Can an OEM Heads Up Display be added?

DrSteveB · 03-15-2020, 09:10 AM

Picking up a 2018 x3 fully optioned except for Heads Up Display. Can that feature be added and if so, is OEM the way to go or are there other quality options?

Appreciate hearing from you.

spangle1980 · 03-15-2020, 11:01 AM

All things are possible, given the right amount of cash ;-)

Going OEM will cost you more than you would be willing to pay, like new dash, new windshield (at least a thousand bucks for the specific one required), electronics etc...

You can, of course, google for alternatives based on some projection onto a glass/plastic popup thing, but IMHO they look crap.

Best to get a car with it :-/

CINCYFAN · 03-15-2020, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSteveB

Picking up a 2018 x3 fully optioned except for Heads Up Display. Can that feature be added and if so, is OEM the way to go or are there other quality options?

Appreciate hearing from you.

We have one 2019 with HUD and one without. I expect adding the OEM HUD would require replacing the entire dash board, but I'm certainly not an expert. I can also say that as convenient as the HUD is, it obviously wasn't a deal breaker for us when we bought my wife's X3 (about six months after I bought mine).

If you really want HUD, I expect the cost effective approach is ordering or finding a used one w/ HUD.

AlteBMW · 03-15-2020, 11:11 AM

Anything is possible I suppose, but HUD requires different hardware in the dash to project to a windshield that is specifically made for HUD. Then the software would need to be coded as well. If you could get somebody to do it, the cost would be many thousands. I strongly suspect nobody has done such a conversion. And even if you succeeded, then what happens when the HUD you have added needs a repair? If HUD is that important to you, trading for a different car might be less expensive, faster, and with fewer future hassles.

sinbad4 · 03-15-2020, 12:00 PM

It would be monstrously expensive.

If you haven't actually picked up yet; don't. Even used these are expensive vehicles. For that kind of $$, get the options you want. Options don't add much on the used market.

DrSteveB · 03-15-2020, 01:08 PM

Thank you all for your suggestions. I appreciate this forum and look forward to contributing. I have a 335d and frequent that particular segment often.

MADBMWX5MC · 03-15-2020, 02:05 PM

Take a look at this:

Dang!

MdW86 · 03-15-2020, 02:14 PM

I think it will be cheaper and better to trade your car in.

justanotherx3 · 03-15-2020, 05:13 PM

I had a similar scenario where I wanted to add options after the fact. In almost no case did it make financial sense over just trading in the car unfortunately, and in most cases the dealership said they flat out wouldn't be able to.

(In my case it was moving from base navi to professional, ambient lighting, and adaptive cruise control)

spangle1980 · 03-16-2020, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADBMWX3

Take a look at this:

Dang!

Jesus - that's a seriously cool video. Not just for the fact of what they did, but seeing all the crap under the hood so to speak.

DrSteveB · 03-16-2020, 06:51 AM

Well, that video settled it for me! Thanks for sharing it and saving me!

MADBMWX5MC · 03-16-2020, 06:23 PM

What is even crazier is that it looks those guys have done this frequently...there's no hesitation or "let me see what the manuals says"....

pierreye · 03-16-2020, 07:32 PM

Those guys are from Singapore and specialize in retrofitting European cars. There are incentive to retrofit in Malaysia and Singapore as our BMW specs are predetermine by the country. No customization of equipment even if you are willing to pay for it.

ramparts · 03-17-2020, 03:58 AM

For the x3, it's not quite as involved as this as the whole in the dashboard already exists - if you look it's got a cover on it. so it's just a matter of removing the cluster, replacing with a HUD one, installing the HUD and coding.

DrSteveB · 03-17-2020, 06:30 AM

Thanks for the new info.

03-15-2020, 09:10 AM	#1
DrSteveB Private First Class 32 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '18 540d, '18 X3, '10 335d Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	Can an OEM Heads Up Display be added? Picking up a 2018 x3 fully optioned except for Heads Up Display. Can that feature be added and if so, is OEM the way to go or are there other quality options? Appreciate hearing from you.
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03-15-2020, 11:01 AM	#2
spangle1980 Deadly 1329 Rep 2,094 Posts Drives: X3 M40d BG LCI Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	All things are possible, given the right amount of cash ;-) Going OEM will cost you more than you would be willing to pay, like new dash, new windshield (at least a thousand bucks for the specific one required), electronics etc... You can, of course, google for alternatives based on some projection onto a glass/plastic popup thing, but IMHO they look crap. Best to get a car with it :-/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-15-2020, 11:11 AM	#4
AlteBMW Lieutenant Colonel 742 Rep 1,618 Posts Drives: '23 760ix; '23 X3; '23 MB wgn Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: New York iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 X3 x30 [0.00] 2023 BMW 760ix [10.00] 2023 Mercedes E450 ... [0.00]	Anything is possible I suppose, but HUD requires different hardware in the dash to project to a windshield that is specifically made for HUD. Then the software would need to be coded as well. If you could get somebody to do it, the cost would be many thousands. I strongly suspect nobody has done such a conversion. And even if you succeeded, then what happens when the HUD you have added needs a repair? If HUD is that important to you, trading for a different car might be less expensive, faster, and with fewer future hassles. __________________ BMWCCA Current: 23 760ix (Carbon Black/Tartufo) (after first one totaled) '23 X3; '23 MB E Wagon Prior: BMWs (3,5,7 & 8 series (2x!)) X3, MB (C, E, and S), Alfa GTV, MGB, Audi (A4, A6), Saab, Volvo, Toyota, Lincoln, Chrysler, Oldsmobile, Chevy, Rambler.
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03-15-2020, 12:00 PM	#5
sinbad4 Captain 785 Rep 911 Posts Drives: 2020 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: MN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00]	It would be monstrously expensive. If you haven't actually picked up yet; don't. Even used these are expensive vehicles. For that kind of $$, get the options you want. Options don't add much on the used market. __________________ • 2020 BMW X3 M40i Graphite : ZDA/ZDB/ZPX/718M/2VF/2T4/3KA/3AC/688/6NW/3AC
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03-15-2020, 01:08 PM	#6
DrSteveB Private First Class 32 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '18 540d, '18 X3, '10 335d Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	OEM Heads Up Thank you all for your suggestions. I appreciate this forum and look forward to contributing. I have a 335d and frequent that particular segment often.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-15-2020, 02:05 PM	#7
MADBMWX5MC Lieutenant Colonel 1030 Rep 1,540 Posts Drives: 2023 BMW X5MC Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (0)	Take a look at this: Dang! __________________ 2023 BMW X5MC Tanzanite Blue II Metallic 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Black 2006 Ford Mustang GT Convertible (show car)
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03-15-2020, 02:14 PM	#8
MdW86 Private First Class 85 Rep 190 Posts Drives: Bmw f30 320i 2012 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NL iTrader: (0)	I think it will be cheaper and better to trade your car in.
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03-15-2020, 05:13 PM	#9
justanotherx3 Private 9 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 30i Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	I had a similar scenario where I wanted to add options after the fact. In almost no case did it make financial sense over just trading in the car unfortunately, and in most cases the dealership said they flat out wouldn't be able to. (In my case it was moving from base navi to professional, ambient lighting, and adaptive cruise control)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-16-2020, 06:51 AM	#11
DrSteveB Private First Class 32 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '18 540d, '18 X3, '10 335d Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	Well, that video settled it for me! Thanks for sharing it and saving me!
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03-16-2020, 06:23 PM	#12
MADBMWX5MC Lieutenant Colonel 1030 Rep 1,540 Posts Drives: 2023 BMW X5MC Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Northern Virginia iTrader: (0)	What is even crazier is that it looks those guys have done this frequently...there's no hesitation or "let me see what the manuals says".... __________________ 2023 BMW X5MC Tanzanite Blue II Metallic 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Black 2006 Ford Mustang GT Convertible (show car)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-16-2020, 07:32 PM	#13
pierreye Lieutenant 212 Rep 500 Posts Drives: F10 & G01 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Those guys are from Singapore and specialize in retrofitting European cars. There are incentive to retrofit in Malaysia and Singapore as our BMW specs are predetermine by the country. No customization of equipment even if you are willing to pay for it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-17-2020, 03:58 AM	#14
ramparts Colonel 1141 Rep 2,250 Posts Drives: M40i Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	For the x3, it's not quite as involved as this as the whole in the dashboard already exists - if you look it's got a cover on it. so it's just a matter of removing the cluster, replacing with a HUD one, installing the HUD and coding.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-17-2020, 06:30 AM	#15
DrSteveB Private First Class 32 Rep 164 Posts Drives: '18 540d, '18 X3, '10 335d Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the new info.
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