Coding Apple CarPlay
Discussion
I have a 2018 540i bought on PCP from a main dealer (Stratstones). I have a local place who will code the car as there's a few changes I'd like. Nothing drastic but I like the ambient light options and fancy the B&W sound profile. The main issue is that I also want CarPlay and the coder has said this will invalidate the warranty.
I can wait until the warranty is up as it isn't long now but I'm worried that if I go ahead that:
1. The dealer may reset it to factory if it goes in for any work or a service and
2. It may void my PCP contract on modifying a car that effectively isn't mine.
I know it's hardly Ricky LLF levels of PCP abuse but I don't want to fall foul of any small print.
Has anyone done something similar and had any issues?
I can wait until the warranty is up as it isn't long now but I'm worried that if I go ahead that:
1. The dealer may reset it to factory if it goes in for any work or a service and
2. It may void my PCP contract on modifying a car that effectively isn't mine.
I know it's hardly Ricky LLF levels of PCP abuse but I don't want to fall foul of any small print.
Has anyone done something similar and had any issues?
toon10 said:
I have a 2018 540i bought on PCP from a main dealer (Stratstones). I have a local place who will code the car as there's a few changes I'd like. Nothing drastic but I like the ambient light options and fancy the B&W sound profile. The main issue is that I also want CarPlay and the coder has said this will invalidate the warranty.
I can wait until the warranty is up as it isn't long now but I'm worried that if I go ahead that:
1. The dealer may reset it to factory if it goes in for any work or a service and
2. It may void my PCP contract on modifying a car that effectively isn't mine.
I know it's hardly Ricky LLF levels of PCP abuse but I don't want to fall foul of any small print.
Has anyone done something similar and had any issues?
Coding will wipe out your warranty apparently on electrical systems. I coded a few things to my car and my local dealer didn’t care.I can wait until the warranty is up as it isn't long now but I'm worried that if I go ahead that:
1. The dealer may reset it to factory if it goes in for any work or a service and
2. It may void my PCP contract on modifying a car that effectively isn't mine.
I know it's hardly Ricky LLF levels of PCP abuse but I don't want to fall foul of any small print.
Has anyone done something similar and had any issues?
Any updates will wipe out the coding / CarPlay.
You’ll be on dodgy ground re the PCP contract. But it’s whether BMW FS will every know...especially for so’s thing that is relatively minor and effectively already built into the car.
Edited by Court_S on Tuesday 18th May 13:52
Are those options available via coding alone? I thought the ambient light option requires a different light control module to be installed, so you would need a hardware install as well as the coding to make it work. Not sure about the sound profile; presumably that is all software; coding will only allow you to activate functions that are already installed on the car but hidden. Anything else may require a software or hardware install to take place, which presumably would invalidate your warranty if not done through the official dealership.
The local coder has my VIN details and has said the car will allow what I want with just an app and cable. I've also had this confirmed on a Facebook group as there's someone on there who will do it remotely using an ENET cable, my own Windows laptop and a remote desktop app. I'm not that trusting so I'd rather use a proper business to do it to have some come backs. Depending on the car some people will need an extra Wi-Fi antenna but mine already has one.
toon10 said:
The local coder has my VIN details and has said the car will allow what I want with just an app and cable. I've also had this confirmed on a Facebook group as there's someone on there who will do it remotely using an ENET cable, my own Windows laptop and a remote desktop app. I'm not that trusting so I'd rather use a proper business to do it to have some come backs. Depending on the car some people will need an extra Wi-Fi antenna but mine already has one.
Sounds like he’s doing it properly. There were various plug in options to give you CarPlay but apparently it’s these that are more likely to brick the head unit.If you set up an account and log in to BMW Connected Drive it will tell you what is available for your car.
If your interior lights are just orange/white then you will need more than coding to get the full colour ambient lighting.
I thought that Car Play was just something that you had to pay a subscription for although it is now a one off payment.
If you want to keep it all above board then BMW do have a Black Friday sale for a week each year. I forgot to update stuff in my 640 last year so will wait until November this year now.
If your interior lights are just orange/white then you will need more than coding to get the full colour ambient lighting.
I thought that Car Play was just something that you had to pay a subscription for although it is now a one off payment.
If you want to keep it all above board then BMW do have a Black Friday sale for a week each year. I forgot to update stuff in my 640 last year so will wait until November this year now.
curvature said:
If you set up an account and log in to BMW Connected Drive it will tell you what is available for your car.
If your interior lights are just orange/white then you will need more than coding to get the full colour ambient lighting.
I thought that Car Play was just something that you had to pay a subscription for although it is now a one off payment.
If you want to keep it all above board then BMW do have a Black Friday sale for a week each year. I forgot to update stuff in my 640 last year so will wait until November this year now.
My connected drive account expired last month. I do have ambient lighting so have a few options, about 10 colours I think with the option of having a colour over white too but the coding lets you get the Miami Vice style pink and blue combo's so I can stick some synth pop on and feel like Don Johnson If your interior lights are just orange/white then you will need more than coding to get the full colour ambient lighting.
I thought that Car Play was just something that you had to pay a subscription for although it is now a one off payment.
If you want to keep it all above board then BMW do have a Black Friday sale for a week each year. I forgot to update stuff in my 640 last year so will wait until November this year now.

I hadn't realised that you can get CarPlay turned on via BMW as a one off payment. It'll be expensive but I might go down that route if I can keep within my terms.
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