DIY Carplay/Android Auto Carsara Install and Setup Tips

smokinjoe64 wrote

muniz_ri wrote

Can you post a pic of your mmi's software version screen?

Software version from my unit received Mar 2021...

From my order this month

Also has anyone noticed a hissing sound when listening to music like almost like a static?

unrulyteach wrote

Also has anyone noticed a hissing sound when listening to music like almost like a static?

Turn the volume down from the knob and raise it from your phone/the equalizer in the settings

smokinjoe64 wrote

Software version from my unit received Mar 2021...

unrulyteach wrote

From my order this month

So this unit is the same as one of the Andream B units for CICHL.

unrulyteach wrote

Also has anyone noticed a hissing sound when listening to music like almost like a static?

These are the inherit flaws of using an analog input to the head unit. As others have said, you can mitigate it somewhat by adjusting the volume level of the source, but you will never 100% remove it.

just installed on my e90:

Coded CIC beforehand
DIP 3,4,7
#a -> #b, removed idrive controller harness

installed in less than 2 hours, works perfectly, best is I can Airplay my harry's lap timer so no longer need to mount the phone on the window.

dickchow wrote

just installed on my e90:

Coded CIC beforehand
DIP 3,4,7
#a -> #b, removed idrive controller harness

installed in less than 2 hours, works perfectly, best is I can Airplay my harry's lap timer so no longer need to mount the phone on the window.

I wonder cause i hav switches 3,4 on

Also what's ur audio levels set at when CarPlay connect to car i notice i hav to turn it up to at least hear it. But when not using CarPlay bad using regular Bluetooth it has a set level that it stays at up on startup

unrulyteach wrote

Also what's ur audio levels set at when CarPlay connect to car i notice i hav to turn it up to at least hear it. But when not using CarPlay bad using regular Bluetooth it has a set level that it stays at up on startup

I have my Aux volume at about 50% and then adjust your carplay box up if needed. I believe my carplay volume is at 13.

Hissing likely means your aux volume and carplay volume are both too low. I don't get any obvious hiss.

How do i get music to play automatically up on CarPlay connection

Great info Cyberdemon and others.

Unit takes ages to connect wirelessly and sound only works with the 3mm jack. Which is weird as programmed the center console out...and shows up as nickt_aktiv when checking, Quadlock green cable moved etc. Have set bmw to "AUX Front"

Rechecked all connections etc.


Any ideas why I'm not getting sound without the 3mm cable?

m3toboot wrote

Great info Cyberdemon and others.

Unit takes ages to connect wirelessly and sound only works with the 3mm jack. Which is weird as programmed the center console out...and shows up as nickt_aktiv when checking, Quadlock green cable moved etc. Have set bmw to "AUX Front"

Rechecked all connections etc.


Any ideas why I'm not getting sound without the 3mm cable?

U actually ran the wire?

Does the system go sleep? Up on car waking up they system wakes up also, with car locked and i open the
Truck it will prompt me on my phone

unrulyteach wrote

Does the system go sleep? Up on car waking up they system wakes up also, with car locked and i open the
Truck it will prompt me on my phone

Anytime the CAN wakes up so will this device. Kind of annoying but it is what it is

Has anyone had an issue of their device being forgotten?

My car sat for about a week and it wouldnt connect via carplay but the device was listed still in bluetooth but not in carplay.

unrulyteach wrote

U actually ran the wire?

Yes as part of the harness, from the front to console via 3mm jack. Dont understand why I dont get sound via quadlock :-(

Same firmware version as above.

m3toboot wrote

unrulyteach wrote

U actually ran the wire?

Yes as part of the harness, from the front to console via 3mm jack. Dont understand why I dont get sound via quadlock :-(

Same firmware version as above.

Did u code cic?

m3toboot wrote

Great info Cyberdemon and others.

Unit takes ages to connect wirelessly and sound only works with the 3mm jack. Which is weird as programmed the center console out...and shows up as nickt_aktiv when checking, Quadlock green cable moved etc. Have set bmw to "AUX Front"

Rechecked all connections etc.


Any ideas why I'm not getting sound without the 3mm cable?

m3toboot wrote

Yes as part of the harness, from the front to console via 3mm jack. Dont understand why I dont get sound via quadlock :-(

Same firmware version as above.

Just to confirm, are you trying to get sound from the quadlock while ALSO having the 3mm jack plugged in? That may be your problem if it's the case. I am not sure that the Carsara unit will send audio over both the 3.5mm and quadlock at the same time.

Can you confirm that you changed audio sources on the iDrive then reselected Aux Front and that the volume is turned up on both devices?

Crimson92 wrote

Has anyone had an issue of their device being forgotten?

My car sat for about a week and it wouldnt connect via carplay but the device was listed still in bluetooth but not in carplay.

Occasionally the car won't pair with my phone right off the bat. I usually just have to go into my iPhone settings and pair with the CarplayXXXXX BT source and as soon as I do that everything will link back up. I've only had to re-pair it to carplay once and that was a result of trying to switch between Airplay and Carplay.

m3toboot wrote

unrulyteach wrote

U actually ran the wire?

Yes as part of the harness, from the front to console via 3mm jack. Dont understand why I dont get sound via quadlock :-(

Same firmware version as above.

What year is your car? Mine has never worked and I coded it. I had the issue where some of the coding items were not even there.

Cyberdemon wrote

Just to confirm, are you trying to get sound from the quadlock while ALSO having the 3mm jack plugged in? That may be your problem if it's the case. I am not sure that the Carsara unit will send audio over both the 3.5mm and quadlock at the same time.

Can you confirm that you changed audio sources on the iDrive then reselected Aux Front and that the volume is turned up on both devices?


Occasionally the car won't pair with my phone right off the bat. I usually just have to go into my iPhone settings and pair with the CarplayXXXXX BT source and as soon as I do that everything will link back up. I've only had to re-pair it to carplay once and that was a result of trying to switch between Airplay and Carplay.

3 values coded out with ncsexpert and verified.
Yes using/relying only on quadlock, without jack - NO AUDIO
Audio is only when jack is connected :-(

Cyberdemon what do you mean "Can you confirm that you changed audio sources on the iDrive" ?

Have selected AUX Front from i-drive (this changed from AUX in, I think after coding).

Volume 50%

Appreciate the insights!

Hey everyone. Thanks for putting this thread together, lots of useful information in here.

I have ordered a Carsara box a few months ago but haven't had the proper time to install it yet. I have an Android phone and plan on using the Android Auto only. In the bimmertech video about on how to use, they mention that with Android we should leave the phone paired via bluetooth to the original CIC and that the sound would go via bluetooth - see video at 2m50s mark
Is this for music audio and phone calls, or just phone calls? Will the audio still need to go via Aux (via the quadlock)? It's a bit confusing in this thread it seems consensual that we should unpair the bluetooth phone on the original CIC but they suggest keeping it for "hands-free bluetooth system".

Thanks in advance!

m3toboot wrote

3 values coded out with ncsexpert and verified.
Yes using/relying only on quadlock, without jack - NO AUDIO
Audio is only when jack is connected :-(

Cyberdemon what do you mean "Can you confirm that you changed audio sources on the iDrive" ?

Have selected AUX Front from i-drive (this changed from AUX in, I think after coding).

Volume 50%

Unfortunately hard for me to say then. It's possible certain cars or options required a different configuration than what was originally suggested. If you want to post your build and options perhaps others can see if they have a similar build and it works. It's hard to make absolutes when different folks got different combinations of Aux, Combox, USB, Ipod integration, etc.