Common Mistakes & Quick Troubleshooting

If your CarPlay/Android Auto retrofit is not working correctly after installation, check the following common mistakes before contacting support.

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1. Power & Preparation • Disconnect the negative battery terminal before installation. • Confirm you have the correct kit (CCC, CIC, NBT, EVO). • Take photos of original wiring before removing anything.

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1. Fibre Optic Cable Transfer • If your car has a fibre optic cable, it must be moved into the new harness. • Skipping this = no sound or no power to the head unit.

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1. LVDS Cable Orientation • The most common cause of a black screen. • The pink OEM LVDS must be plugged into the correct labelled cable (depends on CIC, NBT, EVO, or CCC). • LVDS plugs must be fully clicked in.

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1. DIP Switch Settings • DIP switches must match system type and screen size. • Disconnect CAN power for 10 seconds before making changes. • Wrong DIP = no video or distorted/zoomed image.

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1. WiFi Antenna Placement • Do not install behind glovebox or near metal. • Bad placement = weak CarPlay/Android Auto signal, black screens, or dropouts.

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1. Audio Setup (Sound Problems) • If vehicle has OEM Bluetooth audio streaming → CarPlay/Android Auto can use this for music and calls. • Note: Some Siri voice commands and advanced audio features will not pass through OEM Bluetooth. • If vehicle does not support Bluetooth audio streaming → set audio to AUX in the BMW iDrive menu. • Ensure AUX is selected as input and volume is not set to 0 (recommended level: 10). • ⚠️ It is not possible to play BMW Radio/DAB and CarPlay audio at the same time — you must choose one input.

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1. Testing the System • Hold MENU (NBT) or MEDIA (EVO) for 3 seconds to switch between OEM and CarPlay/Android Auto. • If screen is distorted or zoomed → DIP settings incorrect. • If no sound → check AUX or OEM Bluetooth audio routing (see section above).

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1. Escalation

If problems continue:
• Send your order number, car make, model, year, and photos/videos of LVDS, harness, DIP settings, and audio setup.
• Email: support@bavarian-automotive.co.uk.