[Scorpion78]

Hi guys,

So been a owner of a 2012 E92 LCI for about 6 months and I love this car!

However I am so bored of the dash as it's the simple one with no screen/ sat Nov or the BMW idrive I think it's called.

So I have some time off coming up and wanted ask if anyone has retrofitted a screen on a similar model and any suggestions on how to go about doing it?

Trying to keep cost low so want to do as much myself as possible.

Any advice is really appreciated, juggling work, 3 hour commute and 2 kids mean I pretty much have zero time to do long search's on the net, but have Xmas off and would to try do something then or at least start something off.

Regards,

Scorp

[R3tribut10n]

Had mine fitted almost 2years ago, I have attached pics to show work involved

Are you thinking of a combox as well for internet etc...?

1st off you will need the double dashboard and then a choice of what you want, cic business or the pro version (pro version has in built hard drive)

Here is a list of things you will need if you did what I did and have it done properly

Double hole dashboard
Cic pro with widescreen screen,
Com box
An antenna for gps fix
Cic controller with plastic surround
Plastic surround for the dash around stereo (2pieces if I recall)

I can put you in touch with a guy who sells cic kits usually the screen and cic with hard drives and possibly the controller (next to gear stick)

I have had the following retrofitting done by someone I trust, CIC, Folding Mirrors, xenon front lights
The car will have to be reprogrammed and you will need to remove back seats for the wiring, it’s quite a bit of work and you will need somewhere dry to do the work
Drop me a message if you want and can point you where to go

[Sir_Dave]

I've just finished going from non-idrive to full CIC with combox, has cost me £650 for the CIC inc. all parts, then another £250 for combox/bluetooth etc.

Most fitters wanted £1200 for just the CIC; nice work if you can get it!

Its not that hard. Just like Lego for adults. Plenty of step by step guides on the forums.

[Scorpion78]

Originally Posted by R3tribut10n

Had mine fitted almost 2years ago, I have attached pics to show work involved

Are you thinking of a combox as well for internet etc...?

1st off you will need the double dashboard and then a choice of what you want, cic business or the pro version (pro version has in built hard drive)

Here is a list of things you will need if you did what I did and have it done properly

Double hole dashboard
Cic pro with widescreen screen,
Com box
An antenna for gps fix
Cic controller with plastic surround
Plastic surround for the dash around stereo (2pieces if I recall)

I can put you in touch with a guy who sells cic kits usually the screen and cic with hard drives and possibly the controller (next to gear stick)

I have had the following retrofitting done by someone I trust, CIC, Folding Mirrors, xenon front lights
The car will have to be reprogrammed and you will need to remove back seats for the wiring, it’s quite a bit of work and you will need somewhere dry to do the work
Drop me a message if you want and can point you where to go

Wow that's some serious work dude, nice! And here's me just thinking on installing a screen in a double din kit lol

I will read through this stuff properly after work and look into and may get itln touch. Many thanks!

[Scorpion78]

Originally Posted by Sir_Dave

I've just finished going from non-idrive to full CIC with combox, has cost me £650 for the CIC inc. all parts, then another £250 for combox/bluetooth etc.

Most fitters wanted £1200 for just the CIC; nice work if you can get it!

Its not that hard. Just like Lego for adults. Plenty of step by step guides on the forums.

This is the problem I had, I got 2 quotes and the guys knew I was not certain on what they were talking about, sounded impressive then slap I got a quote for 2K!! Yeah that's not happening!

I'm not a complete novice, I managed to retrofit flash drive and USB kit to my RX8 watching YouTube and using China suppliers

Looking into doing as much as I can myself, scary but fun too and very rewarding!

[Sir_Dave]

Well, if you fancy the challenge, i used the following guides & info.

Satnav installation: https://www.pdf-archive.com/2017/04/...e-retrofit.pdf
CIC wiring: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1336444
Coding:

Combox: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-....1/153243508005
Changeover Plug: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Changeov....X/322969679445
USB Plug: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-AUX-....6/173334701483
OEM BMW Bluetooth retrofit: https://www.leebmann24.de/basis-frei...640441949.html
Official BMW Retrofit Guide (for the above): https://www.e90post.com/forums/attac...6&d=1306635841

[Sensible_]

I drive retrofit is easily doable. It's a days work max. However now considering the cars age, I'd probably just install the dash with screen hole and the android screen unit.

[Scorpion78]

Originally Posted by Sir_Dave

Well, if you fancy the challenge, i used the following guides & info.

Satnav installation: https://www.pdf-archive.com/2017/04/...e-retrofit.pdf
CIC wiring: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1336444
Coding:

Combox: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-....1/153243508005
Changeover Plug: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Changeov....X/322969679445
USB Plug: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-AUX-....6/173334701483
OEM BMW Bluetooth retrofit: https://www.leebmann24.de/basis-frei...640441949.html
Official BMW Retrofit Guide (for the above): https://www.e90post.com/forums/attac...6&d=1306635841

Many thanks for this Sir, that's some good links and quite a project!

It's a option I may consider.

[Scorpion78]

Originally Posted by Sensible_

I drive retrofit is easily doable. It's a days work max. However now considering the cars age, I'd probably just install the dash with screen hole and the android screen unit.

This is something I was actually thinking of originally, have you done this?

Any advice on this option would be appreciated.

[Sir_Dave]

Originally Posted by Scorpion78

This is something I was actually thinking of originally, have you done this?

Any advice on this option would be appreciated.

You have a couple of options really:

Within the "iDrive" dashboard: https://avinusa.com/8-8-bmw-3-series...on-system.html but you already need CCC/CIC as the screen is just that, a screen replacement, with extra functions.

On top of the "non-idrive" dashboard: https://avinusa.com/10-25-bmw-3-seri...on-system.html

Personally, having researched both, they seemed just as compromised (re: rubbish) as all the other Android based BMW systems have been over the years, so i went OEM.

[sirleeofroy]

I have been interested in doing this myself although would it be as easy to go straight to NBT rather than CIC?

[Sir_Dave]

Originally Posted by sirleeofroy

I have been interested in doing this myself although would it be as easy to go straight to NBT rather than CIC?

You can fit it yes.

In effect, the hardware is cheaper than CIC, but the emulator is far more expensive, so all in, if you DIY its roughly the same price, give or take a few quid.

Main issue is that CIC is easy, plenty of guides around for both hardware & coding.

NBT hardware fitment is easy enough, but the coding to get everything to work properly seems a lot more in depth.

Retofit info here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1291856

[Shaun306]

Would you not just be happy doing an android type double head unit..

[R3tribut10n]

Originally Posted by Sir_Dave

You can fit it yes.

In effect, the hardware is cheaper than CIC, but the emulator is far more expensive, so all in, if you DIY its roughly the same price, give or take a few quid.

Main issue is that CIC is easy, plenty of guides around for both hardware & coding.

NBT hardware fitment is easy enough, but the coding to get everything to work properly seems a lot more in depth.

Retofit info here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1291856

This was on the cards for me prior to xenon retrofitting, the emulator is around (£50 to £110 depends on seller)
You can always have a word with vlad he can code everything you need (if bought from him) to make life a lot easier for you, and he is very well known on the forums and eBay

[Sensible_]

Originally Posted by Scorpion78

This is something I was actually thinking of originally, have you done this?

Any advice on this option would be appreciated.

I did the full non I-Drive to I-Drive retrofit (CCC) in s day. This a long time ago though, when CIC just came out. I went with the CCC as they were cheap and readily available. However if I were doing it now I'd definitely do the android screen unit in the idrive dash.

The 1st gen of the android units were rubbish, but the recent ones have very good reviews.

Versions with:

Android 4.4 = cr*p
Android 7.1 = seems good, positive reviews under £300
Android 8.1 = haven't seen any reviews yet.

The CIC is old now and for BT streaming you'll need the additional cost of a combox.

NBT doesn't integrate well with E9X.

It would be a no brainier for me

[Nel2014]

If I was to install a new double din dash, that's a fair bit of work. I would need to know the android unit worked spot on and sound quality was good before even considering it. Cic is oem and you can get it to work properly, nbt would be nice but didn't know there were problems with compatibility.

[Sxanth]

Originally Posted by Sir_Dave

You have a couple of options really:

Within the "iDrive" dashboard: https://avinusa.com/8-8-bmw-3-series...on-system.html but you already need CCC/CIC as the screen is just that, a screen replacement, with extra functions.

On top of the "non-idrive" dashboard: https://avinusa.com/10-25-bmw-3-seri...on-system.html

Personally, having researched both, they seemed just as compromised (re: rubbish) as all the other Android based BMW systems have been over the years, so i went OEM.

Nice, I am possibly looking at an e90 with ccc and this looks ideal!