[pcjackson06]

I have an '08 e93 with about 91k miles. I've got a few upgrades, and the car is a pleasure to drive: COBB Stage 2 agg, AgencyPower downpipes, VRSF 7.5" FMIC, charge pipe, TiAL BOV, AFE DCI, new VCG, etc.

The CCC is an absolute turd and I'd love to replace it. I have quotes from BimmerRetrofit for an NBT and NBT EVO retrofit. While I won't share the prices, they are both north of $2,000-. The NBT option is hugely improved, however doesn't include CarPlay. The NBT EVO option includes CarPlay, but has echo issues requiring replacement of the L7 amp. I have considered doing the upgrade myself (I'm _very_ technical), however also have a quote from a local BimmerRetrofit dealer. The installation is likely to cost between $600-$1100 additional.

Alternatively, I've looked at the Avin upgrade which includes CarPlay, and is much more affordable. That said, I've read stories of volume and audio quality issues. I'm more inclined to keep the car stock in respect to the electronics.

Looking for some community feedback on whether or not the investment makes sense, or if perhaps there are alternative options I should consider.

[Maniac0908]

If you go with cic, which is an upgrade, just not as good as nbt and not as much as a pain. Installation will be cheap becuase I'll help you with it. Just did it to my car. 600$ for cic unit on eBay. 400$ for an adapter and coding from bimmer retrofit. I'd say total. 1500$ installed. I'll help you find some stuff. I'm near white marsh.

[ptpending]

CIC upgrade is optimal because you will not have time to play with carplay if you love to drive BMW
after that you can make carplay using chinese screen overlay box

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

If you go with cic, which is an upgrade, just not as good as nbt and not as much as a pain. Installation will be cheap becuase I'll help you with it. Just did it to my car. 600$ for cic unit on eBay. 400$ for an adapter and coding from bimmer retrofit. I'd say total. 1500$ installed. I'll help you find some stuff. I'm near white marsh.

You can get all the pieces for a retrofit for easily under $750. You can get last generation CiC units on Ebay for $200. The highest piece I had to pay for was the controller. But I just picked up a second one with a whole console and \ trim from a junkyard today for $125.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

If you go with cic, which is an upgrade, just not as good as nbt and not as much as a pain. Installation will be cheap becuase I'll help you with it. Just did it to my car. 600$ for cic unit on eBay. 400$ for an adapter and coding from bimmer retrofit. I'd say total. 1500$ installed. I'll help you find some stuff. I'm near white marsh.

What? That is INSANE! I spent $500 to go from non Idrive to CIC. I got the dashboard with airbag, instrument cluster, CID, CIC, all the trim, central console with Idrive controller and the combox that goes in the trunk, with most the cables too. I only bough from ebay fakra gps and fakra usb cables. Paying $1500 for something like this today when these cars are over 10y old is just way too much. I also sold my old dashboard so over all it cost me less than $500. Did the coding myself with help from forum members.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

You can get all the pieces for a retrofit for easily under $750. You can get last generation CiC units on Ebay for $200. The highest piece I had to pay for was the controller. But I just picked up a second one with a whole console and \ trim from a junkyard today for $125.

I'm looking for a good controller. Mine got that Ebay larger know retrofit that I don't really like much.

[Maniac0908]

Originally Posted by feuer

What? That is INSANE! I spent $500 to go from non Idrive to CIC. I got the dashboard with airbag, instrument cluster, CID, CIC, all the trim, central console with Idrive controller and the combox that goes in the trunk, with most the cables too. I only bough from ebay fakra gps and fakra usb cables. Paying $1500 for something like this today when these cars are over 10y old is just way too much. I also sold my old dashboard so over all it cost me less than $500. Did the coding myself with help from forum members.

Where are you finding complete cic kits for under 750-1000? Junk yards?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

Where are you finding complete cic kits for under 750-1000? Junk yards?

I have found two recently on Craiglist from crashed cars that are being parted out.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

Where are you finding complete cic kits for under 750-1000? Junk yards?

Salvage yards are going hi-tech anymore. Like I said, I picked up the whole console minus e-brake and shifter that had the trim, arm rest, the USB/AUX port and cables, controller, etc for $125.

If I didn't have the head unit and display, I could of gotten them for an additional $350.

Just looked on Ebay and there are several head units available from 2011 / 2012 cars for right at $200... and you can always get a protection plan for ~$15 for a one year plan.

[Maniac0908]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Salvage yards are going hi-tech anymore. Like I said, I picked up the whole console minus e-brake and shifter that had the trim, arm rest, the USB/AUX port and cables, controller, etc for $125.

If I didn't have the head unit and display, I could of gotten them for an additional $350.

Just looked on Ebay and there are several head units available from 2011 / 2012 cars for right at $200... and you can always get a protection plan for ~$15 for a one year plan.

Hm.....ya isee just headunits for around 200-300. Bit not complete units. I guess if you source part by part. I bought a complete kit.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

Hm.....ya isee just headunits for around 200-300. Bit not complete units. I guess if you source part by part. I bought a complete kit.

Found a couple of those for ~$550.

[Maniac0908]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Found a couple of those for ~$550.

Please post a link

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

Please post a link

This was back in December and most of the units were HW21 or HW24 series and I wanted a HW42.

But, here is an auction with a HW42 for $600....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-2013-B...dYpR1l&vxp=mtr

and another HW42 for $600...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-OEM-E90...paDenb&vxp=mtr

But neither have the cables and neither list the VIN listed and I would request that from the vendor before buying to make sure of what is what.

Here is a HW31 built the 40 week of 2010 for $160 and has the donor VIN in the auction.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RADIO-AM-FM...haBKlE&vxp=mtr

Here is a HW42 from week 50 of 2011 for $150 or best offer with the VIN in the auction.... I'd offer them $125 and see where it went.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-BMW-32...BaXUqW&vxp=mtr

I even purchased an emulator from Europe that is a fully wired unit for ~$120.

There are plenty out there for sale and far below $750...

[Maniac0908]

Damn. Well I paid 600 for a unit...plus 400 for cables, combox adapter and coding from bimmerretrofit ( I probably paid way to much and got ripped off when I could have done it myself but it was easy and everything works), plus combox, plus trim. So you guys are probably right. Can get it done for under. Anyway, whatever you choose, I can help you with install.

[Yakamota]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

If you go with cic, which is an upgrade, just not as good as nbt and not as much as a pain. Installation will be cheap becuase I'll help you with it. Just did it to my car. 600$ for cic unit on eBay. 400$ for an adapter and coding from bimmer retrofit. I'd say total. 1500$ installed. I'll help you find some stuff. I'm near white marsh.

Hello, new on here. I'd like to ask how's your experience with Bimmer retrofit. I like the OP was looking to upgrade the ccc in my car to a cic. I'm very confident in the installation part of the process(I've installed many upgrades and mods to my E36 before I got my E90) but get a little intimidated by the coding part of it.

[Maniac0908]

Originally Posted by Yakamota

Hello, new on here. I'd like to ask how's your experience with Bimmer retrofit. I like the OP was looking to upgrade the ccc in my car to a cic. I'm very confident in the installation part of the process(I've installed many upgrades and mods to my E36 before I got my E90) but get a little intimidated by the coding part of it.

It was quick and simple. But exspensive. Everything works. And it was harware activated. Which I hear is better than an emulator. Also came with lifetime fsc code.

[Greyfox]

Well, my plan so far has cost ~$600. That also includes my latest purchase of a 128Gb mSata SSD drive and adapter.

The grand plan is to get the system up and running with the emulator and get the maps updated using....

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1461515

At that point backup the hard drive using the methods in this post....

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1426773

and then at some point possibly working toward virginizing the HU and adapting it to my specific VIN.

As long as I have a functional backup of the hard drive, I can foul up but still recover.

[Maniac0908]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Well, my plan so far has cost ~$600. That also includes my latest purchase of a 128Gb mSata SSD drive and adapter.

The grand plan is to get the system up and running with the emulator and get the maps updated using....

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1461515

At that point backup the hard drive using the methods in this post....

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1426773

and then at some point possibly working toward virginizing the HU and adapting it to my specific VIN.

As long as I have a functional backup of the hard drive, I can foul up but still recover.

Here's a hdd that won't need an adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00R2F9AYI/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A1VKKODYGEC6T6&psc=1

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by Maniac0908

Here's a hdd that won't need an adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00R2...DYGEC6T6&psc=1

and this is the little detail that can cause a problem with that unit.....

Operating Temp:32℉~158℉/ 0℃~70℃

It is not an "industrial" grade drive.

The drive I'm getting has the specs of -4℉~158℉/ -20°C to +70°C and with adapter is only $2 more.

[opjose]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

and this is the little detail that can cause a problem with that unit.....

Operating Temp:32℉~158℉/ 0℃~70℃

It is not an "industrial" grade drive.

The drive I'm getting has the specs of -4℉~158℉/ -20°C to +70°C and with adapter is only $2 more.

No problem with that.

I've been running it for some time now without any problems what-so-ever.

[Mashman]

When I first got my E93 in 2015, I did the NBT retrofit, and soon after I added a TCB for telematics.

Last year, I decided to upgrade that retrofit, and replaced the NBT/TCB with a NBT-EVO/ATM.

I planned on selling the NBT/TCB on Ebay, but haven't gotten around to it yet. So, if anyone is planning on retrofitting NBT/TCB, and hasn't purchased a unit yet, I can sell them mine. It has active active ConnectedDrive services until 2020.

If you do not have either a TCU+MULF, or a Telematics Combox, I would not recommend retrofitting either TCB or ATM with a new headunit, but if you have either of those, retrofitting a TCB or ATM, is not very difficult. It's easier if you have a telematics Combox, but either way, it involves moving some wires around.