Passat Carplay

[Rockape]

I have a 16 plate Passat SE Business. I am not sure exactly what model stereo/media system the vehicles has however is possibly a Discovery Navigation. When I try to work the app connect feature I have a message asking for an activation key.

I have looked about the web without much joy. I've got a trip to the dealer sorted but wandered whether this function should work as standard?

Thanks

[ManicMunky]

AppConnect is an option, dealer should be able to sort for you. For a fee, of course!

[Adrian E]

If you haven't done so already you need to register an account here:

https://www.volkswagen-car-net.com/portal/en_GB/we...

Which then gives you access to a portal for adding nav destinations etc

Once registered you then have to create a network connection, assuming you don't have a built in SIM in the car, which can involve messing about with personal hotspot settings on your phone.

Once you're actually connected between the car and the interweb, you enter a code that's generated on registration and that is checked against your account every time you use the service.

I think new cars get 3 years access included, which is transferable.

[ManicMunky]

That's CarNet - AppConnect is the bit for mirroring apps on your phone to the screen

[Adrian E]

ManicMunky said:

That's CarNet - AppConnect is the bit for mirroring apps on your phone to the screen

Yep, but pretty sure the carnet activation is required for app connect to function......

or it could just be it's asking for a PIN code off your phone handset. On our Golf, app connect only works when plugged in via USB and since I'm an Apple phone user app connect is cr@p!

[ManicMunky]

Ah yes, that's true!

There are different "activation codes", so it could be CarNet wanting to activate or could be that the feature isn't enabled at all then.

[Bungleaio]

Car play doesn't need any carnet activation to work provided it was enabled during manufacture. If yours is asking for a code then the dealer will do this for you but you will need to pay for it I'm afraid. Well worth it though.

[Rockape]

Adrian E said:

Yep, but pretty sure the carnet activation is required for app connect to function......

or it could just be it's asking for a PIN code off your phone handset. On our Golf, app connect only works when plugged in via USB and since I'm an Apple phone user app connect is cr@p!

Hmm, Ive read differing reviews and opinions about CarPlay. What is your opinion and why don't you like it. Would you bother adding it. Interesting I spoke to a VW dealer who said it wasn't worth it.

[Adrian E]

Rockape said:

Hmm, Ive read differing reviews and opinions about CarPlay. What is your opinion and why don't you like it. Would you bother adding it. Interesting I spoke to a VW dealer who said it wasn't worth it.

If you've got an iPhone then you are very limited in terms of the apps that carplay supports - it is basically the default Apple apps you would never use eg apple maps, not Google or Waze. Seemed similarly limited on the music front too. Having decided it was pointless it was more aggro removing the device so i can use the usb port to charge without it auto setting to carplay that I've never looked at it again and just set up network sharing so the factory nav is internet enabled for traffic updates and fuel prices etc

I've got the big screen Discover Pro so using carplay with its toy town graphics just seems pointless when the built in functionality is better. My wife has an android phone but has no interest in connecting hers to the car - she doesn't even have music stored on the thing - so can't comment on how less restrictive that is. If you could get Waze on it then I could see the point.

[Sheepshanks]

Rockape said:

I've got a trip to the dealer sorted but wandered whether this function should work as standard?

It should be possible for the dealer to upgrade it.

My missus has a Sept 15 (so one of the last) previous Tiguans and the request for an activation code comes up on its Discover Nav. But apparently it can't be upgraded as it hasn't got the right kind of USB ports. The car has to have PR code I8E (these are the block of codes on the car's data sticker in the service book and on the boot floor).