Holiman
Well-known member
Sure thing. Item has been shipped out of Hong Kong , so ETA is around 2 weeks (DHL out of China is apparently behind schedule) I'll let you know once fitted then I'll give you a shout.
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
F30 LCI Android HU and Towbar Recommendations
- Thread starter Sirus_The_Virus
- Start date
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Holiman
Well-known member
Being the little impatient bigger I am, item arrive this morning. I immediately went to install. As I have had the android 4 version with 480p screen, for the the install was a simple swap out... Well by simple I mean hectic cos the new harness is different has a gps speaker added to it. So I had to take everything out and put in the new harness. 720p is such a breeze.
I won't go into too much detail but of you have any questions, shoot. GPS located very well, reverse cam I already had and just works as well, albeit a bit slow to respond from the steering but not an issue for me.
One thing instill need to test is the sum function as my aim car was too small so I need an adapter.
In terms of delivery, everything took a total of 10 days. Very smooth process from DHL. Considering I paid 99 Bux for this delivery. The status updates were on point. My package travelled far. Hong Kong, Dubai, Bahrain, Nairobi, then SA.
The quality of the device is exceptional. Android version is 11.
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I won't go into too much detail but of you have any questions, shoot. GPS located very well, reverse cam I already had and just works as well, albeit a bit slow to respond from the steering but not an issue for me.
One thing instill need to test is the sum function as my aim car was too small so I need an adapter.
In terms of delivery, everything took a total of 10 days. Very smooth process from DHL. Considering I paid 99 Bux for this delivery. The status updates were on point. My package travelled far. Hong Kong, Dubai, Bahrain, Nairobi, then SA.
The quality of the device is exceptional. Android version is 11.
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Holiman
Well-known member
Left is new, right with silver strip is old. Btw somebody has already booked my old screen. Will donate it to a fellow fanatic as test item because android 4, being so old nothing works. Lol. And 480p is not great either so not worth the sale.Being the little impatient bigger I am, item arrive this morning. I immediately went to install. As I have had the android 4 version with 480p screen, for the the install was a simple swap out... Well by simple I mean hectic cos the new harness is different has a gps speaker added to it. So I had to take everything out and put in the new harness. 720p is such a breeze.
I won't go into too much detail but of you have any questions, shoot. GPS located very well, reverse cam I already had and just works as well, albeit a bit slow to respond from the steering but not an issue for me.
One thing instill need to test is the sum function as my aim car was too small so I need an adapter.
In terms of delivery, everything took a total of 10 days. Very smooth process from DHL. Considering I paid 99 Bux for this delivery. The status updates were on point. My package travelled far. Hong Kong, Dubai, Bahrain, Nairobi, then SA.
The quality of the device is exceptional. Android version is 11.
Sent using Tapatalk
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Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
Glad you sorted finally!! I had an issue with my cameras being couriered and Amazon issue a return for the items before I got it. Reason was items damaged (this was picked up in Gauteng). I got a full refund.
I then re-orderd the items last week and received it all today. I might install the rear camera this evening, but the front one I'm going to do the weekend.
One irritation I have is when starting the car the audio is not always on immediately when in Android. I need to either use android auto, play default music player (not the one you can change it to, go to the apps section or just wait quite a while before it plays. This is when playing spotify or YouTube from cold boot. My Audio plays instantly from the Radio if that was last playing.
All in all this is a damn great upgrade. I had to adjust the bass, 'atro' and treble to make my sound the same as the oem side (not the equalizer, that's something different). I was thinking of getting a usb audio Dac, but decided against it after adjusting the settings above. Sound 100% correct at the moment.
I found out I could actually use Android Auto Wirelessly as well. But then I would need to use the telephone system of the android side and install a separate mic, which I'm against. So using only the apps on the device itself or USB android Auto
I also got myself a mtn simcard with 5gb anytime Data (R100 prepaid per month). Now I no longer need to use macroid to enable Hotspot everytime my phone connects to cars Bluetooth.
Just a heads up from my experience using Android Auto on my phone. It heats the phone up quite a bit. So much so that my Glass on my rear camera on my phone cracked because it was so hot. Ordered the replacement screen from Amazon as well. These are known issues with Samsung latest S and Note series.
On another note I bought the oem towbar today and getting it installed Wednesday. That should be the last item for my vehicle then I'm done foe the year lol.
As I said, will post pics once I'm done with camera installs as well.
I then re-orderd the items last week and received it all today. I might install the rear camera this evening, but the front one I'm going to do the weekend.
One irritation I have is when starting the car the audio is not always on immediately when in Android. I need to either use android auto, play default music player (not the one you can change it to, go to the apps section or just wait quite a while before it plays. This is when playing spotify or YouTube from cold boot. My Audio plays instantly from the Radio if that was last playing.
All in all this is a damn great upgrade. I had to adjust the bass, 'atro' and treble to make my sound the same as the oem side (not the equalizer, that's something different). I was thinking of getting a usb audio Dac, but decided against it after adjusting the settings above. Sound 100% correct at the moment.
I found out I could actually use Android Auto Wirelessly as well. But then I would need to use the telephone system of the android side and install a separate mic, which I'm against. So using only the apps on the device itself or USB android Auto
I also got myself a mtn simcard with 5gb anytime Data (R100 prepaid per month). Now I no longer need to use macroid to enable Hotspot everytime my phone connects to cars Bluetooth.
Just a heads up from my experience using Android Auto on my phone. It heats the phone up quite a bit. So much so that my Glass on my rear camera on my phone cracked because it was so hot. Ordered the replacement screen from Amazon as well. These are known issues with Samsung latest S and Note series.
On another note I bought the oem towbar today and getting it installed Wednesday. That should be the last item for my vehicle then I'm done foe the year lol.
As I said, will post pics once I'm done with camera installs as well.
Holiman
Well-known member
Wow you went in hey. Foe me, not really gonna use android auto. Still playusic from my phone. For me, major update was the maps. Alot of the time I get sent a location via whatsapp and I want to be playing music and seeing maps at the same time. granted the android side has split screen fuvntionaltitu but I prefer to use the standard audio for me. So to get around that, i installed the SIM on the device, then installed WhatsApp for the SIM in the device. So when I get a sent a location on my main number, I just forward to the WhatsApp on the device and launch it from there and never need to enter it manually. That way, I navigate on the screen and still play music from phone.
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Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
Have you tried Waze? It actually allows you to play music and navigate. I use Waze and spotify.
Holiman
Well-known member
Holiman
Well-known member
So still love playig music from my phone, through the oem radio. In fact all audio works best for me from there. Haven't figured out android auto yet and frankly not sure if I will ever use it.
One thing I am loving is the slit screen functionality. It may be overkill but now I can use two gps applications at the same time. Lol.
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One thing I am loving is the slit screen functionality. It may be overkill but now I can use two gps applications at the same time. Lol.
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Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
Glad you tried it out, but perhaps you will come around. As I have heard others say their sound quality isn't the best, but I can't complain about mine at all. I think that's why lotsa people use the oem side foe music still.So still love playig music from my phone, through the oem radio. In fact all audio works best for me from there. Haven't figured out android auto yet and frankly not sure if I will ever use it.
One thing I am loving is the slit screen functionality. It may be overkill but now I can use two gps applications at the same time. Lol.
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I got my OEM towbar and wiring harness installed today. The problem is I need to hook up the cables to the tow hitch control unit and also splice 2/4 cables it seems. Anybody here have the manual on how to do this? I found a manual online but it's not the same harness I have. If I don't get a manual by the end of the week I guess I'm gonna get a company to do it.
Holiman
Well-known member
Actually the Audio from the android side is perfect. Sounds good and crisp and clear. I just still prefer the OEM side. Especially because of the minor issue that when you switch back to the OEM side, the music stops if u are using an app other than the stock music app.
But yeah, overall, I am happy and satisfied.
WRT to the towbar, are you doing everything yourself?
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Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
I was going to then I got someone to do it for a good price. But they only went as far at the physical install of the Towbar and the hardness. I need to do the electrical connections. I'm going to go through the installation manual the weekend and see if its out of my league (doesn't look like it), but would also like some advice perhaps from someone who has done the harness installation.
Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
Thats what I saw too. I actually got the exact bmw installation instructions for my vehicle, towbar, harness and electronic module.
In the retrofit kit I got the splicing plugs yes. It looks simple enough to complete.
In the retrofit kit I got the splicing plugs yes. It looks simple enough to complete.
Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
Removable towbar installed and almost invisible. Can only see a small notch at the bottom if you really look.
Last edited:
Holiman
Well-known member
That bike rack wall mount looks interesting... Where did you get it?Removable towbar installed and almost invisible. Can only see a small notch at the bottom if you really look.
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Sirus_The_Virus
Active member
I got it on TakeAlot for cheap. I then used to wooden block to extend it to fit the width of my handle bar better and used extended screws as well to carry more weight
Holiman
Well-known member
Hi
Recently installed one of these devices , its android 10 and doesnt have a simcard but functionality seems fine at the cost.
The IGO maps it comes with is looking for a SD card as opposed to the onboard memory , any idea how I can change this ?
Also any suggestions on decent offline maps to download ?
Sorry for the Hijack , will removed if inappropriate
Recently installed one of these devices , its android 10 and doesnt have a simcard but functionality seems fine at the cost.
The IGO maps it comes with is looking for a SD card as opposed to the onboard memory , any idea how I can change this ?
Also any suggestions on decent offline maps to download ?
Sorry for the Hijack , will removed if inappropriate
Holiman
Well-known member
Holiman
Well-known member
It's interesting how this read started as a recommendation and now is a good source of information.
Anyways on a more random ,note. I love the dashboard screen. Everytime I start up the car, it's the default screen I go to. Kinda makes up for not having a digital cluster. Lol
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Anyways on a more random ,note. I love the dashboard screen. Everytime I start up the car, it's the default screen I go to. Kinda makes up for not having a digital cluster. Lol
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