Android Auto for the 718 - via USB or wireless?

Android Auto for the 718 - via USB or wireless?

Author
Discussion

CarbonV12V

1,163 posts

191 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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I bought the £50 USB unit from eBay and returned it as could not get it to connect or show anything on the screen.

Then I found VAG Yorkshire who came out and "updated" the head unit so now just works like an OEM solution. Bargain at £100 and done on my driveway!!

Now have Waze and loads of other stuff.


PetrolHeadPete

751 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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Android auto? Or Airplay?

CarbonV12V

1,163 posts

191 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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PetrolHeadPete said:
Android auto? Or Airplay?
Android Auto - quite happy to plug my phone in and put it in the glove box as gets charged and I can't touch it! I just wanted Waze so works for me.

JurassicGTS

1,622 posts

203 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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CarbonV12V said:
I bought the £50 USB unit from eBay and returned it as could not get it to connect or show anything on the screen.

Then I found VAG Yorkshire who came out and "updated" the head unit so now just works like an OEM solution. Bargain at £100 and done on my driveway!!

Now have Waze and loads of other stuff.

Out of interest do you get Alexa on your AA screen?
Mine through NMAUTOMOTIVE mirrors the phone and Android Auto works perfectly. Waze is great as is everything else, with the exception the Alexa app, this doesn't come up.

CarbonV12V

1,163 posts

191 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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JurassicGTS said:
Out of interest do you get Alexa on your AA screen?
Mine through NMAUTOMOTIVE mirrors the phone and Android Auto works perfectly. Waze is great as is everything else, with the exception the Alexa app, this doesn't come up.
Haven't tried but I don't believe so - can you not use Google Assistant to launch Alexa? Will have a play around when I get chance to see what else I can add.

PetrolHeadPete

751 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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I have a MY23 BGTS. PCM4.0 I assume?

Looks like there are quite a few companies out there charging to apply this (fair enough)...

https://github.com/jilleb/mib2-toolbox

CarbonV12V

1,163 posts

191 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
quotequote all
PetrolHeadPete said:
I have a MY23 BGTS. PCM4.0 I assume?

Looks like there are quite a few companies out there charging to apply this (fair enough)...

https://github.com/jilleb/mib2-toolbox
Yes. PCM4.0. Mine was only delivered new this month so they had to update the patch files but all worked fine. I did a quick search and found many companies offering the same service but most were remote. Called the one that was local (VAG Yorkshire) and he said he would come to me and sort it. Really pleased with the service and only paid once I saw it all working with my phone. Great value at £100 as now fully integrated into the PCM.

JurassicGTS

1,622 posts

203 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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Is there any risk with warranties on a new car with this "software hack"?

CarbonV12V

1,163 posts

191 months

Tuesday 25th April 2023
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JurassicGTS said:
Is there any risk with warranties on a new car with this "software hack"?
I am sure like driving the car there is always a risk but only related to the PCM and not aware of any PCM related issues - I would rather have the additional functionality now than worry about a potential risk that is unlikely to happen but everyone has a different risk profile.

It was explained that the PCM software I had was the latest version so unlikely that it would get checked or updated during any service or warranty work.

Not sure how true but it was also explained that the PCM hardware is used in many many different vehicles so this approach is a proven option for the few manufacturers that restrict the functionality.

Given the number of suppliers offering the software update across many vehicle platforms there is clearly a demand and no apparent issues.

jay2000

130 posts

109 months

Friday 28th April 2023
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I got one of those carlinkit 4.0 from amazon and AA worked easily when plugged into the USB in the armrest. Tried using the usb in the glove compartment but it didnt work though. £75 all in so cannot complain. Would have been £750 from Porsche MD rofl (its a £2k option on the Fezz488)

Edited by jay2000 on Friday 28th April 14:06

JurassicGTS

1,622 posts

203 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2023
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jay2000 said:
I got one of those carlinkit 4.0 from amazon and AA worked easily when plugged into the USB in the armrest. Tried using the usb in the glove compartment but it didnt work though. £75 all in so cannot complain. Would have been £750 from Porsche MD rofl (its a £2k option on the Fezz488)

Edited by jay2000 on Friday 28th April 14:06
Mine is the same. It works seamlessly in the armrest but the glove compartment USB socket isn't configured for AA.
Only slight issue I have is trying to go back to select a non AA function like say a a radio station it keeps reverting back to the AA map, I have to keep pressing the media button and it eventually let's me. Haven't tried phone calls yet and it always uses the phone sim for the data rather than the inserted sim in the car.

Tony B2

Original Poster:

659 posts

183 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2023
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JurassicGTS said:
Mine is the same. It works seamlessly in the armrest but the glove compartment USB socket isn't configured for AA.
Only slight issue I have is trying to go back to select a non AA function like say a a radio station it keeps reverting back to the AA map, I have to keep pressing the media button and it eventually let's me. Haven't tried phone calls yet and it always uses the phone sim for the data rather than the inserted sim in the car.
Can you not select the "Porsche" icon in the AA main screen, to revert to the normal PCM view?

This works for me.

JurassicGTS

1,622 posts

203 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2023
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Tony B2 said:
Can you not select the "Porsche" icon in the AA main screen, to revert to the normal PCM view?

This works for me.
thumbup
Will give it a go.

LemonTart

1,421 posts

142 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2023
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LemonTart said:
LemonTart said:
An interesting topic, thanks for everyone sharing their experiences.

I have just bought a Carlink 4.0 from ebay so will let people know how easy it is to set up and how well it works in a week or two.
This arrived this week, I spent 30mins getting increasingly frustrated with it one evening then put it back in the box.

Had another go yesterday and got it working but it isn’t very good.

First I updated Android Auto on my phone.

After plugging the unit in you get a choice on the PCM something like ‘Are you linking iPod or Apply Carplay’ if you go Apple CarPlay then you need to link your phone.

You have to unlink your phone from the PCM and link the the Carlink.

You can get Google maps but the resolution on the map is poor and it only appears on the centre screen.

The phone is controlled by the centre screen only as well.

I don’t think I could recommend this.

I am trying to send it back but eBay seller has yet to respond.

Ho hum....
Well I sent the Ebay £50 one back, should get a £40 refund after postage etc and ordered the NM Automtive one for £119 delivered.

Just received it and got it out the box.

Spot the difference? Ebay first photo NM second photo.





smash I am trying to laugh it off..

mabosh

312 posts

194 months

Friday 5th May 2023
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LemonTart said:
Well I sent the Ebay £50 one back, should get a £40 refund after postage etc and ordered the NM Automtive one for £119 delivered.

Just received it and got it out the box.

Spot the difference? Ebay first photo NM second photo.





smash I am trying to laugh it off..
So does it work or not?

Quite a few of us have bought from NM Automotive and they've all worked, I think. I suspect there may be subtle differences in the firmware of the dongle that's specific to allow it to work with the Porsche set-up.

LemonTart

1,421 posts

142 months

Friday 5th May 2023
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I had trouble at first but when i used a different connecting lead between the doggle and car's USB port in the arm rest it went green and I could link to it on my phone.

It also works much better so the internal gubbins must be different.

My phone links automatically after a few seconds.

I have been using Waze for nav and that doesn't show in the right circular screen in the dash, but thats not a big deal and everything else seems to work as expected.


mabosh

312 posts

194 months

Friday 5th May 2023
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LemonTart said:
I had trouble at first but when i used a different connecting lead between the doggle and car's USB port in the arm rest it went green and I could link to it on my phone.

It also works much better so the internal gubbins must be different.

My phone links automatically after a few seconds.

I have been using Waze for nav and that doesn't show in the right circular screen in the dash, but thats not a big deal and everything else seems to work as expected.
Result! Couldn't do without mine now.



Blink982

789 posts

112 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2023
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Can anyone recommend an eBay or Amazon seller of the Carlinkit 4.0 as there are some huge differences in price. I’ve been using wired Apple CarPlay for years on my last two 718 and want rid of the wires!

Fnumber1user

411 posts

60 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2023
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Blink982 said:
Can anyone recommend an eBay or Amazon seller of the Carlinkit 4.0 as there are some huge differences in price. I’ve been using wired Apple CarPlay for years on my last two 718 and want rid of the wires!
I bought IOS version of this recently and works a treat. 30% off too at the moment so £60 delivered, takes about a week door-to-door: https://www.ottocast.com/products/android-auto-wir...

Blink982

789 posts

112 months

Friday 9th June 2023
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Blink982 said:
Can anyone recommend an eBay or Amazon seller of the Carlinkit 4.0 as there are some huge differences in price. I’ve been using wired Apple CarPlay for years on my last two 718 and want rid of the wires!
I bought the latest Carlinkit 5.0 from aliexpress and it’s working fine although I’ve had one journey where it didn’t connect automatically. Wired CarPlay wasn’t exactly faultless either though.