How to Add Apple CarPlay to Your BMW F30 (and Other F Series BMWs)
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A lot of F Series BMW owners assume CarPlay just isn't available on their car. Either it didn't come with it from the factory, or they were told it would require a full head unit swap. Neither of those things is true for most models.
On the majority of BMW F Series vehicles with the NBT or NBT Evo iDrive system, Apple CarPlay can be activated through remote coding. No new hardware, no dealer visit, and typically done in under an hour.
Is your F Series compatible?
Compatibility covers a wide range of F Series models from roughly 2013 to 2018. That includes the 3 Series (F30, F31, F34), 4 Series (F32, F33, F36), 5 Series (F10, F11), 6 Series (F06, F12, F13), 7 Series (F01, F02), as well as the X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, and M variants including M2, M3, M4, M5, and M6.
The key variable is your iDrive system version, not just the model year. If you're not sure whether your specific car qualifies, send us your VIN and we'll tell you before you spend anything. Free VIN check here →
Standard activation vs. Fullscreen CarPlay
There are two options available for F Series. Standard CarPlay activation enables CarPlay via USB and the interface runs within the iDrive framework. It works well, but the experience feels somewhat contained.
Fullscreen CarPlay takes it further. The CarPlay interface expands to fill the entire screen the way it does on newer BMWs, giving you the native iOS experience you'd expect from a current model. Most customers who know about the option go for fullscreen. It's the difference between CarPlay that works and CarPlay that feels right.
View the Fullscreen CarPlay upgrade →
What you'll be able to do after activation
Once CarPlay is active, your iPhone connects to your BMW's factory screen. Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze appear natively on your iDrive display. Spotify, Apple Music, and any other audio app you use work through the car's speakers and controls. Siri reads and sends messages hands-free. Phone calls, podcasts, navigation, all of it runs through the screen instead of your phone sitting in a cup holder.
What the process actually looks like
You'll need an ENET cable (available on Amazon for around $15 to $20), a Windows laptop, a stable Wi-Fi connection, and AnyDesk installed. You plug the ENET cable from your laptop into the OBD port under your dashboard, one of our engineers connects remotely and handles the coding, and you're done. The whole thing takes between 10 and 60 minutes depending on which option you go with.
There's nothing technical you need to do yourself. If you can plug in a cable and follow simple instructions, you're good.