How to Determine if a BMW's Head Unit is EVO or NBT
2 Answers
Methods to identify whether a BMW's head unit is EVO or NBT: NBT features a list-style menu, while EVO utilizes a graphical menu interface. BMW (Bavarian Motor Works), fully known as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG in Chinese, is a German luxury automotive brand. BMW's vehicle lineup consists of four categories: i, X, Z, and pure numerical series including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Below is an introduction to BMW automobiles: 1. Logo Meaning: B.M.W. stands for Bavarian Motor Works, with its emblem's colors and design derived from the coat of arms of Bavaria, where BMW is headquartered. 2. Brand Honors: On December 18, 2018, BMW ranked 16th in the "2018 World's 500 Most Influential Brands" list released by World Brand Laboratory.
I've driven a BMW for a few years and have some experience in identifying the head unit type. The easiest way is to check the production year: if the car was built in 2016 or later, it usually has the EVO system; older models mostly come with NBT. Also, observe the center console: NBT units have a smaller screen surrounded by many physical buttons, while EVO features a larger, usually touchscreen display with a modern black interface. You can also enter the engineering mode to confirm: hold the volume and menu buttons for about 8 seconds when starting the car, and the screen will display hardware information, showing either EVO or NBT. The EVO system is more powerful, supporting CarPlay and online updates, with much smoother navigation. I recommend prioritizing EVO when buying a used BMW to avoid future map update lag. Regularly checking the model description in the system settings can help avoid confusion.
