E91 330d Touring
Discussion
I got the CIC drive and combox fitted and coded yesterday, its a huge upgrade and even better than I was expecting!
Ive gained:
Full ipod control with album art via armrest USB socket
Bluetooth music streaming
2013 sat nav maps with full postcode search (originally had 2005 with no post code)
BMW Connected app support via iPhone tethering (some apps need the iPhone to be connected via USB such as web radio)
12GB built in hard drive to store music on
Facebook and twitter feeds, audio books, lap timer etc and loads of other stuff and improvements!
The HD screen is so much better, it makes the old CCC seem like it was running ZX Spectrum graphics
Its hard to show in photos just how much better CIC is than CCC, but here are a few comparisons:
CCC home screen
CIC home screen
CCC nav
CIC from above and perspective. You can also have the split screen view the same as CCC if you wish
CIC with iPod and album art via the combox
CIC with BMW Online services via combox, tethered to iPhone personal hot spot
CIC FM tuner screen
Ive gained:
Full ipod control with album art via armrest USB socket
Bluetooth music streaming
2013 sat nav maps with full postcode search (originally had 2005 with no post code)
BMW Connected app support via iPhone tethering (some apps need the iPhone to be connected via USB such as web radio)
12GB built in hard drive to store music on
Facebook and twitter feeds, audio books, lap timer etc and loads of other stuff and improvements!
The HD screen is so much better, it makes the old CCC seem like it was running ZX Spectrum graphics
Its hard to show in photos just how much better CIC is than CCC, but here are a few comparisons:
CCC home screen
CIC home screen
CCC nav
CIC from above and perspective. You can also have the split screen view the same as CCC if you wish
CIC with iPod and album art via the combox
CIC with BMW Online services via combox, tethered to iPhone personal hot spot
CIC FM tuner screen
Djdestiny just been looking through this thread. I have just got a 330d saloon, 55 plate, I see you updated the I drive etc, what were the cost involved in this, parts and fitting etc. in the future all I will do to the car is bumper resprayed, wheels refurbed and look at updating nav.
You have a nice one, if you still have it.
You have a nice one, if you still have it.
Hi yes I still have it, and am enjoying it more and more as I make sensible/usable mods 
Yours looks stunning, Le mans blue was my first choice originally, but I love my unique red one too!
CIC conversion is a huge subject and definitely needs some research.
There are various options, some require more hardware than others, it all depends on what you want it to do.
The very basics needed: (assuming you already have CCC fitted)
CIC headunit
HD screen
CIC controller
Dash trim for under the head unit
Centre console trim for CIC controller (plus other dash and door trim if your existing ones don't match the new one)
Cable between head unit and screen
Emulator (this also enables DVD play in while driving)
Fitting and coding
Extra options:
You can add a USB socket in the glovebox, you need the socket and a cable to the head unit.
This allows you to add music to the head unit hard drive (has approx 12GB of space) and also update the maps.
You can add a USB socket inside the armrest, this allows you to have full iPod control (with album art), plug in an iPhone for full use with BMWConnected apps such as twitter, Facebook, audio books, web radio stations, lap timers, gopro control, incoming text messages, hands free calls, streaming music via bluetooth, etc etc.
Some of these are usable via bluetooth connection, and some need the iPhone plugged into the USB socket.
For this, you need:
Armrest socket
Cable from socket to combox
Combox
If you don't already have bluetooth hands free you will also need a harness that runs between the head unit and combox.
Coding
Possible combox firmware update.
It is also important to note that some CIC head units are not compatible with all the combox options, and may need a firmware update and FSC codes to add 7 digit postcode search/updated maps etc. These obviously add to the cost, so you need to research and make sure you buy the correct one in the first place!
I have everything listed above in my car apart from the USB socket in the glovebox. Ive got the socket but not bothered getting the cable yet as I don't really need it.
You can upload music to the head unit by putting a audio CD, or CD/DVD full of MP3's in, there is then an option to copy everything onto the head unit.
My maps are 2013, so plenty new enough.
All in, it probably cost me around £1500 including buying all the parts, then getting it fitted, coded and the combox firmware updated.
It was worth every single penny!
If you want to have a look and are anywhere near Northamptonshire you are more than welcome to
Yours looks stunning, Le mans blue was my first choice originally, but I love my unique red one too!
CIC conversion is a huge subject and definitely needs some research.
There are various options, some require more hardware than others, it all depends on what you want it to do.
The very basics needed: (assuming you already have CCC fitted)
CIC headunit
HD screen
CIC controller
Dash trim for under the head unit
Centre console trim for CIC controller (plus other dash and door trim if your existing ones don't match the new one)
Cable between head unit and screen
Emulator (this also enables DVD play in while driving)
Fitting and coding
Extra options:
You can add a USB socket in the glovebox, you need the socket and a cable to the head unit.
This allows you to add music to the head unit hard drive (has approx 12GB of space) and also update the maps.
You can add a USB socket inside the armrest, this allows you to have full iPod control (with album art), plug in an iPhone for full use with BMWConnected apps such as twitter, Facebook, audio books, web radio stations, lap timers, gopro control, incoming text messages, hands free calls, streaming music via bluetooth, etc etc.
Some of these are usable via bluetooth connection, and some need the iPhone plugged into the USB socket.
For this, you need:
Armrest socket
Cable from socket to combox
Combox
If you don't already have bluetooth hands free you will also need a harness that runs between the head unit and combox.
Coding
Possible combox firmware update.
It is also important to note that some CIC head units are not compatible with all the combox options, and may need a firmware update and FSC codes to add 7 digit postcode search/updated maps etc. These obviously add to the cost, so you need to research and make sure you buy the correct one in the first place!
I have everything listed above in my car apart from the USB socket in the glovebox. Ive got the socket but not bothered getting the cable yet as I don't really need it.
You can upload music to the head unit by putting a audio CD, or CD/DVD full of MP3's in, there is then an option to copy everything onto the head unit.
My maps are 2013, so plenty new enough.
All in, it probably cost me around £1500 including buying all the parts, then getting it fitted, coded and the combox firmware updated.
It was worth every single penny!
If you want to have a look and are anywhere near Northamptonshire you are more than welcome to
Thanks for the detailed reply, I will need to familiarise myself with what I do and don't have, I had 2013 maps on my e46, and although not the best system it was ok. I assume the e90 is running similar software, but old maps, will it I be able to just buy new maps initially? Once I get the car i will get a better idea. Wheels and front re spray higher up the list. Cheers for the post on the other thread,
If you're handy with burning DVD's from ISO files there are sites you can download new map discs from, or buy one off ebay.
As you can imagine, they are very expensive from BMW.
Personally, I just left my 2005 one in, it did the job.
The most frustrating part of CCC sat nav is not being able to put in a postcode
As you can imagine, they are very expensive from BMW.
Personally, I just left my 2005 one in, it did the job.
The most frustrating part of CCC sat nav is not being able to put in a postcode
I thought about an LCI tailgate but not really that bothered for it TBH. I rather like the Darkline lights against the red, so to replace them with LCI lights would just bring that problem straight back again!
If it wasn't such a hassle to do I might consider it. But to source a tailgate, get it sprayed, fitted, and the LCI lights coded I can't really be bothered.
I might not bother with the 335 exhaust now, I'm toying with a genuine Performance diffuser instead.
Mods wise, OEM style and retrofits is all I'm interested in these days, subtle but worthy
If it wasn't such a hassle to do I might consider it. But to source a tailgate, get it sprayed, fitted, and the LCI lights coded I can't really be bothered.
I might not bother with the 335 exhaust now, I'm toying with a genuine Performance diffuser instead.
Mods wise, OEM style and retrofits is all I'm interested in these days, subtle but worthy
A simple but effective mod
I had the phone cradle in my armrest which was totally useless to me, so rather than it just wasting space I swapped it for the oddments tray.
Before, I had to sit my iPod in the drink holder!
As long as you don't want to keep it, you can remove the cradle by literally digging it out with a screwdriver. It will break it, but as you can't even give them away on ebay then its a bit pointless trying to save it, especially as it means removing the whole centre console to get it out!
The cradle is in two parts that are clipped together. With a long flat screwdriver you can pop out the inner part that the phone sits in. It doesn't matter how much you chew it up because the screwdriver will only push against the actual cradle.
Once that bit is out you will see 6 rectangular holes. These are where the clips are for the bottom section that holds it to the console.
This picture shows where they are:
Now just put the screwdriver into the holes and pop the clips out. I had to do 2 at the bottom on the same side, then it came out a lot easier!
Now just unplug the two connectors on the little circuit board and tuck the cable into the console. The new tray then just pushes into place.
Total time taken, approx 3 minutes
Much better!
It costs £10.30 from bmminiparts.com part number 7118064
I had the phone cradle in my armrest which was totally useless to me, so rather than it just wasting space I swapped it for the oddments tray.
Before, I had to sit my iPod in the drink holder!
As long as you don't want to keep it, you can remove the cradle by literally digging it out with a screwdriver. It will break it, but as you can't even give them away on ebay then its a bit pointless trying to save it, especially as it means removing the whole centre console to get it out!
The cradle is in two parts that are clipped together. With a long flat screwdriver you can pop out the inner part that the phone sits in. It doesn't matter how much you chew it up because the screwdriver will only push against the actual cradle.
Once that bit is out you will see 6 rectangular holes. These are where the clips are for the bottom section that holds it to the console.
This picture shows where they are:
Now just put the screwdriver into the holes and pop the clips out. I had to do 2 at the bottom on the same side, then it came out a lot easier!
Now just unplug the two connectors on the little circuit board and tuck the cable into the console. The new tray then just pushes into place.
Total time taken, approx 3 minutes
Much better!
It costs £10.30 from bmminiparts.com part number 7118064
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