Andream Head Unit

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02-12-21, 08:52
Dossie01

Andream Head Unit

Anyone bought one of these? Any feedback on them? Are they really just all the same units rebranded?

Thanks in advance.

https://www.android-car-dvd.de/colle...tion-head-unit

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02-12-21, 15:30
Alanmcgrath40

I had one, not a good experience. I bricked it after only a week of use doing a software update, it also damaged the video card on the ccc unit itself. From my short experience of the unit it was only okay, the fit of the unit was poor enough, the sound is feed through the aux connection so the sound quality is the same as plugging aux cable into your phone. You will need to use your phone as a hot-spot for streaming music and using other apps. My idrive controller didn't work with any of the apps hence why I tried to update it. Yes I believe they are all the same manufacturer and just branded differently. Outside of my bad experience would I buy one again, probably not. the only reason I got one was to stream my music through Bluetooth. So now I just bought a cheap Bluetooth adaptor and it's fine.

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03-12-21, 07:39
Dossie01

Thanks for the review, I'll leave it so. Too expensive for the potential pitfalls

Cheers

Dave

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03-12-21, 09:05
marcos_94

I havent used that model but if youre looking for a change to an android unit, I have an Avin Avant 4 in my e46. Iv had it nearly a year now and it has been faultless. I think they do an idrive model. Worth checking them out
03-12-21, 10:36
Dossie01

I was looking there and they only seem to ship from USA, would be quite expensive with import duties I'd say ( unit +a few add ons would be the guts of $600

Will dig a bit deeper for EU stock if possible

Thanks

Dave

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03-12-21, 10:56
marcos_94

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dossie01

I was looking there and they only seem to ship from USA, would be quite expensive with import duties I'd say ( unit +a few add ons would be the guts of $600

Will dig a bit deeper for EU stock if possible

Thanks

Dave

Sent from my CPH2207 using Tapatalk

Yeah the fees are a bit of a pain. My unit came from Hong Kong but it was definitely worth the cost, although i guess for me I was going from a very very old and outdated sat nav to an android unit
06-12-21, 11:11
Mark

I've got one and had a great experience as have many others on other forums.

I don't see the point of the full Android version as there are too many compromises. I went for the Android Auto/Carplay version which is cheaper and a much better solution. I stuck a review on here:
http://www.bmwhaus.ie/vbulletin/show...CI-530i-manual

I plan to couple it with one of those new fangled wireless Android Auto adapters (but if you have an iPhone, carplay is wireless).

Can't recommend it enough tbh, insanely cheap way to bring the interface bang up to date.
07-12-21, 15:11
kdevitt

I had one installed in the F31 - they are pieces of shit to be honest. Got the guy to come back and remove it (eventually).
14-04-22, 23:08
chippy.curry

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdevitt

I had one installed in the F31 - they are pieces of shit to be honest. Got the guy to come back and remove it (eventually).

Hi, I have one installed in my e60 only a couple of days and I'm finding it pretty shit!! Did the idrive toggle work with yours?? Was it carplay installer that fitted it??

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19-04-22, 20:08
CitizenKane

I have the CarPlay one on my E60. The previous owner installed it so I don’t know too much about it, but it works perfectly for me. One thing I found is the iDrive controller didn’t actually work with it when I got the car, but there is a setting you can change in the Andream system settings menu that makes it work.
21-04-22, 10:06
Ketron

I'm going to get a Mr12Volt when the new version is released:

https://www.mr12volt.com/collections...-interface-dsp

While not a fancy as some of the newer Android units (this keeps the original screen, so lower res) it retains more of the stock look and feel, it gets very good reviews. There were issues with bass on the current models, specifically with L7 installs, thats why I'm waiting for the new unit. It also connects directly into the MOST loop so the audio quality will be as good (if not better) than stock.
23-04-22, 05:59
HealyC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketron

I'm going to get a Mr12Volt when the new version is released:

https://www.mr12volt.com/collections...-interface-dsp

While not a fancy as some of the newer Android units (this keeps the original screen, so lower res) it retains more of the stock look and feel, it gets very good reviews. There were issues with bass on the current models, specifically with L7 installs, thats why I'm waiting for the new unit. It also connects directly into the MOST loop so the audio quality will be as good (if not better) than stock.

Interested to see how you get on with this, I like the way it acts as a separate amp too. I have a simple Bluetooth ad2p dongle for streaming in my E60 but the sound quality suffers as it thinks it playing via headphones.

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25-04-22, 07:44
CitizenKane

That Mr12Volt one does look interesting alright.

I have to say though I didn’t even realise the Andream audio went through the Aux input, the sound quality is great IMO.
25-04-22, 10:12
Dossie01

I got the Android Auto unit from Carplay Systems a month or so ago, and it does the job. I use it mainly for Google Maps /Spotify and it serves it's purpose.

Idrive works fine, and sound is decent enough for what I use it for.

Biggest pains are Bluetooth call quality is crap,I revert to standard for calls. I did have an issue at the start with the screen zooming in really far, but a software update solved that.

Happy enough for what I need it for anyway.

Dave

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27-04-22, 09:04
kdevitt

Quote:

Originally Posted by chippy.curry

Hi, I have one installed in my e60 only a couple of days and I'm finding it pretty shit!! Did the idrive toggle work with yours?? Was it carplay installer that fitted it??

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Was carplayinstaller alright - I had to hold down the source button for 5 seconds I think to get it to switch over. 5 seconds doesn't sound like a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but its an eternity when you just want to drive off. I had way more problems than just that though - the sound quality was appalling, its all routed through the aux port - sounded like complete and utter crap.

Found this post of mine from elsewhere -

Its just not integrated enough - no matter who codes it imo. I had a reversing camera installed at the same time -

Kind of issues I had were -

Reverse lights stayed on as long as the reverse camera was active - it was sending power down into the lights, so even when you'd finished reversing and drove off, the reverse lights were lit up.

Accessing the carplay unit itself is a pain - having to hold down the button every time you get in for it to switch over just took too long

Barely ever connected to the phone - so unless I was doing a long drive, I had no sound - the phone was never picked up on short journeys

Randomly answered calls through carplay - even when I was on the OEM screen - which resulted in silence, and then no radio at all until the car was turned on and off

Take a left turn in the car and all the sound disappeared in the drivers side (imagine this was an installation issue)

Sound went off everytime you put the car in reverse

All these units put the sound through the AUX input - the sound quality was crap. Could not get the bass turned down no matter how it was adjusted.

Reversing radar didn't work at all - and the camera guides might as well have been attached to a different car. Totally useless.
27-04-22, 10:05
chippy.curry

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdevitt

Was carplayinstaller alright - I had to hold down the source button for 5 seconds I think to get it to switch over. 5 seconds doesn't sound like a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but its an eternity when you just want to drive off. I had way more problems than just that though - the sound quality was appalling, its all routed through the aux port - sounded like complete and utter crap.

Found this post of mine from elsewhere -

Its just not integrated enough - no matter who codes it imo. I had a reversing camera installed at the same time -

Kind of issues I had were -

Reverse lights stayed on as long as the reverse camera was active - it was sending power down into the lights, so even when you'd finished reversing and drove off, the reverse lights were lit up.

Accessing the carplay unit itself is a pain - having to hold down the button every time you get in for it to switch over just took too long

Barely ever connected to the phone - so unless I was doing a long drive, I had no sound - the phone was never picked up on short journeys

Randomly answered calls through carplay - even when I was on the OEM screen - which resulted in silence, and then no radio at all until the car was turned on and off

Take a left turn in the car and all the sound disappeared in the drivers side (imagine this was an installation issue)

Sound went off everytime you put the car in reverse

All these units put the sound through the AUX input - the sound quality was crap. Could not get the bass turned down no matter how it was adjusted.

Reversing radar didn't work at all - and the camera guides might as well have been attached to a different car. Totally useless.

Thanks for the reply. I'm have alot of the same issues! I have requested him to take it out and refund! Not an easy man to get hold of!!

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27-04-22, 10:23
kdevitt

Quote:

Originally Posted by chippy.curry

Thanks for the reply. I'm have alot of the same issues! I have requested him to take it out and refund! Not an easy man to get hold of!!

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Thats putting it mildly - I paid by paypal and had a claim in, took weeks for him to reappear. I think he's in the US on holidays at the moment though.
27-04-22, 16:03
CitizenKane

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdevitt

Was carplayinstaller alright - I had to hold down the source button for 5 seconds I think to get it to switch over. 5 seconds doesn't sound like a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but its an eternity when you just want to drive off. I had way more problems than just that though - the sound quality was appalling, its all routed through the aux port - sounded like complete and utter crap.

Found this post of mine from elsewhere -

Its just not integrated enough - no matter who codes it imo. I had a reversing camera installed at the same time -

Kind of issues I had were -

Reverse lights stayed on as long as the reverse camera was active - it was sending power down into the lights, so even when you'd finished reversing and drove off, the reverse lights were lit up.

Accessing the carplay unit itself is a pain - having to hold down the button every time you get in for it to switch over just took too long

Barely ever connected to the phone - so unless I was doing a long drive, I had no sound - the phone was never picked up on short journeys

Randomly answered calls through carplay - even when I was on the OEM screen - which resulted in silence, and then no radio at all until the car was turned on and off

Take a left turn in the car and all the sound disappeared in the drivers side (imagine this was an installation issue)

Sound went off everytime you put the car in reverse

All these units put the sound through the AUX input - the sound quality was crap. Could not get the bass turned down no matter how it was adjusted.

Reversing radar didn't work at all - and the camera guides might as well have been attached to a different car. Totally useless.

And just for the sake of balance, I confirm I’ve had none of those issues (although I don’t have the reversing camera installed so that might make it more temperamental?).
27-04-22, 17:36
kdevitt

How do you switch over to CarPlay?
27-04-22, 18:16
CitizenKane

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdevitt

How do you switch over to CarPlay?

Just by selecting “USB CarPlay” or “WiFi CarPlay” from the main menu, either via touchscreen or using the iDrive controller, and it takes a couple of seconds to load usually.

Of course there are any number of reasons why our experiences with it are different - installation issues, Andream version, iDrive version, etc. (my car is an E60 so likely different software to yours anyway). As I said the car had this installed when I bought it so I know nothing about it really other than it works well for me, so it’s a pity yourself and others have had issues.
13-08-22, 13:09
HealyC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketron

I'm going to get a Mr12Volt when the new version is released:

https://www.mr12volt.com/collections...-interface-dsp

While not a fancy as some of the newer Android units (this keeps the original screen, so lower res) it retains more of the stock look and feel, it gets very good reviews. There were issues with bass on the current models, specifically with L7 installs, thats why I'm waiting for the new unit. It also connects directly into the MOST loop so the audio quality will be as good (if not better) than stock.

Did you ever do this Cethern?

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13-08-22, 15:50
JohnH

Quote:

Originally Posted by HealyC

Did you ever do this Cethern?

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You spending money before I go to the US next month??
13-08-22, 16:04
HealyC

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnH

You spending money before I go to the US next month??

I am now [emoji23]

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13-08-22, 22:34
Ketron

Quote:

Originally Posted by HealyC

Did you ever do this Cethern?

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Yeah I did! Sorry for not updating! It's great, very little hassle and really brings the car into the modern age. I did an NBT upgrade a few years back in my 335d, this is a million times better and way cheaper and easier to install.

The mic is crap, so you are best using the OEM system for calls and the Mr12volt mic for voice commands. I'll do a bit of detailed write up on it at some stage, but the short story is I'm delighted with it. It's very slick and you can switch between android auto and the stock system with ease.

Edit: if you've any questions about it please ask, I can't fault the system (outside the mic) , it looks stock and the CIC screen is more that enough for resolution.