BMW iDrive 7 Custom Apps: Virtual Dyno, Fault Scanner, Drag Timer and More on the Factory Screen
A growing community project lets you run extra apps inside the original head unit of a BMW with iDrive 7 (the MGU). They draw directly on the factory screen and are operated with the iDrive controller: a virtual dyno, brake and drag timers, a shift light, a G-force meter, a warm-up monitor, an M-style gauge cluster, a fault scanner and even a few games. There is no OBD dongle, no phone mount and no extra display. This guide explains what each app really does, how the installation works, where the limits are and how it compares with the usual alternatives.
The key point first: the apps are installed in a remote session – our technician joins your laptop, which is connected to the car with an ENET cable – and whether your car can take them depends on the head-unit software build, so we check it by VIN before you book. The service is BMW iDrive 7 Custom Apps (MGU).
An honest note: this is an unofficial, independent modification of the head-unit software and is not endorsed by BMW AG. The performance numbers are calculated estimates, and timers and performance apps are for closed roads and tracks only.
The short answer
- What are they? Apps that run on the BMW iDrive 7 (MGU) head unit and show up on the factory screen next to BMW’s own apps.
- What do they do? Shift light, virtual dyno, brake test, drag timer, G-force, warm-up guide, live gauges, fault scanner, eDrive and service views, plus Tetris, Doom and Paint.
- Extra hardware? None. No OBD adapter, no add-on screen and no phone connection are needed for the apps to work.
- Which cars? BMWs with the MGU head unit (iDrive 7) on a compatible software build; iDrive 8 on selected vehicles.
- How is it done? A remote session over ENET with a Windows laptop, usually about an hour.
- What does it cost? €150 (regular price €200), including the compatibility check, the remote installation and a final check on the screen.
Where the apps come from
These apps are not a BMW product. They come from an open-source community project for the MGU head unit, published under the MIT licence. The project describes itself as an unofficial hobby project that is not affiliated with or supported by BMW AG. Its apps are drawn by a custom GPU render engine, and the project states a frame rate of 60 frames per second.
That origin matters for two reasons. It means the apps are open and inspectable rather than a black box, and it means they keep evolving – the list of apps and their features can change as the project develops. Our role is the practical part: checking that your head-unit build is compatible, carrying out the installation remotely, confirming that the apps run and helping if something does not behave as expected.
What each app does
| App | What it shows or does | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Redline | Full-screen rev bar, a row of shift lights, a large gear display and shift scoring (early, spot on, late or at the limiter), with a guard for a cold engine | Helps you learn the engine’s rev range |
| Virtual Dyno | A power and torque curve from one full-throttle pull, with saved runs and a baseline for comparison | A calculated estimate – see the section below |
| Brake Test | Stopping distance and time from 100 km/h and from 200 km/h to zero, a deceleration trace and a brake-fade chart | Closed road or track only |
| Drag Timer | 0–50, 0–100, 100–200 and 0–200 km/h and quarter-mile runs with splits, an optional rollout and saved bests | Closed road or track only |
| G-Force | A friction circle with a trail and grip envelope, lateral and longitudinal bars, peaks and records | Uses the car’s own sensors |
| Warm-Up | Oil and coolant warm-up estimates, a temperature trend graph, a safe rev limit and a turbo cool-down countdown | An estimate, not a replacement for good practice |
| M Vitals | A sport gauge cluster: revs, boost, speed and gear, power, torque, temperatures, g-forces and tyre data, plus pages for fuel and ignition (intake air, fuel pressures, ignition timing, misfires) and for thermals | Which values appear depends on the engine and the car |
| Fault Scanner | Reads fault codes from the control units, shows live Check Control messages and can clear fault memories after a confirmation | Read before clearing – see the section below |
| eDrive | For plug-in hybrids and electric BMWs: electric range, battery health, a charge log, battery power, cell data and energy use per speed band | Only useful with an electrified drivetrain |
| Service | A read-only view of the car’s service requirements as reported by the instrument cluster | It does not reset service intervals |
| Doom | A playable port of the classic shooter, running the free Freedoom game data | For a parked car only |
| Tetris and Paint | A falling-blocks game and a simple drawing app | For a parked car only; extras that may be included in the installed set |
All of the project’s apps come with several colour themes, unit settings and a demo mode that shows a built-in demo drive when no vehicle data is available. The exact set that is installed can change with the project’s versions, and we confirm the current set before you book.
How a virtual dyno works – and what to expect from it
A virtual dyno does not measure power at the wheels. It calculates a power and torque curve from the car’s own signals during a full-throttle pull, using the acceleration together with the vehicle’s weight, aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance. Every one of those inputs is an assumption or a measurement with some error, so the result is an estimate. It is not a calibrated dyno and should never be quoted as one.
What it is good for is comparison. Run the same car on the same flat road in the same gear before and after a change – a tune, a different exhaust, new tyres – and the shape and the difference between the two curves tell you something useful. The app keeps saved runs and a baseline for exactly that purpose. Wind, road gradient, tyre pressure, fuel load and temperature all move the result, so treat small differences with caution.
Fault Scanner: read first, clear second
The Fault Scanner talks to the car’s control units through the diagnostic functions of the head unit. It lists how many units answered, how many faults are stored and how many are active right now, and it shows each fault with its code, the control unit and a description. It also shows live Check Control messages.
The important rule is to read a code before you clear it. Clearing a fault memory removes the stored code; it does not repair the cause. A code that comes straight back means the problem is still there. Clearing also affects every control unit it reaches, and the project notes that some control units can restart and the head unit can reboot when fault memories are cleared. Photograph the list before you clear anything. For a proper diagnosis of a real fault, a full BMW remote diagnostic session reads the whole vehicle and is the better starting point.
Brake Test, Drag Timer and G-Force are for closed roads
These three apps are built for measuring hard acceleration, hard braking and cornering forces. That is exactly the kind of driving that does not belong on public roads. Use them on a closed road or a track, with the car in a safe condition and the area clear, and follow the rules that apply where you drive.
The numbers come from the car’s own sensors, so they depend on how accurate those signals are. Flat, repeatable runs give the most useful results, and the apps are best used to compare one run with another rather than to prove a headline figure.
Redline, Warm-Up and M Vitals
These are the apps you may open most often. Redline turns the screen into a shift-light and rev display. Warm-Up shows how far the oil and coolant are from operating temperature and displays a safe rev limit, which is a useful reminder not to push a cold engine. M Vitals puts a sport cluster of gauges on the large screen.
A page shows a value only when the car supplies it. On some engines a gauge can show that there is no reading from the engine unit, and that is normal behaviour rather than a fault in the app. This is why the values you see depend on the engine and the car.
eDrive and Service for modern BMWs
eDrive is aimed at plug-in hybrids and electric BMWs. It shows electric range, battery health, a charge log and live battery information, and when the car is driving electrically the Warm-Up page simply reports that the engine is off. Service is a read-only list of the service items the car reports, with the remaining distance or date for each. It is a convenient overview, but it cannot reset a service interval.
Is my BMW compatible?
| Head unit | iDrive | Custom apps with this service |
|---|---|---|
| MGU | iDrive 7 | Supported on compatible software builds – checked by VIN before booking |
| MGU | iDrive 8 and newer | Selected vehicles only – send your VIN and you are told |
| NBT EVO, NBT, CIC | Older systems | Not applicable – see Android Auto for NBT EVO for that generation |
iDrive 7 is typically found on G-series cars built from about 2018, with the wide control display. If you are unsure which system you have, read Which BMW iDrive do I have? or send your VIN.
The software build is what really decides. The project was developed and tested on one specific head-unit firmware build and states that other builds are very likely to work, with a check step that verifies compatibility before anything is changed. We do the equivalent check from your VIN and software information before you pay.
What the installation involves
These apps are not something the car’s menu can install, and they cannot be added from an app store. Installing them needs privileged access to the head unit, which is why it is done in a supervised remote session rather than with a normal app download.
- Pre-check: send your VIN. The head unit, the software build and the price are confirmed.
- Preparation: park the car, connect it to your Windows laptop with the ENET cable and switch the ignition on. A battery charger is strongly recommended.
- Remote access: start the remote tool and let the technician join your laptop.
- Installation: the head unit’s state is read, the apps are installed and the system restarts.
- Check: you open the apps on the iDrive screen and the technician confirms that they run.
The project’s installer backs up the files it touches before changing them, and it includes a restore step that removes the apps and returns those files to their original state. That is why the installation can be undone on request. If you live near Vilnius, the apps can also be installed in the workshop.
What happens after a software update
A head-unit software update can hide the apps until they are installed again. The apps stay on the system but are no longer shown, and running the installation again brings them back. Reinstalling keeps the app data, whereas a full restore does not. The simple rule is to ask before you update the head unit, whether the update comes from a dealer or over the air.
Custom apps compared with the usual alternatives
| Option | Extra hardware | Where you look | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom apps on the iDrive 7 screen | None | The factory screen | Needs a compatible software build and a remote installation; unofficial |
| OBD dongle and phone app | An OBD adapter and a phone | The phone screen or a mount | Limited to what the adapter and the app can read |
| GPS timing box | A separate device and its own display | The device | Measures speed by GPS rather than from the car’s signals |
| Aftermarket gauge pods | Gauges wired into the car | The gauges | Permanent fitting, wiring and a different look |
The big advantage of the head-unit route is that nothing is added to the car and everything is controlled from the seat with the controller you already use. The trade-off is that it is an unofficial change that depends on the software build.
Read this before ordering
- Unofficial modification. The apps are an independent community project and change the head unit’s software. They are not endorsed by BMW AG.
- Use them safely. Brake Test, Drag Timer and Virtual Dyno are for closed roads and tracks only. Operate the head unit while parked and keep your attention on the road.
- Values are estimates. The virtual dyno, braking and range figures are calculated from sensor data. Flat, controlled runs give the most useful results.
- Fault Scanner clears codes in every control unit. Read a code before you clear it. A cleared code that comes back means the problem is still there.
- Software updates. An update can hide the apps until they are reinstalled. Ask before updating.
- Warranty and insurance. A modified infotainment system can affect related warranty claims, and some insurers ask for modifications to be declared. Check with your dealer and your insurer if the car is still covered.
Price
BMW iDrive 7 custom apps cost €150 (regular price €200). The price covers the compatibility check, the remote installation of the available app set and a final check on the screen. The only extra you may need is an ENET cable, usually around €20.
Frequently asked questions
What are BMW iDrive 7 custom apps?
They are extra apps installed inside the original iDrive 7 (MGU) head unit – for example a virtual dyno, brake and drag timers, a shift light, a G-force meter and a fault scanner – shown on the factory screen.
Do I need an OBD dongle or extra display?
No. The apps run on the car’s own head unit and read the car’s signals through it. There is no add-on display, OBD adapter or box.
Which BMWs does it work on?
BMWs with the MGU head unit (iDrive 7) on a compatible software build. iDrive 8 is possible on selected vehicles. Send your VIN and you get a clear yes or no before you book.
Is the Virtual Dyno accurate?
It is an estimate calculated from the car’s own signals, not a calibrated dyno. It is most useful for comparing the same car before and after a change on a flat, controlled run.
Can I use the apps while driving?
Use the head unit while parked. Brake Test, Drag Timer and Virtual Dyno are for closed roads and tracks only. Follow the traffic rules where you drive.
Can the Fault Scanner clear fault codes?
Yes, but read the code first. Clearing does not repair the fault, and a code that returns means the cause is still present.
Will a software update remove the apps?
It can hide them until they are installed again. Ask before updating the head unit.
Can the apps be removed?
Yes. They can be removed and the head unit returned to its previous state on request.
Does it work offline?
The apps themselves do not need an internet connection. The remote installation session does.
Will it affect my warranty?
Modifying the infotainment software can affect warranty claims related to it. If your car is still under warranty, discuss it with your dealer first.
How long does the installation take?
Usually around one hour including the connection and the final check.
Final checklist before booking
Confirm that your car has iDrive 7 with the MGU head unit, have your VIN ready, and prepare an ENET cable, a Windows laptop with a stable internet connection and a battery charger. Decide whether you want the apps for track days and curiosity or for everyday information such as warm-up and service views, and remember that the performance tools are for closed roads only. Do not update the head unit until you have asked whether the update could hide the apps.
Ready to check your car? Open BMW iDrive 7 Custom Apps (MGU) and send your VIN, and you get a clear yes or no before you pay anything. You can also browse all BMW remote services, look at Apple CarPlay for iDrive 7 MGU, or contact us.
BMW and iDrive are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify compatible vehicles and features. TempaDrive is not affiliated with or endorsed by BMW AG. The apps are an independent community project; modifying the head-unit software is unofficial, and performance and range figures are calculated estimates. Use timers and performance tools only on closed roads or tracks, in line with the rules that apply where you drive.