BMW is constantly working on iDrive interface changes, as well as introducing newer, more advanced hardware and faster processors to support new features. The iDrive system (or the head unit, which is its main element) in each BMW defines not only the availability or absence of these very features, but also its price. And sometimes the financial difference is so drastic that you make an immediate decision – a 200 GB hard drive or full screen zoom for video playback may not be an absolute necessity for you.
However, there are some key distinctions between the iDrive versions that will really make a difference for a driver who likes to stream music from various devices, play films on the BMW display or use their favorite smartphone apps through the car’s system. And if something’s missing in your existing system, you’re not stuck with it.
Fortunately, there are aftermarket solutions like Auto Retrofit’s navigation retrofits that allow you to upgrade the iDrive for a reasonable price. But to know how to retrofit it and what you will get with the new system, first you need to find out what you have and what features are available in your existing iDrive. So, how do you check the iDrive version in your BMW?
PLEASE NOTE that this is a guide for BMWs with Navigation System Professional (S609A). In order to check whether your car has it, go to free VIN decoder and type in your VIN. If you have option S609A, you will see it in Vehicle Options. In case there are options like S6UNA, S6UPA or S606A, it means you have a lighter version of pro nav.
What BMW Head Unit Do I Have?
So, there are 3 ways to determine which iDrive system you have:
1. By the interface
The majority of iDrive systems have specific interfaces, so it’s also worth checking out the look of the menu in comparison with other head units to identify the iDrive version.
2. By the year of production
Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to determine your iDrive version with 100% accuracy, because in some countries the production month can be different. But at least you’ll have some understanding which head unit can be in your BMW.
| iDrive | Series/Model | Timeframes |
| CCC (Car Communication Computer) |
1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 | 06/2004 – 09/2008 |
| 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 | 03/2005 – 09/2008 | |
| 5-Series E60/E61 | 12/2003 – 11/2008 | |
| 6-Series E63/E64 | 12/2003 – 11/2008 | |
| X5 Series E70 | 03/2007 – 10/2009 | |
| X6 E72 | 05/2008 – 10/2009 | |
| CIC (Car Information Computer) |
1-Series E81/E82/E87/E88 | 09/2008 – 03/2014 |
| 1-Series F20/F21 | 09/2011 – 03/2013 | |
| 3-Series E90/E91/E92/E93 | 09/2008 – 10/2013 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31/F34/F80 | 02/2012 – 11/2012 | |
| 5-Series E60/E61 | 11/2008 – 05/2010 | |
| 5-Series F07 | 10/2009 – 07/2012 | |
| 5-Series F10 | 03/2010 – 09/2012 | |
| 5-Series F11 | 09/2010 – 09/2012 | |
| 6-Series E63/E64 | 11/2008 – 07/2010 | |
| 6-Series F06 | 03/2012 – 03/2013 | |
| 6-Series F12/F13 | 12/2010 – 03/2013 | |
| 7-Series F01/F02/F03 | 11/2008 – 07/2013 | |
| 7-Series F04 | 11/2008 – 06/2015 | |
| X1 E84 | 10/2009 – 06/2015 | |
| X3 F25 | 10/2010 – 04/2013 | |
| X5 E70 | 10/2009 – 06/2013 | |
| X6 E71 | 10/2009 – 08/2014 | |
| Z4 E89 | 04/2009 – present | |
| NBT
(CIC-HIGH, also called the Next Big Thing – NBT) |
1-Series F20/F21 | 03/2013 – 03/2015 |
| 2-Series F22 | 11/2013 – 03/2015 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31 | 11/2012 – 07/2015 | |
| 3-Series F34 | 03/2013 – 07/2015 | |
| 3-Series F80 | 03/2014 – 07/2015 | |
| 4-Series F32 | 07/2013 – 07/2015 | |
| 4-Series F33 | 11/2013 – 07/2015 | |
| 4-Series F36 | 03/2014 – 07/2015 | |
| 5-Series F07 | 07/2012 – present | |
| 5-Series F10/F11/F18 | 09/2012 – present | |
| 6-Series F06/F12/F13 | 03/2013 – present | |
| 7-Series F01/F02/F03 | 07/2012 – 06/2015 | |
| X3 F25 | 04/2013 – 03/2016 | |
| X4 F26 | 04/2014 – 03/2016 | |
| X5 F15 | 08/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| X5 F85 | 12/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| X6 F16 | 08/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| X6 F86 | 12/2014 – 07/2016 | |
| i3 | 09/2013 – present | |
| i8 | 04/2014 – present | |
| NBT Evo (the Next Big Thing Evolution) ID4 | 1-Series F20/F21 | 03/2015 – 06/2016 |
| 2-Series F22 | 03/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| 2-Series F23 | 11/2014 – 06/2016 | |
| 3-Series F30/F31/F34/F80 | 07/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| 4-Series F32/F33/F36 | 07/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| 6-Series F06/F12/F13 | 03/2013 – 06/2016 | |
| 7-Series G11/G12/G13 | 07/2015 – 06/2016 | |
| X3 F25 | 03/2016 – 06/2016 | |
| X4 F26 | 03/2016 – 06/2016 | |
| NBT Evo (the Next Big Thing Evolution) ID5/ID6 | 1-Series F20/F21 | 07/2016 – present |
| 2-Series F22 | 07/2016 – present | |
| 3-Series F30/F31/F34/F80 | 07/2016 – present | |
| 4-Series F32/F33/F36 | 07/2016 – present | |
| 5-Series G30/G31/G38 | 10/2016 – present | |
| 6-Series F06/F12/F13 | 07/2016 – present | |
| 6-Series G32 | 07/2017 – present | |
| 7-Series G11/G12/G13 | 07/2016 – present | |
| X3 F25 | 07/2016 – present | |
| X3 G01 | 11/2017 – present | |
| X4 F26 | 07/2016 – present | |
| X5 F15/F85 | 07/2016 – present | |
| X6 F16/F86 | 07/2016 – present | |
| MGU
(Media Graphic Unit) |
3-Series G20 | 09/2018 – present |
| 8-Series G14/G15 | 09/2018 – present | |
| X5 G05 | 09/2018 – present | |
| Z4 G29 | 09/2018 – present |
3.By the LVDS connector
How to Remove BMW Head Unit?
Be it a CIC or NBT head unit, in order to take it out you would need to:
- disconnect the negative battery terminal in your trunk
- remove the top and bottom pieces of the trim taking into account all the connections behind them (it’s always better to use professional trim tools not to break any clips or leave scratches)
- remove the faceplate (secured by screws)
- unscrew the T20s that hold the head unit and gently pull it out
- carefully remove all the connections in the back of the head unit
What’s the Difference?
Now it’s time to determine why one head unit is better than the other and whether it’s worth upgrading. Check your BMW already has the options mentioned below.
| CCC | CIC | NBT / NBT Evo ID4 | NBT Evo | |
| Bluetooth | • with option S644A or S633A/S639A hands-free calling | • with option S644A or S633A/S639A hands-free calling • with S6VCA + Enhanced Bluetooth activated = pairing up 2 phones |
• hands-free calling • with Enhanced Bluetooth activated = pairing up 2 phones |
• hands-free calling • with Enhanced Bluetooth activated = pairing up 2 phones |
| Music | • plays MP3 from CD/DVD discs • with option S6FLA, plays mp3 files from a USB stick • allows listening to music through an AUX port |
• plays MP3/FLAC from CD/DVD discs • allows playing music copied from a USB stick to a hard drive • with option S6FLA plays mp3 files from a USB stick • with options S6FLA + S6VCA, plays music from a phone via a USB port and Bluetooth streaming (you can’t choose the song, only the previous or next one) • allows listening to music through an AUX port |
• plays MP3/FLAC from CD/DVD discs • with option S6FLA plays mp3 files from a USB stick • plays music from a phone via a USB port and Bluetooth streaming (if Enhanced Bluetooth is activated); you CAN choose the song • allows listening to music through an AUX port |
• plays MP3/FLAC from CD/DVD discs • with option S6FLA plays mp3 files from a USB stick • plays music from a phone via a USB port and Bluetooth streaming (if Enhanced Bluetooth is activated); you CAN choose the song • allows listening to music through an AUX port • streams wirelessly from the phone through Apple CarPlay/Android Screen Mirroring if these options are activated |
| Video | plays only from an original BMW DVD changer (option S696A) | • plays DVD discs • full screen zoom with black edges on the sides |
• plays DVD discs • plays videos from a USB stick with Enhanced Bluetooth activated • full screen zoom with black edges on the sides |
• plays DVD discs • plays videos from a USB stick • full screen zoom WITHOUT black edges on the sides • streams wirelessly from the phone through Apple CarPlay/Android Screen Mirroring |
| Maps | no hard drive, so the maps are stored on a DVD disc, and every time you pull it out, there is no navigation | • cars with 2008/2009 software versions support updates only via DVD discs • starting from 2009, updates available through a USB stick + DVD disc (maps are stored on hard drive) |
• 3D maps • updates available through a USB stick (maps are stored on hard drive) |
• improved 3D maps • updates available through a USB stick (maps are stored on hard drive) • supports OTA – over the air map updates for free (not the whole map gets updated, only your location) |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Screen Mirroring | N/A | N/A* | N/A* | Available |
| BMW apps | N/A | Available only with option S6FLA + S6VCA | Available | Available |
| BMW iDrive controller | Wheel + MENU button | Wheel + extended set of buttons | • Wheel + extended set of buttons • iDrive Touch Controller (from 03/2013 only in F-series) = bigger wheel with a touchpad + extended set of buttons |
iDrive Touch Controller: wheel with a touchpad + extended set of buttons |
* Apple CarPlay is available for some CIC /NBT/NBT Evo ID4 iDrives as an aftermarket retrofit from Auto Retrofit (CarPlay MMI).
These are the main differences between head units in cars with BMW Navigation System Professional. Now you can sort out the features you would like to have in your BMW and choose the iDrive system that will be a real value for money upgrade.
Before ordering any navigation retrofit from Auto Retrofit, it’s always better to first contact us at autoconnectnz@gmail.com with your VIN. This way we will be able to tell you the exact price of the upgrade depending on your BMW’s specs.