New to the forum and BMW ownership

Rns-e · 04-10-2021, 03:09 AM

Hi, just wanted to say hi and ask some basic questions that I hope you'll be able help me with.

I'm new to BMW ownership, but my daughter is turning 18 and will be getting a 2010 BMW E88 118i (hand me down from her grandmother) and she is excited.

There is a few things on her wishlist for the car, so I promised to see what I could find out. Over the years I've been using Ross-Tech VAG-COM and VCDS to program different Audi's, what is the equivalent tool for BMW?

Here is a combination of what she and I want done with the car

1: Bluetooth - the car has CIC headunit with the big screen, but not bluetooth.

2: A towbar (to tow a jetski) - What do I use to program this? We need this as none of our other three cars can have a towbar fitted. We do not need to tow big things.

3: More power - I understand that the N43 in the 118i with 143hp is basically the same engine as the one in the 120i with 170hp. Is it possible to unlock this extra power or are there internal differences in the engines like the 1.8T used in Audi's?

4: She can't be driving on grandmother 16", so need to find her a staggered 18" setup. I guess that 225/40 and 255/35 is the size to go for?

5: Headlights are H7 bulbs, we would prefer xenons, but that requires washers and auto leveling, is that even possible?

6: The front bumper is cracked a little so at some point we will looking to replace that, which one to go for?

Sorry, a lot of questions, but I hope you can and will help

NorthernDancer · 04-10-2021, 11:41 AM

Welcome; I don't have any answers for you but I know who does. These guys are in Denmark too and should be able to help you with most:
https://www.schmiedmann.dk/
Some of us are buying from them and their service seems excellent.

Rns-e · 04-10-2021, 03:43 PM

Thank you, I will check them out.

dtla1 · 04-12-2021, 12:06 PM

A quick note on the bluetooth, the bluetooth capability in the car was always restricted to calls only, not streaming auido. If your daughter wants BT for streaming audio there's a few options out there that tap into the headphone port and USB ports, and become a bluetooth receiver for streaming audio.

Rns-e · 04-23-2021, 03:52 AM

Thanks - I see the bluetooth as a safety issue first most. Handsfree phone calls.

I know that she would want it for streaming, but that still requires her to touch the phone or at least tempt her to touch the phone. In Denmark you can/will get a mark on your license for just holding the phone while the engine is on and as a new driver you are only allowed two marks on you license.

Tuxedo · 04-23-2021, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rns-e

1: Bluetooth - the car has CIC headunit with the big screen, but not bluetooth.

2: A towbar (to tow a jetski) - What do I use to program this? We need this as none of our other three cars can have a towbar fitted. We do not need to tow big things.

4: She can't be driving on grandmother 16", so need to find her a staggered 18" setup. I guess that 225/40 and 255/35 is the size to go for?

1) I use a Bovee WMA3000B
2) if your e88 has parking sensors on the rear bumper it's not recommended. if reg bumper cover seek a local installer
4) size should work just make sure your offset works on the rims

Rns-e · 04-23-2021, 01:13 PM

Went into spending mode and ordered a few things. It turns out that it's the 6.5" screen and not the 8.8".

The car has the S606 Business Navigation CIC. For bluetooth it makes no sense trying to retrofit anything, too many parts and still outdated.

So I decided to go for this solution:

An Apple CarPlay adapter and also update the screen to a 8.8" screen. This should enable her to use bluetooth, stream musik etc. The good part is that you can still use the original CIC.

I also ordered a Westfalia Towbar with E82/88 specifik wiring with no need for coding.

lemansblau135is · 04-23-2021, 02:59 PM

Check Tire Rack or Apex website for proper wheel fitment and offset on a stock 1er

Aceway · 04-23-2021, 03:05 PM

Are you sure that screen fits 1 series? That video is for a F30 3 series

Rns-e · 04-24-2021, 02:01 AM

I know. I bought an original for a E82/88, 4-5 times more expensive than those for E90. I guess the is that not so many optioned it?

Similar to this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224434530...YAAOSwxAtgfWnK

It looks like the only difference between the E88 and E90 8.8" display is the plastic housing. That's good to know if the display should fail at some point.

One issue that may be a problem is if it is even possible to change the setting from small to wide screen on the E82/88 CIC. But now it's on it's way, so there is only one way to find out.

The CarPlay adapter has the option to add a backup camera, it can also use the original backup camera. The question is, do retrofit the original camera with controlbox etc or just buy a china one at 1/10 of the price? From the outside you can not tell the difference. I guess the main difference would be that the original will also work when not in CarPlay mode?

Rns-e · 06-08-2021, 02:50 PM

Forgot to post updates. Have not had much time to do things, but detachable towbar is on and a very straight forward job, no coding needed. Can't see anything when the hitch is off.

The Apple Carplay is in and working perfect with screen, iDrive knop and wheel buttons. Will add backup camera at some point as well. So she has handsfree, spotify and up to date google maps navigation or Waze.

I have a 8.8 inch screen to replace the 6.5 inch, but have not been successful with getting an image on the 8.8 inch yet. I know the screen works as I had the

Does anybody know if there is a LVDS setting to change the output of the headunit to 8.8 inch? It's a 4pin LVDS Business Navi 6.5 inch cic system.

04-10-2021, 03:09 AM	#1
Rns-e New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E88 118i Feb 2010 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	New to the forum and BMW ownership Hi, just wanted to say hi and ask some basic questions that I hope you'll be able help me with. I'm new to BMW ownership, but my daughter is turning 18 and will be getting a 2010 BMW E88 118i (hand me down from her grandmother) and she is excited. There is a few things on her wishlist for the car, so I promised to see what I could find out. Over the years I've been using Ross-Tech VAG-COM and VCDS to program different Audi's, what is the equivalent tool for BMW? Here is a combination of what she and I want done with the car 1: Bluetooth - the car has CIC headunit with the big screen, but not bluetooth. 2: A towbar (to tow a jetski) - What do I use to program this? We need this as none of our other three cars can have a towbar fitted. We do not need to tow big things. 3: More power - I understand that the N43 in the 118i with 143hp is basically the same engine as the one in the 120i with 170hp. Is it possible to unlock this extra power or are there internal differences in the engines like the 1.8T used in Audi's? 4: She can't be driving on grandmother 16", so need to find her a staggered 18" setup. I guess that 225/40 and 255/35 is the size to go for? 5: Headlights are H7 bulbs, we would prefer xenons, but that requires washers and auto leveling, is that even possible? 6: The front bumper is cracked a little so at some point we will looking to replace that, which one to go for? Sorry, a lot of questions, but I hope you can and will help
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04-10-2021, 11:41 AM	#2
NorthernDancer Colonel 848 Rep 2,276 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	Welcome; I don't have any answers for you but I know who does. These guys are in Denmark too and should be able to help you with most: https://www.schmiedmann.dk/ Some of us are buying from them and their service seems excellent.
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04-10-2021, 03:43 PM	#3
Rns-e New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E88 118i Feb 2010 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Thank you, I will check them out.
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04-12-2021, 12:06 PM	#4
dtla1 Colonel 828 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, Space Grey Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Silicon Valley iTrader: (2)	A quick note on the bluetooth, the bluetooth capability in the car was always restricted to calls only, not streaming auido. If your daughter wants BT for streaming audio there's a few options out there that tap into the headphone port and USB ports, and become a bluetooth receiver for streaming audio.
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04-23-2021, 03:52 AM	#5
Rns-e New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E88 118i Feb 2010 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Thanks - I see the bluetooth as a safety issue first most. Handsfree phone calls. I know that she would want it for streaming, but that still requires her to touch the phone or at least tempt her to touch the phone. In Denmark you can/will get a mark on your license for just holding the phone while the engine is on and as a new driver you are only allowed two marks on you license.
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04-23-2021, 01:13 PM	#7
Rns-e New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E88 118i Feb 2010 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Went into spending mode and ordered a few things. It turns out that it's the 6.5" screen and not the 8.8". The car has the S606 Business Navigation CIC. For bluetooth it makes no sense trying to retrofit anything, too many parts and still outdated. So I decided to go for this solution: An Apple CarPlay adapter and also update the screen to a 8.8" screen. This should enable her to use bluetooth, stream musik etc. The good part is that you can still use the original CIC. I also ordered a Westfalia Towbar with E82/88 specifik wiring with no need for coding.
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04-23-2021, 02:59 PM	#8
lemansblau135is First Lieutenant 119 Rep 359 Posts Drives: bmw 135is Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: nor cal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 bmw 135is [0.00]	Check Tire Rack or Apex website for proper wheel fitment and offset on a stock 1er
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04-23-2021, 03:05 PM	#9
Aceway Captain 455 Rep 875 Posts Drives: E82 135i / F25 28i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	Are you sure that screen fits 1 series? That video is for a F30 3 series
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04-24-2021, 02:01 AM	#10
Rns-e New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E88 118i Feb 2010 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	I know. I bought an original for a E82/88, 4-5 times more expensive than those for E90. I guess the is that not so many optioned it? Similar to this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224434530...YAAOSwxAtgfWnK It looks like the only difference between the E88 and E90 8.8" display is the plastic housing. That's good to know if the display should fail at some point. One issue that may be a problem is if it is even possible to change the setting from small to wide screen on the E82/88 CIC. But now it's on it's way, so there is only one way to find out. The CarPlay adapter has the option to add a backup camera, it can also use the original backup camera. The question is, do retrofit the original camera with controlbox etc or just buy a china one at 1/10 of the price? From the outside you can not tell the difference. I guess the main difference would be that the original will also work when not in CarPlay mode? Last edited by Rns-e; 04-24-2021 at 02:11 AM..
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06-08-2021, 02:50 PM	#11
Rns-e New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: E88 118i Feb 2010 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Forgot to post updates. Have not had much time to do things, but detachable towbar is on and a very straight forward job, no coding needed. Can't see anything when the hitch is off. The Apple Carplay is in and working perfect with screen, iDrive knop and wheel buttons. Will add backup camera at some point as well. So she has handsfree, spotify and up to date google maps navigation or Waze. I have a 8.8 inch screen to replace the 6.5 inch, but have not been successful with getting an image on the 8.8 inch yet. I know the screen works as I had the Does anybody know if there is a LVDS setting to change the output of the headunit to 8.8 inch? It's a 4pin LVDS Business Navi 6.5 inch cic system.
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