No. The 2015 BMW 3 Series didn't have Apple CarPlay, not even as an option. BMW was late to CarPlay. It started selling it as a paid add-on in 2016, on newer builds with the right navigation package. So does the 2015 BMW 3 Series have CarPlay? Not from BMW, but you can add it with a plug-and-play kit that uses your iDrive screen and controller.
Why BMW owners missed out
Most brands rolled CarPlay out free around 2016. BMW took a different path. In the U.S. it became a $300 option across much of the lineup in late summer 2016, and it required BMW's Professional navigation and newer hardware. Cars built earlier, including every 2015 3 Series, can't simply get it switched on.
Count your preset buttons
This is the easy part, and it decides which kit you need. Look at the row of numbered memory buttons on your center stack.
- 8 preset buttons: get the CarPlay Android Auto Kit for 2013–2017 BMW 3 Series w/ 8 Radio Presets
- 6 preset buttons: get the CarPlay Android Auto Kit for 2009–2016 BMW 3 Series w/ 6 Radio Presets
A 2015 3 Series could have either, depending on how it was optioned, so count them. Don't guess from the year alone.
What the kit does
Both GCH kits are plug-and-play modules that connect behind your factory system. Per the listings, they:
- Put Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on your factory BMW display
- Let you control them with your factory radio controls, so you still use the iDrive knob
- Give an OEM-like experience with no aftermarket stereo in the dash
That means Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, Spotify and messages, all on the screen that's already there. Your 3 Series keeps looking like a BMW inside.
Same kit, other BMWs
Have more than one BMW in the driveway? The 8-preset kit lists 2013–2017 fitment for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Series and X1–X6. The 6-preset kit lists 2009–2016 for a similar range, plus the 8 Series. Same rule applies: count the buttons.
Fitment depends on your exact radio and trim. Before you order, confirm your vehicle with GCH using your VIN or radio details.
FAQ
My 3 Series is a 2017. Do I need this?
Maybe not. Some 2017 builds could be ordered with BMW's own CarPlay option. Check your iDrive menus for CarPlay first. If it isn't there, the 8-preset kit lists 2017 fitment.
Does it work with the iDrive knob or only touch?
The listings say it uses your factory radio controls. Most 3 Series of this era don't have a touchscreen, so you'll use iDrive.
Wired or wireless?
The listings don't specify wireless for these BMW kits, so plan on a USB connection unless GCH tells you otherwise.
Pick your kit
Count the presets, then grab the 8-preset kit or the 6-preset kit. Still unsure? Send GCH a photo of your center stack.