G30 and android auto

sorin1987 · 12-30-2023, 03:22 AM

I am quite confused about the android auto support in the G30 models.
After the holidays I will start looking to buy a second hand G31, currently there are two 2020 models close to me, one 20 reg and another 70 reg (for those not in the UK 20 reg means the car was registered for the first time in the UK in the first part of 2020 and 70 means the car was registered from September 2020 to Feb 2021). I know BMW is bad with Android Auto but I found conflicting information looking online. BMW website says that any vechicle with Idrive 7 should have android auto out of the box, but I am not sure if the 2020 G31 has that as I found a lot of posts on forums and online that are asking how to retrofit android auto on these models. It's not cheap either, probably around £1000 at least, done by a pro (as I don't want to mess with dismantling the dashboard).
So do any 2020 (regardless of the month it was manufactured) has idrive 7? Is there a way to recognise if the car has Idrive7 from pictures? I thought the fully digital speedometer is a sign of the version 7 but now I am not that sure.
Not having Android Auto would not be a deal breaker for me but it would suck pretty much to buy such an expensive car that doesn't have this out of the box, I had rentals that were much much cheaper that had this so I don't understand why BMW wouldn't have it as the majority of users are on Android. I know the navigation system in the BMW is pretty good but I rely a lot on Google Maps and having this would be a very nice to have feature.

Thanks!

flipicaneze · 12-30-2023, 03:43 AM

If you have the 12" screen you should have it.

I have idrive 6 in mine but not a big iOS fan (hey hey now, didn't say I hated it, just don't prefer it). I was forced to have my phone on a mount that mounts around the screen. But it works and I can still use Waze.

sorin1987 · 12-30-2023, 05:01 AM

Unfortunately I don't think it has the 12" screen, it is the 10.6 one from what I can guess from the autotrader pictures

taskrov · 12-30-2023, 03:27 PM

You fill find your answer in this document:

https://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b...lityMatrix.pdf

LogicalApex · 12-30-2023, 04:02 PM

UK model years are different. So I won’t try to figure that part out.

That said, any car with iDrive 7 will have support for Android Auto. That’s model year 2020+ or later in US model year terms.

Or said another way, any G30 built after 07/2019.

adhrp · 12-30-2023, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

UK model years are different. So I won’t try to figure that part out.

That said, any car with iDrive 7 will have support for Android Auto. That’s model year 2020+ or later in US model year terms.

Or said another way, any G30 built after 07/2019.

Slight correction.. Any G30 build 07/2019 onwards.

12-30-2023, 03:22 AM	#1
sorin1987 Private First Class 38 Rep 109 Posts Drives: BMW 520i G31 MSport Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: London iTrader: (0)	G30 and android auto I am quite confused about the android auto support in the G30 models. After the holidays I will start looking to buy a second hand G31, currently there are two 2020 models close to me, one 20 reg and another 70 reg (for those not in the UK 20 reg means the car was registered for the first time in the UK in the first part of 2020 and 70 means the car was registered from September 2020 to Feb 2021). I know BMW is bad with Android Auto but I found conflicting information looking online. BMW website says that any vechicle with Idrive 7 should have android auto out of the box, but I am not sure if the 2020 G31 has that as I found a lot of posts on forums and online that are asking how to retrofit android auto on these models. It's not cheap either, probably around £1000 at least, done by a pro (as I don't want to mess with dismantling the dashboard). So do any 2020 (regardless of the month it was manufactured) has idrive 7? Is there a way to recognise if the car has Idrive7 from pictures? I thought the fully digital speedometer is a sign of the version 7 but now I am not that sure. Not having Android Auto would not be a deal breaker for me but it would suck pretty much to buy such an expensive car that doesn't have this out of the box, I had rentals that were much much cheaper that had this so I don't understand why BMW wouldn't have it as the majority of users are on Android. I know the navigation system in the BMW is pretty good but I rely a lot on Google Maps and having this would be a very nice to have feature. Thanks!
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12-30-2023, 03:43 AM	#2
flipicaneze New Member 26 Rep 14 Posts Drives: BMW 540i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Northeastern Illinois iTrader: (0)	If you have the 12" screen you should have it. I have idrive 6 in mine but not a big iOS fan (hey hey now, didn't say I hated it, just don't prefer it). I was forced to have my phone on a mount that mounts around the screen. But it works and I can still use Waze.
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12-30-2023, 05:01 AM	#3
sorin1987 Private First Class 38 Rep 109 Posts Drives: BMW 520i G31 MSport Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Unfortunately I don't think it has the 12" screen, it is the 10.6 one from what I can guess from the autotrader pictures
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12-30-2023, 03:27 PM	#4
taskrov Private 30 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 2020 530ix Sport Line Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 530ix [0.00]	You fill find your answer in this document: https://www.bmwusa.com/content/dam/b...lityMatrix.pdf
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12-30-2023, 04:02 PM	#5
LogicalApex Colonel 2026 Rep 2,946 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW 530xe Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Farmington, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 530xe [0.00]	UK model years are different. So I won’t try to figure that part out. That said, any car with iDrive 7 will have support for Android Auto. That’s model year 2020+ or later in US model year terms. Or said another way, any G30 built after 07/2019.
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