[Outclass6968]

Hi all,

First time poster, picked up a 2008 E92 335i last week. Love the car, and love to see so many other passionate owners in the community with so much knowledge.
I've always been a VW/Audi guy, so this is a whole new world to me, but I've already spent hours pouring through the forum, so I'm learning quick

My E92 has the older CCC unit, but I'd like to pick up one of these Aliexpress Android units to modernise it a little, add Android Auto capability, and get some extra vehicle info available in the display.

I'd like to use the CIC iDrive controller since it has some extra buttons compared to the CCC controller, which I feel would be useful when operating a unit so much more advanced than the basic CCC.

So, my question is: what's the bare minimum I need to retrofit the CIC controller? Do I need to do a full CIC retrofit, or can I just pick up a couple parts to swap over only the controller?

I'm not totally averse to doing a full CIC retrofit but naturally would rather avoid it if it's not necessary.

As an aside, if anyone has any experience/advice/etc. on these Android units it'd be much appreciated. I'm eyeing up the 8 core/8 GB model here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32898657670.html

I've seen a lot of people mentioning AVIN equipment, but they're pretty dear over here in UK — even the local, third party distributors are charging a pretty penny compared to other offerings, not to mention that it seems the AVIN kit isn't perfect either, if the various posts in this forum are anything to go by.

Cheers!

[ctuna]

There is and entire Idrive subforum here.
It's more a matter of programming than anything else.
See Idrive and programming sub forums.
There are two types of aftermarket head units those that
attempt to replace the whole factory head unit in which case
you loose idrive and it's kind of a mess .
Those that piggyback off I drive and if they use the aux
for audio input the sound quality is usually not good.
The support the mostly Chinese Android units can be bad
it's up to you if you want to mess with that there are plenty
of reviews here on that.

Joying seems to be popular in the UK.

bmw boards and links
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=99
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=122
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=368
https://bimmerretrofit.com/store/
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=197
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=378
https://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

[Outclass6968]

Thanks ctuna, great info, much appreciated!

Unfortunately Joying only seem to offer kits for non-iDrive E92s on their local website, but thanks anyway.

[ctuna]

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2106113

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1649066

I used Mr12volt for the non idrive usb bluetooth upgrade they also have and add on for idrive.
They do not use the aux input and it's one of the big downsides to most of these add on's
(because the aux downgrades audio sources)