Can You Add Apple Carplay To 2017 BMW?

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BMW CarPlay is a relatively new invention. Since it’s only compatible with 2017 and newer models, many BMW owners are unable to use it in their vehicles.

According to Apple, the full list of BMW vehicles that support Apple CarPlay as of August 2022 is as follows:

  • F20 and F21 models of the 2017–2022 BMW 1 Series
  • 2017–2022, BMW 2 Series, e.g., F22, F23, F45
  • 2017–2022, BMW 3 Series models such the F30, F31, F34, F80, and G20
  • BMW 4 Series models F32, F33, F36, F82, and F83 from 2017 to 2022
  • BMW 5 Series models from 2017 through 2022, such as the G30, G31, and F90
  • BMW 6 Series models F06, F12, F13, and G32 from 2017 to 2022
  • 2017-2022 BMW 7 Series, for example, G11 and G12
  • 2021-2022 BMW 8 Series models such the G14, G15, and G16
  • 2018-2022 BMW X1, for instance, F48
  • 2018–2022 BMW X2, such as the F39
  • BMW X3 models G01 through 2022
  • 2017-2022 BMW X4 models F26 and G02
  • 2017-2022 BMW X5 (e.g., F15, G05)
  • BMW X6 models like the F16 from 2017 to 2022
  • 2021 – 2022 X5 M
  • 2021 – 2022 X6 M
  • 2018-2021 BMW i3
  • 2019-2020 BMW i8
  • 2019-2022 BMW Z4 G29
  • 2022 i4
  • 2022 iX

Apple CarPlay can be added to vehicles without factory support with the appropriate hardware retrofit, even though it is only officially supported by cars made after 2017. Read on for a few potential solutions if you’re interested in installing BMW CarPlay (including the aftermarket alternative) in your older vehicle.

Visit our guide to F30 upgrades to learn more about retrofits for the BMW 3-Series.

Apple Carplay Activation in BMW

You can, indeed! You can add Apple Carplay to a number of BMW models, including the 2018 BMW x1 and 2015 BMWs.

Do you want to use the maps, music, messaging, and Siri commands from your iPhone on your iDrive device? For customers to quickly connect their phones to the iDrive unit and use the apps they have loaded on their iPhones, Apple created the software “Apple CarPlay” for automobiles. applications for calls, messaging, music, and maps. Additionally, Apple is continuously expanding the number of apps that its CarPlay software supports. The whole list of apps that are already compatible with Apple CarPlay is available on the Apple website.

Is it possible to retrofit AppleCarPlay into earlier BMW models?

A 2016 BMW is unquestionably not an old automobile, but it is somewhat of a dinosaur in the realm of technology. However, it is possible to retrofit aftermarket head units for the complete CarPlay experience in older BMWs and gain access to all those iPhone apps, including the music collection, contacts, maps, and navigation.

We won’t get into the details of installing units in pre-2017 BMWs, but you can read more about it here on bimmer-tech.net.

Can my BMW X3 get Apple CarPlay?

Accessed through the attached drive store, the answer is yes. Additionally, you can have it remotely programmed for the car. You wouldn’t be able to add the feature if your car had the smaller screen system. I could be interested in purchasing a used 2018 BMW X3 that lacks Apple CarPlay.

Can my BMW be equipped with Apple CarPlay?

With firmware beginning with iOS 7.1, Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation is available for all iPhone devices starting with the 5. You must have the optional additional ConnectedDrive Services, which include BMW apps, in order to utilize Apple CarPlay(r) Preparation in a BMW vehicle. Additionally, your BMW must be outfitted with Navi Professional.

In my 2017 BMW X3, how do I add Apple CarPlay?

It’s time to sync your iPhone with your BMW X3 when Apple CarPlay has been enabled. Here’s how to configure it:

1. Switch on WiFi and Bluetooth on your iPhone.

2. Open the ‘Communication’ menu on the iDrive screen of your BMW X3.

3. Click on “Mobile Devices.”

4. Select “New Device.”

Choose “Phone calls and audio via Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay” on step 5.

6. On the screen of the BMW X3, choose your phone.

7. When you see the prompt “A Bluetooth Pairing Request,” choose “Pair.”

8. Click “Allow” to accept the popup to sync your contacts and favorites.

9. Your iPhone will then display a “Use CarPlay with BMW?” question. Click “Use CarPlay.”

10. Once more, on the screen of your BMW X3, choose “Confirm note and connect to Apple CarPlay.”

11. Select the name of your phone under “Connected Devices.”

12. Click “Connection Mode,” followed by “Apple CarPlay.”

Press the Apple CarPlay icon when it displays on the X3 home screen to start CarPlay.

By choosing the BMW emblem in Apple CarPlay, you can return to the BMW X3 infotainment system display that came with the vehicle.

How do I add Apple CarPlay for nothing to my BMW?

I’d like to utilize Apple CarPlay in my BMW, but I seem to recall that it used to be somewhat expensive. Is there a way for me to obtain Apple CarPlay on my BMW for nothing?

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Yes! All of Apple CarPlay’s capabilities are available for free on your BMW. BMW will stop charging users a fee to utilize Apple CarPlay as of 2020. The service is easily downloaded and connected to your car without cost.

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To my BMW x5, how can I add Apple CarPlay?

You can watch this video to discover how to set up and connect Apple CarPlay on your iPhone in a BMW. The BMW X3 utilized in this demonstration has iDrive 7, therefore if you have an older or newer iDrive system, the process may be different. In order to use the advanced phone integration features of CarPlay, an Apple Lightning connector is no longer necessary, setting BMW ahead of the competition in 2916. On the touchscreen of your BMW, the Apple CarPlay interface replicates the appearance and functionality of your phone. The pages in the CarPlay user interface are identical to those on your iPhone’s display. However, there is one restriction: BMW Apps and Apple CarPlay cannot function simultaneously. Additionally, only one device may support both Apple CarPlay and the Wi-Fi hotspot offered by BMW.

BMW Navigation system and iDrive 5 or newer are required for Apple CarPlay. Additionally, an iPhone 5 or later running iOS 9.3 or higher is required. In addition, your iPhone must have Siri, WiFi, and Bluetooth turned on, as well as an active data plan. CarPlay integrates phone, navigation, entertainment, and vehicle control and information capabilities onto the central touchscreen of the BMW iDrive infotainment system.

The following are the general steps for setting up Apple CarPlay in your BMW:

  • 1. Your iPhone must have Bluetooth switched ON.
  • 2. Press or select COM – Mobile Devices – New Device – Phone calls and audio from the iDrive 7 menu.
  • 3. Choose the BMW entry from the Bluetooth menu on your iPhone. Soon the pairing will start, and it can take a few seconds.
  • 4. Verify that the PINs displayed on the iPhone and iDrive 7 are identical, then choose YES.

Why doesn’t my BMW have Apple CarPlay?

Due to the carmaker switching its chip supplier, BMW is temporarily shipping new vehicles without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto require updated software to function on the new CPUs found in many BMWs produced this year. Dealerships are advising BMW customers who purchase a new vehicle without CarPlay to wait for an over-the-air upgrade that will add the feature “by the end of June at the latest.”

It’s unclear how many BMW models are impacted, but a lot of consumers in the UK, France, Italy, and the US have complained online about receiving new cars without CarPlay. Models that are affected have the specification code “6P1” in them.

While some BMW owners may have to temporarily do without CarPlay capability, BMW is moving chip suppliers to enhance its supply chain over the long run, which could help to alleviate component shortages in the second half of the year.

With support for Digital Key, Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, and a feature-rich dual-screen wireless CarPlay experience, BMW provides one of the most integrated experiences with Apple’s ecosystem. BMW only began providing CarPlay in 2016 and faced criticism for charging a $80 yearly subscription charge before canceling the subscription in response to the backlash.

When did BMW introduce Apple CarPlay?

In 2017, BMW released Apple CarPlay as an add-on that was only available with vehicles that had built-in navigation.

Previously an option, CarPlay is now a requirement for all BMW models with navigation systems.

You must determine whether CarPlay has been enabled on a used BMW manufactured before 2020.

It’s crucial to remember that the automobile needs a wifi antenna and head unit that are compatible. If your vehicle has the necessary configuration in place, your nearby BMW dealership will be able to let you know.

Although it’s unlikely that the technology will be put in BMWs manufactured between 2014 and 2016, a small number may do so given that retrofitting is technically doable.

Exactly how can I turn CarPlay on in my 2017 BMW?

  • Turn on the Bluetooth, Siri, and WiFi on your iPhone.
  • On your iDrive 7 interface, press COM, then click Mobile Devices.
  • Now that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone, you should be able to choose your BMW.

Has BMW implemented a CarPlay fee?

Although the German automaker BMW was an early adopter of Apple CarPlay wirelessly, it charged for the service, ranging from a $300 one-time cost to a yearly $80 price. Now that it’s free, all 2021 BMW models even have the integration of the car keys, which is a significant plus. And for all those older BMWs, upgrading a CarPlay compatible head unit is possible, albeit with some extra work and expense.

Which BMWs are CarPlay wireless?

With the introduction of the 2017 model year, BMW was the first carmaker to offer wireless Apple CarPlay on a limited number of vehicles. Wireless Android Auto is still an aftermarket-only option, and wireless CarPlay isn’t always available from the factory. Both platforms still largely demand a physical USB cord in 2019. In 2019, we released a thorough list of every model that had a wireless smartphone integration capability, but since then, availability has significantly risen.

Continue reading for the whole list and more details on what we know about each feature.