The question we get most often: "How do I find out which infotainment I have?" The answer is to look at the screen, not at the paperwork.

Over fifteen years BMW used several iDrive generations, and the module's wiring is chosen according to that generation. The good news is you can tell them apart at a glance.

CCC (2004–2009)

A rounded screen with orange and blue elements, a menu bar along the top and a knob with no extra buttons around it. Most often in the E90, E60 and E70 bodies.

Navigation is drawn in simple outlines and the radio station list uses large orange letters. If the screen looks dated and there are no colourful icons, it is CCC.

CIC (2008–2013)

A black background, blue and white icons and an eight-way menu labelled "Navigation / Entertainment / Telephone". The knob now has buttons around it (MENU, MAP, RADIO, MEDIA).

CIC is the most common system in the E90 LCI, E60 LCI, F10 up to 2012 and E70. It is also the most frequent case among our customers.

NBT (2012–2016)

A wider screen, tile-style menus, 3D maps and smooth animations. The knob has a touch surface on top so you can write letters with your finger.

Found in the F10 LCI, F30, F25 and F15. If the map looks genuinely good and there is a "ConnectedDrive" menu, it is NBT.

NBT EVO (2016+)

A touchscreen — touch it and it responds. The menu tiles are larger and there is "My BMW" or gesture control. Some EVO ID5/ID6 systems already have factory wired CarPlay.

If your BMW already has CarPlay but only with a cable, what you need is not a module but the AI Box, which makes it wireless.

A quick way to check

1. Start the car and look at the main menu.
2. Touch the screen. Does it respond? → NBT EVO.
3. No response, but the knob has a touch surface on top? → NBT.
4. Plain knob, but with MENU / MAP / RADIO buttons around it? → CIC.
5. Knob with no buttons and an orange-and-blue screen? → CCC.

Still not sure?

That is perfectly normal — some bodies were built with different systems in the same model year. Photograph your screen showing the main menu and send it to us on WhatsApp. We identify it within minutes and tell you straight away which module and which wiring fit.