Does my BMW have Apple CarPlay?
Check CarPlay compatibility by model, year and iDrive system, or let your VIN give you the exact answer.
Compatibility result
BMW Apple CarPlay activation
Our BMW CarPlay compatibility checker reads your car's head unit from the VIN. Checking is free.
The short answer
Whether your BMW has Apple CarPlay depends on its iDrive system (the head unit), not just the model or year. Two cars of the same model and year can differ, because CarPlay also depends on the navigation option fitted at the factory.
- iDrive 7 and later: usually built in
- NBT EVO ID5/ID6: supported, may need activating
- NBT EVO ID4: not covered by USB activation
- CIC and NBT: hardware retrofit only
Easier than ever
Can CarPlay be activated on your BMW? Just type your VIN.
We have made it easier than ever to check whether your head unit is compatible. Type your VIN into the search box at the top of this page and we will show whether Apple CarPlay can be activated and the exact price. Checking is free.
CarPlay compatibility by iDrive system
The years below are approximate and vary by model and market. The VIN check above gives the exact answer for your car.
| iDrive system | Roughly fitted | Apple CarPlay |
|---|---|---|
| CCC / CIC | Up to about 2013 | Not supported; hardware retrofit only |
| NBT | About 2012 to 2016 | Not supported; hardware retrofit only |
| NBT EVO ID4 | About 2016 | Not covered by USB activation |
| NBT EVO ID5 / ID6 | About mid-2016 to 2019 | Supported with Navigation Professional; can be activated by USB |
| iDrive 7 and later (MGU) | From about 2019 | Usually built in; check My BMW if it is missing |
BMW models that can usually have CarPlay activated
These models, when fitted with Navigation Professional, an 8.8 or 10.25 inch screen and an NBT EVO ID5/ID6 unit, can usually have CarPlay activated by USB:
- 2016-2020 BMW 1 Series (F20 / F21)
- 2017-2020 BMW 2 Series (F22 / F23)
- 2017-2019 BMW 3 Series (F30 / F31 / F34)
- 2017-2020 BMW 4 Series (F32 / F33 / F36)
- 2017-2019 BMW 5 Series (G30 with iDrive 6 and 10.25 inch screen)
- 2017-2019 BMW 6 Series (F06 / F12 / G32)
- 2015-2019 BMW 7 Series (G11 / G12)
- 2017-2019 BMW X3 (F25 / G01)
- 2019-2020 BMW X3 M / X4 M (F97 / F98)
- 2017-2019 BMW X4 (F26 / G02)
- 2017-2018 BMW X5 (F15 / F85)
- 2017-2018 BMW X6 (F16 / F86)
- 2017-2022 BMW M2 (F87)
- 2017-2020 BMW M3 / M4 (F80 / F82 / F83)
- 2018-2019 BMW M5 (F90)
- 2018-2021 BMW i3 / i8
The final check is always made by VIN before payment, because the head unit and options matter more than the model name. Model guides: BMW 1 Series CarPlay and BMW F30 3 Series CarPlay.
How to check CarPlay on your BMW yourself
Look in iDrive
If Apple CarPlay appears in the phone or connected-devices menu, it is already enabled.
Check the screen
NBT EVO cars with Navigation Professional have an 8.8 or 10.25 inch screen.
Check My BMW
The app and ConnectedDrive Store show the digital services offered for your car.
Check the VIN
Our checker reads the head unit and confirms USB activation before you pay.
If your BMW is compatible but CarPlay is missing
Many NBT EVO ID5/ID6 cars have the hardware for CarPlay but left the factory without it switched on. BMW UK sells Apple CarPlay Preparation in the ConnectedDrive Store for eligible cars from July 2016 with Navigation Professional. Our USB CarPlay activation costs from £49.99, with optional FullScreen and Video in Motion at £10 each, and needs no laptop or ENET cable. Read is BMW Apple CarPlay activation free? to compare the options.
If your car has CIC or NBT, CarPlay cannot be switched on with a file; a hardware retrofit module is the option there. You can also decode the car first with our free BMW VIN check.
BMW CarPlay compatibility FAQ
Does my BMW have Apple CarPlay?
It depends on the iDrive system rather than the model name. Most BMWs with iDrive 7 or later have CarPlay built in. Cars with NBT EVO ID5/ID6 and Navigation Professional (roughly 2016 to 2019) support it but may need it activating. Older CIC and NBT systems do not support it without extra hardware.
Is there a BMW CarPlay compatibility checker?
Yes: enter your VIN in the checker on this page. It reads the head unit fitted to your car and tells you whether CarPlay can be activated by USB, before you pay anything.
Does the BMW 1 Series have Apple CarPlay?
F20/F21 1 Series cars from about 2016 to 2020 with Navigation Professional have the NBT EVO system and can usually have CarPlay activated. The newer F40 1 Series, from 2019, normally has a later iDrive with CarPlay built in. Older 1 Series with CIC or NBT do not support it without a retrofit.
What is Apple CarPlay Preparation?
It is BMW's name for CarPlay on NBT EVO cars. BMW UK sells it in the ConnectedDrive Store for eligible cars from July 2016 with Navigation Professional. Our USB activation is an alternative that also offers FullScreen and Video in Motion.
Can I add CarPlay to a BMW with CIC or NBT?
Not by activation, because the software does not include CarPlay. These cars need a hardware retrofit module, which usually costs several hundred pounds.
How do I find out which iDrive my BMW has?
The quickest way is the VIN check on this page. In the car, the screen size, menu style and whether there is Navigation Professional give clues, but similar-looking systems can differ, so the VIN is the reliable answer.