Ceramic iDrive Controller Retrofit?

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by awhk

No idea why it didn't work. Anyway, I swapped the buttons and the knob on to my stock iDrive controller.

Matches pretty well with alcantara!

How hard was the swap?

[elisiX]

Looks awesome.

Got a link to the eBay seller you purchased from?

[awhk]

Originally Posted by yjypm

Matches pretty well with alcantara!

How hard was the swap?

Not too difficult. Let me try to make a DIY on dissembling the EVO knob over next week.

Originally Posted by elisiX

Looks awesome.

Got a link to the eBay seller you purchased from?

Here is the link to the seller.
https://ebay.com.hk/usr/maeik-maeik

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by awhk

Not too difficult. Let me try to make a DIY on dissembling the EVO knob over next week.

Here is the link to the seller.
https://ebay.com.hk/usr/maeik-maeik

That would be really helpful! Thanks!

[awhk]

a. Remove the part number sticker from the bottom of the knob.
b. Undo the five clips (1) at the bottom side to remove the bottom bracket.
c. Use a narrow plier to remove the rubber cap (2) to expose the torx screw (3) holding the iDrive knob.
d. DO NOT mess with the four torx screws (marked in green X) as it will ruin the spacing between the magnets that control the movements of the iDrive knob.
e. Undo four torx screws (4) holding the iDrive buttons panel.
f. Use a flat head screw driver to lift the ribbon cable holder (5) to remove one end of the ribbon cable.
g. Remove the torx screw (3) holding the iDrive knob. Lift the iDrive knob from the top.
h. Undo tab (6) from both sides to release the iDrive button panel.

Now you are free to swap the switches and knobs between different EVO iDrive knobs.

Assemble in reverse order. Make sure the ribbon cable attached to the iDrive knob is channel through the slot (7) to the bottom of the assembly before putting the knob back in position.

[yjypm]

Originally Posted by awhk

a. Remove the part number sticker from the bottom of the knob.
b. Undo the five clips (1) at the bottom side to remove the bottom bracket.
c. Use a narrow plier to remove the rubber cap (2) to expose the torx screw (3) holding the iDrive knob.
d. DO NOT mess with the four torx screws (marked in green X) as it will ruin the spacing between the magnets that control the movements of the iDrive knob.
e. Undo four torx screws (4) holding the iDrive buttons panel.
f. Use a flat head screw driver to lift the ribbon cable holder (5) to remove one end of the ribbon cable.
g. Remove the torx screw (3) holding the iDrive knob. Lift the iDrive knob from the top.
h. Undo tab (6) from both sides to release the iDrive button panel.

Now you are free to swap the switches and knobs between different EVO iDrive knobs.

Assemble in reverse order. Make sure the ribbon cable attached to the iDrive knob is channel through the slot (7) to the bottom of the assembly before putting the knob back in position.

Great write up! Thanks!

[jailonacs99]

PSA to folks, best to hold onto your old controller. I had my car at the dealer recently to get a computer issue fixed. They tried to update my software but the system wouldn't allow them to because it considered the ceramic iDrive controller "incompatible". Not a huge deal, I just need to swap the old one back on and take it back. But I'm glad I didn't sell the stock controller like I was thinking to.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

PSA to folks, best to hold onto your old controller. I had my car at the dealer recently to get a computer issue fixed. They tried to update my software but the system wouldn't allow them to because it considered the ceramic iDrive controller "incompatible". Not a huge deal, I just need to swap the old one back on and take it back. But I'm glad I didn't sell the stock controller like I was thinking to.

Yes, that's a known issue that has been posted several times over the years.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Yes, that's a known issue that has been posted several times over the years.

Huh, I wish someone had posted it in this thread

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

Huh, I wish someone had posted it in this thread

All caveats will not be posted in every thread.

Essentially, any ECU that is foreign to your model or INTRODUCED after your date of production will cause an error on ISTA. That will cause an issue with the car istep being updated via this method.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

All caveats will not be posted in every thread.

Essentially, any ECU that is foreign to your model or INTRODUCED after your date of production will cause an error on ISTA. That will cause an issue with the car istep being updated via this method.

Obviously, hence the comment, and why I PSAd it in this thread.

Also why I'm waiting to install the LCI climate control unit till I get the software issue fixed, but my ceramic controller completely skipped my mind. Of course the dealer was happy to offer to re-install one - retail cost! He also asided he didn't understand why I'd want to replace my original with the ceramic. To each their own I suppose, I still love it every time I see it against the CF trim.

[negative]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Yes, that's a known issue that has been posted several times over the years.

Hello,
My new car (2021 g30 lci) production date is 07/2020 and i got a ceramic idrive for retrofit which produced in 05/2017 from a 2017 g11

So, may i have any problem on dealer while service software upgrading ?

I changed and it worked like a charm but worry about dealer / warranty right now.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by negative

Hello,
My new car (2021 g30 lci) production date is 07/2020 and i got a ceramic idrive for retrofit which produced in 05/2017 from a 2017 g11

So, may i have any problem on dealer while service software upgrading ?

I changed and it worked like a charm but worry about dealer / warranty right now.

The dealers computer likely will not recognize the ceramic controller as part of the car. Just swap it out back for the original one before you ever take it into the dealer, and when done swap it back.

[ellipsis212]

FYI: I mated my stock F80 iDrive unit with the ceramic control surface because of some resistance/binding issues with the ceramic unit during certain menu operations. My controller did NOT look anything like the one above. Here is a link to how to disassemble ours which is the same unit found on the i3

https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...php?p=25716191

Cheers.

[jailonacs99]

In case anyone is interested, I'm parting out items from my M4 and selling my ceramic iDrive controller in the forum classifieds.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by awhk

a. Remove the part number sticker from the bottom of the knob.
b. Undo the five clips (1) at the bottom side to remove the bottom bracket.
c. Use a narrow plier to remove the rubber cap (2) to expose the torx screw (3) holding the iDrive knob.
d. DO NOT mess with the four torx screws (marked in green X) as it will ruin the spacing between the magnets that control the movements of the iDrive knob.
e. Undo four torx screws (4) holding the iDrive buttons panel.
f. Use a flat head screw driver to lift the ribbon cable holder (5) to remove one end of the ribbon cable.
g. Remove the torx screw (3) holding the iDrive knob. Lift the iDrive knob from the top.
h. Undo tab (6) from both sides to release the iDrive button panel.

Now you are free to swap the switches and knobs between different EVO iDrive knobs.

Assemble in reverse order. Make sure the ribbon cable attached to the iDrive knob is channel through the slot (7) to the bottom of the assembly before putting the knob back in position.

Just wanna thank you again for the write up, I'm glad I found this thread because I've been wanting to retrofit the G11 ceramic controller for a while but didn't know they can be taken apart this easily for the swap. Just finished it this weekend on my F30 and it looks and works great!

[M3ntal_F80]

Originally Posted by toxik

Just wanna thank you again for the write up, I'm glad I found this thread because I've been wanting to retrofit the G11 ceramic controller for a while but didn't know they can be taken apart this easily for the swap. Just finished it this weekend on my F30 and it looks and works great!

Don't mean to go off topic, but what phone mount is that? Can't find it on the Rennline website.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Lj_F80

Don't mean to go off topic, but what phone mount is that? Can't find it on the Rennline website.

that's their PM70 Magsafe attachment for the F30/F80 phone mount. you basically have to buy both items to use magsafe charging.

https://www.rennline.com/wireless-in...rger-sku-pm70/

[Xer0449]

I have the same mount. Expensive but so worth it.

What 90* cable is that, and where did you plug in for power? Not a fan of my current route for the cable...

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Xer0449

I have the same mount. Expensive but so worth it.

What 90* cable is that, and where did you plug in for power? Not a fan of my current route for the cable...

Looks similar to this UGREEN cable I have running to a Belkin MagSafe charger in my other car. It's got a right angle on both ends and a very thin cable, it's great.

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Xer0449]

Originally Posted by MJBO

Looks similar to this UGREEN cable I have running to a Belkin MagSafe charger in my other car. It's got a right angle on both ends and a very thin cable, it's great.

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cheers!

[WhiteFox]

Where can you get the ceramic knobs for hvac? Is there part numbers?