Another 6 Speaker Upgrade plus Apple CarPlay - Subwoofers Installed!

[Silverstar]

Following on from Mr Tourette's thread where I upgraded the speakers which can found here:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=125344

I have now decided to take it a little further whilst still keeping to a relatively low budget. Just changing the speakers as per the previous thread has made a big difference to the sound quality but now these boxes arrived and also Apple CarPlay / Android Auto MMI box (not in the photo):

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The plan is to power the upgraded speakers with the JBL 4 channel amp whilst getting a signal via the AudioControl LC6i. I could just bypass the LC6i and connect via the high level input on the amp that would be simpler but having spoken to a couple of car audio specialist installers and researching off the web it seems the general consensus is that there is a way better quality input signal to be had using the LC6i rather than just connecting via high level inputs. Later on I will add another amp and a couple of subs. This is all a bit of work in progress so I shall update this thread as and when things get done, which seems to very slowly these days.

First I connected the MMI box with some help from Anubiszed. Installing this box is pretty straight forward, it comes with a T Harness which fits in between the head unit and the car's loom. You also need to connect to the aux port under the armrest, which I did by running the cable under centre console by simply tucking it in where the console meets the carpet and then up and under the lid round about where the passenger seat side bolster is so it the cable can't be seen unless the the seat backrest is moved forwards:

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You also need to install the mic included in the kit, I have yet to decide where to put it but will update this once I do. I have been informed by Anubiszed that you can also connect to the car's original mic which is located under the steering wheel shrouds but I have decided not to disturb that and just find a discreet place to locate the supplied mic. Once that is all hooked up you have a working wireless Apple CarPlay or wired Android Auto.

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Overall it works great and you have Apple Music Google Maps Waze WhatsApp Messages etc all on the iDrive and brings this old car bang up to date.

A couple of negatives though, when you select reverse the screen switches to the parking sensors pictogram which shows you how far you are from objects but this does not work going forwards, to make it work for the front sensors you have to come out of Carplay first and then operate the front sensors and then go back into CarPlay if you wish. A bit of a faff but worth it for the other benefits.

The second issue I have encountered is when in Apple Music the library loads ok and you can see your playlists etc, but none of the other tabs load e.g. Browse, Radio etc, I just get this message:

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Although I suspect this has more to do with a glitch within the IOS / Carplay software rather than the MMI box.

Next I mounted the JBL 4 channel amp in the boot in the position where the original BMW amp would be if the car was specced with the upgraded Hifi. I made a simple mounting board from some cheap chip board and attached that to the cars original fixing lugs using M6 nuts. I then used some threaded inserts in the board and screwed the amp to the board. I connected the power wires positive, earth, remote and speakers wires which will run back to the head unit before I screwed the amp onto the board since otherwise it will be very difficult to get to those terminals later:

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I ran the power and earth wires along the right hand with the car's original cables and connected the earth to the car's original earth point from the battery:

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For the power I bought a connector from BMW that fit into the power distribution box, I soldered the 8 AWG power cable and connected an inline AFS (Mini ANL) fuse holder which I just mounted using some strong double sided tape:

Next job on the cards is to run the speaker, remote and RCA cables from the boot to the front of the car, mount the LC6i and tap into the T Harness of the CarPlay loom for the speaker level outputs and inputs. Maybe for this weekend!

[mr.tourette]

Good job buddy.. Braver man than me taking that on.. Keep up the good work

[Argyll Andy]

Good job buddy.. Braver man than me taking that on.. Keep up the good work

I can already picture you having your “will I/won’t I” conversation with yourself

[mr.tourette]

Good job buddy.. Braver man than me taking that on.. Keep up the good work

I can already picture you having your “will I/won’t I” conversation with yourself

Nah, my audio install is definitely finished

[Silverstar]

Good job buddy.. Braver man than me taking that on.. Keep up the good work

Thanks!

So these arrived today, although they will have to wait a bit before I get around to installing them.

The issues with CarPlay seems to have sorted itself out, now all tabs are functioning correctly. As I mentioned before probably a glitch in IOS / Carplay software rather than the Mmi box.

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[AnubisZed]

….

A couple of negatives though, when you select reverse the screen switches to the parking sensors pictogram which shows you how far you are from objects but this does not work going forwards, to make it work for the front sensors you have to come out of Carplay first and then operate the front sensors and then go back into CarPlay if you wish. A bit of a faff but worth it for the other benefits.
….

OK, while within the CarPlay screen, go to Settings icon and that will take you to the MMI box options page . Press Setup here as well and I think it is the first option (currently at work and don't have a photo of this one) you'll find that the reversing camera is set to Aftermarket. If you change this one to Original then your screen should switch back to the OE iDrive screen for PDC when activated.

….
The second issue I have encountered is when in Apple Music the library loads ok and you can see your playlists etc, but none of the other tabs load e.g. Browse, Radio etc, I just get this message:
….

Yes this'll be a CarPlay issue, nothing to do with the box.

[Silverstar]

….

A couple of negatives though, when you select reverse the screen switches to the parking sensors pictogram which shows you how far you are from objects but this does not work going forwards, to make it work for the front sensors you have to come out of Carplay first and then operate the front sensors and then go back into CarPlay if you wish. A bit of a faff but worth it for the other benefits.
….

OK, while within the CarPlay screen, go to Settings icon and that will take you to the MMI box options page . Press Setup here as well and I think it is the first option (currently at work and don't have a photo of this one) you'll find that the reversing camera is set to Aftermarket. If you change this one to Original then your screen should switch back to the OE iDrive screen for PDC when activated.

….
The second issue I have encountered is when in Apple Music the library loads ok and you can see your playlists etc, but none of the other tabs load e.g. Browse, Radio etc, I just get this message:
….

Yes this'll be a CarPlay issue, nothing to do with the box.

Yep I got it sorted today. Last night I went into all the different tabs in Apple Music in my phone and when I started the car today all tabs are working correctly. I don't know if going into the phone reset the software or something but it works now.

[Yoghurt]

Thanks for the write up.
So does the MMI box not utilise the factory fitted microphones at all via its T connection and you have to use the provided external mic (or somehow connect to the mics under the steering wheel shroud )?
Also, where did you stick the antenna that connects to the back or the MMI please?
Many thanks

[Silverstar]

Thanks for the write up.
So does the MMI box not utilise the factory fitted microphones at all via its T connection and you have to use the provided external mic (or somehow connect to the mics under the steering wheel shroud )?
Also, where did you stick the antenna that connects to the back or the MMI please?
Many thanks

I have been informed by Anubiszed that you can connect the Mmi box to the factory mic which is under the steering column shroud but for the sake of simplicity I just chose not to do it. I have not yet permanently attached the mic since I will need to remove the radio again to hook up the speaker wires to the LOC but looking at the car today I think I can discreetly mount the mic included with the Mmi box on top of the steering column shroud where it will not be visible. Currently I have just left it dangling on the passenger side and even in that position it works well.

With regards to the antenna I have not connected it, I tried the kit with the antenna connected and with it disconnected and there is no difference to the performance of the kit. Ultimately the box will sit on top of the lower glove box panel so if you wanted to use the antenna you could just stick it to that panel.

[Silverstar]

OK, while within the CarPlay screen, go to Settings icon and that will take you to the MMI box options page . Press Setup here as well and I think it is the first option (currently at work and don't have a photo of this one) you'll find that the reversing camera is set to Aftermarket. If you change this one to Original then your screen should switch back to the OE iDrive screen for PDC when activated.

Sorry Dave, I missed this bit of your post when I first looked. I just checked in the car now and it's already set to original in the settings. There is however a setting for something called Front View time, which was set to 0 seconds so I changed that to 5 seconds but no luck as it just gives me a blank screen with the word Front for 5 seconds, I imagine it's probably for an aftermarket front camera. Speaking with the factory a couple of days ago they told me this is how the box works, to use the front sensors pictogram you have to come out of Carplay first and then activate the sensors.

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Playing around with the settings I found another cool feature though a basic graphic equaliser with some presets:

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[Phil40]

Fantastic

[Yoghurt]

Thanks Silverstar

Thanks for the write up.
So does the MMI box not utilise the factory fitted microphones at all via its T connection and you have to use the provided external mic (or somehow connect to the mics under the steering wheel shroud )?
Also, where did you stick the antenna that connects to the back or the MMI please?
Many thanks

I have been informed by Anubiszed that you can connect the Mmi box to the factory mic which is under the steering column shroud but for the sake of simplicity I just chose not to do it. I have not yet permanently attached the mic since I will need to remove the radio again to hook up the speaker wires to the LOC but looking at the car today I think I can discreetly mount the mic included with the Mmi box on top of the steering column shroud where it will not be visible. Currently I have just left it dangling on the passenger side and even in that position it works well.

With regards to the antenna I have not connected it, I tried the kit with the antenna connected and with it disconnected and there is no difference to the performance of the kit. Ultimately the box will sit on top of the lower glove box panel so if you wanted to use the antenna you could just stick it to that panel.

[john-e89]

Awesome,....

Off topic can I just ask where you got your interior carbon trim from Silverstar...? Many thanks.

[mr.tourette]

Awesome,....

Off topic can I just ask where you got your interior carbon trim from Silverstar...? Many thanks.

He makes them himself John, he has a set up for sale in classifieds atm viewtopic.php?f=7&t=125766

[john-e89]

Awesome,....

Off topic can I just ask where you got your interior carbon trim from Silverstar...? Many thanks.

He makes them himself John, he has a set up for sale in classifieds atm viewtopic.php?f=7&t=125766

Oooooooohhhhhh lurrrrrrrrrvely...!!

Missed these completely.... Top man Steve....!