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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > ConnectedDrive / I-Drive / Navigation Related Discussion > Next GEN I-DRIVE Retrofit



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      07-28-2008, 03:11 PM   #1
gazi8
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Next GEN I-DRIVE Retrofit**COMPLETED**

The new facelift on the 3 series sedan is coming with a new I-drive. The new NAV interface looks really nice (you get the full screen map instead of the split screen all the time) Anyone know if the present I-drive can be upgraded to the next gen I-drive? Besides the new center controller, it seems like its just a software upgrade. I would really like to see if this can be done and if anyone could get info to see how it can be done. Any I-drive guru's out there, please post.

**Page 40 post #879 has a short installation guide**

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      07-28-2008, 05:46 PM   #2
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It is a hardware change, they have swapped manufacturers for a start.

You may, and that is may, be able to upgrade but you will need a new CCC, monitor and iDrive controller and for BMW to be able to code it into your car.

Expect to pay around $4000 in parts for this system if buying from BMW, I think most will wait for them to surface on ebay.
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      07-28-2008, 05:47 PM   #3
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This has being discussed before, but from current information the new i-Drive system is pretty different. How much of the system architecture has changed remains uknown right now. BMW are using a different supplier from the previous generation i-Drive.

At the very least, you would need a new screen, new controller, new center console (to house the new controller), new i-drive computer, new USB port (different from 6FL and used to import and save music files on hard drive), new telematics module to take advantage of new on-line services).

If the interfaces and wiring are the same, then perhaps its possible to upgrade, but I would imagine it would be pricey.

If the interfaces have changed, I would say it would be extremely tricky and alot of hassle. You would have to find away of getting the current systems (such as HD radio tuner, Satellite radio, or premium audio amplifiers) in your car to work with the new wiring and i-Drive system. You might just want to buy a new car, if you want it bad enough.

And as the poster commented above, BMW computers would need to be able to code it all to your car.
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      07-30-2008, 07:28 AM   #4
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I really don't understand the idrive retrofit. You really might as well trade in for an '09 model. Save up a few bucks and buy a new car if it is that important.
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      07-30-2008, 08:54 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by bavarian19 View Post
I really don't understand the idrive retrofit. You really might as well trade in for an '09 model. Save up a few bucks and buy a new car if it is that important.
It's not a purely economic decision. Makes perfect sense if you have a strong attachment to your car, or enjoy the challenge of the project.
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      07-30-2008, 09:57 AM   #6
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I'm wondering about the telematics unit - since Google Maps works with '08 iDrive in Canada, I'm hoping just that unit can be retrofit.... We'll see.
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      07-30-2008, 11:13 AM   #7
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I've been told the new cars on are on a different type of system bus (no more Can), which would make the retrofit very difficult. Unless someone makes an adapter, sounds like it wouldn't work just on principle.

(I love the idea though!)
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      07-30-2008, 12:56 PM   #8
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It seems the coupe may not get the new iDrive until the facelift next year, so it would seem it is a complete new system and networks in the new cars.
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      07-30-2008, 04:41 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gIzzE View Post
It seems the coupe may not get the new iDrive until the facelift next year, so it would seem it is a complete new system and networks in the new cars.
For what its worth, BMW UK put out a press release in the last day or so on the M cars updates for 2009.

All the M cars are getting the new i-drive system (minus the Z4M of course, as that uses the older BMW Sat-Nav system). The fact the M3 coupe is getting it for 2009, I would say 99.9% certain the 3 series coupe will also see the new i-Drive.
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      07-30-2008, 04:51 PM   #10
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Yeah, I don't know why I said that as I had already posted a pic of the E92 M3 with the new iDrive on another forum.

It must be an age thing!!! I'm loosing the plot!
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      07-31-2008, 01:34 PM   #11
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You know, I was looking at the electrical wiring diagram for the E92 M3. The more I looked at it, the more I'm coming to the conclusion thats it doubtful that BMW have changed the overall architecture of the system. If they did, they would have to change many of the other components that interface to the new CIC. Perhaps this diagram doesn't show the true complexity of the situation ... but there might be hope out there to do a retrofit ... ;-)

Items shown in Green are the I-drive and audio systems connected via MOST. The CCC communicates to the other car systems via CAN. The TCU communicates also directly with the Car Access System. Probably when it needs to send a signal when the car is stolen or the alarm goes off.
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      08-01-2008, 05:58 PM   #12
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The overall architecture is not being changed but I still don´t see the possibility of retrofitting a CIC into a CCC car as being something that is even for the advanced amateur.

One reason is because cars are coded according to VIN which corresponds to how the car is equipped at the factory. That makes it difficult if not impossible to code a CCC car for functionality that the CIC would have.
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      08-01-2008, 06:06 PM   #13
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I agree. I don't think the system is that differrent. I don't even know why people think the monitor should be changed. Its the same size of the existing monitor. This is a subtle change that I like, I don't want to sell the car, start another loan again just because I like the new I drive, I don't even care about the difference between the 330 and 335 engine. I'm sure someone will figure it out as soon as it comes out to the market. As for the previous post, there is a guy in another forum that added the BMW I-drive to his non I-drive car. I think that is much more of a change and challenge than adding the new I-drive to an existing. Anyone with any good info, please submit.
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      08-02-2008, 03:10 AM   #14
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Any independant workshop with the Autologic system can rewrite your vehicle order, they donwload the file that contains the spec of your car from your car and can modifiy it.
They see exactly what options you have and don't have and can delete some and add others and then send the file back.
Once this has been done upgrades to modules can also be done at your BMW dealer, if doen right they would never even know it wasn't a factory fitted option.
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      08-02-2008, 03:12 AM   #15
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I think the screen will need to be changed as it is a much higher resolution, however, I am sure the screen we are using now would work, it would just down scale the image, like watching HD on a 480p plasma, would still look good, but can look better.
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      08-07-2008, 04:02 PM   #16
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I haven't seen any spec's on the new I-drive on the net, just seen some screen shots. How do you know the screen is higher def?
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      08-07-2008, 04:10 PM   #17
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Because BMW have said it is 1280x720, the current one is probably 320x240, definitely no more than that.
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      08-07-2008, 05:18 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarian19 View Post
I really don't understand the idrive retrofit. You really might as well trade in for an '09 model. Save up a few bucks and buy a new car if it is that important.
+1 on that, money on the parts plus fees to get it program could well exceed the cost of a trade-in for a brand new car
unless you work for bmw and could get cheap parts
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      08-08-2008, 05:21 PM   #19
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I think it depends on where you are in the world.

Put it like this, a new 335i with options over here in the UK is £40k ($80k) trade price on a year old one with 12k miles on it at the moment is around £25k ($50k).
Discount on a new 2009 model is around 6% at the moment so you would get it for say £37k, so cost to change for an 09 model is around $24,000.

Adding the new iDrive for a grand or two really doesn't seem so bad to me.
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      08-10-2008, 10:13 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gIzzE View Post
I think it depends on where you are in the world.

Put it like this, a new 335i with options over here in the UK is £40k ($80k) trade price on a year old one with 12k miles on it at the moment is around £25k ($50k).
Discount on a new 2009 model is around 6% at the moment so you would get it for say £37k, so cost to change for an 09 model is around $24,000.

Adding the new iDrive for a grand or two really doesn't seem so bad to me.

Gizze, what do you reckon on figuring out if it will be possible to do a retrofit upgrade of the current IDrive system to the new hard-drive version? I agree that the coding shouldn't be as much of a problem as it's made out to be, especially with an Autologic or a full-blown GT1 software running on a laptop
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      08-11-2008, 05:27 AM   #21
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I am seriously considering buying an OPS head for most programming, I think you can pretty much do what you want coding wise then, even stuff BMW say is not possible.

It's just electronics, everything is possible.
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      08-11-2008, 01:28 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gIzzE View Post
Because BMW have said it is 1280x720, the current one is probably 320x240, definitely no more than that.
The screen sizes stays the same at 8.8" for the 3er, screen resolution is up to 1280x480 however.
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