Carplay and Andriod Audio devices.....advice please

[GSRiderdotcom]

Hi

I've just bought a 14 year old car, which in all aspects is excellent value, and required for our forthcoming grandparent roles, as the van or smart car are only 2 seaters.

But I'm trying to understand the value in putting one of these screens in, which enhance the tech in the car. Some are pretty expensive (Carpuride) and others decidedly cheaper, no doubt they are all made in china.

I've seen some U tube reviews and written reviews (which tend to be on promotional sites)

Having had some excellent advice from yourselves before, I'd appreciate any thoughts on; cheap vs dearer, functionality and why not just have you phone on the dash?, also any recommendations.

thank you in advance

cheers Ali

 

[DJ123]

I have the best of both worlds;
My daily has CarPlay/Android Auto - wired. So my phone is always on charge and displays whatever i want on the screen - usually Waze & my music streaming app.
My other Car is 15 years old and does not have it. For which i bluetooth the audio streaming and have phone in a holder on the dash for the likes of Waze.

There's really no difference/benefit IMO between the 2 - bar having navigation on a bigger screen. You can still use the likes of Siri/Google Assistant to do things such as navigate to an address, send a message, play music etc in both situations.

 

[GSRiderdotcom]

Hi Thank you for your reply, you've answered the fact that in essence its a screen size in many respects. and I presume the carplay is left in situ, whereas the phone is put in place each journey.

What make and model is your carplay kit? thanks you v much Ali

 

[DJ123]

In my daily it's built in to the OEM infotainment system - not an aftermarket kit.

 

[tjmouse]

What car do you have. There are some fantastic upgrades you can do to some models and non for others. A VW you might be able to go OEM upgrade. My old BMW had a Chinese module hijacking the system that works great. My wife’s fiesta has a cable for audio and charging and a phone mount as there’s no upgrade option.

All work in their own way but car and budget will dictate possibilities. At the extreme an old Porsche can have an OEM upgrade for £1500 a Chinese module for £400 or a phone mount and Bluetooth unit for £20

 

[Wapping]

What car do you have.

That’s the 64,000,000 dollar question.

I have just had an 06 Porsche Boxster updated with an Apple CarPlay head unit (I think they are called) made by Panasonic. I have never owned a vehicle with CarPlay before, simply relying on a GPS device (as used on my motorcycle) for any navigation. It really is very good. The work was done for me by a good car radio place in Ilford, East London *, so not at all handy for you, but these places are in every town and city. They also fitted a Panasonic reversing camera.

Panasonic and others do a whole rage of integrated head units. The gubbins behind is all near enough the same, just the facia differing, hence the question.

Advantages? Being integrated, you don’t have to faff about mounting the damned thing each time.

Cost? A bit more, if you have it fitted, obviously. Mine, with the camera, took the bods a couple of hours to fit, including removing the old unit. They made an excellent job of it.



* Rather than ask UKGSer who was “Best for like fitting radios and sounds and like stuff” I asked the local Bangladeshi kids of London E1, who was well right wiv their knowledge like, bruv.

 

[hops]

I bought one of these from Amazon in a black Friday deal, they're still just under £70 and it does the job perfectly, so far no issues.

 

[GSRiderdotcom]

What car do you have. There are some fantastic upgrades you can do to some models and non for others. A VW you might be able to go OEM upgrade. My old BMW had a Chinese module hijacking the system that works great. My wife’s fiesta has a cable for audio and charging and a phone mount as there’s no upgrade option.

All work in their own way but car and budget will dictate possibilities. At the extreme an old Porsche can have an OEM upgrade for £1500 a Chinese module for £400 or a phone mount and Bluetooth unit for £20

Thank you everyone, Its a Volvo xc60, IMHO loads of car for the money, I will have a google locally for those that fitted integrated systems and compare prices. Amazing what kit gets developed

The actually has some decent tech, its just old school, but works, no Sat Nav, but my wife always puts he Waze on anyway thats why I'm thinking of what to do so shes comfortable driving it.

Cant beat UKGSer for sound advice, thank you very much. Ali

 

[tjmouse]

So a quick google suggests you can swap the screen for a Chinese unit or Volvo might be able to upgrade your system so you have native CarPlay. Will cost more but might be worth contacting your local dealer and finding out.

Otherwise if you have the 7inch colour screen you can upgrade it for about £150 it appears if you’re confident doing it yourself with the AliExpress options