[echo1912]

Been looking around online and found some Apple car play kits that are plug and play with good reviews. Wondering if anyone has experience with them. I want to add CarPlay but don’t want to mess any of the electronics up. What what I understand it depends on what system you have. I’ve got CIC and sounds like it’s pretty easy to do.


https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bremmen-...1954la02-03~a/

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Yeah I installed something similar, got mine from a seller on eBay, RoadTop name. I love it, it completely changed the era of the car. I can use Waze, see Spotify with AndroidAuto love it. Have actual 2024 navigation.

I also got a firmware update from seller to use stock Bluetooth for audio. Idk if all E9X are like this but my AUX quality is so bad compared to Bluetooth, only way I could use it and be satisfied.

Yes I think it depends to although the one you linked says it fits my car, but the one I got from the seller has more ports. And mine does wireless AndroidAuto instead of just wired.

[echo1912]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Yeah I installed something similar, got mine from a seller on eBay, RoadTop name. I love it, it completely changed the era of the car. I can use Waze, see Spotify with AndroidAuto love it. Have actual 2024 navigation.

I also got a firmware update from seller to use stock Bluetooth for audio. Idk if all E9X are like this but my AUX quality is so bad compared to Bluetooth, only way I could use it and be satisfied.

Yes I think it depends to although the one you linked says it fits my car, but the one I got from the seller has more ports. And mine does wireless AndroidAuto instead of just wired.

That’s good information. I figured that if I get it it’ll make the car completely different to drive in a good way. I think the one I listed has wireless too but can’t remember. Having the ability to screen share so I can watch movies while “stopped” is intriguing

[lnxguy]

Get the Mr12Volt that uses the MOST bus for audio and not auxiliary like all the other MMIs. Thank me later.

[echo1912]

Originally Posted by lnxguy

Get the Mr12Volt that uses the MOST bus for audio and not auxiliary like all the other MMIs. Thank me later.

Thank you. I assume that way the audio is better. I’ve seen that complaint from some people with other systems

[ctuna]

Yes mr12volt is the way to go if you value sound quality .

[gaze2]

Pretty much all of the units nowadays have good sound, sound from aux directly from phone and sound from unit with wireless android auto is the same for me
I would go with an aliexpress linux head unit, everything works, and you get a high res touch screen, as opposed to mr12volt using your oem screen, and is significantly cheaper, mine was like $150

[oVeRdOsE.]

does mr12volt increase sound quality ?

I'm surprised how the Individual CIC sound system is very muffled, lack of highs and lows. all in medium .

I thought it was a setting, but read few threads and indeed, individual does not worth it .

2- question 2, where did you guys buy this device? any price drop anyone already noticed, like around blackfriday? 650$ cad, this is not cheap, while the AUX one are around 230$ cad.

[ctuna]

does mr12volt increase sound quality ?
No but it doesn't degrade it.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

does mr12volt increase sound quality ?

I'm surprised how the Individual CIC sound system is very muffled, lack of highs and lows. all in medium .

I thought it was a setting, but read few threads and indeed, individual does not worth it .

2- question 2, where did you guys buy this device? any price drop anyone already noticed, like around blackfriday? 650$ cad, this is not cheap, while the AUX one are around 230$ cad.

Hey yeah I also have the individual audio package on my 335is and yeah the AUX is soooo bad. Like even trying my phone alone without the CarPlay module, with a cable it was so bad. Bluetooth on the other hand is amazing, but I'm also not a crazy audiophile.

For the module, mine was 240$ USD from eBay RoadTop. And the seller gave me the firmware update for the using the stock Bluetooth audio with the system.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by ctuna

does mr12volt increase sound quality ?
No but it doesn't degrade it.

ok tks.

Some times they do on some cars. Like my audi, I have the Bose expensive option and sound quality was not better than my old base maxima.

I got a xtrons unit, and damn the sound was way better, and a lot of people reported the same.

Now, for E90s, some units, like roadtop, even if using the AUX, the quality was better since the audio process was different.

Sound quality is very subjective, but Individual on FM radio or USB is very weak, at least for the cost of this option. Wonder is the audio process and equilizer are better on mr12volts of even aliexpress one.

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Hey yeah I also have the individual audio package on my 335is and yeah the AUX is soooo bad. Like even trying my phone alone without the CarPlay module, with a cable it was so bad. Bluetooth on the other hand is amazing, but I'm also not a crazy audiophile.

For the module, mine was 240$ USD from eBay RoadTop. And the seller gave me the firmware update for the using the stock Bluetooth audio with the system.

im looking for roadtop too. since no customs nor shipping rate, and makes it 3x cheaper than mr12volts. (doing about 1000km/y with my E91, dont feel like to spend that much)

you were satisfied with this unit ?

[ctuna]

Mr 12volt gives the same quality as the CD player .
The sound system you have will determine how good the sound it
and BMW sound system's pretty much suck , but base and Hi Fi really suck .

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1002984

The above is and extensive thread on what some people did to try to get the best
sourced sound quality. General conclusions where a DAC might help but it's not
as good as digital Input that doesn't have to go through multiple and cheap digital to analog
then digital to analog again conversions.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Mr 12volt gives the same quality as the CD player .
The sound system you have will determine how good the sound it
and BMW sound system's pretty much suck , but base and Hi Fi really suck .

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1002984

The above is and extensive thread on what some people did to try to get the best
sourced sound quality. General conclusions where a DAC might help but it's not
as good as digital Input that doesn't have to go through multiple and cheap digital to analog
then digital to analog again conversions.

very surprised how the top option sound is bad, some client must have complain about this back in the days !

My xtrons on my audi is a complete headunit swap, so makes sense the sound processing change, while on the E90s it's a addon over the headunit.

The most annoying behavior, is the lack of high on low volume, and when you crank it, the highs are way to 'high'.

You know on the morning you listen the talkshows, so I need to boost the treble, back home I want to crank some beat, so I need to turn down the treble...

[M3_V8_PWR]

Have one for sale if interested.

Was pulled out of a 135i CIC 4pin LVDS


$120.00 plus shipping

[Hoody007]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

does mr12volt increase sound quality ?

I'm surprised how the Individual CIC sound system is very muffled, lack of highs and lows. all in medium .

I thought it was a setting, but read few threads and indeed, individual does not worth it .

2- question 2, where did you guys buy this device? any price drop anyone already noticed, like around blackfriday? 650$ cad, this is not cheap, while the AUX one are around 230$ cad.

I found the Mr12Volt has a better DAC than the combox (as I care about audio quality I use Apple Music Lossless off my iPhone, used to use it wired via USB).

The combox has a notable bump in the 7K frequency which makes some music harsh - and a low bump as well around 100hz.

The Mr12Volt system is quite clear and flat. I have Individual Audio components run off of a PP82DSP amp by Audiotec Fischer.

Two downsides - sometimes the system boots up before the CIC and causes it to restart. And I haven’t figured out a way to get the phone button on the steering wheel to work.

[drekly]

So, as a new E91 owner with a CIC-MID system - is there a version that covers all of these:

A) Doesn't Lag.
B) Doesn't degrade sound.
C) Replaces the small screen I have.
D) Doesn't cost the world.

Because at the moment it seems like it's a gamble on aliexpress and I'm not wasting the money.

[Captain Buumer]

Anything that uses AUX degrades sound and that means 99% of aliexpress units.

Very few have optical conversions sold separate units but compatible.

[ctuna]

A few upgrade to the OEM NBT and NBT evo . See wikipedia idrive search.

[Raido79]

I bought RoadTop about a month ago for my E91. Installation was a pain since it's hard to fit all the wires that come with the kit. Also installation manual wasn't as clear as i was hoping but YT tutorials helped there. But the device and system itself is very fast and smooth between the apps. Also what i read before buying it is that if your car has already BT audio then you don't need to connect an AUX for audio since it will use car's BT for that.
Only thing i've noticed though is that once my car windows went down itself by and inch and yesterday when entering the car the moonroof cover just slid back by itself. So i might take it out at some point to double check if i damaged any wires etc that might cause those anomalies

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by Raido79

I bought RoadTop about a month ago for my E91. Installation was a pain since it's hard to fit all the wires that come with the kit. Also installation manual wasn't as clear as i was hoping but YT tutorials helped there. But the device and system itself is very fast and smooth between the apps. Also what i read before buying it is that if your car has already BT audio then you don't need to connect an AUX for audio since it will use car's BT for that.
Only thing i've noticed though is that once my car windows went down itself by and inch and yesterday when entering the car the moonroof cover just slid back by itself. So i might take it out at some point to double check if i damaged any wires etc that might cause those anomalies

thank for the review.

Still didnt bought it. I think Ill go with road top, mr12volts is more than 3x the price, and I use the E91 around 2000km/y...

Do you know if Android Auto is wireless ?

Some device has only Carplay wireless and android auto wired...

[Raido79]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

thank for the review.

Still didnt bought it. I think Ill go with road top, mr12volts is more than 3x the price, and I use the E91 around 2000km/y...

Do you know if Android Auto is wireless ?

Some device has only Carplay wireless and android auto wired...

Both systems should be wireless according to their webpage. I haven't tried personally to connect Android device.

Also those small electrical gremlins i have might be from faulty FRM module since diagnostics shows fault code for that.

[gaze2]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

thank for the review.

Still didnt bought it. I think Ill go with road top, mr12volts is more than 3x the price, and I use the E91 around 2000km/y...

Do you know if Android Auto is wireless ?

Some device has only Carplay wireless and android auto wired...

I have the road top that is a screen replacement, not a box that overrides the OEM screen.
It has wireless android auto, so I guess wireless carplay as well. Its the 1920x720 screen one, its overall pretty good for the price, has some glare issues, and to me the audio sounds good (connected to aux).
The only issue is when I cant really connect to the idrive module with ISTA+ now.