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was made in 2016, 2015, or 2014 and has modern technologies, it might only have ID4 hardware or normal NBT, which is outdated head unit hardware.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 (like an earlier lifetime subscription). 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.
In This Article...
$100 subscription fee, $300 charge (finally)
When CarPlay originally became available in BMW in 2016, there was a hefty one-time fee of $300 for anyone who desired it (good for 20 years). Paying out of pocket looks like a simple way to make money given that this app-based solution integrates with the owners’ phones. We can understand why they started charging for this stand-alone option once those expensive $2,500 navigation system upgrades vanished.
Additionally, spending $300 seemed excessive given that CarPlay was available for free in 2016 from other automakers, including Chevrolet. To be fair to BMW, though, they introduced wireless CarPlay one of the first, whilst other manufacturers still required a USB cable plugged in.
After that, they switched from a one-time fee to a $80 monthly membership service for Apple CarPlay in addition to their ConnectedDrive service, which BMW eventually discontinued in 2020. Therefore, everything is now free.
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.
locating a dashboard screen
In-dash touchscreens that work with CarPlay are produced by independent vendors like Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, and Sony.
Check a website like Crutchfield to see if your automobile can be linked to and work with the aftermarket screens, which are typically 6- to 9-inches wide. You can enter the precise year, model, and make. When I searched for “CarPlay,” 67 results for my 1995 Honda Odyssey appeared.
Porsche is a notable exception to the rule that most automakers don’t offer display updates for older vehicles. In its “Porsche Classic Communication Management systems,” the sports car manufacturer offers its own CarPlay upgrade. So you can now upgrade your German sports car from as far back as the 1960s with a 3.5-inch screen, like the one in the image above, or a 7-inch display for newer models from the 1990s.
The rest of us will need to locate an aftermarket screen that is compatible with most automobile brands because we are driving less opulent hand-me-down vehicles. The majority of touchscreen dashboards with CarPlay compatibility start at roughly $250 and can cost up to $1,000, like Alpine’s 11-inch screen. It’s only a one-time expense, at least.
CarPlay-enabled displays are expected to include additional capabilities that could raise the price. These can be an HDMI connection, an HD radio, SiriusXM radio compatibility, or a backup camera. On some models, connected car services like Android Auto and Amazon Alexa are also accessible. Affordable flats tend to be simpler.
Can my BMW get 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 (6AK). Additionally, your BMW must be outfitted with Navi Professional.
Can a 2016 BMW have Apple CarPlay installed?
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.
For your vehicle, CLICK HERE to locate LED Indicator Lights and Brake Turn Signal Lights: https://bit.ly/3c4nJIq
ALL-INCLUDED PRE-BUILT BUNDLES ARE AVAILABLE HERE HELIOS is 100% plug and play on practically every car. https://bit.ly/2X27W8H
Get the best DIY auto detailing solutions, ceramic coatings, and car wax sprays at a discounted price from American manufacturers: https://bit.ly/3ecVWHg
The staff of Wurzel Performance takes great pride in the caliber of the goods and services they offer: https://bit.ly/2TBLIZ2
This movie is solely meant to be educational. We disclaim all liability and responsibility for any harm resulting from the information in this video. You should use this knowledge at your own risk. I’m grateful.
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?
In less than two minutes, find out if your auto insurance is being overcharged.
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.
Check out the Jerry app to learn how to get the greatest auto insurance coverage for the cheapest price if you’re looking for more methods to reduce your car expenses.
Jerry is a private insurance agent who resides in your wallet. Jerry is an app, so don’t worry about purchasing little office furniture. After you download Jerry, all you have to do is respond to a few questions that will take you around 45 seconds to do, and you’ll get car insurance rates for coverage that is identical to your current plan right away. Customers of Jerry save $879 year on average.
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.
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 (via Automotive News Europe).
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.
To my BMW X5, how do 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.
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.
Is Apple CarPlay compatible with the 2019 BMW X3?
How would you go about unlocking your 2020 BMW X3 Apple CarPlay, let’s suppose you need to? You can spend hours traveling to your dealer, or you can pay him a reasonable sum of money to fix it. Alternatively, you may buy BMW Apple CarPlay activation from BimmerTech and, depending on your BMW X3 head unit, have the option unlocked at home in no more than 30 minutes through USB or cable coding.
You may easily do the USB CarPlay coding procedure by yourself. All you have to do is transfer the code file we email to you to a USB stick, then plug it into your car. Your BMW X3’s screen will display the Apple CarPlay program once you have followed a few simple instructions.
Examine the BMW G12 as an illustration of how the BMW X3 Apple CarPlay activation procedure might operate.
The procedure will be as simple to carry out during a remote coding session with our BimmerTech professional for BMW X3s compatible with cable coding. After following our technician’s instructions and plugging in the cable we provide, you can start using Apple CarPlay in less than 30 minutes.
Your BMW X3 might additionally require a WiFi antenna in some circumstances in order to enable a wireless connection between your iPhone and the head unit. Find out if your car requires one here, and if it does, order it from us.