F11 - upgrades

[crossie]

Just got myself an F11 touring (upgrade from E39 Touring)

Looking to add some upgrades


Tow bar

Apple Car Play / reverse camera

Folding mirrors


Looking for any recommendations rather than just buying off eBay

Thanks

[d_a_n1979]

crossie said:

Just got myself an F11 touring (upgrade from E39 Touring)

Looking to add some upgrades


Tow bar

Apple Car Play / reverse camera

Folding mirrors


Looking for any recommendations rather than just buying off eBay

Thanks

Which F11 and which E39 touring did you move from?

That was my idea back in 2021 when I sold my E39 530i Sport touring (wanted to get into an F11 530D) but ended up in an F01 730D as the car had a superb spec and the pull of another 7 series was too strong

In an F31 now and enjoying it a lot; but did look at F11s again. Unfortunately none were available with the spec I wanted/ or overpriced by too much etc

Re your questions:

Tow bar - no idea sorry (maybe look for local specialists and see what they recommend)?

Infotainment: Theres a post on page 2 re this for an F31; but same ager so same tech; Im replied on there with this:

This: https://bavarian-automotive.co.uk/products/bmw-car...

And this: https://integratedautomotive.co.uk/product/2012-20...

Get bounced around on thew F3x groups on FB a lot...

And re folding mirrors: You'll need the switch pack and mirrors at a minimum; whether you need some part of the loom I'm not sure (and to have them coded in maybe)? Hopefully someone will be along with a more detailed answer - but souring the parts via eBay resellers/breaker etc shouldn't be too hard. Try Quarry Motors for the parts maybe: https://quarrymotors.co.uk/

[crossie]

Thanks

E39 - 530d SE

F11 - 530d lux

[d_a_n1979]

crossie said:

Thanks

E39 - 530d SE

F11 - 530d lux

I bet that's a different level of comfort and style

The N57s a superb lump too

[bigdom]

crossie said:

Looking to add some upgrades

Tow bar

Depends on what you're towing and whether you want to look at it?

We had full electric on the G05, which just dropped down pressing a button. I think that option would probably be available to retrofit (ebay), but a hassle. That went, so the only towbar car on the estate is a detachable one.

Depending on make of towbar, bumper configuration, you may need a new diffuser panel. Something like this would be fine, they will come to you.
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/bmw-5-series-estate-f11-...

If going DIY. 2hrs to get bumper on/off. Make sure you get BMW specific electrics. It unsure on connections once in body, have local towbar company come wire it.

[ucb]

Had a towbar fitted by a local specialist about 3 years ago to my F11 M Sport.
Use it for a bike rack. About £750 iirc (Westphalia), detachable
Didn't need to change my bumper

[crossie]

Thanks for the comments

Tow bar a must for towing car trailer

Fitted one before and payed extra for the plug in wiring.

The bumper or under bumper plastic cover will need to be cut for the tow bar.

[drmotorsport]

I fitted the Westfalia detachable towbar kit to my F11 535i Msport last year. Despite having the proper electrics kit it still took a call to PFJones to find the correct brake light wire to tap to keep the trailer module happy. BMW also did the electric fold down tow hitch which can be retrofitted if you fancy a bit more work sourcing the kit and coding.

[Gad-Westy]

I can't help much with the mirrors or tow bar but for carplay, a number of us are using Andream units. I'm on my third!

https://www.andream-eu.com/product/1010/

It's a piece of cake to install and set up. Basically you just remove the existing screen and fit this one in place with a wiring harness that piggy backs into the existing kit. On an F11 there is quite a bit of space to work so it's a fairly straight forwards install.

The big advantage of this over MMI type boxes, other than being cheaper, is that you get a touch screen which makes usability massively better particularly for things like sat nav. You can plug a reversing camera straight into the andream harness as well.

That's mine installed.



I've just posted about it today actually as I have one issue with regard to track skipping not working from the wheel but it has worked on previous units I've had so I don't think it's an andream problem but more the way I have it set up. They're pretty well developed now and I use mine wirelessly and don't remember the last time I had any kind of issue with it. Just connects immediately when I start the car every time. Great value piece of kit.