Updated on February 24th, 2023
Installing an aftermarket BMW F10 or F11 Android screen head unit is pretty easy if you follow our step by step installation instructions. If you want to upgrade the OEM small screen with a big screen, a 10.25″ BMW F10 touch screen android head unit is your best option.
The BMW F10 and BMW F11 come with the same dashboard, so let’s take the BMW F10 Android screen install for example.
Latest 10.25 inch BMW F10 Android head unit comes with Android 11 system, Octa-core CPU processor, 64GB ROM and 8GB RAM now.
You can learn more and shop here.
By the way, the latest Android 12 version and 12.3″ Android screen for BMW F10 is also available now.
BMW F10 Screen & Radio Removal
Installation tools you need: a screwdriver, a plastic pry tool or a flat screwdriver
In order to remove the OEM BMW F10 radio and screen display, you need to remove the decoration frame with air vents first.
Open the glove box, use a pry tool to remove take out the frame in the middle, then you can disconnect the plug behind. Or put this long frame at the top of the dashboard.
Now you can see 2 screws which fixed the CD panel. Use the screw driver to remove these screws from left to the right.
After removing the screws, you are able to take out the CD panel and the AC panel. There are 2 plugs behind, so you can easily disconnect the plugs.
Next, you can remove the screws to take out the CD player.
Behind the CD player, you can see a big square plug which will be used to connect thew adapter wiring harness from the new Android head unit.
Unplug the cables behind the F10 radio head unit.
So far you should know how to remove the oem screen and radio.
If you want to learn more, you can check this Video Tutorial of BMW F10 Radio & Screen Removal as well.
Install BMW F10 Android head unit
After removing the oem BMW F10 srceen and radio, you can go ahead to install the new BMW F10 Android head unit.
BMW F10 Android Head Unit Cables Connections
The new head unit comes with a 10.25″ large screen unit, a small control box, power adapter cable, usb cable, gps antenna, and 2 screen cables.
The above photo shows you where to connect the power plug, usb cable, mic, screen cables, gps antenna, wifi antenna.
You can put the gps antenna and wifi antenna at top corner of the dashboard.
USB cable can be put in the glove box.
And the control box can be hidden inside the dashboard as below:
Of course you can also put the control box in the glove box, or any other places you can put are also ok.
The next step will be installing the power adapter plugs.
After you disconnect the f10 radio square big plugs, you can see a male plug behind the radio, and the female plug from the original power cable.
Now you can connect the new female plug with the back square plug of your radio, and connect the new male plug with the original power plug. With this step doing correctly, the factory BMW F10 radio system and the new Android head unit can get power to turn on.
Fiber Optic Cables Moving
Important Note: There’s one thing you will need to pay attention to.
If there are fiber optic cables from your original CD plug, you will need to move the fiber optic cables to our new plug at the same position as below:
After Installation
Our BMW F10 head unit upgrade supports original reverse camera display and parking sensors. See how the camera display looks after installation.
It looks beautiful in your car after you finished installation. All factory functions retain, including idrive control, steering wheel control, backup camera, radio system. Now you can also enjoy more features from the new Android system.
Note: There are other BMW interfaces available, you can change the UI in factory settings to make a fresh new look.
Frequently Asked Questions
While installing, you may have a question or a problem, firstly you can check these FAQ and see if they help to solve your problem.
Factory radio system does not work
This usually happens if you did not move the fiber optical cables to our new plug. So you need to check the fiber optic cables, make sure they are well connected in the new plug. Normally the new unit keeps all factory functions working the same as before.
No sound after installation
- If there’s no sound from the original BMW radio system, check the radio plug also check the fiber optic cables. Are they connected tightly? Any pins loose or not in good shape?
- If there’s no sound from the new android system, like no sound from android music and video apps, you need to check the original BMW AUX mode. Because the sound transfers from the android head unit to car speakers through your car’s AUX mode.
You can follow below steps one by one to check AUX:Switch to BMW OEM system, click CD/Multimedia, select External devices, select AUX front, enter AUX mode, turn up the AUX Volume from low to high.
After you turn up the AUX volume, you can touch the screen, so the screen will switch to Android system automatically, click Music app, play music, the sound comes out from car speakers.
You can check the feedback from one of our customers who solved the no sound issue:
I hadn’t connected the two fiber optic cables !
It all works great now !!! – thank you so much, for all your patience and help.
I will write a great review over the weekend.
Thanks a millionFrom Louis with a BMW 528i 2011 model
Black screen or no signal after installation
For this issue, you need to check the car’s LVDS plug, is it with 4 pins or 6 pins? Can the new LVDS plug with the same pins as your LVDS plug? There are 2 different models for BMW F10, one with 4 pins LVDS plug, and other comes with 6 pins. If you ordered the wrong model, contact the supplier to get a head unit replacement.
If it’s totally black screen after installation, there may be no power to the new unit. So you can measure the voltage from the B+ wire and see if it receives 12V voltage. Sometimes a fuse may be burned for improper installation. To avoid fuse problem, please remember to turn off the car and take out car key before you install the new 10.25″ android infotainment unit.
I hope this post helps you to install an aftermarket BMW F10/F11 Android head unit and save your time. If you still got a question, you can leave a comment below, or contact us directly.
Hi there!
I have a 2012 BMW F10 with 6 pins, is this item fits for my car?
Regards
Yes, for BMW F10 with 6 pins LVDS plug, we will send you the one with 6 pins LVDS plug to fit your car.
Hi,
I have bought this product from uk seller android 7.1 for bmw f10 2013 6 pins
Before connection my aux in + Bluetooth and OBD2 were working and never had any problem with them
When I connected all these cables and wires I lost aux + OBD2 and Bluetooth in my original bmw menu.
The sound comes from android device (I plugged in my speaker) but I do not have aux in the system so doesn’t work in my radio… I don’t know what happened but looks like original software BMW lost the drivers… is it possible?
Regards Raf
There should be something wrong with your installation, please check our installation instructions carefully, especially for the fiber optic cables from the original plug, did you move them to the new plug? By the way, if your problem still exists, you need to contact your seller for after-sales support, because only they know their product.
How can I move the finer optic cables from original plug to the aftermarket one
There’s a buckle, you can firstly open the buckle, then you can easily remove the fiber optic cables from the original plug and then install it to the new plug at the same position.
Hello,
WIll this unit also fit in 730d (F01) model.
The standard CIC unit looks very similar for rh standard unit in 5 series. Thanks
For bmw 730D f01 model, it should install another similar model, please contact us via email sales@dvdgpsnav.com and send a dashboard photo for us to check further.
Hİ, is there anybody to help how to update my adroid which is 4.4.2, in my 12-2012 (f10) 5.25 xd?
Thx anyway
New Android 7.1 OS is available, but the hardware also changed, so your Android 4.4.2 unit can not be upgraded with new Android 7.1 system.
Hi I have a 2011 Bmw 535xi. I’m about to order one of your head unit for my car and i need a backup camera as well. Do i need to get Additional Installation item for the Backup camera?
Hi, this unit already comes with RCA cable to connect an aftermarket backup camera. Normally you don’t need to add additional item for installation of the camera, in case the power to the camera is not stable, then you can add a relay to get stable power to the camera.
My car comes with small screen with no navigation, its is bmw 520I model 2013, is it possible to use this product
Yes, you can send a dashboard photo from your car for us to check further. and please confirm if your car has working aux function.
Hello there!
I have bought a headunit, android for my BMW F11.
I have allways thought my car was a 2013 model, but now I see that it was first in use 2012-12-15. So I now have the wrong headunit with cables. Is there a way to fix that? Or do I have to change it to a 2012 model?
Kind regards
Martin
For a 2013 year model BMW F11, the LVDS plug is with 6 pins, you can check your LVDS plug to see if it matches the LVDS plug with your head unit.
can i still use my oem bmw navigation instead of android navigation. And what do I need to put in the back cam bmw f10 2011
Yes, oem functions still work after intallation, you can check our trunk handle back up camera for bmw f10 which is installed in the trunk handle.
I can’t seem to get my idrive control knob to work with the unit. And my factory oem screen doesn’t show either.. What did I do wrong.. It’s plug and play.. 2011 BMW 535i.. 6.5 inch factory screen..
Hi, by searching your name and email, i did not find your order with us. So your unit should be different with ours, even with the same appearance. I suggest you asking your supplier for help because they should know their product better. I can just say our unit supports factory oem menu displaying and keeps factory idrive control knob working the same as before.
Hi I have a 2010 520d will this item fit as described, and can you tell me how much one of these items are, posted in UK thanks
The price can be seen on our site by clicking the link in this post, and you can check the shipping cost for your country after you add it to the cart on the shopping cart page.
Hi i would like to replace the display on bmw f10 2011, do you do this and what is the price? it comes with an android display
You can check our unit for BMW F10 via this link: https://www.dvdgpsnav.com/10-25-inch-android-bmw-f10-f11-head-unit-navigation-gps-system-bluetooth-hands-free-a2dp-quad-cores-16gb-1280-480-touch-screen.html
I dont have a volume after assembly this system
And i didn’t use idrive and volume button on wheel and on face
It is normal ?
That’s not normal, the sound transfers to your car speakers through aux mode, you can firstly check if your factory aux works.
Hi does the 4.4 Android fit in my f10 2011?
Hi, yes, it also fits your 2011 BMW f10.
Hello. I have a BMW f10 2010 520d. wanted to ask if you can answer a question. I have this androi mulltimedia you shows how to install. I have it on my BMW but for a few days ago so want it does not start is only in the orginala screen der with CD player, radio and settings the usual. I can’t get to Android menu. so do you know what I mean if so, what it may be wrong?
Hi, you did not buy the unit from us, normally you should contact your seller for after-sales service.
When the screen displays original menu, you can long-press the MENU button for about 3 seconds, then the screen will switch to new Android menu, if not, you can contact your seller to provide a software update.
Hi i have installed this head unit but my gps in working on google map
Hi, you can set navigation software in settings > navigation.