[luigilauro]

Hello, I recently received a 530e xDrive Touring with RSE, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that the new RSE that they put on recent models is significantly better than the one on older models!

See here more details if you are interested in my build specifics: https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1952174

Previously, as far as I know but also as confirmed in the user manual I received, the only "source" that was possible to share on the 3 screens (Front iDrive screen + 2 back screens from RSE) was the TV from the TV optional (which I didn't include in my build, too expensive and useless, now that we have YouTube and streaming apps).

All other sources (video from USB, blu-ray / DVD, screen sharing, HDMI inputs) were possible to be visible either in the front or in the back depending on the source (e.g. the ones in the back such as HDMI / back USB ports only in the back).

This is also clearly stated in the user's manual:

Entertainment sources selectable from the front and rear:
▷ Radio stations. One radio station can be played in the vehicle only.
▷ Bluetooth connection.

Entertainment sources selectable from the front seat only:
▷ USB port in the front.
▷ Depending on the vehicle equipment: CD/DVD drive in the front. DVD in the front during vehicle standstill only.

Entertainment sources selectable from the rear only:
▷ USB port in the rear.
▷ HDMI/MHL connector in the rear.
▷ CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive in the rear.

To my own surprise the manual is indeed wrong and outdated, and it's now possible from the front iDrive screen to select both "blu-ray / DVD" and "HDMI" as sources, and watch the blu-ray concert or even HDMI source in sync on all 3 screens at the same time!

After quickly coding "video in motion" with BimmerCode + OBDLink CX I was able to:

• Watch a blu-ray concert on all 3 screens in sync while driving
• Watch a Netflix TV series on all 3 screens in sync while driving, by using a HDMI-to-lighting adapter and my iPhone
• Screen share / mirror any application from my iPhone on all 3 screens

But apart from the screen turning black / giving warning when the car was moving, everything was possible even with the car 100% stock before the coding, the coding was only needed to avoid the front screen to black out when driving.

The only thing I wasn't able to confirm yet is USB video from the front/back ports, but considering both HDMI and blu-ray/DVD from the back ports works, I strongly believe it should be possible as well! (I'll confirm it soon and update the post)

Some pictures as proof (the blu-ray concert, and the screen mirroring from my iPhone via HDMI-to-lighting adapter visible in the front and in the back at the same time!)

If you have any question or want me to run any test, please just ask and I'll gladly do!

THINGS CONFIRMED TO WORK:

• Blu-ray / DVD in the back as an input source also in the front screen (it works)
• HDMI port in the back as an input source also in the front screen (it works)

THINGS CONFIRMED NOT TO WORK:

• CarPlay interface or applications visible / usable from back screens (unfortunately not possible, it's only in the front)

THINGS LEFT TO TEST:

• Android/miracast screen casting as a source also on back screens? (to be tested)
• Videos/movies from USB port in the front are visible also in the back screens? (to be tested)
• Videos/movies from USB port in the back are visible also in the front screens? (to be tested)

[r1cero]

How do you screen mirror from iphone? As far as I know, only screen mirror from android is working. Did you add something on hdmi so that you can do apple screen share?

[luigilauro]

Originally Posted by r1cero

How do you screen mirror from iphone? As far as I know, only screen mirror from android is working. Did you add something on hdmi so that you can do apple screen share?

Depends what you mean with "screen mirroring".

If you intend wireless screen "casting", ie. Miracast protocol usually used on Android, then natively this is only possible for Android, because BMW only support miracast/android screencasting, and not the iOS equivalent (AirPlay). I don't know if it's possible to select the android "screen casting" source also from back RSE screens, but I guess so considering the new RSE basically allows all sources to be selected back / front. If I come across an android device (I'm unfortunately an avid apple user), I will try to test it and report back :-)

What I was referring to was instead the "iOS screen mirroring" possible with a lighting-to-HDMI adapter or USB-C-to-HDMI adapter such as:

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/M...tal-av-adapter
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/M...tiport-adapter

With these adapters it's basically possible to do real-time "screen mirroring" of your iOS device to an HDMI device (e.g. a monitor, a TV). Since with RSE you also get an HDMI input port in the back, and since with RSE 2022+ you can select as an input forthe front screen also HDMI port in the back, basically with an HDMI cable and the adapter, you can do "screen mirroring" from any iOS device, and therefore use any iOS application such as YouTube or Netflix on all 3 screens in sync!

I hope I was able to explain what I mean, otherwise just ask :-)

Additional note: with a HDMI streaming stick / box supporting AirPlay (e.g. an Apple TV or a Roku Streaming stick) plugged in HDMI port from RSE, you can even add wireless screen casting for iOS, by streaming to the stick/box, and having the stick/box show up on all 3 screens via HDMI input port.

This is also the route I will try to go, by adding an Apple TV 4K 3rd gen in the trunk (using an inverter or modifying the 110-220V power source to a 12V one), to be powered by the 12V in the trunk, and just run an HDMI cable to the HDMI port from RSE. Latest gen of Apple TV is completely passive, is very power efficient thanks to A15 (uses only 2.5W of power during streaming), and supports basically all iOS applications as well as AirPlay screen casting from any iOS device. This way you don't have to fiddle with connecting cables each time, you just use the Apple TV applications, or if you need you can screen mirror from your iPhone or any iOS device to the Apple TV to show up on all 3 screens!


This way you would have basically a streaming box always connected and available with all applications (Netflix, YouTube, etc..) and also games (Apple Arcade), with remote for navigation and full support for bluetooth controllers such as Dual Sense / XBOX for games or so, that also supports iOS screen casting (AirPlay) if needed :-) For internet connection I will just use hotspot from my phone.

[r1cero]

Do you have any theory what would be the difference between id6 and id7 regarding playing all three sources at the same time? Do you think there is a difference in physical connection or the change is pure software? I mean I know you can't know this but we can always theorize

[luigilauro]

Originally Posted by r1cero

Do you have any theory what would be the difference between id6 and id7 regarding playing all three sources at the same time? Do you think there is a difference in physical connection or the change is pure software? I mean I know you can't know this but we can always theorize

Very hard to tell. On one side I would have thought it's an hardware connection problem, because they are very specific about which sources can be used where, and usually it's sources in the front only front, sources in the back only back.

On the other side even with older series they had the TV optional which was visible on all screens, so at least for the TV optional they had to make a physical connection to both, since it's a single TV tuner, going to all 3 screens (you cannot watch 2 different TV channels, it's the same on all screens).

If I had to guess I would say mostly software (and this is the reason also why they could update it with recent LCI versions, an hardware issue would require the new 5 series altogether probably), but it's a wild guess.

[Gautam]

Android/miracast screen casting as a source also on back screens? (to be tested)

Works without a problem on id6 so I don’t see why not.

I also loosely planned to go the Apple TV route, but it’s a lot of complexity for not much benefit imho. Have an inverter sitting in the trunk that never gets used…


I think the x5 and x7 have both supported hdmi to the front screen since LCI.

[luigilauro]

Originally Posted by Gautam

Works without a problem on id6 so I don’t see why not.

Thanks for confirming, I was expecting as much but wasn’t sure. I will test it myself anyways when I have the chance.

Originally Posted by Gautam

I also loosely planned to go the Apple TV route, but it’s a lot of complexity for not much benefit imho. Have an inverter sitting in the trunk that never gets used…

Be aware that internally the Apple TV uses 15-20V DC. And it’s pretty easy to mod to change the power adapter to be fed from 12V therefore, with just a DC-DC voltage regulator. They sell both modified power sources for 30$ or already modded Apple TV. This way you wouldn’t have an inverter but you would just plug in the Apple TV in the 12V in the trunk. This is the route I’m going.

See:
https://mikegyver.com/product-category/apple-tv-in-car/
https://carsystems.com.ua/product-ca...-for-apple-tv/
Etc…

Originally Posted by Gautam

I think the x5 and x7 have both supported hdmi to the front screen since LCI.

Indeed. But this was not the case for 5 series and I couldn’t find any info online confirming it, and heck, even the official updated 07/2022 documentation/manual still states otherwise… so good to know I guess ;-)