The reason why they didn’t put CarPlay in your 2015 Countryman is because CarPlay did not exist back then.  Apple came out with CarPlay in 2017.  I’m preparing to install an aftermarket unit that will give my 2015 Countryman CarPlay capability. I’m not particularly looking forward to dismantling the entire center dash to do it however.  Getting info on how to take it apart has been challenging.

Although we typically don't deal with audio/navigation upgrades, we have seen photos of gen2 MINIs with Nav/Sat upgrades using a double din head unit installed above the a/c controls. Try a google search with 'R56 Mini Cooper navigation radio upgrade' - although you have an R60, the center console is the same.

Of course it would be easy to install such a unit in a classic Mini.

I’ve been scouring the internet, retailers, and custom audio shops for an Apple CarPlay option for my Countryman; so far all I’m hearing and reading is that an aftermarket head unit for my car doesn’t exist or that it’s not possible to install. I am inclined to accept that conclusion from the Pros considering that I can’t find anything that definitely states “This is for your car", but I refuse to believe that a 2015 auto simply doesn’t have an aftermarket CarPlay/touchscreen/sateillite radio option. It’s madness. Although, BMW did a swell job of forcing a bunch of cheap crap in the dash, adding a MINI nameplate, and charging a premium for a car that is otherwise outdone by most cars in its class in terms of cost, technology, performance, and fuel mileage. So it’s not surprising to me that I’m probably stuck with this configuration.

As I understand it, the reason for this insanity is this: I don’t already have the touchscreen head unit. Instead, I have the traditional speedometer with radio/settings controls just beneath it and the separate single CD player beneath that mess. I thought I found a single DIN option, but I was told the unit is too large for the space used by the existing CD player. Additionally, I was told an airbag would need to come out and reinstalled if I were to find something; which concerns me considering navigating menus and using something as simple as windshield wipers is so laughably basic. I don’t want to go changing something to make something that already sucks from the factory even worse. By the way, I tried an adapter with USB/audio cable for my phone and it only played music through a single speaker, so that’s out.

Eventually, I reached out that the MINI dealer who recommended I try MM. Do you guys know if a touchscreen CarPlay unit with satellite radio is available for my car? Truly, I’d be so grateful if someone can help.

Thanks in advance!