Car play retro

[Simon Lowe]

Apologies if this as been covered previously but....
Anybody fitted the Unique Auto Developments CarPlay ? Is it any good as it seems to have a few good reviews?
Cheers

 

[AndrewW]

I have the older wired version in my B8 and it's pretty good, they only offer wired+wireless now from what I can see (at ~£100 more than I paid for wired)

I previously had an Octavia III VRS with factory CarPlay and the touchscreen is certainly not as "responsive" as that but it's more than adequate and so much better than factory, it also loads up way faster than the factory Skoda did.

Also bare in mind the B8 kit includes a touchscreen film but I'm not 100% if the 8V kit does or whether you're limited to steering wheel/mmi controls.

I did have an issue where it froze every now and then but got in touch with them and they sent me a firmware update, it's been perfect since then and fingers crossed it stays that way.

Let me know if you want any more info/pics etc.

 

[Simon Lowe]

I have the older wired version in my B8 and it's pretty good, they only offer wired+wireless now from what I can see (at ~£100 more than I paid for wired)

I previously had an Octavia III VRS with factory CarPlay and the touchscreen is certainly not as "responsive" as that but it's more than adequate and so much better than factory, it also loads up way faster than the factory Skoda did.

Also bare in mind the B8 kit includes a touchscreen film but I'm not 100% if the 8V kit does or whether you're limited to steering wheel/mmi controls.

I did have an issue where it froze every now and then but got in touch with them and they sent me a firmware update, it's been perfect since then and fingers crossed it stays that way.

Let me know if you want any more info/pics etc.

I fitted the wireless one last week and apart from a little dab problem am very happy

 

[AndrewW]

I fitted the wireless one last week and apart from a little dab problem am very happy

Nice! Is it touchscreen? Friend of mine was considering one in his 2015 S3 but no touchscreen was a deal breaker for him.

 

[Simon Lowe]

Nice! Is it touchscreen? Friend of mine was considering one in his 2015 S3 but no touchscreen was a deal breaker for him.

Hi
No it’s not but is integrated into the MMI so u just use the MMI button , very user friendly

 

[R0cket]

I have a 2008 b8 with nav so the controls by the gearstick. I’m hoping I can find the one I need

 

[AndrewW]

I have a 2008 b8 with nav so the controls by the gearstick. I’m hoping I can find the one I need

Depending if it’s 2G/3G and High or Basic I’m pretty sure UAD do a wireless kit for it, if you search A4 MMI carplay on eBay they’re the first few results and from my experience they’re very helpful and quick if you get in touch.

 

[R0cket]

2G high

 

[AndrewW]

2G high

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173918692647

Looks like that’s the one. The wireless ones are a bit pricey but easy enough to fit.

 

[R0cket]

Yeah they are a bit pricey but really the only way to do it and keep the screen etc especially as I have bang and oulsen which I recon sounds really good.

I’d prefer wired so the phone charges too. I’ll keep looking for that

 

[R0cket]

That’ll teach me for not reading. The one you linked can be either wired or wireless.

Still pricey mind. Still the A4 is the “big family car” which we do the miles in. The S3 overhaul will get set back a few more weeks if I bought that lol

We don’t really have any other options to go with. I have an 80gb iPod classic practically permanently attached to my AMI supplying hundreds of tunes and podcasts. Still CarPlay is pretty awesome.

 

[AndrewW]

That’ll teach me for not reading. The one you linked can be either wired or wireless.

Still pricey mind. Still the A4 is the “big family car” which we do the miles in. The S3 overhaul will get set back a few more weeks if I bought that lol

We don’t really have any other options to go with. I have an 80gb iPod classic practically permanently attached to my AMI supplying hundreds of tunes and podcasts. Still CarPlay is pretty awesome.

It is pricey but a great improvement if you decide to go for it, I’d really struggle without mine now (mostly for google maps and Spotify)

It’s the same situation for my girlfriends A5, it would be great but not sure if it’s worth the almost £500

 

[R0cket]

Plus we have plans on getting an A6 avant later down the line and that’ll have 3G rather than 2G

 

[jdp1962]

Just had one installed on Friday. Initial impressions are positive, just need to get used to it now.

 

[Marky79]

How’s it been so far?

 

[Simon Lowe]

How’s it been so far?

It’s obviously not as good as the factory fit but is the best you’ll get retro, there are Chinese kits out there that are frankly rubbish, , I am removing mine in the next month as I’m replacing my S3 with a 4x4 ,in the 3 months I have had mine I have been pleased with its performance and love the live traffic with Google maps, u can also have it in satellite mapping, I will be putting mine on the famous auction site but if u are interested I would except £300 +postage which is a significant discount on the actual price (£550

 

[jdp1962]

How’s it been so far?

Click here.

 

[Marky79]

It’s obviously not as good as the factory fit but is the best you’ll get retro, there are Chinese kits out there that are frankly rubbish, , I am removing mine in the next month as I’m replacing my S3 with a 4x4 ,in the 3 months I have had mine I have been pleased with its performance and love the live traffic with Google maps, u can also have it in satellite mapping, I will be putting mine on the famous auction site but if u are interested I would except £300 +postage which is a significant discount on the actual price (£550

I would definitely be interested if you’d keep me in mind, @Simon Lowe . What kit is it you have?

 

[Simon Lowe]

I would definitely be interested if you’d keep me in mind, @Simon Lowe . What kit is it you have?

Hi m8
It’s the kit that gives wireless connectivity, it retails at £549 from UAD , I am in Spain working until the 16th , pm me your mobile if you are interested at the price I mentioned and I will give u first refusal
Cheers

 

[DJAlix]

I have removed 3 of these units from customers cars over the past couple of months due to faults, x1 A3 and x2 A6. Support replies to a couple of emails then silence.

 

[Marky79]

I have removed 3 of these units from customers cars over the past couple of months due to faults, x1 A3 and x2 A6. Support replies to a couple of emails then silence.

Good to know mate. If only the OEM wasn’t so expensive to retrofit.... along with VC

 

[DJAlix]

Good to know mate. If only the OEM wasn’t so expensive to retrofit.... along with VC

All these “CarPlay” boxes are ultimately rebranded “made in China” items. If you go on to AliExpress you can buy two boxes for the price of a single “U.K.” branded one, and you WILL need a spare for when one goes faulty

 

[jdp1962]

All these “CarPlay” boxes are ultimately rebranded “made in China” items. If you go on to AliExpress you can buy two boxes for the price of a single “U.K.” branded one, and you WILL need a spare for when one goes faulty

What goes wrong?

 

[DJAlix]

All three units seem to have connectivity issues, example one had issues with passing a video signal for the reversing camera of the A6 it was in. Tested the loom and connections had failed. They were not interested in repairing this so I did, then a short time later the pass through for the microphone stopped working. Loom tested ok so the box is failing and again support not interested.

 

[Boundy]

The reality is all these boxes are cheap tat, I've fitted this one in a friend's car and it's working fine for £170, anymore money than that it probably wouldn't be worth it.

￡173.12 30%OFF | Wireless CarPlay Interface Box For AUDI A5/A4 Original Screen Upgrade MMI System Support Mirror Link Aftermarket Camera
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/WKFz5xO9V

 

[AndrewW]

The reality is all these boxes are cheap tat, I've fitted this one in a friend's car and it's working fine for £170, anymore money than that it probably wouldn't be worth it.

￡173.12 30%OFF | Wireless CarPlay Interface Box For AUDI A5/A4 Original Screen Upgrade MMI System Support Mirror Link Aftermarket Camera
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/WKFz5xO9V

It’s all subjective really. It’s worth however much someone is willing to pay to bring the MMI system slightly more up to date, albeit not in the most refined way. But you’re never going to get mega refined when you’re simply piggybacking on an existing 10yr old system. Until some mainstream ICE manufacturer do something similar (which won’t happen) it’s this or nothing so I’d say they’re pretty good at what they do... But yeah definitely don’t be surprised if you need to buy another at some point.

I have a 10.25” Android unit retrofitted in my latest one and that’s very much the same. It’s pretty good and worlds ahead of the stock system but if I bought a brand new car with this system I’d be complaining to the dealer, but because it cost £350 from AliExpress and does the job nicely I’m willing to live with it’s little nuances