Which iDrive Do I Have? CIC, NBT, EVO and MGU Explained
How to identify your iDrive generation — no tools needed, in under a minute. And what each generation allows for coding.
The Quickest Way
The iDrive generation depends on the installed head unit, not the model year. Two vehicles of the same model year can have different systems. The most reliable way without tools:
- Open navigation
- Go to settings
- Select "Version" or "Map version"
- There you'll see the map name with the year — like "Premium 2024-1" or "Evo 2025-2"
The map name reveals the generation directly: Premium and Motion belong to CIC, Next to NBT, Evo to NBT Evo, Live and Joy to MGU.
Generations at a Glance
| Generation | Model Years | Map Name | Identifying Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIC | 2008–2013 | Premium, Motion, Move | Hard-drive navigation, sidebar menu |
| NBT | 2012–2016 | Next | Smoother interface, first split-screen |
| NBT Evo ID4 | 2015–2017 | Evo | Visually still like NBT, but faster |
| NBT Evo ID5 / ID6 | 2016–2019 | Evo | Tiled interface, touch possible |
| MGU ID7 / ID8 | 2018+ | Live | Live map data, permanent connection |
| MGU2 ID9 | 2021+ | Joy | Curved display, new menu structure |
What Each Generation Allows for Coding
Roughly: the newer the system, the more features are available — and the more securely they are protected.
- CIC — map activation via FSC, video in motion, basic comfort features. CarPlay is not possible due to hardware limitations
- NBT — CarPlay retrofittable via FSC, extensive comfort coding, sport displays partially available
- NBT Evo — CarPlay usually via coding instead of FSC, full sport displays, M views
- MGU / MGU2 — most features available from the factory, activation partly via SFA instead of FSC
Not sure?
Send us the VIN. From the vehicle order, we can read the installed head unit exactly — that's more precise than any table.
Question about your vehicle?
Send us the VIN.
We'll tell you exactly what's possible for your car — with a fixed price upfront and no obligation.
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