CarPlay Screen Radio for BMW X1 E84 (2009-2017): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The BMW X1 E84 was the brand's first compact SUV and, to this day, it is still a very smart used buy: rear-wheel drive or xDrive, frugal diesel engines, a manageable size for the city and that steering feel you recognise within ten metres. It is a car that ages well mechanically.

What has not aged as well is the screen. The E84 stayed on BMW's previous multimedia generation: a small display set into the upper dashboard, menus driven by the iDrive wheel and navigation whose maps have to be bought at the dealer. Without CarPlay there is no Google Maps with traffic, no Spotify with your library and no WhatsApp dictated by voice. An Android radio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto made specifically for the X1 E84 brings exactly that part up to date.

Does the BMW X1 E84 have CarPlay as standard?

No. The X1 E84 was sold with three multimedia configurations and none of them includes Apple CarPlay or Android Auto:

• Business / Professional radio without an iDrive screen, with a narrow monochrome display.
• iDrive CIC, the professional navigation version with a hard disk and a 6.5" or 8.8" screen.
• Business navigation, with a smaller screen and SD card maps.

BMW only began offering Apple CarPlay from the NBT EVO system onwards, which arrived with the next generation (the X1 F48) and always as a paid option, for a while even as an annual subscription. Android Auto took even longer to appear. There is no official software update that adds CarPlay to the E84: the CIC hardware simply does not support it.

The solution: Android radio for the BMW X1 E84

The sensible option is to fit an Android screen developed specifically for the X1 E84. It sits in the position of the original display, respecting the dashboard lines, and delivers everything the CIC cannot.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: iPhone or Android connect on their own as soon as you start up.
• Large HD touchscreen, far above the original in size and resolution.
• Google Maps and Waze in real time, with traffic, speed cameras and alternative routes, and no paid map updates.
• Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, podcasts and online radio built in.
• WiFi, Bluetooth and a SIM slot or phone tethering.
• Rear and front camera inputs, with guide lines when you select reverse.
• Working steering wheel controls and iDrive wheel thanks to the included CAN Bus decoder.
• Compatibility with the Hi-Fi sound system and the factory amplifier.
• Split screen so navigation and music stay visible at once.

An important detail on BMWs: the screen keeps the vehicle information menus and car settings, so you do not lose access to the options you used to handle with the iDrive wheel.

BMW X1 E84 compatibility: supported versions

• BMW X1 E84 throughout its production run, including pre- and post-facelift units.
• sDrive and xDrive versions: 16i, 18i, 20i, 28i and 35i petrol, and 16d, 18d, 20d, 23d and 25d diesel.
• Base, xLine, Sport Line and M Sport trims.
• Cars with Business radio, Professional radio, Business navigation and iDrive CIC.
• Compatible with manual and automatic gearboxes, and with or without the Hi-Fi system.

To identify which one you have, check whether you have the rotary iDrive wheel on the centre console and a fixed screen on top. If you are unsure between the CIC and Business navigation, send us a photo of the screen switched on and we will confirm it before you buy.

What is the installation like?

The installation is plug & play, with no vehicle cables to cut or splice. With a bit of patience it can be done at home in a little over an hour.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal before touching anything.
2. Use a plastic pry tool to remove the trim around the original screen and, if applicable, the air vent surround.
3. Undo the screen screws and carefully pull it out; on the E84 the connector is at the back and releases with a small tab.
4. Locate the multimedia module under the seat or in the glovebox depending on version and unplug the video cable.
5. Connect the harness and the CAN Bus decoder to the new screen: this is what translates the car's signals so the steering wheel controls, the iDrive wheel, warnings and automatic power-on keep working.
6. Plug the assembly into the vehicle connectors and, if you are fitting a camera, run the video cable to the tailgate along the boot side trim.
7. Reconnect the battery and check sound, steering wheel controls, Bluetooth and CarPlay before closing the dashboard.
8. Fit the screen into its frame, screw it in and refit the trims.

If you would rather not get involved, any car electronics specialist will fit it in an hour to an hour and a half.

• BMW dealer: there is no official CarPlay retrofit for the E84. Migrating to an NBT EVO system at a specialist, with screen, module, controller and coding, easily passes 0.
• Updating the CIC maps: between and each time, and you would still have no CarPlay, no live traffic and no apps.
• PantallasPremium: the Android radio made specifically for the BMW X1 E84 starts from , with 1+16 GB, 2+32 GB and 4+64 GB memory versions up to.

The 2+32 GB version covers navigation, music and calls with room to spare. If you plan to use wireless CarPlay daily alongside other open apps, the 4+64 GB one is noticeably smoother.

Frequently asked questions

Does the iDrive wheel still work?
Yes. The CAN Bus decoder keeps the wheel and its buttons working to navigate the new screen's menus, along with the steering wheel controls.

Do I lose the car settings menus or the service warnings?
No. Vehicle information and warnings are still shown, and the instrument cluster is never touched.

My X1 has the Hi-Fi system with an amplifier, is there any loss of quality?
No. The screen respects the factory amplifier and speakers, and the built-in equaliser lets you fine-tune the sound to your taste.

Does CarPlay work without cables?
Yes. You can pair the iPhone over WiFi so it connects on its own at start-up, or use USB if you prefer to charge at the same time. Android Auto also supports both.

Can I refit the original screen?
Yes. As no cable is cut, the installation is reversible: unplug the harness and put the factory unit back, which is worth remembering if you are going to sell the car.

See the CarPlay radio for BMW X1 E84

You can see every version, real fitting photos and the memory options on the product page for the CarPlay and Android Auto screen radio for BMW X1 E84 (2009-2017). If you do not know whether your car has iDrive CIC or Business navigation, send us a photo of the screen and we will confirm compatibility.