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. Navi Professional also needs to be installed in your BMW.
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Option 1: Enabling BMW Wireless CarPlay from the factory
Because the NBT Evo head unit with ID5 or ID6 software is required, BMW Apple CarPlay compatibility is constrained. In other words, your BMW need the most recent operating system and on-board computer. Even if your car was made in 2016, 2015, or 2014 and has modern technologies, it might only have ID4 hardware or normal NBT, which is outdated head unit hardware.
If your BMW has a head unit that is suitable, BimmerTech can activate the software to make Apple CarPlay available. If your car does not already have a WiFi antenna, you might need to add one in specific circumstances to enable the establishment of a wireless connection between your iPhone and BMW head unit. If your BMW requires one, you may check here and get it from us. Contrary to BMW, BimmerTech can activate BMW CarPlay even if your nation is not listed in Apple CarPlay’s availability list if the necessary hardware is installed in your car.
Regarding the Apple CarPlay subscription, BMW confirmed in December 2019 that owners of 2019/2020 models with the most recent iDrive 7.0 software would not be required to pay any fees. Of course, that only applies to 2018 models of newer autos. A one-time $300 fee will be applied to older BMW models. However, 2020 and later BMW models are moving forward rather than backward by finally providing free BMW CarPlay.
There are still two options to upgrade your BMW if the initial BMW Apple CarPlay activation is not supported by your car.
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.
TUTORIAL: How to install Apple CarPlay in BMW vehicles without it out of the box
I’ll demonstrate how to install Apple CarPlay on BMW models (BMW 3 Series, 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, X3, X5, X6, X7) that didn’t have it out of the box in this video lesson.
You need to be aware that only BMW vehicles made in July 2016 and later can support Apple CarPlay (the BMW X1 did not have Apple CarPlay). Apple CarPlay can only be used with an iPhone 5, 6, 7, 8, X, 11, or 12. You can utilize iPhone apps while driving using CarPlay. You can listen to your preferred music, make calls, send and receive messages, and obtain directions.
1. To turn on the central display, press the Start/Stop Engine button.
2. Utilize the iDrive button to access Connected Drive.
3. Open the ConnectedDrive Store and prepare Apple CarPlay. From this page, you can buy Apple CarPlay for one month, one year, three years, or forever. When you’ve made up your mind to buy something, click “Next” and sign into your ConnectedDrive account to finish the transaction.
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An Overview of Apple CarPlay for BMW Models
Apple CarPlay is preinstalled in current BMW models and works with the onboard system to be accessed through the controls. The controls are often a touch screen that is front and center in the dash where you can browse all the apps. With the BMW ConnectedDrive technology, it’s all feasible. To learn more, visit this page to read our article on Apple CarPlay in its entirety.
Apple CarPlay can be installed at a BMW dealership.
You must first create an ESA account with a BMW dealership. Hi. Accessed through the attached drive store, the answer is yes. Additionally, you can remotely code it for the car.
Can my 2017 BMW X3 have Apple CarPlay installed?
The Positive The 2017 BMW X3 comes equipped with an excellent head-up display, a linked navigation system, and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
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.
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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Apple CarPlay is it available on 2016 BMWs?
You must first choose the finest BMW CarPlay retrofit option for you. CarPlay is fully supported by the iDrive system in many vehicles made after 2016, even if it hasn’t been turned on. If that applies to you, getting a professional to unlock the built-in BMW Apple CarPlay option is one approach to activate Apple CarPlay in your BMW.
There are BMW CarPlay aftermarket options that can get you up and running if that isn’t an option—either because your BMW is a little older or doesn’t have a suitable iDrive system.
The native BMW Apple CarPlay option and aftermarket BMW CarPlay retrofits differ significantly in this regard. Android Auto is not available in older BMW CarPlay-compatible automobiles, so if you use a Samsung phone or another Android device, you are out of luck.
Additionally, aftermarket alternatives may provide extra freedom. The manufacturer CarPlay interface in older vehicles can only use a portion of the screen, but all BMW models come with full-screen mode in CarPlay MMI Prime. Unlike BimmerTech’s retrofit, which enables both wireless connection and connection via a USB cable, which can be more dependable and less draining on the battery, the OEM alternative forces you to rely solely on a wireless connection with your phone.
The BMW CarPlay upgrade from BimmerTech utilises the dashboard display already in your car and is simple to use with the iDrive controller, unlike many alternatives on the market. However, the native BMW iDrive CarPlay option may be easier to use for somebody who frequently shifts between using CarPlay and other iDrive functions.
Can CarPlay be downloaded on a BMW?
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.
BMW charges for Apple CarPlay, right?
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.
Can an existing vehicle be upgraded with Apple CarPlay?
It’s likely that AppleCarplay isn’t available if your vehicle is older. Fortunately, well-known third-party car stereo producers like Pioneer and Kenwood have products that are compatible with Apple CarPlay that you can immediately install in your car.
How can I make my BMW CarPlay-compatible?
- 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.
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.