
Android and iPhone Mirroring in your BMW i3
BMW’s iDrive system provides one of the industry’s best in car access to entertainment, navigation, text messaging, and more. Despite its advancements, it is no match for the power of a cell phone which is able to run an endless library of navigation apps like Waze or Google/Apple Maps, media apps like Plex or Youtube, home automation and security apps, and so much more. This article shows you how to install and use an Apple TV and iPhone/Android mirroring with your BMW i3 iDrive Screen.
Warning
- You also assume any risk(s) associated with and will not hold myself, equipment providers, and or others liable for ANY misuse due to unsafe driving practices.
Distracted driving kills. Be alert. Be responsible.
Pros
- Run native Apple TV apps
- Watch Netflix, Youtube, ESPN, HBO, Hulu, PBS, and more
- Mirror any app from your phone
- Run any navigation app you want (Waze, Apple Maps, Google Maps, etc)
- Run any video app you want (YouTube, Plex, Tivo, Amazon Prime, Netflix, locally stored videos, etc)
- Run any music app you want (YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, locally stored music, etc)
- Communicate how you want (FaceTime, iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger)
- Check up on valuables (Home security cameras, Find Friends, etc)
- Keep the kids and guests entertained
- Impress your friends
- And anything else you can do on your phone
- Run any navigation app you want (Waze, Apple Maps, Google Maps, etc)
- Allows you to add front and rear cameras
- Allows you to connect an additional HDMI device (ex. hdmi wired iPhone, dedicated wired iPad, a docked Nintendo Switch, etc).
Cons
- Distracted driving risks (see Warning section)
- Cost ($600 + install)
- Clarity (video is a little dark and lowered resolution)
- Performance (at times my phone struggled to mirror smoothly)
- Complications (enabling personal hotspot, turning on mirroring, rotating your phone properly, etc)
- Vehicle wear (I broke and scratched a thing or two during the install)
Equipment
The heart of this install requires:
- Bimmertech SmartVIew HD ($250)
- This integrates an Apple TV with your iDrive, allowing you to run Apple TV apps along with mirroring your iPhone to the iDrive screen. It also gives you an additional HDMI input plus inputs for aftermarket front and rear cameras (if your car was not equipped or you wanted to replace them)
- Note: Android users should choose the Bimmertech SmartView HD Flex which does not come with an Apple TV. The rest of this article will purely focus on the SmartView HD, Apple TV, and iPhone mirroring.
- Multimedia Interface ($350)
- Its a required “option” when purchasing one of the above.
DO NOT ORDER UNTIL YOU CONFIRM COMPATIBILITY BELOW!
Compatibility
The BimmerTech SmartView devices DO NOT work in every BMW and BMW i3. You ned to have Bimmertech verify your VIN for compatibility. While you could check your VIN here:
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/vincheck/
I found the tool above to be inaccurate (I suspect the tool needs updating as the BMW i3 is a new offering for Bimmertech). Contact Bimmertech (phone, email, or chat) directly.
Installation
BImmerTech did a pretty good job documenting the install (BimmerTech install doc). Below are some quick, incomplete notes about the sections I remembered. IN OTHER WORDS, THESE ARE NOT COMPLETE< STANDALONE INSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW VERBATIM, FOLLOW THE INSTALL DOC FIRST AND THEN READ THE BELOW TO COMPLIMENT – I’ll update this section more when I have time.
- Before you start
- Ensure you are prepared to pretty much take your entire interior apart and spend hours working on this
- Use plastic pry tools mean to remove trim
- Get a longer 3.5mm to stereo rca cable to be able to route from the center console, under the passenger seat, along the side trim, and to the glove box. The one included in the kit is too short.
- Configure the MMI dip switches
- NOTE: ON is down (closest to the numbers) and OFF is up
- NOTE: While I only configured the switches for 1 HDMI input (the Apple TV), I will later modify my install to allow for a second HDMI input for a direct iPhone HDMI connection.
- Disconnect the battery
- Remove the rear seat
- Simply pull up on the seat from the front (like you’re trying to flip it into the trunk).
- Slip the belt buckles out of the seat and remove the set from the car.
- Disconnect the head unit
- Remove the Display
- Remove the glove box
- Pop out the right vent first.
- Put something to protect the dash behind the glovebox. As you take the glovebox out, it will press on the dash and can permanently mark it up.
- Remove the 6 caps and then 6 screws (remember the caps damage EASILY)
- Pull the glovebox out (careful not to scratch the dash) and disconnect the 2 cables. Put the glovebox to the side.
- Pop out the right vent first.
- Remove the side trim
- Connect the head unit
- NOTE: While the instructions talk about a fiber optic cable, my car did not have one (confirmed by calling Bimmertech support)
- Connect the MMI harness to the head unit and then the head unit harness to the MMI harness
- Connect the audio
- Route the cables
- Connect the display
- Connect the MMI
- A bunch of other stuff I forgot and have run out of time to write
- Put the vehicle back together (easier said then done)
Configuring the Apple TV
The following assumes you know how to setup a hotspot on n iPhone and how to configure an Apple TV. The basic steps to configure the Apple TV for iPhone mirroring in your i3 are:
- Turn on your phone’s hotspot (this is how the Apple TV gets network access – you need this to mirror yours phones display)
- Configure the Apple TV’s network settings to connect to your phone’s hotspot
- Name your Apple TV
- Update your Apple TV’s software
Usage
- Set your audio to AUX
- Hold the iDrive menu button for 3 seconds
Conclusion
This is a pretty cool, long, and useful i3 modification. I’ll probably expand on it by 1) installing a front view camera (I don’t think mine or any i3 has one) and 2) installing an iPhone HMDI+charge cable (to use as an option to the Apple TV).