Decided to take the plunge and purchase a unit direct from China. Been looking for some time at the usual places but the cost direct from China was worth the risk. I use Alibaba.com a lot for work when getting samples etc so used to dealing with them. The total cost was £565 including DHL delivery + £15.55 non sterling fee plus £20 duty and vat so all in £600.

It took me around 3 hours to fit including doing the finishing frame and then around 2 or 3 hours playing with the settings to get it how I wanted it.

So the main disadvantages to this set up are;
1) longer initial start up 50 seconds - although rear camera works straight away
2) have to wait until screen comes on before you can have heated seats (maybe the later switches where the temp dials control seats will work)
3) Carplay wireless does not start automatically you have to go and click Carplay App.
4) wired Carplay starts automatically if you plug phone in after the screen starts.
5) to alter climate settings other than temp takes 4 presses of the screen from the CarPlay screen

However the advantages in my opinion out way the disadvantages;
1) CarPlay is a lot better than the old system so different Sat Nav’s available including speed camera warning etc no map upgrade fees.
2) Spotify app.
3) better screen resolution for cameras.
4) all the different apps you can get like IPlayer so can watch BBC in better quality than original screen plus Amazon prime etc.
5) text messages.
6) nice big screen for Google etc.
7) pre plan routes and upload to car.

So for the price of a service, ok big service I think it is well worth the money and feels a lot more modern and useable.

good info , thanks..

these units can be bought of a devon based company on ebay for the same cost..

some might consider a small vent mounted 3g capable tablet which will do the same thing without having to have your phone attached...

granted it wont be integrated with the FF's headunit but it will be considerably cheaper ... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

<pedantic> ☺️

It’s either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay 👍

I guess this is about Android Auto only? Or is wireless Apple CarPlay also supported?

No its an Android operating system like a tablet with apps which can also run a CarPlay application.

stan wrote:

good info , thanks..

these units can be bought of a devon based company on ebay for the same cost..

some might consider a small vent mounted 3g capable tablet which will do the same thing without having to have your phone attached...

granted it wont be integrated with the FF's headunit but it will be considerably cheaper ...

So it is Android Auto NOT Apple CarPlay

https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/auto/

what year is yours Mark?

thats cheap for a full screen unit..they normally go for around £900...i also thought these headunits needed an adaptor for carplay/android auto..




any pics? ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Bl4ckD0g wrote:

So it is Android Auto NOT Apple CarPlay

https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/auto/

Bl4ckD0g wrote:

So it is Android Auto NOT Apple CarPlay

https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/auto/

stan wrote:

what year is yours Mark?

thats cheap for a full screen unit..they normally go for around £900...i also thought these headunits needed an adaptor for carplay/android auto..




any pics?

My car is 2015 (the old 2015 model)

Yes I thought the price was very good and great service from them got delivered beween Christmas and New Year, about 10 days after I sent the payment.

Very good quality and pictures/videos look very good.

It comes as standard with wireless Carplay but I added a wired dongle as well, this was £25 but you dont have to have this. I dont have an Android phone so can't say how well that works but been told it works just as good.

looks good Mark, i'm tempted..


also, did you have to change electronics from the old headunit to the new one.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Yes you have to take the two boards out of the old unit, this is what I was doing in the first photo. Very straight forward.

Now trying to get Sky go to run on it but its not playing ball think sky are blocking it.

Looking good. I've been looking at these units also. It'll be interesting to hear how you get on with it longer term. Any feedback on bugs, useability etc. would be good to hear about. Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

stan wrote:

Bl4ckD0g wrote:

So it is Android Auto NOT Apple CarPlay

https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/auto/

if its the headunit i think it is then the unit runs on android and an extra £50'ish dongle allows carplay...

This looks like a neat alternative: https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/01/26...ur-vehicle