Retrofit Android navigation on BMW 2 Series. What are the options?

Question

I would like to retrofit our vehicle (F23, Bj. 2015, with Radio Professional, WITHOUT Navi) with an Android navigation system. I would like to keep the effort manageable.

Are there systems where I simply swap the monitor for a device that has the Android system and GPS antenna installed? I would like to avoid the hassle of having to dismantle half of the car to lay wiring harnesses and any devices.

It would be enough if I (of course) could continue to use the BMW system and could also switch to Android to enable navigation. Other functions are not important to me because hands-free talking is built into the vehicle.

If possible, it should have WiFi so that I can use it for navigation. Then I do not need an extra mobile phone card for the navigation system. I hope my question is not too stupid. If so, and further installations are unavoidable, I would be interested in the workload. Maybe someone also has installation instructions so I can get an idea ...

If my ideas are realistic, I would of course be interested in suggestions for the devices in question.

Thanks a lot!!!

Answer 1

I recommend you take one of these Android China displays. You can even get them in 10.25" size. They have more functions and are cheaper. I have one myself. I paid about €275 at AliExpress.

You can also code the wide display here so that you have a split screen. If you do not trust yourself, these monitors can also be set so that the picture is stretched and a kind of info menu is displayed next to the original menu so that the entire screen is filled. Depending on how you code it or not code it, you can set this in the service menu of the screen. (I would / have coded)

You can switch between the Android and the original system. So I see absolutely no reason to take the smaller original 8.8 here, because you shouldn't have to use the Android system all the time. (I also mainly use the BMW system but sometimes look when I am somewhere on YouTube in Android.)

The cables are plug and play, the connection is ready in a few minutes.

The audio output of the Android is via aux. But this is not directly connected with a cable in the interior, but directly via the cable harness at the back of the head unit, which makes the sound really good. (Simply switch to Aux before switching the system, preferably using the quick select button you have set yourself.)

In addition, you can also install a €30 USB dongle CarPlay and Android Auto retrofit (the Wireless CarPlay dongle costs a little more), a rear-view camera or DashCam, etc.

I installed the display in my F20 as part of a conversion to Navi Professional, but it also works with the business.

I have to say that I am very satisfied.