Hi all,

I'm contemplating adding a CarPlay integrator to my pre-LCI Mini with Nav. It's my understanding that the LCI cars received a higher resolution screen. I'm contemplating modifying my car with that higher resolution screen. I understand that the LCI harness is different, and I've found a post on mini2.com that suggests that issue can be overcome via a connector/pin swap. I'm pretty decent at harness work, so feel I can make that change. My core issue at the moment is finding a higher resolution screen.

Based on my research, the screens were manufactured by Johnson Controls. I'd like to know if anyone has a connection at Johnson Controls who can shed light on the low vs high resolution variants. Below is some detail that might help...

I can find quite a few salvage screens, but it is not clear whether they are the lower resolution pre-LCI version, or the higher resolution post-LCI version. There are differences in the BMW OE part numbers (pre-LCI: 65 50 9 451 496, post-LCI: 65 50 90278 279) but those part numbers are not apparently printed on the label affixed to the back of the Johnson Controls housings. There are Johnson Controls ID numbers printed on those labels however, so I'm trying to figure out how those numbers correlate to screen type.

The sellers of the screens do not seem to adhere to any definitive way of identifying the screens. Some screens with a particular JC part number are listed as for the 2007-2013 models (low-res or high-res), and some screens with that same JC part number are listed as for the 2011-2013 models (only high-res).

Even though the JC part numbers vary quite a bit, there is one indicator that I think might hold the clue. On the ID labels on the back of the screens, there is a software and hardware designation. The software designation begins with "SW:" and the hardware designation begins with "HW:". So far, in my investigation of available screens, there are only two patterns in these SW/HW designations.

Variant 1 is "SW: C3.45.40" accompanied by "HW: D3".

Variant 2 is "SW: A9.50.40" accompanied by "HW: D1".

At first blush, one might assume that the D3 hardware variant is obviously the latter post-LCI version simply because of the higher number "3" vs "1", however, based on the seller compatibility lists, it would be my suggestion that the D1 variant is actually the higher resolution version. But again, I do not believe the sellers have 100% awareness of the distinction in these screens.

Does anyone have any connections with Johnson Controls such that this issue could be answered definitively?

Thanks.

 

Update:

A bit more research has suggested that the pre-LCI screens were manufactured by Alpine. The Alpine screens look quite different in their mounting as well as connector locations. This might mean that any Johnson Controls screen is a post-LCI higher resolution version.

Any confirmation would be appreciated.