[CHARLEYBROWN]

Has anyone pulled the trigger on the newer 12.3" display for non-Idrive cars? I have the 10.25" in my wife's E70 and want to do one in my e90. I'm just not a fan of the way the 10.25" looks in the E90. I can't find any better pictures of the 12.3" installed.

[zero2sixtyZ]

Holy hell that screen is massive for an E9x dash.

[CHARLEYBROWN]

Yeah, and it probably will blind you at nite. I'm seriously considering doing an idrive double hump dash swap and just using the Avin android replacement screen for idrive equipped cars. I'm sure I could wire it up to work just like the 12.3" pictured above. I'd like to integrate the non-idrive android hand controller knob as well with my proposed idea.

[smatanovic]

I have one of these in my e91, made by AVIN. I am very happy with it. The size of the display is big, no doubt, but not out of line with the displays BMW is putting in newer cars. The display dims automatically when the lights are turned on, and can be further dimmed in software. Overall, it's sufficiently dimmed at night, especially when using a dark theme for your apps.

I live in CarPlay, so most of the other features are immaterial to my daily use. I especially like that the the display is landscape, and displays apps in a 5x2 grid. I find most smaller screens to be too cramped, especially when displaying maps.

Installation was pretty messy, and involved taking a dremmel to my dash. Once the hole was cut, however, the included wiring harnesses were plug and play.

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by CHARLEYBROWN

Yeah, and it probably will blind you at nite. I'm seriously considering doing an idrive double hump dash swap and just using the Avin android replacement screen for idrive equipped cars. I'm sure I could wire it up to work just like the 12.3" pictured above. I'd like to integrate the non-idrive android hand controller knob as well with my proposed idea.

I thought long and hard about doing a double hump, but in the end it seems like too much of a PITA.

[CHARLEYBROWN]

@smatanovic

Thank you very much for the detailed response. I intend to use mine for mostly CarPlay as well. If you have the opportunity, would you mind posting some pictures of how it looks in your car? Thanks!

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by CHARLEYBROWN

@smatanovic

Thank you very much for the detailed response. I intend to use mine for mostly CarPlay as well. If you have the opportunity, would you mind posting some pictures of how it looks in your car? Thanks!

Yes, will do!

Also, this is the unit I bought; I selected the Android 11 + 6GB RAM snapdragon US market version, with built-in wireless CarPlay. I also added the iDrive controller, though I usually just use the touch screen. I do not use a separate SIM; when I want to update, etc, I tether to the phone.

[CHARLEYBROWN]

Originally Posted by smatanovic

Yes, will do!

Also, this is the unit I bought; I selected the Android 11 + 6GB RAM snapdragon US market version, with built-in wireless CarPlay. I also added the iDrive controller, though I usually just use the touch screen. I do not use a separate SIM; when I want to update, etc, I tether to the phone.

That's the exact one I was looking at from Avin as well. I used Avin for my e70 X5 and have been happy. They seem to have really good support and updates. I plan to use them again.

[bsmoov]

Is the cutout template the same cutout template for the 10.25? It looks like a similar shape.

smatanovic can you confirm or post the template cutout?

It'll be interesting if the ppl with the 10.25 can upgrade to this 12.3 with the existing hole in the dash...

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by bsmoov

Is the cutout template the same cutout template for the 10.25? It looks like a similar shape.

smatanovic can you confirm or post the template cutout?

It'll be interesting if the ppl with the 10.25 can upgrade to this 12.3 with the existing hole in the dash...

It is a different template. They initially sent me the 10.25 template, which I compared to the device; no way it would work.

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by smatanovic

It is a different template. They initially sent me the 10.25 template, which I compared to the device; no way it would work.

Is the 12.3" cutout at least bigger all around so that one could change from a 10.2 to a 12.3?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just different and once you go one way the other isn't possible but that would be unfortunate

If you still happen to have both templates it would be cool to see them side by side.

I don't see myself changing from my current unit but I like to know my options.

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

Is the 12.3" cutout at least bigger all around so that one could change from a 10.2 to a 12.3?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just different and once you go one way the other isn't possible but that would be unfortunate

If you still happen to have both templates it would be cool to see them side by side.

I don't see myself changing from my current unit but I like to know my options.

It's definitely bigger, and I suspect you could go to the larger one by cutting. I unfortunately no longer have the templates, but I suspect you could ask AVIN for one.

[smatanovic]

Sorry for the delay, here is a photo of the unit installed in my e91:



There is some kind of parallax thing going on, because the display is not crooked as it appears in the photo. It is both level and straight.

[nthnthnthnth]

Originally Posted by smatanovic

Sorry for the delay, here is a photo of the unit installed in my e91:



There is some kind of parallax thing going on, because the display is not crooked as it appears in the photo. It is both level and straight.

Looks interesting. Do you have any head-on shots?

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by nthnthnthnth

Looks interesting. Do you have any head-on shots?

I will take one next time I'm in the car.

[CHARLEYBROWN]

@smatanovic Thank you so much for posting the pic! As crazy as it may seem, there really is not many real photos of the unit installed floating around. I ended up buying the 10.25" and regret it. I will likely upgrade to the 12.3" soon. I just ordered the 12.3" for my wife's e70 to replace the older 10.25" that is currently there. The 10.25" looks pretty cheap in the e90 due to the plastic trim around the dash and yours omits that piece. Yours looks a lot cleaner. Thanks again for the pics!

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by CHARLEYBROWN

@smatanovic Thank you so much for posting the pic! As crazy as it may seem, there really is not many real photos of the unit installed floating around. I ended up buying the 10.25" and regret it. I will likely upgrade to the 12.3" soon. I just ordered the 12.3" for my wife's e70 to replace the older 10.25" that is currently there. The 10.25" looks pretty cheap in the e90 due to the plastic trim around the dash and yours omits that piece. Yours looks a lot cleaner. Thanks again for the pics!

You're very welcome!

[CHARLEYBROWN]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

Is the 12.3" cutout at least bigger all around so that one could change from a 10.2 to a 12.3?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just different and once you go one way the other isn't possible but that would be unfortunate

If you still happen to have both templates it would be cool to see them side by side.

I don't see myself changing from my current unit but I like to know my options.

Just did this swap today. The templates are the exact same. You definitely can upgrade from the 10.25" to the 12.3". I like it so much more. It looks huge in the pictures but I'm the car it's just right.

[tej98]

Nice work! I have a single hump dashboard but would like to convert to the double hump dash, do you think I could possibly use just a double hump dash and slide this type of screen into the screen area? This way I could retain the factory style single din radio as well instead of doing a full CIC conversion. Thanks!

[CHARLEYBROWN]

Unfortunately it would not. The double hump dash radio has no digital screen and your current single hump dash radio will not fit the double hump dash. Also, the ac controls sit above the radio on the double hump dash instead of below like on the single. I know it would not work because I already tried this. I didn't realize this mistake until after I already installed the double hump dash. Had to put the single back in. Now I have an extra double hump dash in my attic.

[tej98]

Ah thanks. I guess I'll have to do the entire CIC retrofit then

[smatanovic]

Originally Posted by CHARLEYBROWN

Just did this swap today. The templates are the exact same. You definitely can upgrade from the 10.25" to the 12.3". I like it so much more. It looks huge in the pictures but I'm the car it's just right.

Fantastic work, nicely done!

Unfortunately, my e91 got hit by a hit and run driver a few weeks ago and the insurance company is writing it off.