CIC retrofit
 

I got a 2010 X5 with no navigation. I would like to retrofit CIC. I've done a little research and the parts lists consists of the following

CIC head unit
CIC screen with the bezel
Trim for the CIC unit
Screen cable
GPS antenna

Since I got a 2010 model, I don't need the iDrive controller.

Can I use the buttons from my low-CIC on the high-CIC head unit? Is there anything else that I would need? Would I need to get the FSC code to activate navigation? Bluetooth?



Thanks

Hi,

I'm not affiliated with Bimmer Retrofit, but have done a couple of their retrofits in my E70 (CCC->CIC and CIC->NBT EVO) the products were awesome and the support was even better!!
Just an option rather than pulling the parts together yourself.

https://www.bimmerretrofit.com/store...product_id=129

Yeah, I found a bunch of retrofit companies selling kits, but I'm trying to see if buying all the necessary parts myself is worth it.

I figure for the amount of money you are going to spend to upgrade to CIC, you might as well upgrade to NBT, no?

May as well do NBT at this point. I did the CIC retro in 2013 and used it till I got the F15. Huge difference in usability with the NBT ID5/6, especially if you get the FSC for carplay and the touch screen.

There are some decent carplay/android auto add on systems on alliexpress. Some are modules that go inline between the cic and screen. Others are full andorid auto that replace the screen. My E70 has a cic retrofit and now that I have carplay, I rarely use the CIC functions.

For your situation, you may be able to replace the screen with the larger cic version and then add one of the inline carplay systems. With luck, your current controller will function with the add on system. This will get you nav, bluetooth, backup camera and so on. The inline systems take over your screen so you rarely see the stock system.

I have been using a carplay system for a few months now and really like it. I can save directions on google maps on my laptop and go out to the car and select it from my saved items. Waze is also nice. I do have issues with the audio quality. The original systems used aux in and lacks bass. Newer ones have solved this issue. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000...719e9daevIsqwc

The prices for CIC have come down a lot. Head unit and screen can be had for less than $200 on ebay. I did a bit more research and apparently I don't even need to buy the head unit trim since my car is a late built and low-CIC uses the same trim as the high-CIC.


As for the NBT, it's much more expensive and the biggest concern I got with it is that it's more of a hack job than a retrofit. Carplay doesn't interest me since I'm an Android user.

Nav activation can now be done with CIC patcher software (see link below) which is script activation without the need for an emulator. Your CIC needs to be on the latest firmware (C1A). Ncsexpert can tell you the version. If it is not C1A, you need in ICOM tool and big power supply to flash the cic to the latest version. https://mega.nz/folder/0l5XkCja#hhmwooDMxmL52IOw8P9ZDg

Bluetooth audio will come from a Combox retrofit. E series, don't get an F, combox sell for a little over $100 on ebay.
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=772784

I don't think you need a new screen cable. The pink connectors look the same between big and little screens. But you will need a USB cable to update the maps. It does not need to be the expensive BMW one mounted in the glovebox. Generic ebay ones work fine. You can also use it for the one-time bluetooth update on the combox. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Aux-in-...4AAOSwjZFd9Ek0

You can go aftermarket for the gps antenna or get an aftermarket fakra c cable to hook to the shark fin. Message some of the ebay vendors and they can make you a 5m cable with female fakra c right angles on each end for about $20.

This is a reply that I was looking for. Thank you very much.
The C1A CIC version is required for the navigation activation script, not for the retrofit, right? I can do the retrofit and then flash the new software on the new high-CIC.

So it looks like the list of parts that I need is quite small
CIC head unit
CIC monitor
USB for map updates
GPS antenna
COMBOX for bluetooth audio (optional)

Now gotta figure out if I can reuse my low-CIC front panel buttons on the high-CIC. ETK is not clear on that one.

I got power supply for programming, but I only got K+DCAN cable that I use for NCSEXPERT. I know that flashing using K+DCAN is asking for trouble, but I heard that bimmergeeks cable is safe to use. Might be a good reason to upgrade to ICOM though.

You can do the retrofit and flash C1A afterward. CIC patcher can activate the following FSC codes.

0017 - Voice control
0019 - Navigation system Professional
001B - Navigation system Professional
00XX - LifeTime Map Code
006F – Satellite Tuner
009C - BMW Apps

Front buttons usually come with the CIC. But I don't know much about small screen versions so check out all the pictures you can find on ebay. And add a combox plug set to your shopping list. You will remove the pins from your TCU and or MULF and insert them into the new combox plug.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...p/61136913644/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/61136913626/

As an alternative to the combox, if you have usb in the armrest, you can simply use a tune2air. It will get you bluetooth music with steering wheel controls. https://www.amazon.com/Bovee-WMA3000.../dp/B0131P6P5E