Android Head Unit Install, Cluster issues
 

(Edit: realizing I posted in 2nd gen mini section rather than countryman, same difference, though. If mods want to move, go ahead.)

I am not new to doing car audio work, nor doing off-the-wall audio/video work from PC powered to android tablet powered custom projects but I AM new to german cars.

Prebuilt Android head units are getting better and better, they don't come without a few flaws we've got to work around to make it a nice buttoned up system, though. I have a small problem and coming to you guys for some help.

I have installed this model HERE (link) with the 4gb ram 32gb rom option in an r60 2013 Countryman S All4 US model. I was impressed to find that the unit has all of the bmw/mini factory harness connections on the back of the disc drive and lcd display unit the same as the factory big ben speedo and disc drive including 6 pin the ibus/can port on the back of the LCD unit that runs the tach/main cluster. The installation went well, only time consuming part was getting that dash to come apart with a lack of good information online of how to do it without breaking something, lol. Photos:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...a841cde7c0.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...eef60900fd.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...8c9d087a45.jpg


I was surprised to find that the gas gauge and other indicators worked well and retained the power on/off pattern/dance that the gas gauge does.

A few issues found since installation: The blinker tick sounds, door chime, notification tones are GONE and this was partially expected; the original description wasn't clear on this. Second, the speed display on the steering column tach cluster isn't working exactly as it was before after installing this system. The "refresh rate" of which the digital speed indicator has slowed down, it updates moving speed speed slower as you accelerate and decelerate the car but it's not unreasonable, just behaving differently. The unit is properly showing MPH as it is set that way in the settings menu of the tach cluster BUT when setting cruise while driving, the cruise speed shows as Kph, after cruise is set, it returns to show Mph traveling speed. Increasing or decreasing cruise speed shows as kph: confusing!

Possible plans to resolve:

As far as chimes, blinker ticks, and notification noises, this device here (link) seems to do the trick for others. I am hoping that I can just parallel connect the can-bus wires that this module reads from the quad-lock connector into the harness that is already there and ignore/remove the rest of the un-needed wires of the axcess adapter and have my noises back. Can I parallel connect that unit to the can high/low wires WITH the stereo?

To get the tach gauge cluster working as factory again, I am at a bit of a loss of knowing how it works in the first place. What I imagine is the stock form of functionality is that the can-bus communication goes into the quadlock connector of the factory head unit and then passes through out of the 6pin connector to the gauge cluster. The 6pin port on the back of the lcd display component is labeled "IBUS" and when it is disconnected from the factory harness cable that plug into it, the steering wheel dash tach cluster does not work, no lights, no power. Is it possible that I could run the can-bus signal wires in parallel from the quadlock connector to the 6pin connector that goes from the back of the lcd-unit into the gauge cluster to bypass and remove the android stereo unit from the data feed equation OR is there possibly some signal processing/converting being done inside of the android head unit before it gets passed to the gauge cluster that the designers of this thing reverse engineered?

I appreciate any genius input from the people here who have dived deep into the data busses of these cars. I know I could live on with the gauge cluster issues as they are not big problems but annoyances that I would love to correct if possible.

Thanks for reading.
-Steve

I have a similar model. You'll need to get into the factory menu and set the 'sound' to get the 'beeps' working. There should be an internal speaker in the display unit. Your supplier should be able to give you the access code and how to. XDA Developers forum is a good source for Android Head units info and discussion. As for the tach/cruise I think that is normal that it reverts to km/hr for a nanosecond. I can't see why the new head would be slowing the signal though. Personally I would not be messing with canbus wiring, very sensitive stuff and one mistake could take out a module.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-options.htmlYou should also be reading/posting here as there are others with your unit that can probably assist.

I did find that there is an extra module, an external speaker unit which I figured was an optional external microphone that happens to be the sound indicator. It seems that it doesn't make any door, ignition, or vehicle notification tones but does make a blinker sound which sounds like a goofy recording of a classic electromagnet blinker switch, it's also slow to respond. Did you also have a factory 6pin connector that hooked up to the backside of your lcd unit? It didn't affect your gauge cluster? The cruise-set definitely should not show kph when mph is set as your speed settings, lol... that is not a factory "feature".

Thank you ! I will head there and dig around.

Same unit same issues with sound
 

Steve500,
We we have also installed the same unit over the holiday break. It was sold by carnaviplayer.
Our sounds are also gone except the turn signal blink and you are correct, it sounds really bad!
Did you ever find a resolution for this issue?

You need to install a brmc chime module. Only the sounds that came from the little speaker in the speedo are played by the speaker that comes with the head unit. All the sounds that played over the car speakers like door chimes need to be generated with the chime module and a separate little speaker. You can just splice into the canbus lines for the module, I don't recall if I was able to get battery and switched power off that harness or if I had to run a wire for switched power to the fusebox.

We finished installing the head today and put the dashboard back together. Disassembling and reassembling takes longer than installing the head! Anyhow once it was back together we went out for a drive. The seat belt chimes do work but apparently only when the CM is in motion. So that's good news!
I don't know whether those chimes originally came from the speedo or played over the speakers. Do you or does anybody know which sounds come from where?