Actually for at least the Andream one it displays the radar map from the oem sensors, along with guidance lines that dynamically move with the wheel.

Dan

 

I tend to agree and also have the backup sensors (however they are somewhat slow to respond compared to more modern cars) BUT I am in the process of teaching my daughter how to drive and even though I am teaching her to look over her shoulder, Ill take all the help I can get at this point.....

 

Ohh man, what am I getting myself into! haha
About to buy a pre owned mini countryman from a dealer, 2012, never considered or knew much about mini, but shopping for cars yesterday, (used) my daughter saw this on the mini lot across from the honda dealer we were looking at hahaha.
Long story short, we test drove it, myself, mom and kid all loved it.
But its got the Navi upgrade deal, but, no apple car play was a slight deal breaker, so we went home-but, now im hours deep into researching these cars, I found this.
So-attached is a pic, can I upgrade with this unit? to get apple play?

 

Yep, just get the CIC version of the kit and it will work. I have the 2011 Countryman with the same setup.

I got mine here.
Andream

Note if you want a reverse camera, should do it at the same time, as tearing apart your dash is the hardest part, especially the passenger side knee airbag.

Good Luck!

Dan

 

Awesome quick reply, thanks!
I dont own the car, but, really considering buying it today, I want it for my kid, and want apple play and back up camera!......so, is there a backup camera option from the same company? I assume I gotta hard wire it somehow BACK to the exterior and mount it?
in addition to plugging into the head unit...will it come on while in reverse?? I saw one video the guy had to toggle himself?? no way im making my kid do that haha.

 

Actually the way they do the backup camera is really good. All you need is the RCA connection, and the power wire. You don't need to find a reverse wire, and don't need to find ground, the car uses CANBuss to detect reverse. So basically you run that one wire from the front to the back under the rocker panels.

i just got a cheap Amazon camera. Depends on the kind you want. I got the kind where you drill a hole and mount it in the bumper.

here's a couple videos I did, first on the operation, then I think the second one shows the camera. Note they have updated the firmware since this was shot, such as the steering wheel controls aren't backwards now.

Cheers!

Dan

 

Can't wait to put mine in over the Holiday, can you tell me, when you are in CarPlay, do you put your Apple phone into one of the USB's to keep it charging? I believe Andream said it can do wireless CarPlay and Android Auto but on my other car that tends to drain the phone battery significantly. Thanks.

This is the Camera that I bought, not sure yet how it will turn out or if I need to put one in that you have to drill into the bumper. Will know in a few weeks.

Amazon

Amazon

NavWizard, can you list the camera you put in, seems pretty clear from the video.

 

It does use some power, but I don't plug my phone in. The usb is also not super powerful power-wise. You "can" also do wired CarPlay if you want.

The camera I got is this one, but there are many options.

 

Thanks all for refreshing this thread and those links. Just bought the countryman tonight, can't wait to get these things installed.

 

Using apple play, ill get access to all my apps? most importantly, can I play my Spotify with this?

 

Not all apps are available on CarPlay. Mainly it's just music, podcast and navigation apps. That's not an interface thing, it's just the way Carplay (and Android Auto) work.

Spotify works fine though as it has a CarPlay app.

 

Sweet, spotify is all my kid cares about linking up to the car haha.

 

I ordered that unit and camera, awaiting their arrival.
A problem i've noticed already though, my iphones will NOT connect to the current bluetooth on the car-wont that be a problem?
I do the ADD PHONE, get to the passkey part, completes, then on the mini screen I get the spinning wheel like its completing, but my iphone says its connected....but the mini never connects, there is a moment where I see the little mobile signal strength icon on the mini display, but, it never ADDS my phone!?
Any thoughts?

 

Hmmm, I've heard others hit this problem, but it usually works for me. Sometimes I have to pair a couple times, but it works.

After you do the passcode part on the mini, like 1234 or whatever, it should ask you on your phone to enter the same code.

Dan

 

I was doing 0000 and 1111 all the time, did some other random numbers and finally worked.

 

Perfect!

By the way. If you go here and enter your vin, you will get the build sheet for your car.

https://bimmer.work/

 

can you help I have attached this unit and now my backup sensors don’t show up like they used to. It’s trying to show a camera screen but I’ve not got a camera

 

Check that the dip switches are in the correct position. That is most likely the issue

 

That's interesting. I actually haven't done a car with the PDC (parking sensors) where we didn't do a backup camera.

In the settings, there should be a setting for Reverse Radar. That will display your parking sensors:



It displays a little radar thing:



'You might also try switching between oem and aftermarket camera and see what that does.

I don't think it's really designed to not have a backup camera.

 

Just about have mine in ( andream) question for the folks. It says it can use the built in microphone do you have to tap into that somewhere (doesn't seem to be picking anything up without some sort of connection) , also for the audio out from andream dies that have to plug into the audio jack near the shifter? I had to put DIPS at 00010000 to make it look right

 

I am going to tackle this install when mine arrives, should be tomm, staying posted to any and all updates haha.

 

Well, that tool ALOT longer than I thought it would. My God Mini, could you make it any more difficult to take out the center console. There are some lessons learned, depending on which unit you bought and what year and options you have on your mini, here are some:
1. There is actually a screw under the Ambient Light Sensor (up by the windshield) on my 2016 to take the grill out, then there is another one underneath that. Most of the guides only show the screw after you take the grill off.
2. The passenger knee airbag is a complete pita, you have to flex the trim out of the way in multiple spots to get to the screws. I finally pulled the loose trim over the tabs on the airbag module to get to the final screw for the center console.
3. I had the Andream unit, the DIPS had to be 00010000 in order to get the screen size right
4. The microphone in the car didn't work with the setup, no idea where that connection is in the car so I used the one that came with the kit.
5. Sound didn't work with the Andream unit on Front, an initial sign was that the Mini wouldn't let me adjust the volume on the front input (was disconnected). On mine at least with the HK, there are 2 fiber optic cables on the initial harness what were not in the Andream extension harness, those needed to move over directly to the end of the Andream harness that plugs into the Head Unit. The Andream needs to use the AV in Jack down by the I Drive Controller to get sound in.
6. You do not need to take the display / speedometer out, the connection to the Andream is to the Pink connection on the back of the Head Unit (the one with the CD player)
7. IF you get a scary message saying the car has an electrical issue and can not start, (which I did and had a mini panic attack), swap the LVDS signals on the Andream (in to out)
8. I would disconnect the battery anytime you are messing around with plugging things in and out just to keep from getting any sparks.
9. To get the HVAC panel out, I had to start the car, put it in Drive, take off the panel, then put it back in park and shut it off.
10. I ran the camera cable over the top of the glovebox while it was out and down the passenger A pillar with the wire harness that was already there.
11. The Andream comes with a harness to plug into the iDrive controller, you only need to use the 4 pin OR the 10 pin, in my 2016 (and I think all Countrymans) its the 4 pin

Ill attach some pics of some of the key areas to watch out for.

 

Here are some pics from the install

Needed to move the 2 Fiber Cables from original harness over to the passthrough harness otherwise no sound from the Front Aux (Needed for this application). Also, different from some of the videos online, the Andream connects to the head unit pink connector, NOT the LVDS cable on the back of the Speedometer/Display.

Ran the camera cable with the harness across the top of the glovebox cavity with the existing harness over to the passenger A-Pillar down past the seats

Couldn't get the factory microphone to work, kit comes with an external mic, here is where I mounted it so its hidden but still picks up your voice

Here is a pic of the dreaded passenger knee airbag. Absolute PITA, screws hidden and very hard to get to. To get the far left corner screw, I tool off the plastic from the tabs on the module. Start with the single line left facing tab first and then the rest will come off enough to bend it down to get to the screws

Finally, success. Wireless Android Auto running Waze, so much better than the factory system. Sound seems better also but it could just be me.

 

That air bag. Hate, hate, hate!
Actually sounds like you didn't remove it. That's interesting, I did, and those two 10mm bolts to do that are such a pain.

The oem connection is up in the headliner, where your sunroof switches are. You can run the provided mic cable up the passenger side window trim, unplug the wire from the mic, and use the provided adapter to splice in.

I also removed the shifter, but your way works too.

 

You are correct, I left the air bag in. I saw a video where you could flex the panels out a little to get the 2 screws out for the glove box.

Thanks for the heads up on the Mic, I figured it was up there but was hoping to not have to run the wiring all the way up there to tap into it. So far the alternate location just above the radio hidden in the air vent is working.