[Summer Hu]

Originally Posted by Artemis

A BMW Group press release of Nov 24, 2014 mentions the release of a "BMW Head-Up Screen" as accessory:
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...tem=node__4308

Thoughts and experiences ?
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"Innovative BMW Head-Up Screen makes driving safer.
Driving a car without the BMW Head-Up Display doesn’t mean missing out on the additional safety it provides. Indeed, the innovative new Head-Up Screen from the Original BMW Accessories range likewise allows navigation instructions and the latest vehicle information to be displayed in the driver’s field of view. The Head-Up Screen can be used in almost all BMW vehicles, workshop installation is quick and the cable used to connect it with the vehicle electronics is barely visible. It can also be retrofitted at any time. All the information can be viewed on the transparent display and is positioned directly in the driver’s line of sight. The information on the Head-Up Screen is very easy to read, even in direct sunlight, which means drivers no longer have to take their eyes off the traffic and can concentrate without interruption on events on the road. The result is an improvement in both safety and comfort at the wheel. The Head-Up Screen shows a range of vehicle information, such as the fuel gauge and – when the temperature drops – a warning of black ice. Other functions include an output display, torque display, cruise control display, the current speed limit, a traffic jam warning and the altitude above sea level. Complementing the Head-Up Screen is the BMW Head-Up Screen app for Android and iOS, which can be used to adjust all the Head-Up Screen’s settings, such as the display brightness and selection of information to be shown. The BMW Head-Up Screen receives its navigation data via Wi-Fi using an app on the driver’s smartphone developed by Garmin and BMW (available for Android and iOS). Owners can download a free update for the navigation app once a year. Both apps are free."
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Thanks for the 'heads up' (no pun intended) about the HUD (actually "HUS" ), eeghie

I consider biting the bullet and getting it for my 1M.

Technical information about the "Head-Up Screen" (according to BMW):

"Transparent OLED Display
Screen dimensions: 125 mm x 42 mm
Luminance: About 800 cd/m² (max 1,100 cd/m²).
Transparency: Around 55% (65% max.). For comparison, a dot-matrix display has a max. luminance of only 500 cd/m² and a transparency of 40%.
Operating temperature: -40°C ~ +95°C
Humidity: 90%"

Cross-referencing to other threads about this device:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1084177
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1067637
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1111197

Installation instructions: here (PDF - 29 pages - 1.1MB). This document reports that it suits the following models:

• BMW 1 Series (E81, E82, E87, E88, F20, F21)
• BMW 2 Series (F22, F23, F45, F46)
• BMW 3 Series (E90, E91, E92, E93, F30, F31, F34, F35)
• BMW 4 Series (F32, F33, F36)
• BMW 5 Series (F10, F11)
• BMW X1 (E84)
• BMW X3 (F25)
• BMW X4 (F26)

Three pictures from http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1084177
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Apps:
http://www.androidpit.com/app/com.bmw.headupscreenapp (Android)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...creenapp&hl=en (Android)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/head...962015498?mt=8 (iOS)

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Now also appearing in the official ETK system:
http://www.etk.cc/bmw/EN/search/sele...14/62302361627

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EDIT (Spring 2015): up and running inside my 1M.
1M = 250kW and 450+50Nm overboost ? It got more oomph than that, reports the CANBUS to the head-up screen.

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As requested by several forum fellows, some front angle shots:





Can you spot it ?
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EDIT (Spring 2015): update with first impressions and experiences:

• looks indeed pretty neat in real life; compact and practical;
• safety: checking the data shown on the dashboard becomes less frequent/necessary;
• clear visibility day and night, also comfortable to read when wearing sun glasses (with sun glasses, once the screen is 'showing its colors', the data looks more 'floaty');
• cruise control speed is permanently visible, as long as cruise control is active (push the clutch or brake and it disappears, resume cruise control and it re-appears);
• brightness can be adjusted (you can also opt for the automatic brightness setting, adapting the brightness to the light intensity); should you prefer a full black background instead of the transparent one, then you can fit a kind of 'jacket' on the back part of the screen (it's supplied with the device, but I don't plan to use it) or you can fit it when folded down the screen to horizontal position;
• you can also adjust the indicated speed, for example if you prefer to permanently show the real speed (on my car: indicated car speed -4% = GPS speed); furthermore, as the Garmin app warns for speed cameras, an icon pops up on the screen upon approach; I also already saw the low fuel and black ice warning icons correctly popping up;
• you can also toggle between expected time of arrival and remaining time (time due for arrival) (though, through the Garmin app, not through the BMW Head-Up Screen app settings);
• if you're bored by the view, you can fold down the screen to full horizontal position;
• when driving at night, the car in front of you undoubtedly notices that 'something' is going on above your dashboard - looks peculiar;
• speed and height above sea level values change on the fly; torque (Nm) and power (kW) values change slower, as these stay indicated briefly (a few moments) before showing an updated figure; as previously commented, I have already spotted 551 Nm and 266 kW values, despite my car's engine being stock (normally 450+50Nm and 250 kW); hence, as torque and power figures don't change on the fly, it's rather difficult to spot on the screen when overboost precisely kicks in (except for assuming that overboost must have kicked in when high values are shown).

• It's an auxiliary device, independent from the SATNAV (not collecting data via the SATNAV). If your car features SATNAV, you can 'shop' for navigation data between both devices - as if you got two co-pilots reading their own maps.

• car data shown on the left hand side (including indicated speed) is made available by the car (immediately active as soon as you push the start button);
• navigation info shown on the right hand side is made available through WIFI/WLAN of your smartphone by an app (free download of the BMW Head-Up Screen app + Garmin HUD app + Garmin country maps); it might operate a bit sluggish on older generation smartphones; as far as I know no data is collected from the SATNAV; hence I assume that SATNAV is not required.

• it works smooth and serves its purpose: getting info/data whilst keeping your eyes focused on the road; it facilitates to optimize observing speed limits;
• driver's size and seat position is irrelevant, as you can incline the screen to your liking (forwards/backwards - not sideways);
• the left hand part of the screen is always active, regardless whether your smartphone is on board;
• operation procedure: if WIFI/WLAN is switched off, you need to switch it on to allow your car to connect automatically to the "Head-Up Screen" network; then start the two apps on your smartphone: the BMW Head-Up Screen app + the Garmin app (as you likely plan to often use this device, for your convenience, put the apps together on a separate page of your smartphone); the BMW Head-Up Screen app also includes the optional setting to automatically start the Garmin app; program your destination and subsequently navigation info pops up on the screen as soon as the smartphone picks up a signal; whenever the smartphone loses the signal (longer tunnel) the navigation doesn't show anymore, but automatically resumes as soon as the smartphone picks up again the signal;
• fringe benefit of a Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone: it perfectly/steadily fits sideways in the open ashtray. Tilt it to the left so that the charger cable is connected on the right hand side (leading the charger cable invisibly between the passenger seat and center console, the smartphone preferably powered by the 12V socket under the armrest); result: the full Garmin navigation screen is visible too for you (without the need of a telephone carrier device), easy to operate changes and stays in place even if you brake hard.

• no; but mph, ft and yds can be shown instead of kph, km and m.

• as it's supposed to be a universal retrofit for many BMW and MINI models, the design of the base/foot of the Head-Up Screen is some kind of 'block' to be fitted onto the dashboard; inevitably, that ain't as elegant as a device that would be made specifically for a certain BMW or MINI model, perfectly adapted to the curving dashboard shape; so, yes, it's a compromise to keep the price-point relatively 'reasonable' (though it's already pricey);
• this device is supposed to be used for its purpose, and not to win beauty contests; speaking for myself, its shape doesn't disturb me; as indicated above, it's pretty compact (125 mm x 42 mm | 4.92 inch x 1.65 inch) and looks bigger on pictures than in real life;
• this device is visible from outside and you cannot disconnect/hide it (it's 'stuck' onto the dashboard, so forget about taking it with you); but its dark-ish color helps blending it in - to some extent - with the dashboard; so, yes, it's within 'prying eyes' vicinity, if that's what you want to know.

So, no downsides ?
Of course there are - I point out a few:

• price: it ain't cheap, but apart from all its car functionality, you also get a navigation app (including many country maps) on your smartphone, which can also be used when you're outside your car;
• the design of the base/foot of the Head-Up Screen, once installed on a dashboard, won't win a price for elegance; the screen itself is kinda cool though (especially when active); functionality has its price;
• the device is visible from outside your car and cannot be disconnected/hidden; not very discreet;
• the navigation uses WIFI/WLAN (not Bluetooth as some of you might think): as long as WIFI/WLAN is active on your smartphone and a connection made to the "Head-Up Screen" network, you'll have no langer access to Internet and won't receive incoming Internet messages (e-mails, Whatsapp, bbm, Facebook, etc.); you can still make phone calls, of course; on longer journeys, each time you take a break, just briefly switch off WIFI/WLAN on your smartphone to allow your messages to enter (well, as several may remark, it's safer anyway to read messages while not driving); on the contrary, SATNAV does not block your Internet messages;
• if the signal is lost or you drained your smartphone, navigation stops;
• once WIFI/WLAN has been switched off, you got to start the procedure all over again if you want navigation;
• when driving abroad, roaming costs are inevitably involved (check your phone tariff plan); on the contrary, SATNAV uses sattelites and does not cost you anything;
• navigation drains the battery of your smartphone; it's wise to always connect your smartphone to a charger cable (at least if the trip is longer); a snap-in adapter is useful to recharge and improve signal reception, but unfortunately your screen will be hidden under the armrest (while you will prefer to see the navigation map, for example from the ashtray area); on the contrary, SATNAV operates independently from your smartphone;
• personal taste: I wouldn't mind normal letters instead of italics (except if mistaken, the Mini Cooper head-up display does not feature italics);
• personal taste again: I would have preferred that hp is shown instead of kW (probably not integrated due to the difference between hp and metric hp); as the screen features no 'hp' sign, I doubt that a later BMW Head-Up Screen app will feature the possibility to toggle between kW and hp.

My conclusion:
Redundant gadget gimmickry or a useful tool that also Rick Dackard would fit inside his Spinner ?
This device serves its purpose - I can recommend it (also if your car features SATNAV) ...even to Rick Dackard.

Hi Artimes, nice review. I want to ask you some questions about HUD. May I know your email address? Or you can reply me by Fionahulisi@gmail.com. Thanks,
Fiona.