[SlimE92]

Originally Posted by derbo

The original unit I used was AUX and an external mic. The latest one they sell uses the combox Bluetooth audio for streaming and utilizes the factory BT for OE mic use. It's still a little wonky but they are confident they will be able to fix it in an update. They are from Shenzhen so the corona virus kinda halted them.

It's about $300-$400 for the module. I had to upgrade to combox too so add another $200-250 for parts and your awesome guide.

My goal was to have somewhat an OE like Apple CarPlay feel. It is very close to what it is like in my Honda Civic and I'm happy I don't have to have an android unit screen replacement just for Apple CarPlay.

Interesting..

If the audio gets routed through the combox rather than the aux port, then I will definitely pick one of these up for the car play.

Let's see how it evolves.

[FaxData]

How seamless is the audio setup? Do you have to connect to CarPlay then switch the audio output on the phone manually?

[derbo]

Originally Posted by FaxData

How seamless is the audio setup? Do you have to connect to CarPlay then switch the audio output on the phone manually?

Sometimes it switches correctly. Other times it doesn't and you manually have to switch it. They fixed the nbt version so it's a matter of time I hope.

[FaxData]

Gotcha. I also worry about not having a rear view camera, although maybe I could piggyback two units (rear view and CarPlay).

[derbo]

Originally Posted by FaxData

Gotcha. I also worry about not having a rear view camera, although maybe I could piggyback two units (rear view and CarPlay).

The module can accept rear view camera directly or work with the diy OEM camera module. My brothers 335d has OEM style camera with a working CarPlay module.

[FaxData]

Nice! Maybe this’ll be a project for when the pandemic dies down.

[SlimE92]

Originally Posted by FaxData

Nice! Maybe this’ll be a project for when the pandemic dies down.

Report back when you do

[Hackintosh]

Hello.after cic retrofit on e93 2008 i have this problem with service.can anyone of you help me?

[FaxData]

Have you default coded all the modules? Maybe the I-level of your car isn’t high enough? Has your car ever been dealer updated?

[Hackintosh]

I have not coded anything yet.i dont know about dealer update

[FaxData]

Do all the coding first (at least the FA/VO default coding). Depending on what vehicle your headunit came out of, you can get some very strange behavior before coding. The unit needs to know how to behave in your car.

[bms5]

I’m reading conflicting posts as to whether my 2010 335d that i just retrofitted a combox media to, can show me album art over BT. My streaming works fine from my iPhone X but I’m not getting album art even when plugged in to the console Y-cable.
Awesome DIY, FaxData! Thanks for all your work.

[FaxData]

Album art should come up with USB connection, although it’s been a while so I’m not sure if it requires bmw apps to work. I don’t think so though. I would try updating your combox to the latest version.

Album art isn’t available via Bluetooth at all, regardless of device. It’s just not part of the A2DP protocol.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by FaxData

Album art should come up with USB connection, although it’s been a while so I’m not sure if it requires bmw apps to work. I don’t think so though. I would try updating your combox to the latest version.

Album art isn’t available via Bluetooth at all, regardless of device. It’s just not part of the A2DP protocol.

I noticed my combox crashes and reboots when I have the USB connection enabled with BMW apps running. I tried m laptimer and Spotify with same results. I thought it was interesting.

[FaxData]

Huh, every time? I haven’t had that happen to me. I wonder if there’s something wrong with the combox itself. also, how do you know when the combox crashes? It’s not the CIC itself rebooting?

[Aus335iguy]

So today with the help of the guide I finally patched and activated.
Theres a PDF mentioned and it was more in line with my version of fstool2.
The hardest part is finding the software. The forum that used to share the links is closed to all but paying members. You can still find what you need though it is hard to be sure that the software you'll get will work.

Thanks to the OP for a great guide !

[lordchadski]

Hi, noob here.

Help please!

I understand that this is primarily coding based and my issue MAY be hardware...but following instructions to fit CIC as above.
I have fitted CIC which plays radio when you switch it on, CID however is just white; NCS can see both units and CID thinks it's in an E60 despite being default coded - is this the problem or have I skipped a vital step?

What have I missed?

[FaxData]

Originally Posted by lordchadski

Hi, noob here.

Help please!

I understand that this is primarily coding based and my issue MAY be hardware...but following instructions to fit CIC as above.
I have fitted CIC which plays radio when you switch it on, CID however is just white; NCS can see both units and CID thinks it's in an E60 despite being default coded - is this the problem or have I skipped a vital step?

What have I missed?

It sounds like your screen is damaged (or possibly incompatible although I'm not sure why it woudl be). To my knowledge, in the e90 you cannot code the CID nor should it need to be coded. Also check your LVDS cable; being able to see the screen in standard tools suggests that the canbus connection is good but that doesn't mean your video signal is reaching the screen.

Also other posters on this thread (and myself) have received units with damaged connectors due to rough disassembly. It's worth inspecting all of it for signs of physical damage.

[lordchadski]

Finally I won!!!

Thanks for the DIY, and the assist. CIC and Combox fitted, coded and operational.

Turns out that the CIC I bought was not 100%. Swapped out for another (£££) CIC unit and BMW logo appeared in milliseconds.
All other steps followed, VERY happy with new toy

Cheers...

Originally Posted by FaxData

It sounds like your screen is damaged (or possibly incompatible although I'm not sure why it woudl be). To my knowledge, in the e90 you cannot code the CID nor should it need to be coded. Also check your LVDS cable; being able to see the screen in standard tools suggests that the canbus connection is good but that doesn't mean your video signal is reaching the screen.

Also other posters on this thread (and myself) have received units with damaged connectors due to rough disassembly. It's worth inspecting all of it for signs of physical damage.

[FaxData]

That’s great, congrats and enjoy!

[vibroluxious]

FaxData, I just want to say thanks for putting all of this together in one, easy to read format.

I now have a fully functional CIC system in my non-iDrive car thanks in large part to your post.

Kudos to you!

Rich

[Duckyyst]

Hi FaxData, sorry to bump an old thread. awesome write I wish I saw this before.
I have a 2007 e90 335d that had CIC and combox retro fitted before I bought it. when I bought it the navi was greyed out and voice control didn't work. the bluetooth would pair but not connect. after playing around with NCS expert the navi works but voice control and bluetooth doesn't no bt audio or calls. is it possible to have too man contradicting VO/FA codes that its confusing it? if so is there an easy way to reset the codes to factory?

Thanks again for write up