I recently got a Joyeauto wireless Apple CarPlay box and it works fantastic. I’ve had it about 2 days now. https://www.joyeauto.com/bmw-cic-1-3-5-6-7-x1-x3-x5-x6-mini-08-13my-wifi-wireless-apple-carplay-solution/

here is a good reference video for disassembly
do not buy the one in this video it is not the one I got. Video only for reference.


the worst part was unbolting the two bolts that hold in the passenger knee airbag (which holds in the glove box) they were very awkward to get to also the car in the video doesn’t have an airbag there.

If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a message. The Joyeauto tec support was super helpful once I convinced them I had the CIC system. I ordered it from AliExpress and it got from Hong Kong to Detroit in two days all for about $400.

Success!!! Steering wheel controls also work!!! And you control the screen with the joystick!

Running some wires. I wish I had taken a photo after I had finished

Unboxing

We have LVDS 4 pin ports which means this is the CIC system

 

how do you know if you have cic or nbt?

 

as far as I know all 2011-2016 countryman are CIC. NBT is 2017+

 

Sweet! Thanks!

 

That's curious. My Countryman (and I thought all the R60s?) has the CHAMP2 unit rather than the CIC unit?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=65_2237

You don't happen to have a picture of the sticker on your head unit do you? I'm curious what part number it is.

Thanks!

Dan

 

If you have a CHAMP2 unit, you need to order CIC. I just installed one.

 

Awesome, thanks!

The Champ2 is basically a bit of a stripped down CIC, so good to know it works.

 

What is your ongoing review of this unit? I have a 2013 Countryman S with factory nav and would love CarPlay. Would you recommend, and have you had nay or many troubles from the unit?

 

I have been super happy with it no problems except the microphone just recently stopped working. I’m thinking that it may have come loose from bumps other than that no issues.

 

Just installed this yesterday in my 2012 Countryman S along with a Rockford Fosgate P300-12 powered sub to add some bass to the HK system. Rear view camera is on it's way from China so I'll be adding that when it arrives (already ran the cables). These MINIs are a b**** to take apart!!! It was a real challenge getting all the dash pieces out (my hands have the cuts and scrapes to prove it) but I'm loving the upgrades so far. The stock "infotainment system really leaves a lot to be desired.

 

I’ve just had this fitted to my Countryman SD 2016 on Friday and I love it. I’m interested in hearing how your steering wheel controls work? At the moment my skip buttons seems to work the opposite way round. I’ve spoken to the installer and they say the spec doesn’t allow for ANY steering wheel controls although I suspect it does and there is probably a wire plugged in the wrong way round.

can you help please?

 

my steering wheel control also functions this way I actually kinda like it better that way because it’s closer to the edge of the steering wheel. It took me a few weeks to get use to it I never explored changing it because I didn’t really care. Just out of curiosity did you replace your speakers too or just add CarPlay? The only issue I’ve had is the microphone stopped working the wire had come loose from the actual microphone under the foam cover so I re soldered it. I tucked the microphone under where the hazard button is. If you have any other questions let me know.

 

I installed an android unit in my countryman the other day and made a quick step by step video of how to disassemble the dash, swapping out the radio to putting it back together.

 

So I have it installed and all I get is a Red screen...Any ideas? I do not think it is powering on.

 

There is a power light on it, you should see it come on.

To check, you connected it on the back of the deck, not the back of the screen right?
Also, it's not possible to connect it backwards on the back of the deck, but is possible on the unit itself, so check your ins and outs.

If it weren't powering on, it should just show the oem screen, not red.
Also, you can hear it "click" when it boots and kicks the screen in.

 

It’s probably one of the dip switch settings on the box it’s been so long I don’t remember what is the right way but I had a red screen when the switches were set wrong. Could also be a cable plugged in the wrong unit double check that all the cables are routed correctly.

 

Yeah no lights. Dips on the back set to 234.


LVDS IN goes to the head unit.
LVDS OUT Ext goes to the cable that goes to the display.

That was ***** to take apart ...

 

Do you have more photos? And did you get the joystick hooked up? I think you have the power cable hooked up wrong. The red screen is because the screen is getting no signal. The original cable gets the extension added and then a new cable runs from the factory head to the box and the extension plugs into that box as well. I believe the power cable gets routed to the joystick

 

Got it. Dumb A**. I read the instructions on the idrive cable and it said only use one. I just assumed it was overriding the controls. Wasn't even paying attention that i need to plug that cable into the idrive cable Plugged in and blue light appeared. Now I need to put this puzzle back together. Thanks for the walk through.

 

Thank you for sharing all this info! Quick question: the link to the Joyeauto product above notes that it’s for 08-12 model years. Is that the correct one? Thanks again!

 

So.....a little trick on these...
JoyAuto, Bimmertech, Andream, Carlinkit....are all the same unit. Just the firmware is different.

There are slight differences, for instance JoyAuto uses an external mic, Andream uses the oem mic, but they are similar.

The Bimmertech interface is nice, but very expensive. Usually Andream is the cheapest.

Andream

Dan

 

Yes that is correct. The unit is still work great absolutely best upgrade I’ve done. There are other companies now that make the same thing when I got mine Joyeauto was the only one that made one with wireless CarPlay.

 

Any suggestions on a compatible rear camera with the upgrade?

 

Basically any backup camera will work. It's your basic RCA video connection, and with "most" of these units, reverse is selected via CANbus, so you don't even have to find a reverse light.

Personally I picked one that screws into the bumper, but that's personal preference.

Dan

 

Personally I didn’t install a camera I have the backup sensors thought they might not play well together also I prefer to reverse looking over the shoulder and with mirrors anyway.