[Blue]

@Grangey. Thanks - that’s helpful! Let us know how’s it goes with further testing etc

 

[frenchys]

Hi Guys,
Very interesting, I've ended up with a very clean low mileage S5 Cab, but after getting over the new car buzz I realized that i'm missing NAV and a bunch of other bits that I had on my A4 Cab.
I would very much be interested in the CarPay retrofit so I can use Google or Apple Maps and Spotify, I think I have the standard Concert Radio, I assume I would need the non MMI retrofit kit?
Any help and advice would very much be appreciated and if you could point me in the right direction to purchase and advice whether I should or need to go the hole hog and retrofit the MMI system?

Many thanks in advance..

 

[Jack110473]

Installation - Is it easy...???

Hi all,

Really like the sound of this, for my 2013 A5.

I've looked on AliExpress and found what I think is the right thing - (Video Interface with Dynamic Parking Guideline Carplay Box for A4 A6 A5 B9 Q5 Original Screen Upgrade MMI system Carplay AirPlay) - about 170-175 GBP.

Being a novice with this sort of stuff, is it relatively easy to install and pretty idiot proof?

Not too fussed about the Rear Camera option, mainly interested in the CarPlay part.

Many thanks

Russell.

 

[ronzelver]

I have already a factory built-in DTV (DVB-T) tuner connected to my MMI 3G+ unit. Does this mean that I cannot install this CarPlay kit (LVDS connector occupied?)?

 

[Ninja21]

Cant find these on ALI -Express anyone provide the link?

Thanks

 

[ronzelver]

Cant find these on ALI -Express anyone provide the link?

Thanks

Search for this item on AliExpress: 32826245608



Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[NabilS5]

Seems at least 80% certain the camera issue I'm experiencing is unrelated to the carplay module, more testing will confirm. This isnt that surprising as I do have issues with my camera (likely potentially water damaged related). Today for the first time I put it in reverse and it behaved as expected, went from Car play into my camera, and back again.

I've also just been sent English translated firmware for the "top" menu so I can understand better what this can do. So far I can already workout theres Apple Car play, Full iphone Mirroring, and Androids version of Carplay. There are 2 other things in the menu which I cant workout yet which I'll report back on.
@Blue as a reminder if you have 3G MMI this will not come with a camera, if you dont then it will I think and would safely presume it to work. I also assume youre not familiar with carplay? It is basically your phone in your car, only with limited apps. So as you'd expect, when you get a call its handled through carplay. Blutooth is simple an "alternative" audio connection (ONLY if already available in your car- this has NOTHING to do with this module). By default you have to set your media to look for Aux to get audio from the phone, and by default your phone when plugged in will switch to playing over USB. In either case if you switch both your phone and car audi to bluetooth it (while plugged in) it makes zero difference, its purely where your audio is being sent from your phone- for me the only tiny benefit is when audio is streamed over bluetooth, my speedo displays shows track/call info as it did before. You will not get this over USB, otherwise there's no difference.

In terms of calls, it depends how you "exit" car play. If Im in car play, then change the input to say radio by pressing the button, car play is left open in the background, and therefore my phone still thinks its connected and will be sending audio over Aux- I imagine this will slightly effect calls as you'd need to remember to change from radio to Aux when a call comes in at least.
However when you "exit" car play, properly, your phone knows its no longer over carplay. The bit I dont know is whether when you exit car play, whether it disconnects the phone from sending audio over USB or not. Theoretically your phone will be a normal phone... but still being charged by the USB port... however I'll need to check, but I have a suspision it will still be defaulting audio over USB (so you can still hear your music and nav directions over Aux.. but you'll be controlling your phone manually). So I think you'd need to treat it as all or nothing to avoid confusion, ie phone's plugged in, use car play, dont want to use car play, don't plug your phone in... I will test this for you though.

For absolute clarity as I've mentioned, my car was already heavily equipped before this module, so could stream via BT etc natively already since I have 3G High and had reversing camera etc. Most of what I'm mentioning will not be relevant to a lot of people who don't have this.

Could you please give us a little one month review.
Is it worth it?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?
Can you not answer your call via the car play?

 

[Grangey.]

All fine, the occasional "drop out" when first eagerly loading it up when starting the car- but this could also be due to the cheap lighting cable Im using as much as anything (literally imagine hitting ignition start, then holding down nav to boot this up... most the other cars components dont boot this quickly so Im just pushing my luck).

Yes you can answer calls via Carplay this is a standard feature of it.

No disadvantages that are unique to this retrofit unit, anything you dont like will be down to CarPlay itself.

AppleMaps was updates since I'd last used it in the 2017 A5, cant say its better or worse per say but it does exactly what it needs to (although a bit fiddly if you want to find "alternate routes" from an assumed destination (it learns your journey patterns and suggests if you're route if you're heading home from work example- but the route it suggests is fixed, to look at the alternatives you have to navigated to destinations) - anyway this is all non unit issues, its carplay itself lol.

The unit itself works flawlessly, if you don't currently have Bluetooth steaming you'll have zero issues. If you do, I rarely but once in find my phone connected to the cars bluetooth for audio, and the carplay did not tell it to send audio via external. So you'll have to change this on your phone, or just unplug your phone and plug it back in to Carplay (this is what I do 9/10).

The only thing to remember is if your phone is on silent, it wont ring even if its plugged in to Carplay, it will just prompt on screen as you'd expect (so keep an eye out).

The phone/call experience is still delivered over bluetooth, ie I can end the call using my OEM steering wheel functions/screen options etc. Carplay just gives you all the navigational (and Siri) benefits of actually leading to making the call.

Siri works fine, although I find is VERY short for responding to texts. This might be unit issue, it might be carplay. But literally you can say as much as say "I'm heading to you now, see you shortly" quickly, before it will cut of and assume you've finished. So don't think you can have a nice lengthy transcription while you're driving as itl only actually get your first say 8-10 words.

My reverse camera does work fine (when it works) so my previous issues we're entirely unrelated to this retrofit.

In summary, it just works as it should, just like its OEM, and just like any current car with CarPlay would. I've not used any of the other features in the unit, cant see me needing to - so it would be nice to be able to just had it default boot into CarPlay rather than first selecting it but that's only a single button press so again, not really a problem.

 

[surfer8210]

Aliexpress is where you'll find them, sold by 2 different sellers it seems at slightly different prices. Currently with a discount of 20% too and free shipping! Its definitely different to the Unichip solution, whether that makes the unichip better or not I cant say, but they appear to do the same thing and that's what we all want right!

Hi there, could you send a link or a screenshot of the exact unit you’ve grabbed from Aliexpress?
There’s a couple of different units and I don’t want to mistakenly order the wrong one.
Appreciate any help that you could provide.
✌✌


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Grangey.]

It should be obvious from the listing which box is appropriate for you, as the choice will be between MMI and non MMI. I won't link for this reason, you can find the listing simply enough from searching on there and should be able to distinguish the correct version from your car. I won't be liable for wrong orders placed so no links I'm afraid.

 

[ronzelver]

Hi,

I've installed my unit yesterday in my 2014 A5 with MMI 3G+. Everything works like a charm but I have not yet found a way to push the MMI head unit back in position. The additional cable harnas prevents the unit to completely get back in the console (mainly the big block connectors).
I have installed the Carplay unit right on top of the airco controls with adhesive velcro tape, so all cables point backwards.
Any tips to handle this cable mess are very much appreciated!

Ron


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[ronzelver]

Hi,

I've installed my unit yesterday in my 2014 A5 with MMI 3G+. Everything works like a charm but I have not yet found a way to push the MMI head unit back in position. The additional cable harnas prevents the unit to completely get back in the console (mainly the big block connectors).
I have installed the Carplay unit right on top of the airco controls with adhesive velcro tape, so all cables point backwards.
Any tips to handle this cable mess are very much appreciated!

Ron


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

Problem solved, it required a bit more patience on my side, and some twisting and tweaking ;-)


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[Luqman]

CarPlay updated box

It should be obvious from the listing which box is appropriate for you, as the choice will be between MMI and non MMI. I won't link for this reason, you can find the listing simply enough from searching on there and should be able to distinguish the correct version from your car. I won't be liable for wrong orders placed so no links I'm afraid.

Hi, I have ordered a CarPlay box with mmi version from aliexpress, the seller has just emailed me to say he will be sending me an updated version which is a black box with dip switch on outside, any chance you know of how many versions are there as I am worried I will be sent a inferior box, old stock, picture he has sent me attached. Also what’s the purpose of this dip switch, picture seems to show silver box?

 

[ronzelver]

All fine, the occasional "drop out" when first eagerly loading it up when starting the car- but this could also be due to the cheap lighting cable Im using as much as anything (literally imagine hitting ignition start, then holding down nav to boot this up... most the other cars components dont boot this quickly so Im just pushing my luck).

Yes you can answer calls via Carplay this is a standard feature of it.

No disadvantages that are unique to this retrofit unit, anything you dont like will be down to CarPlay itself.

AppleMaps was updates since I'd last used it in the 2017 A5, cant say its better or worse per say but it does exactly what it needs to (although a bit fiddly if you want to find "alternate routes" from an assumed destination (it learns your journey patterns and suggests if you're route if you're heading home from work example- but the route it suggests is fixed, to look at the alternatives you have to navigated to destinations) - anyway this is all non unit issues, its carplay itself lol.

The unit itself works flawlessly, if you don't currently have Bluetooth steaming you'll have zero issues. If you do, I rarely but once in find my phone connected to the cars bluetooth for audio, and the carplay did not tell it to send audio via external. So you'll have to change this on your phone, or just unplug your phone and plug it back in to Carplay (this is what I do 9/10).

The only thing to remember is if your phone is on silent, it wont ring even if its plugged in to Carplay, it will just prompt on screen as you'd expect (so keep an eye out).

The phone/call experience is still delivered over bluetooth, ie I can end the call using my OEM steering wheel functions/screen options etc. Carplay just gives you all the navigational (and Siri) benefits of actually leading to making the call.

Siri works fine, although I find is VERY short for responding to texts. This might be unit issue, it might be carplay. But literally you can say as much as say "I'm heading to you now, see you shortly" quickly, before it will cut of and assume you've finished. So don't think you can have a nice lengthy transcription while you're driving as itl only actually get your first say 8-10 words.

My reverse camera does work fine (when it works) so my previous issues we're entirely unrelated to this retrofit.

In summary, it just works as it should, just like its OEM, and just like any current car with CarPlay would. I've not used any of the other features in the unit, cant see me needing to - so it would be nice to be able to just had it default boot into CarPlay rather than first selecting it but that's only a single button press so again, not really a problem.

Have you ever experienced that the Carplay unit hangs when making a phone call?
And when it resumes the screen is scrambled (see attachments)?! When I restart the car it is back to normal.
I had this behavior now three times and the vendor says the unit needs to be replaced.

Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[Grangey.]

No never had it do anything like that, Ive seen it maybe once or twice theres been a big lag after I pick up a call and the screen showing the calls in progress for example, and occasionally my first "siri" request doesnt really load on the screen (ie the animation doesnt move), but generally its always operational.

Does seem like your unit is on the blink, hope they get you a replacement sorted pretty sharpish!

 

[ronzelver]

No never had it do anything like that, Ive seen it maybe once or twice theres been a big lag after I pick up a call and the screen showing the calls in progress for example, and occasionally my first "siri" request doesnt really load on the screen (ie the animation doesnt move), but generally its always operational.



Does seem like your unit is on the blink, hope they get you a replacement sorted pretty sharpish!

The vendor will replace the unit.


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[Terry]

Does this unit also function with Android Auto?

 

[Grangey.]

Does this unit also function with Android Auto?

yes

 

[ronzelver]

yes

The one I have only supports Android Mirroring next to Apple Carplay and Apple Mirroring?!


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[Grangey.]

The one I have only supports Android Mirroring next to Apple Carplay and Apple Mirroring?!


Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

Oh really? I'll need to double check then, I thought I saw Android Auto too but could be mistaken