[Bobbych]

Hi, I have a 2010 e90 320d. It has CIC but just the business version. So it has the Aux in the armrest but has no USB. It has Bluetooth for calls only and no streaming. So I assume it has a combox but I have not checked

Now I am going to add android auto by the way of a a new screen from AliExpress

My question is , I have read a lot of forum posts about the install and they all use the added aux cable to the armrest

But I have also read cars without the USB but with combox also have aux enabled via the harness as standard so in that case I will not need the aux cable

Does anyone have more info on this

[rbryantaz]

I added the Android head unit to my non idrive 2008 E90 with logic7.

From what I found the logic7 units are the difference because their aux input goes to the rear amp rather than the radio. My e70 didn't have the logic7 and didn't need the aux cable, the wiring to the radio just works.

On the E90 I spliced/soldered a female aux jack into the wiring that goes to the armrest aux jack behind the air vent. That way I don't have to plug into the jack. I left it connected so it works when the head unit isn't playing. I didn't notice extra noise that way but haven't tested it a lot. Technically it should have a switch to ensure that the head unit doesn't put anything on the line.

I also changed the center speaker to go through the head unit so it can play NAV on it directly the way my e70 unit has it (they are the same unit but had different center channel connections for some reason). For some reason the E90 unit came with it's own speaker instead of wiring through the cars center speaker

-Rich

[Bobbych]

an update for this thread

I installed my Android Auto Head unit today. It went well and I can confirm, on my setup there was NO need to use the Aux Cable. the car used the Harness for the Aux

Also I was surprised, the Android auto works over bluetooth, so I do not even have to plug in my android

have not tested Carplay as I do not have an Iphone