[rexmatt]

Hello All!
I started a thread a few days ago about the 2017 BMW 330e that I am planning to buy. The only feature missing from the car is Carplay. I have been looking at my options, and it's quite confusing.
The three different options that I have seen are Bimmertech, Defined Coding, and various eBay sellers. The confusing thing to me is their prices;

Bimmertech is $400
Defined Coding is $200
and The eBay prices range from about $35 to about $100

Here are the questions I have:
Why are they all so different?
Do they all support full-screen CarPlay?
Should eBay be trusted with this considering the unbelievably cheap price?
Has anyone done coding to an F30 already with an NBT Evo, how did it go?

The only thing that makes me consider the eBay option is the amount sold, and reviews. Almost all of the sellers had great reviews, and one of the sellers had sold over 300 CarPlay retrofits. If the eBay route is legitimate, how is it so cheap in comparison to these other trusted businesses?

Thanks!

Edit: I'm not actually sure if the exact car I'm looking at comes with CarPlay or not. It's one of those websites that delivers, and some other 2017 330e's are labeled as having CarPlay, but this specific car isn't. It might've just not gotten labeled on the website though, because on Apple's website it says that the 2017 3 series does have CarPlay.

[Danddd]

I think the 2017 models were capable of carplay due to a more recent NBT. Does the one your looking at have a recent NBT? What's the link to ebay?

[s55jesus]

You can also get it directly from BMW. I think there was a thread here awhile ago saying that they are no longer charging for this option and anyone who purchased it before can get a refund. Not sure if that only applies to the newest BMW's but thats what I've been hearing. My 2017 F30 already came with CarPlay when I bought the car so.

[rexmatt]

Originally Posted by Danddd

I think the 2017 models were capable of carplay due to a more recent NBT. Does the one your looking at have a recent NBT? What's the link to ebay?

I'm also pretty sure that's the case. As far as I can tell online, all of the 2017+ BMWs are equipped with the NBT evo.

Here is a few links to some of the eBay listings I was looking at:
(Although an eBay search reveals A LOT of them)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254126008338


https://www.ebay.com/itm/113983749386


https://www.ebay.com/itm/223298704743

As I said before, I'm having a hard time believing that this is legitimate due to the pricing, but on one of those listings, the seller had sold over 300 of them with good reviews.

[rexmatt]

Originally Posted by eff80m3

You can also get it directly from BMW. I think there was a thread here awhile ago saying that they are no longer charging for this option and anyone who purchased it before can get a refund. Not sure if that only applies to the newest BMW's but thats what I've been hearing. My 2017 F30 already came with CarPlay when I bought the car so.

Huh, interesting. It seems odd for Bimmertech to charge $400 for something that you could go and get at the dealership for free.
How does CarPlay work for you? Does your car have the full-screen variant? I wonder in the dealer-installed version is the 2/3 CarPlay or the full screen. I think that the 8.8 inch screen with full-screen Carplay looks stellar!

[s55jesus]

Originally Posted by rexmatt

Huh, interesting. It seems odd for Bimmertech to charge $400 for something that you could go and get at the dealership for free.
How does CarPlay work for you? Does your car have the full-screen variant? I wonder in the dealer-installed version is the 2/3 CarPlay or the full screen. I think that the 8.8 inch screen with full-screen Carplay looks stellar!

It is the 2/3 screen. My CarPlay option came from factory as it was included in the original window sticker. I think the full screen is only for the newer BMW's as my loaner 2020 M340i had the full screen CarPlay. But there are services on eBay that claim to give the older BMW's the full screen capability for like 40 bucks but I'm a bit reluctant.

[rexmatt]

Originally Posted by eff80m3

It is the 2/3 screen. My CarPlay option came from factory as it was included in the original window sticker. I think the full screen is only for the newer BMW's as my loaner 2020 M340i had the full screen CarPlay. But there are services on eBay that claim to give the older BMW's the full screen capability for like 40 bucks but I'm a bit reluctant.

Ahh,
Those eBay listings that I was looking at claim to give full-screen CarPlay. Bimmertech (who I trust) sells a coding file to convert 2/3 to full-screen CarPlay, however like installing Carplay in the first place, so does eBay for a fraction of the price...
I just don't see how the eBay route could be legitimate if Bimmertech sells it for so much more.

[s55jesus]

Originally Posted by rexmatt

Ahh,
Those eBay listings that I was looking at claim to give full-screen CarPlay. Bimmertech (who I trust) sells a coding file to convert 2/3 to full-screen CarPlay, however like installing Carplay in the first place, so does eBay for a fraction of the price...
I just don't see how the eBay route could be legitimate if Bimmertech sells it for so much more.

To be honest, I think Bimmertech is a bit overpriced. But that's just me personally. Also, eBay guarantees money back so I might just pull the trigger to see if their services actually work on my car.

[rexmatt]

Originally Posted by eff80m3

To be honest, I think Bimmertech is a bit overpriced. But that's just me personally. Also, eBay guarantees money back so I might just pull the trigger to see if their services actually work on my car.

BimmerTech is TOTALLY overpriced. They sell their F30 wireless charger retrofit for $300!!
I was able to find the exact same thing on eBay for less than $100! Still expensive IMO, but better than $300...

With the money-back guarantee, go for it!
If all goes well, Report back the name of the seller!