Pioneer CarPlay Headunit, has anyone got one fitted yet?

danielr.santos1976 said:
Hi Ieshkin
Just a question mate. Do you leave the OBD always onto the car's OBD port?


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Have to say, I no longer use this HU - its been gathering dust in the garage since I moved to an pure Android unit a while back :)

The OBD dongle I use powers down automatically, so does not drain the battery like some of the cheaper clones, so I can leave it in the port permanently.

The adapter I ue is OBDlink MX BT - http://www.obdlink.com/mxbt/
 
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Thanks for your reply! I've got one that operates similar, and I wasn't sure.
If you allow me to ask, it seems you are an expert on that matter. :)
I bought a Pioneer SPH-DA120 to replace MMI on my Audi A4. If I replace it, am I going to lose the MMI features that controls the car settings, like: oil level and etc? Sorry if it sounds silly but it's my first Audi and I'm still learning about the car.


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I'm not sure that I'm an expert - just tinker a lot with it :)

Can't answer the MMI question as I have no experience with that.
 
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Well what an amazing thread. Read this about three times to get the main areas of concern as well as one on the TT forum, then spoke with the guys at Dynamic Sounds yesterday and everything arrived today. A pioneer SPH-DA120 and fitting kit for my 2011 A3 S Line Black Edition with Bose. I was a little apprehensive as I have zero experience but the whole install took me 2 hrs. The install kit was amazing, literally just plugged it all together and it worked first time. All I need to do is work out how to get rid of the annoying video whilst driving message and then I'll be good. Mic cable is routed behind the trim and secured near top corner of the windscreen on the RHS and the GPS the same but secured to the dash near the base of the LHS windscreen. Ran all the lightning cables in to the glove box and Velcro'd in my iPod permanently and ran in a spare lead for my iPhone. Very impressed with it having only played with it for about 30 mins. Sound quality is way better than the original one I've just taken out. So massive thanks to all the posters on here. Made my life a lot easier and saved me a bit of cash by not employing a fitter. Would defo recommend giving t a try yourself.
 
Just found this on Amazon. Anybody tried it? Seems a lot easier than trying to wire in relays, grounds cables or get to the handbrake switch. Shame it's 4 times more expensive than it is on the US Amazon site!

Amazon product
 
Try just connecting the handbrake wire to any ground point. US headunits need the relay hack, but EU don't normally. It may have changed, but won't hurt to try.
 
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Well I earthed the parking brake wire today and I think it's worked. I've not had the message pop up yet and managed to get it to play a video from a USB stick. It won't play video from iPod though via a lightning lead, I can only hear the audio. Another extremely frustrating thing is that I can't for the life of me work out how to get the Pioneer AppRadio to open? I've tried every way of starting it and nothing. So I have no access to any of my other apps on the phone or my sat nav at the moment and will be stuck with Apple Maps. I'm going to buy a USB & HDMI to lightning connector tomorrow and see if that solves the video issue. Just a shame the official app from Pioneer doesn't seem to work or have any support with it. Real letdown
 
Hi, I've read through this thread several times and used it as a guide to fit the Pioneer HU, which was great!

Can anyone shed any light as to how many hertz the Bose subwoofer should be set at?

Thanks


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Guys I’m a first time Audi owner and been reading this thread for the last few hours so looking for advice on an aftermarket HU but this has totally blown my head up
You keep talking about chassis versions and stuff that I know nothing about like 8L or something like that all I can tell you is I’ve got an 09 plate S3 s-tronic 3 door I know it has bose speakers in the front not sure about the rear and it just has the basic Audi stereo system I presume
I’m an iPhone user and just got the iPhone 10 and was looking for an after market HU that will work well with that so I can use it as a sat nav and play my music and all take calls etc etc
Cheers for any help
 
2009 A3 is a 8P.
Get a pioneer headunit... id recommend either a SPH-DA120 or the AVH-X8700BT/AVH-X8800BT.
The AVH units supports CarPlay so you can just plug the phone into the headunit and use google maps from your phone.
Use the connects2 wiring kit for a plug and play experience which will also keep the steering wheel controls working and will work with the Bose speakers. Also has bluetooth handsfree and bluetooth audio built in... you can also have a reverse camera added for extra functionality.
 
Cheers for the speedy advice Ash187
So just get the Pioneer HU from Halfords or somewhere cheaper then buy the £75 kit from that place you put a link to at the start of the thread?
How easy is it all to fit as I’m rubbish with cars and stuff like this. Will it be easy enough to install the mic etc or is it best to take it to someone who knows what they’re doing
Cheers
 
bring the car to me, can fit it pretty easily.
The wiring kit needs a couple wires soldered to work perfectly.
the mic needs a few panels removing to be able to wire it up properly.
 
I’d love to bring it to you as you obviously know what your doing but I’m like a 4 hour drive from London and I work away during the week. One last question though, just been looking on the pioneer website and the HU you suggested won’t allow you to use appradio with the iOS11 update would that cause me any problems? I don’t know what appradio does is it something I’d use to answer calls use the maps app and play my music?
 
thats app radio which isn't very good anyway. CarPlay is much better and is a separate thing to app radio on these units.
you can answer phone calls and play music over bluetooth.
When you have the phone connected to the usb connection it will launch CarPlay which will allow you to use the apple maps from the phone on the display.

have a look here at one we installed in a TT:
tap on the small arrow to the right of the first image to see the other pics.

 
That does look bang on to be honest still a it worried though as even the Apple website doesn’t mention CarPlay working with iOS11 and a phone newer than the iPhone7
 
Ash187 said:
2009 A3 is a 8P.
Get a pioneer headunit... id recommend either a SPH-DA120 or the AVH-X8700BT/AVH-X8800BT.
The AVH units supports CarPlay so you can just plug the phone into the headunit and use google maps from your phone.
Use the connects2 wiring kit for a plug and play experience which will also keep the steering wheel controls working and will work with the Bose speakers. Also has bluetooth handsfree and bluetooth audio built in... you can also have a reverse camera added for extra functionality.
Click to expand...
CarPlay only supports Apple Maps in visual mode.
 
Finally got my SPH DA 120 in, what a pig of a job it was lol i wouldn't like to repeat it anytime soon.

The cage supplied with the pioneer head unit didn't fit through the facia adapter, so used the cage that came with the fitting kit - this involves attaching the aftermarket side plates and locking pins to the side of the headhunt which make it all a very tight fit. It all fitted nicely with the facia adapter but the head unit and cage wouldn't fit into the double din opening in the dash - so after some filing it finally slotted in nicely.

It sits a little proud but there's a lot going on behind it with Adapter harnesses and cables, the steering wheel control patch lead also works a treat so i have full control over volume, skip track, answer/hang up phone, mute etc.

I thought i'd get away with using the Mic and GPS Antenna already fitted by the previous owner for the Dynavin POS but of course both connection were different - pioneer use a smaller mic jack and Dynavin use a brass screw in GPS antenna Grrrr so out with the glovebox - a 10 minute job and one i've done already while fixing the hinges on it. plumbed in the Mic up to the headliner above the rear view mirror. I also found a nice slot for the GPS antenna inside the dash on top of the glove box. The 2 USB cables i routed inside the glovebox and ran one lightening cable down to the area in front of the gear knob.

I'm still getting used to it and setting it up but i have to say it's a class unit - car play is good, voice commands work a treat on making calls and asking for directions on google maps. Also have spotify and tune in radio as compatible apps on it. Haven't tried to dictate a text message yet but i will next time i'm in the car.

Illumination,splash screen and wallpaper are fully customisable which is a nice touch, so you can get the exact shade of red as the factory back lights for the back lights on touch sensitive buttons on the side ( i'll take a night pic later)

Some day time pics:

IMG_6849.png


IMG_6847.jpg
 
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Shane-Ireland said:
Finally got my SPH DA 120 in, what a pig of a job it was lol i wouldn't like to repeat it anytime soon.

The cage supplied with the pioneer head unit didn't fit through the facia adapter, so used the cage that came with the fitting kit - this involves attaching the aftermarket side plates and locking pins to the side of the headhunt which make it all a very tight fit. It all fitted nicely with the facia adapter but the head unit and cage wouldn't fit into the double din opening in the dash - so after some filing it finally slotted in nicely.

It sits a little proud but there's a lot going on behind it with Adapter harnesses and cables, the steering wheel control patch lead also works a treat so i have full control over volume, skip track, answer/hang up phone, mute etc.

I thought i'd get away with using the Mic and GPS Antenna already fitted by the previous owner for the Dynavin POS but of course both connection were different - pioneer use a smaller mic jack and Dynavin use a brass screw in GPS antenna Grrrr so out with the glovebox - a 10 minute job and one i've done already while fixing the hinges on it. plumbed in the Mic up to the headliner above the rear view mirror. I also found a nice slot for the GPS antenna inside the dash on top of the glove box. The 2 USB cables i routed inside the glovebox and ran one lightening cable down to the area in front of the gear knob.

I'm still getting used to it and setting it up but i have to say it's a class unit - car play is good, voice commands work a treat on making calls and asking for directions on google maps. Also have spotify and tune in radio as compatible apps on it. Haven't tried to dictate a text message yet but i will next time i'm in the car.

Illumination,splash screen and wallpaper are fully customisable which is a nice touch, so you can get the exact shade of red as the factory back lights for the back lights on touch sensitive buttons on the side ( i'll take a night pic later)

Some day time pics:

IMG_6849.png


IMG_6847.jpg
Click to expand...

Looks really rode this does, I'm after something similar for mine.

Does this unit work well with the Bose?
 
Ash187 said:
thats app radio which isn't very good anyway. CarPlay is much better and is a separate thing to app radio on these units.
you can answer phone calls and play music over bluetooth.
When you have the phone connected to the usb connection it will launch CarPlay which will allow you to use the apple maps from the phone on the display.

have a look here at one we installed in a TT:
tap on the small arrow to the right of the first image to see the other pics.
Click to expand...
People like AppRadio because the only mapping app Apple Carplay will let you use is their terrible Apple Maps. Appradio lets you use Waze.
 
Adam Cumming said:
Looks really rode this does, I'm after something similar for mine.

Does this unit work well with the Bose?
Click to expand...

Working fine with the bose , just make sure you pick up the right fitting kit with the correct harness. Haven't had a chance to properly sort out the EQ settings yet.
 
Shane-Ireland said:
Working fine with the bose , just make sure you pick up the right fitting kit with the correct harness. Haven't had a chance to properly sort out the EQ settings yet.
Click to expand...

What is it like to live with?

With it being a touch screen I can imagine it being a pain trying to hit the right button you want while driving
 
Adam Cumming said:
What is it like to live with?

With it being a touch screen I can imagine it being a pain trying to hit the right button you want while driving
Click to expand...

I have full steering controls with the patch lead i got from car audio direct , volume, skip track, mute , answer calls/hang up calls so i don't have to touch the screen as much you'd think. For calls, messages and maps you only need to touch the home button to activate SIRI. So the only time i really touch it is to select a playlist or switch from car play to radio - although i've been listening to my radio stations on TUNEIN FM since i got the headunit fitted.

As far as the touch screen goes it's as good as an ipad, iphone etc - zero lag, can be a little difficult to see the screen in the day time with refelction but not a major issue.
 
Doesn’t Hey Siri work? Do you need to press the home button.


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I just got the pioneer sph-da230dab installed in my A3. Works a treat but steering wheel controls is an issue. I can only use the volume button. Nothing else works.

I got the steering wheel controls from dynamic sounds, the connects2 one.
IMG 20180120 WA0007
 
Did you get 2 leads for the steering wheel ? the Connects 2 harness(with box) and a shorter patch lead for the pioneer with a jack connection on one end ?
 
Maybe thats the issue ? A pioneer specific one might work . I discovered one of those multi lead ones on my dynavin when i removed it and all i could control on my dynavin was volume.
 
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Maybe it is. I'll get it sorted once I know how to remove the unit. I've got the keys etc.

The unit itself is good. It's an upgrade of the sph-da120. It includes android auto and dab, but loses the the second usb port and hdmi.

I've got an android phone so bought this. I listen to radio most of the time so wanted DAB. It's great so far. Definitely recommend it.

It looks good as well but I think the da120 looks better
 
Do you have to switch on the Subwoofer in the Pioneer unit to use the Bose subwoofer or is the signal automatically passed through via the connects2 harness?
 
downtothebone said:
Do you have to switch on the Subwoofer in the Pioneer unit to use the Bose subwoofer or is the signal automatically passed through via the connects2 harness?
Click to expand...

I think the signal is passed on through the harness, i tried switching the sub on/off in the pioneer settings and it made zero difference. The Sub is definitely working though.
 
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