was surprised by that too. My car is UK-spec (right hand drive) but made in Germany at the end of 2016 (delivery wasn't until May 2017 though). I guess they were using up all the old parts or just distracted

[Mr.Smartepants]

Originally Posted by washufiddyfo

I'm guessing you'll have far more luck in the more technical sections of the forum where you're not just posting for the much smaller subset of f34 drivers.
Get back to the main f30/f31 forum page at https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/index.php
The first one under Technical Forums is the nav / idrive etc.

Thanks! There's tons of info in there.

[BimmerBren]

Hey! Sorry I don’t read bimmerpost often but I upgraded the screen in my f34 to a 10.25in touch screen with apple carplay. Definitely worth the $250ish USD I paid. With the upgraded system you can switch between carplay and the original with a long press of the menu button. I pretty much only use my original NBT system when I wanna check vehicle settings. As I’m writing this I forgot you’re looking for android auto but the head unit/touch screen I installed also accommodates android auto. I also installed this myself in about 2hours. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the easiest install but it is plug and play (no coding).

[KCee]

Originally Posted by BimmerBren

Hey! Sorry I don’t read bimmerpost often but I upgraded the screen in my f34 to a 10.25in touch screen with apple carplay. Definitely worth the $250ish USD I paid. With the upgraded system you can switch between carplay and the original with a long press of the menu button. I pretty much only use my original NBT system when I wanna check vehicle settings. As I’m writing this I forgot you’re looking for android auto but the head unit/touch screen I installed also accommodates android auto. I also installed this myself in about 2hours. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the easiest install but it is plug and play (no coding).

Do you have to take a lot of the dash apart for connections?

The larger screen with Android Auto is really the only upgrade I truly want for my car. I haven't seen any systems for <$500 though, but I might pay that since I spend a lot of time commuting.

[Mr.Smartepants]

Originally Posted by KCee

Do you have to take a lot of the dash apart for connections?

Not the dash itself, but the center console with the radio and upper/lower trim.

The screen I bought (received yesterday actually) was roughly $300 from AliExpress.

[BimmerBren]

Originally Posted by KCee

Do you have to take a lot of the dash apart for connections?
.

I had to take a part off the trim that goes along the whole dash which holds the AC vents. And you have to take off the radio trim I believe to access the screws to swap the screens. I recommend buying some wide trim tools but it’s really not difficult to take off the trim with just your hands.

To upgrade carplay I had to connect the mmi box to the NBT unit which involves plugging in and rerouting some wires. Swapping screens is very easy but the CarPlay wiring can be a pain.

[Gazza412]

i got this recently - https://www.bmwcustomz.co.uk/collect...android-system

its good but I'm having issues with the integration side, not sure if I've set it up properly or what but I cant access the OG car controls like radio or car information

anyone know if I have missed anything? I watched a couple videos and they showed a fibre optics cable on the harness, I don't have that

[Mr.Smartepants]

Originally Posted by Gazza412

i got this recently - https://www.bmwcustomz.co.uk/collect...android-system

its good but I'm having issues with the integration side, not sure if I've set it up properly or what but I cant access the OG car controls like radio or car information

anyone know if I have missed anything? I watched a couple videos and they showed a fibre optics cable on the harness, I don't have that

Mine didn't have a fibre optic cable either. To switch between BMW and Android systems, just hold the "menu" button down on the idrive controls for a few seconds.

[Crowbar Enthusiast]

This is a good conversation. I'd like to upgrade my display and functionality as well. I just can't decide which way to go