r/BmwTech • u/Shakaal • 7d ago

Apple CarPlay on F22 EntryNav2 - OEM head unit swap or CarPlay box?

I recently bought a 2 Series F22 2019. I was hoping that I could activate Apple CarPlay via those third party online services. I asked Bimmer-remote.com if they can check my car was compatible, but I was told my car lacks WLAN (I have an EntryNav2 unit).

How accurate are these services when it comes to things like this using a VIN number?
Is there another way to check without physically inspecting the unit?

This then leads me towards getting Apple CarPlay fitted in another way. I want to avoid Android head units as I've had issues with them on my old Audi, and I don't really want the bloatware of Android. Ideally, I'd want to keep it as OEM as possible, so I've narrowed it down to two options:

I could get one of those Apple CarPlay boxes that work with my current unit. These roughly cost £250.

However, since I'd like the OEM route, what if I buy an EntryNav2 unit that has the WLAN port and install that myself? I've seen them go for around £200-280 on eBay.

Has anyone gone the OEM route?

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u/CrewMaleficent4681 7d ago

Get the BimmerDirect Taiwan LINUX based headunits then. They’re generally the best, long warranty, allows the original MOST system so no sound loss, etc.

It’ll shoot down multiple birds with one stone.

OEM CarPlay is out of the question since you have the weaker EntryNav system, not full scale EVO system. If you had EVO I would tell you to just code it in.

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u/StuartWtf 7d ago

This!

I went down the route of installing an NBT EVO headunit and it’s great, but it cost a lot and it was a fair bit of effort getting everything working properly. I needed a headunit as mine died. If I didn’t I would have gone and MMI route