Hello there! First timer here, and first time with a MINI as well. Have learnt a lot in the past 2 wks watching videos, learning the jargon, etc. I got my first MINI, a Countryman S 2020 Pacific Blue... The 6.5 drives me crazy. Wanting to upgrade to 8.8 plus the new software since the interface seems so much better (functionality and looks too). I have browsed through old posts and couldn't find like this very question.

How do I know if it is a MUST to change the WHOLE Head unit and not just the screen, ring and perhaps the iDrive? Ignorance is not bliss here, so maybe I am asking something really stupid or naive... I have watched videos upgrading, but old units (either non touch, no NAV or something else) NBT not even NBT EVO... Since this car is a 2020 shouldn't it be MGU?
As a 2nd priority, I would want to change to the digital instrument cluster, but that seems kindof easy... (even the coding), third priority the Union Jack Tail lights... but first things first... So Can I JUST change "the screen"?

PS - Just so you know, the only dealer here in Lima SUCKS... zero tech guys, zero willing to help people so zero upgrades... they just want you to buy a new one and so on...

Thanks for understanding and for all your help...

Fred from Lima, PERU

Here it is

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Main passenger... always with me...

So you can get an idea of my dash

 

I think you have a bigger CarPlay display since it's full screen. By default the 8.8" screen doesn't have full screen CarPlay and only uses about 2/3rd's of the screen. If you retrofit the screen make sure you have full screen CarPlay still coded in.

 

You are correct... This 6.5" display opens Apple CarPlay "full screen"... I was not fully aware that originally the 8.8" kind of splits the screen to fit the original ratio of the CarPlay display (what a silly thing!), but you are spot on, it is not just a HW upgrade, but involves an ID upgrade...
However, my question remains unanswered... Can I just change the display without changing the head unit???

 

This thread seems to suggest it's just a screen swap and coding for the F54 which should be basically identical to the F60: https://www.minif56.com/threads/conv...-to-8-8.90364/