Great Carplay Retrofit for E70

[maddog99]

Team,

Im one of the forum divers who spends A LOT of time researching options & I thank all of you for the help & posts that get me there.

I have to share that I finally jumped in on the Unichip Apple Carplay box & I could not be more happy. It is a fantastic affordable fully OEM type solution. This is after I got the AVIN unit & returned it (very bad audio) and considered the full CIC upgrade. Glad I didnt do that.

Its a full screen (not boxed off) implementation & is slick as a pig in mud.

Comments on install:
1. Turn down the volume on your aux output thats controlled in idrive. Drop it 2 clicks below mid point. This ensures the audio that comes out is not overdriven (you want the signal low-ish so the amp is boosting quality audio & this does that). Audio I get is as good or better than the BT audio I was enjoying previously.

2. MAKE SURE you have a quality MFI certified cable to connect your phone. If you do all is well, if you dont it will drop & fail (true w/ all carplay head units)

3. The included microphone is great. Ran it to behind my rearview mirror, cant see it at all. WORKS GREAT. but found out in rain today it picks up the wipers too much lol. Need to move a tad...

4. I chose to drop the BT connection of my phone to my BMW now that I have this. If you dont do that, you have to turn off BT when in carplay mode. You cannot have BT & the AUX in going at the same time and not crash on phone calls. But there is no reason for a BT connection if you have carplay & the cable. All calls, music, etc all happen over the cable. No loss in functionality.

5. I love Carplay with the jog dial! Thought Id want touch screen but I dont. I love this as is & like using the idrive to navigate about safely. Super great.

Im often using it with the maps open, doing navigation, while also listening to podcast in background & then dictating texts occassionally as they come in. ALL within Carplay. Love it!!!!

I love having simple SIRI voice control for phone calls, texts, navigation & music. SO SO Great.

[0-60Motorsports]

Thank you for posting this. Any pictures or videos you could post please? Sounds like a good setup.

[Kraftwerk AG]

The F15/F16 peeps seem to like this Unichip box. The only drawback for me is it's not touch screen capable, like the newer NBT EVO head units found in the newer LCI models. But I would still buy one though. Nice upgrade for you E70 guys with the CIC units.

[maddog99]

Originally Posted by DeeO

The F15/F16 peeps seem to like this Unichip box. The only drawback for me is it's not touch screen capable, like the newer NBT EVO head units found in the newer LCI models. But I would still buy one though. Nice upgrade for you E70 guys with the CIC units.

I THOUGHT that was going to be the case with me too. BUT Ive found I really prefer the jog dial we have in our cars vs. the pioneer head unit my wife has & having to reach forward & touch it all the time. I find the idrive to be an advantage IMO.

[maddog99]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Thank you for posting this. Any pictures or videos you could post please? Sounds like a good setup.

Ill have to add a couple.
But its really boring lol. Its a metal box that drops in with 3 connections that are essentially pass throughs. But Im on it, I always need pictures too.

[Kraftwerk AG]

This is the installation video link they sent to me.

[mitch808]

Can you post a direct link to what you purchased?

[Kraftwerk AG]

UniChip will allow a group buy for a minimum for 5 units for $299 each, or $285 for 10 units if anybody's interested.

[pummkin]

That's pretty interesting. I can go for it for $299 or less. The installation is fairly easy after doing an NBT retrofit on an E60

[SimSimmah]

Originally Posted by maddog99

Team,

Im one of the forum divers who spends A LOT of time researching options & I thank all of you for the help & posts that get me there.

I have to share that I finally jumped in on the Unichip Apple Carplay box & I could not be more happy. It is a fantastic affordable fully OEM type solution. This is after I got the AVIN unit & returned it (very bad audio) and considered the full CIC upgrade. Glad I didnt do that.

Its a full screen (not boxed off) implementation & is slick as a pig in mud.

Comments on install:
1. Turn down the volume on your aux output thats controlled in idrive. Drop it 2 clicks below mid point. This ensures the audio that comes out is not overdriven (you want the signal low-ish so the amp is boosting quality audio & this does that). Audio I get is as good or better than the BT audio I was enjoying previously.

2. MAKE SURE you have a quality MFI certified cable to connect your phone. If you do all is well, if you dont it will drop & fail (true w/ all carplay head units)

3. The included microphone is great. Ran it to behind my rearview mirror, cant see it at all. WORKS GREAT. but found out in rain today it picks up the wipers too much lol. Need to move a tad...

4. I chose to drop the BT connection of my phone to my BMW now that I have this. If you dont do that, you have to turn off BT when in carplay mode. You cannot have BT & the AUX in going at the same time and not crash on phone calls. But there is no reason for a BT connection if you have carplay & the cable. All calls, music, etc all happen over the cable. No loss in functionality.

5. I love Carplay with the jog dial! Thought Id want touch screen but I dont. I love this as is & like using the idrive to navigate about safely. Super great.

Im often using it with the maps open, doing navigation, while also listening to podcast in background & then dictating texts occassionally as they come in. ALL within Carplay. Love it!!!!

I love having simple SIRI voice control for phone calls, texts, navigation & music. SO SO Great.

Would love to see more. Pics? Video? Are you able to combine features with the existing head unit? For example, use the bimmers XM to play music while CarPlay does the NAV and other features? Or is everything CarPlay once engaged?

[vic7780]

I'm in.

Have enough for the bulk buy yet?

[Kraftwerk AG]

Group buys are always tricky for various reasons. I count 2 interested so far. Who's gonna step up & organize this thing?

[gsnake]

Originally Posted by DeeO

Group buys are always tricky for various reasons. I count 2 interested so far. Who's gonna step up & organize this thing?

I am potentially interested too

[smass]

I an in for one for the group buy. I would be in for a 2nd if I could get more info.

I do worry 2019 i-phones will have USB C. Or 2020 i-phones have no connection at all .

[heymattw]

Originally Posted by smassey321

I an in for one for the group buy. I would be in for a 2nd if I could get more info.

I do worry 2019 i-phones will have USB C. Or 2020 i-phones have no connection at all .

New member here, just got my X5 last week. I am interested in the group buy as well.

[Kraftwerk AG]

So far, we have a minimum of 8 potential buyers. I'm not included on this list, because I purchased mine before the group buy started and will receive it tomorrow. I'll post up my feedback, pros & cons, etc. after the installation.

In any event, my preliminary list is as follows & updated 01/22/19:

1) pummkin
2) vic7780
3) smassey321
4) heymattw
5) gregolas
6) SimSimmah
7) BWMBuffalo
8) brianstrawberry
9) jersey john
I will contact Unichip to get final price with PayPal exchange fees + DHL express shipping. Keep in mind that I am not making any money off of this deal, just trying to help out fellow X members.

[heymattw]

Originally Posted by DeeO

So far, we have a minimum of 5 potential buyers. I'm not included on this list, because I purchased mine before the group buy started and will receive it tomorrow. I'll post up my feedback, pros & cons, etc. after the installation.

In any event, the preliminary list is as follows:

1) pummkin
2) vic7780
3) gsnake
4) smassey321
5) heymattw

I will contact Unichip to get final price with PayPal exchange fees + DHL express shipping. Keep in mind that I am not making any money off of this deal, just trying to help out fellow X members.

Excellent, thank you! Let me know when and how you need the money.

[Kraftwerk AG]

Update: I have a confirmed price of $299 each including PayPal exchange fee & free DHL express shipping from the company. So who's ready besides heymattw ?

[BMWBuffalo]

@DeeO Just want to confirm a few things.

1. This group buy is for the "CarPlay Box for BMW CIC/NBT Head Unit X5 X6 E70"?

2. The normal price is $439.00 and we are getting for $299.00?

[Kraftwerk AG]

Originally Posted by BMWBuffalo

@DeeO Just want to confirm a few things.

1. This group buy is for the "CarPlay Box for BMW CIC/NBT Head Unit X5 X6 E70"?

2. The normal price is $439.00 and we are getting for $299.00?

1. Yes, that's correct.
2. Yes, that's correct.

Unichip is giving me until January 29th to complete this group buy for $299 each. Let me know if you want in and/or need it for a different platform.

[Jax_415]

@DeeO Will the unit be in English?

[Kraftwerk AG]

Yes, it's for the US market.