bucketlover said:
i have no idrive but have also been curious about carplay in my z, would i also need to purchase a idrive controller for this to function? how do you determine the type of audio connection for each box? thanks in advance!
So depending on where you are looking to buy an Android screen, it may give you options, one of which will be something like "Screen" or "No Screen", this simply means "does it currently have a screen?". So what this means is that if it has a screen already (as in you currently have iDrive) then they don't supply a controller, if it doesn't currently have a screen (standard radio) then this comes with the copy iDrive controller
There will be other options (possibly!) as well for which operating system (Android 10 or 11) and the amount of RAM etc. The lesser versions will be cheaper, ie; Android 10, no controller and the lower RAM will be cheaper. Also where/how you buy it, Aliexpress for instance, if it's a Drop-shipper (someone who is just placing adverts but the orders all come from another central warehouse with no connection directly to the seller) then they just sell, you don't get any form of back up, no updates, no technical assistance and probably if it comes down to it no warranty if you needed it! Hence the cheaper price. But also possibly not as good a quality product as well.
As for the type of audio connection, with my knowledge of what I've seen over the years with these MMI boxes and the Android screens I can safely say they are all using the AUX connection, with the only exception I'm aware of being the Mr12volt MMI. BUT.....
There is an option here, and this is the Xcarlink BMW MMI MOST Fiber Optic Aux In Interface...
https://www.xcarlink.co.uk/bmw-ccc-cic-mmi-most-fiber-optic-aux-in-interface.html
What this does is to allow you to plug your AUX output from something like the Android screen (any AUX!) and convert it to the correct MOST output signal to act as the CDC (same way the Mr12volt does). This may require some coding of the headunit (ie; VO code 672 CDC adding to the car) unless you currently have a CDC, then you'd have a much better audio signal.
Don't get me wrong though, when I had my screen and the first MMI box they both had the AUX input. With this I had a very good sound input that I had absolutely no issues with. Most of the issues people have are not the fact that it's via AUX, it's that they have a bad connection. The AUX socket is open to atmosphere, so this can be moisture, dirt or anything that can go into the socket, this can lead to bad connections and even Verdigris (that green stuff that can cover the contacts). So cleaning the socket with switch cleaner can help.
I went down another route though, as I do :rofl: , there are two types of the AUX/USB socket. The normal version (single AUX input) and the double which is a stealth one where the second input is from the Media phone holder directly into the rear of the socket. So what I did was to use this second input to solder a short length of audio cable with a AUX socket on the end, then plugged my AUX input, from the MMI, into this. This was then placed under the centre console out of sight. This free's up the original socket that can still be used for anything else, but, more importantly, it'll give you a new, clean socket for best connection. Well it certainly worked for me at the time, and mine is still there although I no longer use it.
