[BeastMode335i]

So I found an 08 with low miles and at a good price but it's missing only iDrive, it even has comfort access, sport package, etc just no iDrive.. I know some well say just get a car that has iDrive already but I've looked and looked, and none fall into the category or parameters that my lender is willing to work with (miles to high, title not clean, dealership doesn't accept Capital One, etc).. So let's just assume that I stick with the vehicle at hand, and want to convert the dash to an iDrive CIC dash the questions I have are to follow..

Well I wanna put the CIC iDrive in it and I seen a thread from bimmerretrofit but they haven't replied back to me so I'm asking around to see if anyone has seen or done this conversion? I've sourced parts and it's around $1k-$1500 for the whole thing such as dash, cic navi, new trim, controller, but one thing I'm not sure about is the wiring for the CIC display?

Does it display tire pressures, PDC, and all other vehicle information that a normal iDrive equipped vehicle would display?

If I ever have to bring it in for a recall issue or something, do I have to convert the whole dash back to stock?

I'm sure i'll have more questions later but thus far that's all I can think of.

Thanks!

[Bbacho2002]

It is possible and it has been done ! Just expensive and a lot of work !! Parts are easy - finding someone to take your WHOLE dashboard apart and installing CIC is the hard and expensive part ... If I had to guess you will be probably looking at $2500 - $2900 parts and labor

[JJBA223]

Dont expect a dealership to do so. Youll probably have to get some performance bmw shop to do it (one that builds these cars for track use) or some sketchy place haha.
I know in orlando psi is always stripping a bmw or two... Or ten

[BeastMode335i]

lmao ^^ two, or ten..!

Ok so maybe I'll skip on the iDrive and just get a nice double din.. I saw a pioneer double din in a 335i on youtube and he was using the steering wheel controls for it, and it had a backup camera where one of the license plate lights was.. Kinda shifted my interest a bit I suppose =)

[Delta0311]

It can be done but the cost factor is not worth it if you cannot do it yourself. You will be much better off finding one with idrive, which should not be hard to do these days.

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

It can be done but the cost factor is not worth it if you cannot do it yourself. You will be much better off finding one with idrive, which should not be hard to do these days.

Agree.

Mine is without Idrive or Navi. I ordered it that way to reduce electronics since the car already has 15+ computers and 70+ sensors that will all go bad some day. I would have deleted the moon roof if it had been an option at the time.

Good luck with whatever route you take.

[nynyny]

When I got my car I was really concerned about the lack of i Drive.

However a year into owning it I can say that I don't really miss it or wish that I had spent the extra money...

The only thing that bothers me is you can't stream music through non i drive bluetooth. Not a deal breaker for me, may be different for you.

[BeastMode335i]

Yeah I agree, I think it may not end up bothering me.. I'm a car audio guy so I'd like to implement one of the double dins, with bluetooth, steering wheel controls, etc so I'll probably go that route..

Thanks guys!

[Glopez5]

I drive or nothing there was only 2 things that were deal breakers sport seats and I drive. That dash board is way too bland without it. No offense to other guys who don't have it but def worth it. I waited until I found right one. Prices are really good right now too since unfortunately these cars aren't holding value
..

[BeastMode335i]

I got the one without iDrive because I was tired of looking lol..

I've seen some pretty awesome setups without iDrive, as far as dash mounted tablet's, double din in dash's, etc... I'll probably go with the tablet route so I can retain all my factory options, bluetooth, usb, phone, etc and not have to have all kinds of add-ons..

[Fundguy1]

I ordered mine without it. Biggest waste of money and makes the dash cluttered. I had a Garmin hardwired in the drivers lower corner of the windshield for under $200. Actually wired it myself as I was an installer for a car audio shop for years during college with bmw and Mercedes dealer contracts to do all their aftermarket stuff. I have every other option on my car except steering assist and auto. I had to order mine specifically without it and wait a month because there were no convertible 335 with manual trans without the idrive for sale in the whole country. Pita. Gives you no worthwhile features except nav for 50 times more than buying a Garmin or better yet for $20 a mount for your galaxy. Yes I've driven ones with it. It's clunky, yes even the current one, and pretty useless. But yes, you can do it if you must. I get tire pressures etc through the gauge cluster, ipod through radio. Not missing anything. And yes I have comfort access etc. Just my take on idrive. I apologize for trolling but for years I just shake my head everything I see one.

[RD335]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

I ordered mine without it. Biggest waste of money and makes the dash cluttered. I had a Garmin hardwired in the drivers lower corner of the windshield for under $200. Actually wired it myself as I was an installer for a car audio shop for years during college with bmw and Mercedes dealer contracts to do all their aftermarket stuff. I have every other option on my car except steering assist and auto. I had to order mine specifically without it and wait a month because there were no convertible 335 with manual trans without the idrive for sale in the whole country. Pita. Gives you no worthwhile features except nav for 50 times more than buying a Garmin or better yet for $20 a mount for your galaxy. Yes I've driven ones with it. It's clunky, yes even the current one, and pretty useless. But yes, you can do it if you must. I get tire pressures etc through the gauge cluster, ipod through radio. Not missing anything. And yes I have comfort access etc. Just my take on idrive. I apologize for trolling but for years I just shake my head everything I see one.

+1

[.fLip.]

yea im in the same boat (sold my e90, now looking for a e92 335)

a lot of great deals on e92 with everything except idrive. idunno WHY they would get things like comfort access and no idrive, but whatever. ive done my research and checking around local junkyard. it really isnt a hard DIY, and if i go the non-idrive route, i will end up doing the job myself (after suspension and wheels of course lol) if youre patient you can find deals and spend maybe 1000-1500 or less if youre lucky.

[Fundguy1]

Originally Posted by .fLip.

yea im in the same boat (sold my e90, now looking for a e92 335)

a lot of great deals on e92 with everything except idrive. idunno WHY they would get things like comfort access and no idrive, but whatever. ive done my research and checking around local junkyard. it really isnt a hard DIY, and if i go the non-idrive route, i will end up doing the job myself (after suspension and wheels of course lol) if youre patient you can find deals and spend maybe 1000-1500 or less if youre lucky.

Because bang for the buck comfort access rocks and I drive is expensive and ugly. I bought an optional gps once. Never again. Biggest waste of money. They offer I drive for $500 with free map upgrades maybe. MAYBE. Still ugly and clunky.

[BeastMode335i]

Originally Posted by .fLip.

yea im in the same boat (sold my e90, now looking for a e92 335)

a lot of great deals on e92 with everything except idrive. idunno WHY they would get things like comfort access and no idrive, but whatever. ive done my research and checking around local junkyard. it really isnt a hard DIY, and if i go the non-idrive route, i will end up doing the job myself (after suspension and wheels of course lol) if youre patient you can find deals and spend maybe 1000-1500 or less if youre lucky.

I just wonder what extra cables or harnesses would be needed to add in navigation to read all the sensors and stuff..?

I'm with you though, I think it's a cool add-on for us non idrive guys, or those of us who didn't want to pay thousands extra just for idrive.. Plus i love to do some DIY's to add my own personal touch!

[BeastMode335i]

I've been searching for the past hour or so on an entire parts list of everything we'd need to have it functioning just like the stock system with PDC and all that...!

[Cvaggelis95]

I have a serious question.

What if you install the iDrive dash but instead of installing the original iDrive system, install directly an Android aftermarket unit?