2009 X5 CIC Retrofit from Bimmer Tech / Patryk

[apw2607]

Hi Everyone,

I promised to share my recent experiences with upgrading my CCC based iDrive system, to the latest 2012 CIC iDrive.

The retrofit was provided by Patryk @ Bimmer Tech ([email protected]), who was an absolute pleasure to work with. Patryk provided all the necessary parts to do this upgrade, instructions on what needs doing and then of course all the coding necessary for it to properly work with my car. The fact that Patryk is based in Europe, should not put folks off. He normally works around your schedule, and was always at hand to answer any questions or queries; so I highly recommend his service!

My parts consisted of:
USA CIC
High resolution CIC screen (MID)
Video Cable CIC>Screen
USB Port and Cable
New Controller
Trim pieces for controller and dash
Glovebox Trim piece (to hold new USB port)
Power connector for screen
Backup camera and PDC interface module > This is a 3rd party module that allows your older 2007-2009 PDC and backup camera to work with new CIC iDrive
2011 Navigation maps pre-loaded
All necessary coding

I won't talk about pricing, search my other posts where I've given a ball park figure for pricing. Couple of folks have suggested that instead of going down this retrofit, I simply buy a new X5! Well, I did investigate this, but the dealer gave me a dreadful trade-in and not great discount on the new car. I was also reluctant to buy a new X5 at this stage in its life. We only have a few more years before the next generation arrives. Perhaps if BMW had introduced the 40d with the 8sp I may have being interested, but since I wanted another diesel, they are not bringing anything new to the table. On top of that I turned around a 2008 M3 within a year, and lost of boat load of money in a crappy car market .. so all in all, that wasn't a option.

I missed out on the new style iDrive twice .. once on the 2008 M3, and then again on the 2009 X5 .. so I decided enough was enough, and I would do the update.

I can't emphasize how easy this upgrade is. The only thing you need to change is take 4 pins out the older power connector for the screen and stick them in the new connector. That will take you at most 5 minutes of your time. The rest is simply plug-and-play. There is no cutting anything ... and you can simply put the old CCC back in the car if you either sell the car on, or if the dealer needs to reprogram your car (unlikely now in older cars).

I did have to do one other small change so that my DVD changer video would work correctly with the CIC, but again its very minimum (involves just two wires).

So with the new CIC, everything works as it did before. Satellite radio (using the receiver in the truck), HD radio, iPod, USB, iPhone music cradle, BMW assist services (including BMW google search using my existing Telematics unit), and all other systems .. Headup display, climate, etc.

The backup camera looks better than before, since the display is twice the resolution of the older system. It switches on much quicker as well !

Anyway, I've taken lots of photos, and heres just a few of them ... I'll be happy to answer any questions or queries ... but if you are on the fence about doing this upgrade .. I highly recommend it, along with using Patryk @ bimmer-tech !

I will post this on a few of the X5 forums (only the good ones though) :-)

[sky-chicken]

Great pictures!
I have some questions because I do have the same car and an only waiting for the idrive lower part I did not get because it is backordered.
1) I also have a DVD changer in my glove box but I did not know you have to switch some cable. Could you let me know what to do?
2) Do you know the glovebox trim piece number and was it hart to remove it with the changer installed?
3) Did you use the bimmerretrofit cable to activate voice and Navigation?
4) How did you get the HD radio? The CIC with HD is almost impossible to get unless you buy it new and pay the core charge fee :-(

Thank you!

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by sky-chicken

Great pictures!
I have some questions because I do have the same car and an only waiting for the idrive lower part I did not get because it is backordered.
1) I also have a DVD changer in my glove box but I did not know you have to switch some cable. Could you let me know what to do?
2) Do you know the glovebox trim piece number and was it hart to remove it with the changer installed?
3) Did you use the bimmerretrofit cable to activate voice and Navigation?
4) How did you get the HD radio? The CIC with HD is almost impossible to get unless you buy it new and pay the core charge fee :-(

Thank you!

Sure. It's just analog video out that needs to be re-routed directly from the DVD changer to the CIC and not through the passive AVM switch. If you're not bothered about video from the changer audio works perfectly with no mods since audio is carried over the MOST bus.

No the trim piece is not at all hard to remove. Just pulls out but you need to remove the trim panel from around the changer, then the smaller center piece and then finally the outer piece. All pieces simply unclip. Patryk at bimmer tech can provide all the parts for you.

I did use the activation module for nav and voice since it was going to be in there for pdc and camera anyway.

I ordered all the parts and the USA CIC from patryks ... At bimmertech. Not bimmer retrofit.

[AwesomeM3]

Very nice upgrade! I'm jealous!!

[sky-chicken]

Originally Posted by apw2607

Sure. It's just analog video out that needs to be re-routed directly from the DVD changer to the CIC and not through the passive AVM switch. If you're not bothered about video from the changer audio works perfectly with no mods since audio is carried over the MOST bus.

Do you remember the connector on the CIC unit by any chance?

Originally Posted by apw2607

No the trim piece is not at all hard to remove. Just pulls out but you need to remove the trim panel from around the changer, then the smaller center piece and then finally the outer piece. All pieces simply unclip. Patryk at bimmer tech can provide all the parts for you. .

Could not get the smaller piece out because it is stuck on the DVD changer. Do I have to remove the changer first?

Originally Posted by apw2607

I did use the activation module for nav and voice since it was going to be in there for pdc and camera anyway.

I ordered all the parts and the USA CIC from patryks ... At bimmertech. Not bimmer retrofit.

I was always wondering if when you using a new US version, do you have to activate the voice feature and navigation feature in addition with the maps? I know if you use a "used" version the activation module for voice and navigation works but what if it was never activated before????

[apw2607]

Hopefully this pic helps. Once the DVD changer outer cover is off, you will be able to remove the small inner bottom piece of trim. Then the bigger trim piece can be removed ..

You don;t have to remove the entire changer .. but ofcourse you will do, if you want to do the video out fix

Not sure about the maps/activation question. I would speak with one of the vendors about that ...

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by AwesomeM3

Very nice upgrade! I'm jealous!!

Yea, you missed out on the new idrive too ... I remember. Man, twice BMW did it to me ... 1st on the 2008 M3 ... then again on the 2009 X5 !!

I bet if I purchased a 2012 X5 ... the 2013 would have some amazing new 3rd generation system.

[apw2607]

Originally Posted by sky-chicken

I was always wondering if when you using a new US version, do you have to activate the voice feature and navigation feature in addition with the maps? I know if you use a "used" version the activation module for voice and navigation works but what if it was never activated before????

I will say this. Its some what redundant question, since there no getting out of mating the CIC with your car through coding. You have to code it. No other way, otherwise nothing is going to work properly. The CIC won't know anything about your car, and its features/systems.

[sky-chicken]

That picture works :-) Thank you !

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by apw2607

Yea, you missed out on the new idrive too ... I remember. Man, twice BMW did it to me ... 1st on the 2008 M3 ... then again on the 2009 X5 !!

I bet if I purchased a 2012 X5 ... the 2013 would have some amazing new 3rd generation system.

Yup, BMW screwed me twice too, first with my 2008 M3 and then with my 2009 X5.