ConnectDrive/BMW Apps Retrofit done

[X5_Rob]

I just completed installing the 6NR feature to my X6. BMW Apps and full iPhone integration with video (Netflix, SlingBox, Youtube, video in motion, etc.). This was the one feature I really wanted in my car and didn't have.. Was very leery of tackling this on my own but got it all working tonight and am very pleased with results..

The guys at BMW retrofits, coding and software updates - BimmerTech are amazing.... I did this on my own which required removing the CIC amoung other things... I must have sent 100 emails back and fourth to Patryk at Bimmer-tech.. He answered everyone one of them within 10 minutes... Just amazing to work with these guys...

I did not take step by step pics or would have posted a DIY.. I can tell you the instructions and Patryk guidance will make this retrofit an easy DIY project if you have the slightest mechanical skills...

Rob

[blue dragon]

I chose bimmertech over bmwretrofit as well to work with for my combox retro. Men who does the coding knows his stuff.
So I guess you did the media cradle and had to run the FBAS cable to the cic for the video playback from the iphone, or did you skip the crade and did using just USB?
I wish the media cradle for the iphone 5 was out already.

[X5_Rob]

I did run the wires up to the CIC but am not using the media adaptor. Instead I am using the Y-cable via the USB.. From what I have read the iPhone 5 does not send video via the lightning cable... you won't be able to get video from the i5 to the CIC.. in my setup I am using iPhone 5 as 4G hotspot and have iphone 4 permanently mounted to the usb y-cable.. Watched the Rays beat the Redsox tonight while waiting to pick up my daughter from an event. Now that's technology at its finest!

[Toneaero]

I'm interested....how much time/money did this job take?

[blue dragon]

^^ If you have 6NR and 6NF already added to you FA, you nede to run an FBAS cable (two wire + shield) to one of the 3 inputs on the CIC. Then there is another cable that gets run to the combox for USB, in addition to the existing one thats used for 6FL.

There is a long thread on bmwcoding about it, but its worth the read if you are going to do it yourself. Have a look at posts 28 and post 30 for pin outs etc

[X5_Rob]

Originally Posted by Toneaero

I'm interested....how much time/money did this job take?

You are going to spend between $450 - $600 depending on your car setup. You can take the car to one of their dealers and have it done (you can check on their website for the closest one). I'm guessing they are going to charge you additional for installing it..

It took me 2-3 hours to install myself. If I had to do it again knowing what I know now I could do it in under an hour.. Its not for the faint of heart.. You will need to remove a couple of pieces from the dash include the front entertainment faceplate to get to the CIC.. The faceplate pops out and the CIC is mounted like a car stereo of old.. a couple of screws and out it comes....

Part of your kit is a wire harness that needs to be run from behind the CIC up under the dash and center console to the center glovebox..

I must have emailed Patryk at BimmerTech 25 times with questions during the installation process... Patryk responded to everyone of those emails within 10-15 minutes.. This install which intimidated me from the start was so much easier being able to ask an expert questions along the way..

Once you get the wire hooked up between the CIC and glovebox area depending on whether you decide to use the BMW $300 snap in media adapter or the basically free y-cable/usb hub the next step is rather simple although cumbersome.. I chose the y-cable/usb to mount my iphone to the car... that required me to access the combox.. on the X6 the combox is mounted behind the panel in the rear passenger compartment.. You need to pop a few interior panels out and uncrew a couple of things to reach the combox.. The X5 may have the combox located in the rear area behind the access panel which would make this much easier for you..

If you have some basic skills I believe you can complete this install as their people are an email away answering any question that you have. I was watching a baseball game in my car last night waiting to pick up my daughter from an event and made this all worth while!

[TerminatorX5]

i read it but i i think i missed the spot where you are explaining how you got video out of the cellphone... sorry, with old age i realize how stupid i am!!!

how did you pull the video from the iphone? can video be pulled from android phone? now, i am off to google, looking for the "video-out-unicorn"!!!

[blue dragon]

^^ He basically played the video on his iphone. The Y cable connects to a USB HSD (high speed data) cable and an FBAS cable and sends the signal to the combox over the HSD cable for the audio. The FBAS cable sends analog video to the CIC.
The combox then sends audio via the MOST bus to the amplifier and you get sound.

[X5_Rob]

When you doc the phone to the car via the usb hub the cd/multi media menu gives you the option to select the cradled iphone as source.. you then have the options to play anyy of the content on the iphone including music and videos stored on the phone... once you play a video from teh stored content on the phone (i went into the iTunes Store and downloaded a recent episode of the daily show for $1.99) the phone is "tricked" and plays all video from any source through the cradle...

I played 5 seconds of the daily show to get the video on the nav screen.. then I opened netflix and it started playing on the nav screen as well... I have a sling box hooked up at home and started my sling app on my iphone and bingo - Rays-Redsox is playing on my nav screen...

A couple of things.. I don't know if this is compatible with aindroid devices... I'm sure an email to the guys at bimmer-tech could clarify which devices are compatible.. I do know this... the iPhone 5 and its new lightning cable ARE NOT compatible... the new iPhone 5 setup does not pipe video thru that new lightning connection...

[TerminatorX5]

my wife has the 6NR and 6NF options factory fitted... she has an Android phone... I have netflix, slingbox... in other words, i have some of the items present... she can stream pandora and even gets the image of the disk cover on the nav screen... but we never had video on the screen - not to say that the phone supports it... but, if it does, then, I see the AV plug socket... i need to visit the bmwcoding website...

Gee, i see a retrofit in my future!!!!

but, if the stupid phones had a simple RCA output - even my 2006 X5 could have the Netflix and slingbox running!!! lol...