Upgrading Your BMW iDrive System to an Android Screen: How to Confirm Your iDrive Version and Why Upgrade?
iDrive is an in-car information and entertainment system used in BMW vehicles, which can control multiple functions of the vehicle, including audio, navigation, and telephone. With the development of technology, more and more car owners are considering upgrading their iDrive system to a more intelligent Android screen. But how can you confirm the version of your iDrive system, and why should you upgrade to an Android screen? Let’s explore in detail.
Methods for Identifying Your iDrive System Version
There are several methods to confirm the version of the iDrive system. You can determine your iDrive version based on the production year of your car, the pin of the LVDS interface, the radio interface, and the vehicle identification number (VIN).
Determining iDrive Version by Production Year.
The first method is to determine your iDrive version based on the production year, which applies to CCC, CIC, NBT, and NBT Evo iDrive systems. However, as the production month may vary in different countries/regions, this method is not entirely accurate.
| iDrive | Series/Model | Timeframes |
|
CCC(Car Communication Computer)
|
1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 | 06/2004 – 09/2008 |
| 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 | 03/2005 – 09/2008 | |
| 5-Series E60/E61 | 12/2003 – 11/2008 | |
| 6-Series E63/E64 | 12/2003 – 11/2008 | |
| X5 Series E70 | 03/2007 – 10/2009 | |
| X6 E72 | 05/2008 – 10/2009 | |
|
CIC (Car Information Computer)
|
1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 | 09/2008 – 03/2014 |
| 1-Series F20/F21 | 09/2011 – 03/2013 | |
| 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 | 09/2008 – 10/2013 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31/F34/F80 | 02/2012 – 11/2012 | |
| 5-Series E60/E61 | 11/2008 – 05/2010 | |
| 5-Series F07 | 10/2009 – 07/2012 | |
| 5-Series F10 | 03/2010 – 09/2012 | |
| 5-Series F11 | 09/2010 – 09/2012 | |
| 6-Series E63/E64 | 11/2008 – 07/2010 | |
| 6-Series F06 | 03/2012 – 03/2013 | |
| 6-Series F12/F13 | 12/2010 – 03/2013 | |
| 7-Series F01/F02/F03 | 11/2008 – 07/2013 | |
| 7-Series F04 | 11/2008 – 06/2015 | |
| X1 E84 | 10/2009 – 06/2015 | |
| X3 F25 | 10/2010 – 04/2013 | |
| X5 E70 | 10/2009 – 06/2013 | |
| X6 E71 | 10/2009 – 08/2014 | |
| Z4 E89 | 04/2009 – present | |
|
NBT
(CIC-HIGH, also called the Next Big Thing – NBT) |
1-Series F20/F21 | 03/2013 – 03/2015 |
| 2-Series F22 | 11/2013 – 03/2015 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31 | 11/2012 – 07/2015 | |
| 3-Series F34 | 03/2013 – 07/2015 | |
| 3-Series F80 | 03/2014 – 07/2015 | |
| 4-Series F32 | 07/2013 – 07/2015 | |
| 4-Series F33 | 11/2013 – 07/2015 | |
| 4-Series F36 | 03/2014 – 07/2015 | |
| 5-Series F07 | 07/2012 – present | |
| 5-Series F10/F11/F18 | 09/2012 – present | |
| 6-Series F06/F12/F13 | 03/2013 – present | |
| 7-Series F01/F02/F03 | 07/2012 – 06/2015 | |
| X3 F25 | 04/2013 – 03/2016 | |
| X4 F26 | 04/2014 – 03/2016 | |
| X5 F15 | 08/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| X5 F85 | 12/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| X6 F16 | 08/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| X6 F86 | 12/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| i3 | 09/2013 – present | |
| i8 | 04/2014 – present | |
|
NBT Evo (the Next Big Thing Evolution) ID4
|
1-Series F20/F21 | 03/2015 – 06/2016 |
| 2-Series F22 | 03/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| 2-Series F23 | 11/2014 – 06/2016 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31/F34/F80 | 07/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| 4-Series F32/F33/F36 | 07/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| 6-Series F06/F12/F13 | 03/2013 – 06/2016 | |
| 7-Series G11/G12/G13 | 07/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| X3 F25 | 03/2016 – 06/2016 | |
| X4 F26 | 03/2016 – 06/2016 | |
|
NBT Evo (the Next Big Thing Evolution) ID5/ID6
|
1-Series F20/F21 | 07/2016 – 2019 |
| 2-Series F22 | 07/2016 – 2021 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31/F34/F80 | 07/2016 – 2018 | |
| 4-Series F32/F33/F36 | 07/2016 – 2019 | |
| 5-Series G30/G31/G38 | 10/2016 – 2019 | |
| 6-Series F06/F12/F13 | 07/2016 – 2018 | |
| 6-Series G32 | 07/2017 – 2018 | |
| 7-Series G11/G12/G13 | 07/2016 – 2019 | |
| X1 F48 | 2015 – 2022 | |
| X2 F39 | 2018 – present | |
| X3 F25 | 07/2016 – 2017 | |
| X3 G01 | 11/2017 – present | |
| X4 F26 | 07/2016 – 2018 | |
| X5 F15/F85 | 07/2016 – 2018 | |
| X6 F16/F86 | 07/2016 – 2018 | |
| i8 | 09/2018- 2020 | |
| i3 | 09/2018–present | |
|
MGU18 (iDrive 7.0)
(Media Graphic Unit)
|
3-Series G20 | 09/2018 – present |
| 4 Series G22 | 06/2020 – present | |
| 5 Series G30 | 2020 – present | |
| 6 Series G32 | 2019 – present | |
| 7 Series G11 | 01/2019 – present | |
| 8-Series G14/G15 | 09/2018 – present | |
| M8 G16 | 2019 – present | |
| i3 I01 | 2019 – present | |
| i8 I12 / I15 | 2019 – 2020 | |
| X3 G01 | 2019 – present | |
| X4 G02 | 2019 – present | |
| X5 G05 | 09/2018 – present | |
| X6 G06 | 2019 – present | |
| X7 G07 | 2018 – present | |
| Z4 G29 | 09/2018 – present | |
|
MGU21 (iDrive 8.0)
(Media Graphic Unit) |
3 Series G20 | 2022 – present |
| iX1 | 2022 – present | |
| i4 | 2021 – present | |
| iX | 2021 – present |
Methods to Confirm Your iDrive Version: Checking LVDS Pin and Radio Interface
The second method to determine the iDrive version is by checking the pins of the LVDS interface and the radio main interface. CCC has a 10-pin interface, CIC has a 4-pin interface, and NBT and Evo have a 6-pin interface. Additionally, different iDrive system versions have slightly different radio main interfaces.
Using VIN Decoder to Determine iDrive Version
The last method is to check the vehicle identification number (VIN) and use an online VIN decoder to determine the iDrive version.
Upgrading to an Android screen has several benefits.
Firstly, the display effect of the Android screen is superior, with higher resolution and clearer viewing. Secondly, the Android screen supports more applications and software, which can meet a variety of daily life and entertainment needs. For example, you can watch online videos, use mobile applications, or even interact with the voice assistant integrated into the in-car system, providing a more convenient driving experience.
In addition, upgrading to an Android screen can support built-in wireless/wired Carplay and Android Auto functions, allowing your phone to wirelessly connect to the in-car system, providing a more intelligent in-car entertainment experience. Furthermore, the update speed of the Android screen is faster, providing you with better software support and more features, bringing more convenient driving experience.
Finally, upgrading to an Android screen does not require reprogramming or cutting cables, and installation is non-destructive, ensuring the integrity and safety of the vehicle.
When upgrading the iDrive system, it is important to choose high-quality equipment and seek professional installation services. This can ensure that your iDrive system is more stable after the upgrade, while avoiding potential security risks. In addition, upgrading the iDrive system requires certain technical knowledge and experience, so it is best to seek professional technical support if you do not have relevant experience.
In summary, confirming the iDrive system version and upgrading to an Android screen can bring more convenience to your driving. It is important to choose high-quality equipment and seek professional installation services to ensure the stability and safety of the vehicle after the upgrade.
Post time: Mar-01-2023