Open-Source Android Auto for BMW EntryNav2 (entry-aad): How It Works, and the Easy Alternative

If you drive a BMW with an EntryNav2 head unit and you use an Android phone, you've probably wished for Android Auto. There's now an open-source project that makes it possible, and this article explains what it is, what your car needs, and the two ways we can help you get there.

What is entry-aad?

entry-aad is a community, open-source project by developer Jiraiya43 that adds wireless Android Auto to the BMW EntryNav2 head unit. Your Android phone pairs with the car and connects over the same Wi-Fi that Apple CarPlay uses, and an "Android Auto" entry appears in the iDrive Media menu. It's a rework of the earlier Supra iDrive 6 Android Auto project.

It's a genuinely impressive piece of work, and credit goes to its developers. A few things are worth knowing before you dive in, straight from the project's own documentation:

• It's experimental and pre-1.0. The README notes it had been tested on a single 2019 BMW G20 at the time of writing.
• It supports EntryNav2 only – not NBT EVO, ID7 or MGU.
• Much of the documentation is in French.
• It's released under a noncommercial licence, so it's for personal, DIY use.

We're not affiliated with the entry-aad or Supra projects. We're sharing it because it's relevant to EntryNav2 owners, and because the one thing it requires is something we can supply.

The catch: it needs SSH (root) access

Like most deep head-unit projects, entry-aad can't run until the EntryNav2 has SSH / root access enabled. That access is locked by default, and the project doesn't provide it. You also need a PC with an SSH client and an ENET (OBD2) cable, and, to build it from source, an ARM cross-compiler and a copy of the car's system files.

In other words, the software is free, but getting your car ready to run it is the real task.

Option 1: Do it yourself with our Open SSH code

If you're comfortable with an SSH client and an ENET cable and want to install entry-aad yourself, the first step is opening SSH on your unit. Our Open SSH Feature Installer code now includes an EntryNav2 / EntryNavEvo option. You select your head unit, enter your VIN, and receive the code by email, typically within a few hours. From there you can follow the project's own instructions.

Option 2: Have it done for you – our EntryNav2 Android Auto activation

If you'd rather skip the SSH client, the compiling, the French docs and the compatibility guesswork, we offer our own EntryNav2 Android Auto activation. It's our own integrated solution, and the whole thing is done remotely by our team:

• We check your car's compatibility before you order, so you're not experimenting on your own unit.
• Wireless Android Auto runs on your native EntryNav2 hardware – no new head unit, screen or aftermarket box.
• Activation is carried out remotely over an ENET connection. Nothing is shipped and your car stays with you.
• You deal with a real workshop that does this day in, day out, not a pre-1.0 DIY install.

It needs a WLAN-equipped EntryNav2. Don't have Wi-Fi hardware in your unit? We also offer a WLAN retrofit for EntryNav2.

Which should you choose?

If tinkering with your car's head unit over SSH is part of the fun, go the DIY route and grab the Open SSH code. If you just want Android Auto to work, with compatibility confirmed first and the work done by specialists, our activation service is the straightforward path.

A few honest warnings

• Any deep change to a head unit, DIY or otherwise, is an advanced modification, is not endorsed by BMW, and can affect your warranty.
• Community projects like entry-aad are experimental. Their authors describe them as such, and they should never be operated while driving.
• Always confirm compatibility for your specific car before starting. Not sure what you have? Message us with your VIN and we'll check.

Want Android Auto in your EntryNav2 BMW? See our Android Auto activation, or if you prefer the DIY path, get the Open SSH code for EntryNav2.