CarPlay and Parking Camera Upgrade for Mechanicsville BMW 320i

A client from Mechanicsville recently dropped into Extreme Audio to ask about upgrading her vehicle with CarPlay. She’d seen how the system worked in her husband’s truck and loved the idea of being able to send text messages and make phone calls without touching her phone. After a quick vehicle inspection, we showed her the ZZ-2 IT-EVO-MW infotainment system upgrade. When she found out that we could add both a backup camera and a parking camera to the front of the vehicle, she was sold.

Apple CarPlay Upgrade for BMW 320i

The front camera was inconspicuously mounted in the BMW grille.

Mounted just above the license plate, the backup camera provides a clear view of the back of the car.

The rear camera is displayed on the screen when the car is put into reverse.

While the installation is simple in concept, we still have to remove the display from the dash and the radio module from the center console to make all the connections. The ZZ-2 kit includes vehicle-specific harnesses, so no wires have to be cut or spliced. If you happen to own a leased vehicle, this type of installation is ideal.

After the module was connected and we plugged the audio cable into the USB port, we set to work running the wiring for the new cameras through the vehicle. We mounted a ZZ-2 CF-BMW-SERIE3 camera in the front grille of the car and a CT-BMW-B in the trunk lid. The rear camera is integrated into a new lift handle, so the installation is clean and tidy. Our team routed all the wiring along factory wire pathways and secured everything so that there wouldn’t be any buzzes or rattles while the vehicle was in motion. The IT-EVO-MW interface displays the camera image on the OE display and adds parking lines that follow the steering wheel angle to show where the vehicle is going.

Wireless Apple CarPlay

Adding Apple CarPlay to her radio now gives the client indash navigation.

The Apple CarPlay option shows up on the vehicle display under the Media folder.

With everything installed, we connected one of our iPhones to the ZZ-2 interface to test the system. Unlike some solutions, the ZZ-2 EVO systems use a Wi-Fi connection, so no cables have to be connected to the phone for it to work. As soon as the car is started, the phone connects automatically. The client can press and hold the menu button on the console to activate CarPlay, then use the controls in the center console or on the steering wheel to activate the voice recognition features.

Richmond’s Automotive Technology Experts

We had this BMW 3 Series upgrade finished by the end of the day and the client was thrilled. We walked her through how to use the system after connecting her iPhone to the interface. If you’re interested in adding CarPlay and Android Auto to your vehicle, drop by one of the Extreme Audio locations in Mechanicsville or Midlothian. A member of our team would be happy to give you a quote on adding this amazing hands-free communication and entertainment technology to your vehicle. For more information or to schedule a consultation, give our store nearest to you a call or use our contact page to send us an e-mail.