Dongle to use iphone on Android head unit?

[Leatherseat]

I've just bought a new car (Porsche 997.1) with an after market Android head unit.

I am NOT looking for full Apple car play functionality, but wonder if there is a dongle that will enable me to play music/ podcasts from my phone, via the head unit.

I only seem to find dongles to convert wired to wireless, but I used to have a dongle that enabled me to play phone content via a traditional ice unit (ie radio and CD player).

Any help gratefully received.

Thanks,

David

[mikef]

What do you mean by Android head unit? Do you have a make and model number?

All CarPlay displays (and Android Auto displays) are actually Android tablets, acting as a secondary display for your phone, with touch and (usually) button inputs to the phone.

If you are saying that you have a display that understands Android Auto but not Apple CarPlay, then I am pretty sure the only option is to swap it for one with CarPlay capabilities. Lots of cheapo Chinese options there

Or do you mean you have something else?

[Leatherseat]

Hi Mikef,

Thanks for your reply.

It is a 'Pumpkin' branded head unit. The previous owner had an android phone so I assume it is, as you suggest, a head unit that understands Android Auto.

Some youtube videos suggests I can access/ download a Z-link (or T-link) app that may enable it to speak to my iphone. I have been unable to get it to download any Apps, so this avenue appears closed to me.

It would be good to avoid replacement cost if possible.

Thanks again,

David

[poppopbangbang]

If the head unit has no native Carplay/Android Auto support (connect your phone with a USB cable to see if it fires up carplay) then you can add it with something like this:

https://xtrons.co.uk/product/wireless-carautoplay-...

Connect this to the back of the head unit, install the required app on the head unit and then connect your phone to this and Carplay should fire up accordingly.

Obvious Caveats about connecting your phone to random Chinese boxes etc. apply but in my experience they work pretty flawlessly and I have one running in my Cayenne which has an aftermarket Android head unit.

[mikef]

It looks as though Pumpkin (Chinese brand based in Shenzen) do offer some models with both Android and Carplay and some Android only. If iyours is Android-only then you may be able to sideload an app by installing an apk (if that is goobledygook to you, then you probably don t want to go that route), or see if you can buy a similar-sized model from them with CarPlay and swap it over - or investigate the inline dongle referenced above (not sure how that works)

[Leatherseat]

Thank you both.

I shall try connecting my phone with a cable, as suggested and go from there.

Fingers firmly crossed......