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E89 Android iDrive Screen Group Buy - NOW CLOSED

Hi guys,

how does the audio quality over Bluetooth on this unit compare to the standard I-Drive? I have read reports on different avin units saying that the quallity is not as good as standard, does this hold true?

Additionally has anyone here gone from an Idrive car -> This unit? If so how does it compare?

Thanks!
 
sunnydays said:
Hi guys,

how does the audio quality over Bluetooth on this unit compare to the standard I-Drive? I have read reports on different avin units saying that the quallity is not as good as standard, does this hold true?

Additionally has anyone here gone from an Idrive car -> This unit? If so how does it compare?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi,

I've gone from an iDrive car to this unit and I have to say I'm still considering going back to the original iDrive. The main reason being the number of button and screen presses you have to go through to use things like DAB and Spotify. Plus when it switches from Android to iDrive the screen flickers for a bit, which is a bit naff.

It does do what I want it to (Spotify, DAB, Waze all work great on a much better screen than standard), it's just not very well integrated with the existing buttons.
 
sunnydays said:
Hi guys,

how does the audio quality over Bluetooth on this unit compare to the standard I-Drive? I have read reports on different avin units saying that the quallity is not as good as standard, does this hold true?

Additionally has anyone here gone from an Idrive car -> This unit? If so how does it compare?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

From memory, the sound produced via original bluetooth was always not as good as using an auxiliary or USB connection. That's why I bought a special cable for my wife iPhone that has microphone jack to go to aux jack and as well as got USB for charging hence never use bluetooth to play music from her phone. The Android multimedia unit does the same thing, sound via bluetooth is not as good as via aux. I am not sure how bad it is compared to the original bluetooth.
To be honest I did install this unit to my wife car so she can use Navigation (wasn't there when she bought it), and can make/receive calls without a phone and gps dangling on the windscreen. It's a bit pricey but looks good :). Her car is E89-2009 entry level.

Cheers,
 
Although I didn't have the OEM iDrive with enhanced bluetooth (streaming bluetooth music) I can honestly say that I've not noticed any difference between any of the audio inputs.
I've played music that is on memory card, via both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and also via bluetooth streaming and the quality is the same.
You have to take into account that any form of over the air streaming is only as good as the signal you are receiving on your phone which is dependent on current location.
All audio from the screen into your current headunit is via the AUX port, so that must be working properly first.
 
So I had a faulty wiring harness hence sound from only the left speaker, another problem I’ve found is when using the Idrive controller when navigating the android unit it still controls the bmw menus even tho you’re on the android screen not sure if I’ve got the settings right though
 
mwhite88 said:
.....another problem I’ve found is when using the Idrive controller when navigating the android unit it still controls the bmw menus even tho you’re on the android screen not sure if I’ve got the settings right though
Click to expand...
Can you elaborate a little more, exactly how and in doing what? I can't say I can give you a definitive answer but I'll try.
Have you checked the settings screenshots on page 8 of this thread? Just to compare them to what you have!
 
So I had idrive already in my car, say I have it on split screen mode with the map, I go into the android mode holding down the menu button then I use the Idrive controller to navigate the menus and open apps etc, when I hold menu again and return to the original bmw mode split screens gone and it’s been navigating in the original mode also
 
Does anyone have any issue charging their phone using the USB port from the headunit? I'm able to connect via usb and the phone looks like it's charging but sometimes I get a message on my Android phone saying I should check my power connection and the phone does not seem to charge, even after a long drive.

Also, I'm trying to get into the "Factory Settings" from the menu but it's prompting for a PIN number. Does anyone know the PIN?
 
Gary Petit said:
Does anyone have any issue charging their phone using the USB port from the headunit? I'm able to connect via usb and the phone looks like it's charging but sometimes I get a message on my Android phone saying I should check my power connection and the phone does not seem to charge, even after a long drive.

Also, I'm trying to get into the "Factory Settings" from the menu but it's prompting for a PIN number. Does anyone know the PIN?
Click to expand...
The output from the USB ports is not what you'd call "overly powerful" so some phones may not charge properly. Saying that mine charges my Android (large battery) and my wifes iPhone 6S + so it can't be that low powered.

As for the Factory Settings page, the pin code is 1314, but be careful what you alter in this screen, check my installation video out for more info.
 
Having a bit of a problem. The iDrive controller doesn't look like it was made for this car:

20190508-212103.jpg
20190508-211759.jpg

I failed to notice in your video that you hit the same problem Dave. I also looked more careful at your video and it even seems to leave around the controller in your install. I didn't manage to fit mine at all. Perhaps it would go in if I force it. But this just isn't right.
 
I hope the system works with a genuine BMW iDrive controller, as I am actually thinking of trashing the Chinese one I just paid $70 on and get one that actually fits, with all 4 screws and without gaps around.
 
vld said:
I hope the system works with a genuine BMW iDrive controller, as I am actually thinking of trashing the Chinese one I just paid $70 on and get one that actually fits, with all 4 screws and without gaps around.
Click to expand...
It will only work with the OEM one if the full iDrive system is fitted.
The new one will go in, alas they have the fitting dimensions and should have rectified the fitting by now but I see that they still haven't. I never mentioned it in my first video due to the fact that I had a pre-market test version and assumed that the actual ones would be sorted.
To fit the new one you have to elongate the two forward holes and a couple of washers in the rear two holes will hold it firmly in place. It is a tight fit but does go in without too much trouble. :thumbsup:
 
For the back screws, I had to put two washers on one side, because the controller wasn't resting on anything on that side:
20190508-223636.jpg

On the front side, additional to elongating the wholes, I had to file down the edge of the plastic to make room for the peg in between. See the yellow areas:
20190508-221438.jpg

The fit could be better, but at this point, I am fine with it:
20190508-223411.jpg
 
I just powered the unit up for the first time. For testing for now, I still have to put everything back. But wow, I'm getting super excited. It looks fabulous. Especially compared to this... thing, I had until now:
20190509-004927.jpg

I was surprised by a very interesting, yet very positive, thing. I have sound, via AUX, without the AUX cable plugged in.
 
vld said:
….
I was surprised by a very interesting, yet very positive, thing. I have sound, via AUX, without the AUX cable plugged in.
Click to expand...
Yeah I noticed this when I put mine in but I wasn't sure what effect it would have on it so I still used the AUX cable anyway.
 
All done! You can mark me as "Arrived and fitted" Dave :D Thank you for organizing the group buy and helping with the process. And thank you for the guide!

20190509-155149.jpg

20190509-155034.jpg

Things I'm very excited about:
- It looks awesome! The screen has good resolution and good brightness, and the main interface is very pretty.
- Bluetooth music from my phone with controls on the steering (Audio quality seems to be somewhere between AUX and radio - it's ok for my needs)
- Visual radar for the parking sensor! I now know if the obstacles are on the left or on the right :D

Things that are less awesome:
- No iDrive controller button for directly playing MP3 music (Most buttons turn the screen black with "No signal", including "Media" which I would kind of expect to do just that.)
- The buttons on the iDrive controller don't always register the press. You need to press the buttons with a bit of extra pressure, otherwise they just click and no reaction.
- The "Menu" button needs to be held for a second or two to actually work for most screens.
- The "Back" button would have been nice to be mapped to the Android back button. It is useless outside the main menu.
- No option for customizing the interface options. I would have liked to remove a few: like "Video", "DVR", etc. or at least move them around so I put on the main screen the ones I use more often.
- WiFi doesn't support 5Ghz only 2.4 and the range is not fantastic. Can't get signal from my carport :( I will have to improve the signal from inside the home, or find a good way of getting Internet from my phone (via USB doesn't seem to work, nor via Bluetooth and I don't want to always keep a WiFi hotspot on my phone)
- A small but irritating one: a piece of the screen protection wrap got stuck in a corner and can't get it out. (tip for new installs: carefully remove the screen protection, or better yet do it before finishing the install, in case it doesn't come off entirely)
 
A couple of tips:

1. The GPS antenna actually has room between the center speaker placeholder and the cover. Make a hole to feed the plug and cable through.
20190509-133531.jpg
20190509-144957.jpg

2. You can have the two USB cables in the glove box, through the whole on the side:
20190509-123907.jpg
 
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