Android Auto for the 718 - via USB or wireless?

[Tony B2]

(Asked as the search function on these forums is now useless)

Is there any non-intrusive solution that can provide Android Auto (wired or wireless) for the 718 platform? I know that Apple CarPlay is supported via USB, but have no wish to ditch my Samsung S22 for an iPhone (been there, done that, will not do it again)

I seem to recall that Porsche is offering an Apple/Android retrofit of some kind for the 997 platform?

Some sort of USB plug-in solution which does not invalidate warranty would be very nice!

[Tony B2]

Modi said:

Hi

I use https://www.nmautomotive.co.uk/product-page/pcm-4-... for my 718 GT4 with a Samsung Z Fold 3. Once setup works seamlessly

Many thanks for the info.

I have just ordered one!

[Tony B2]

john_1983 said:

Just to add to the posts above, the NM £95 Android Auto unit connects to the car via the USB in the armrest - your phone connects to the unit wirelessly, although the unit has a second USB connection to allow you to plug your phone into it to charge

Thank you for confirming - this is exactly what I wanted.

The cost of this unit is neatly positioned at less than the £135 annual subscription required to get real time traffic info on the car's nav system.

A one time cost versus an annual subscription makes plenty of sense, plus you can also use Waze and Amigo with speed camera warnings, as well as getting the RTTI.

[Tony B2]

Well, I received this in no time at all (good service from NMAutomotive).

It connects really quickly and easily and it is great to have Waze and Amigo available on the car's screen along with speed camera (and other warnings).

2 problems however whilst in Android Auto mode:-

- it fails to access any of my contact information so I have to enter phone numbers manually
- the steering wheel "pick-up"/"end call" buttons do not respond, so I have to use the main touch screen for these actions.

It is very useful to have the power through capability to keep my phone topped up.

All in all, a very neat and useful product and should not impinge on the warranty (unlike the equivalent box from other sources, for BMWs)

[Tony B2]

mabosh said:

Just popped out to try this as I'm one of the posters above who has also bought this device.

I've no issue with Contacts, I can see them in the "phone" screen, on a menu along the top for "Favourites" then "History" then "Contacts". Is it a permission issue somewhere? Do you maybe still have the "old" Bluetooth connection in place? I had to delete this during the set-up process to get AA to sync properly.
I
The "End call" button on the wheel works fine. The "Pick-up" button works as well I think for an incoming call. If I press it when there's no incoming call it takes me to the phone screen I mentioned above. I then need to use the button on the PCM itself to scroll down the Contact list. It's the same for Bluetooth only though. I find the voice control works pretty well.

I will check again tomorrow. I don't think there was a request to delete the old Bluetooth connection for this to work, so maybe this is the problem.

I definitely need to spend more time playing with this!

[Tony B2]

Tony B2 said:

mabosh said:

Just popped out to try this as I'm one of the posters above who has also bought this device.

I've no issue with Contacts, I can see them in the "phone" screen, on a menu along the top for "Favourites" then "History" then "Contacts". Is it a permission issue somewhere? Do you maybe still have the "old" Bluetooth connection in place? I had to delete this during the set-up process to get AA to sync properly.
I
The "End call" button on the wheel works fine. The "Pick-up" button works as well I think for an incoming call. If I press it when there's no incoming call it takes me to the phone screen I mentioned above. I then need to use the button on the PCM itself to scroll down the Contact list. It's the same for Bluetooth only though. I find the voice control works pretty well.

I will check again tomorrow. I don't think there was a request to delete the old Bluetooth connection for this to work, so maybe this is the problem.

I definitely need to spend more time playing with this!

Tried again, and even though I have changed nothing in the config, I can now see all contacts in Android Auto mode.

However, I still cannot get any response from the steering wheel "pick-up/end call" buttons.

I will now try deleting the original Bluetooth connection (used prior to getting the dongle) to see if that makes any difference.

[Tony B2]

mabosh said:

Me again!

Conveniently enough I got a call when I was in the car yesterday. My wife used the green "Accept" button on the PCM screen but it was either a little laggy or didn't work and I more or less simultaneously hit the Pick-up button on the wheel. One of them worked! The End-call wheel button definitely ended the call though.

A bit of testing required probably to figure it out clearly. The gadget did have a problem connecting at one point yesterday when the car was switched off and my wife tried to play some music from the SD card.

When I restarted the car the gadget couldn't connect to the car via Bluetooth. I've seen it do this briefly before but it often connects within a few seconds. However, this persisted for about 10 mins until the PCM restarted itself without my doing anything. It then connected straight away.

Overall I'm very happy with it. It's great to have Google maps, Waze etc and proper control over music streaming.

Isn't the dongle/car connection via the USB port only, with the Bluetooth providing the connection between dongle and phone?

[Tony B2]

PetrolHeadPete said:

I tried one of these just for kicks and it works perfectly...what a cute little unit!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285046556801

That is the very same device, which I have bought - de-badged - for twice as much!

[Tony B2]

PetrolHeadPete said:

sorry to spoil your sunday

No worries!

[Tony B2]

JurassicGTS said:

Can you just confirm that this is the same as the NMAUTOMOTIVE device but just rebranded?

It looks the same to me.

The NMAutomotive version carries no branding (on packaging or device), but the device otherwise looks the same, and delivers the same functionality as far as I can tell.

[Tony B2]

Well, that will teach me to update my phone to the latest version of Android....

Dongle is now not connecting to my phone at all, and the status LED remains solid red.

Hmmmm......

[Tony B2]

mabosh said:

Tony B2 said:

Well, that will teach me to update my phone to the latest version of Android....

Dongle is now not connecting to my phone at all, and the status LED remains solid red.

Hmmmm......

My Pixel was already on Android 13 before I got the dongle in early January (from NMAutomotive). Never had any significant issues connecting (once or twice it's taking an unusually long time to connect or I've temporarily had a black PCM screen).

I can vaguely recall a few people on various forums mentioning that the latest firmware for the dongle was causing issues with Android 13.

I therefore didn't update the firmware when I received the dongle, even though the instructions suggest you do. If you have done so then it might be an idea to roll it back (if that's possible) or do a factory reset on the dongle (again, if you can do such a thing).

I am going to try a full reset process (everything forget everything else) tomorrow, and start from scratch.

(I am getting assistance from NMA)

[Tony B2]

Mine is all working properly now - including the steering wheel buttons for "pick-up/end call" which previously did not function.

I had reached the point where my phone could not "see" the dongle, and so I could not even disconnect/forget it.

In the end, I tried connecting a new phone (Android) and backed out once it was identified by the PCM.

Then I re-connected the original phone, which was now seeing the dongle.

A bit of a software glitch somewhere, but NOW sorted.

edit reason: incompetence/fat fingers

Edited by Tony B2 on Wednesday 12th April 15:10

[Tony B2]

mistermexican said:

Can I just check if these kits cause any problems with the PCM head unit and its wider functionality? I've read that some of the "invasive" procedures such as recoding the system or splicing adapters cause problems with the main screen or reversing camera.

If you are talking about the Carlink system, there is no invasive procedure, it is purely a USB plug-in, no recoding or adaptor splicing is required.

Once you have plugged the unit in to power it up, you then just connect your phone wirelessly to the unit. This then gives you all the Apple Carplay/Android Auto functionality, via the PCM screen, but you can revert to standard PCM functionality merely by selecting the appropriate PCM icon.

[Tony B2]

mistermexican said:

Tony B2 said:

If you are talking about the Carlink system, there is no invasive procedure, it is purely a USB plug-in, no recoding or adaptor splicing is required.

Once you have plugged the unit in to power it up, you then just connect your phone wirelessly to the unit. This then gives you all the Apple Carplay/Android Auto functionality, via the PCM screen, but you can revert to standard PCM functionality merely by selecting the appropriate PCM icon.

Sorry, I wasn't implying it was invasive. I was meaning to compare the Carlink to the invasive procedures where the invasive ones can affect the functionality. I guess the Carlink one doesn't affect the functionality at all or cause any problems?

Correct!

[Tony B2]

JurassicGTS said:

Will be very interested so see how you get on.
I had one from a great forum member on a different site just to try and I just couldn't get it to work.
Instructions that came with it were worse than useless, it only offered ipod or Apple Car Play no Andriod Auto and when trying to connect with the PCM it just froze as did the PCM!
The guy who lent it to me said if it doesn't work bin it....which is where it went.
Maybe it was just the unit.
[b] I have ordered the NMAUTOMOTIVE version, should have that today.
Great communication from the guy who sells these. [/b]

If this doesn't work, then I guess it's a cheap iPhone off Ebay just running data for Waze etc.
So annoying that a new Porsche in 2023 doesn't have Android Auto.

Seconded - he was very helpful via email, when I had the problems mentioned in my earlier post

(Wondering why the [b] bold text formatting [b/] is not working for me?

Edited by Tony B2 on Friday 14th April 10:28

Edited by Tony B2 on Friday 14th April 10:30

[Tony B2]

JurassicGTS said:

My NMAUTOMOTIVE option arrived this morning and it works perfectly, so it must have been the old Carlinkit box that was faulty.
Not tried the phone yet but Waze and Google Maps work perfectly and clear on the PCM.
Only a couple of thoughts, Alexa won't show on the apps through this, so I still have to choose music through the phone rather than on screen and it seems to remain powered on so I have to unplug it from the USB socket when not in use.

It does seem identical to the ones sold on Ebay however, so will be interested how yours works when you get it @lemontart.

Doesn't the USB port power-down after you lock the car?

[Tony B2]

LemonTart said:

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....

The iPod/Carplay choice is not really a big deal, is it - just a single button press while you start the car, in my experience? There might be a setting somewhere that defaults to the last environment?

I have not had to un-link my phone from the normal PCM BT connection, once the initial set-up has been performed.

I can choose between the Carplay/Android Auto environment at any time, via PCM/AA icons.

In AA the map graphics are fine for me, though I did read somewhere about poor graphics in the Carplay environment, which is a Carplay issue.

I can definitely get split screen operation - map taking the main area plus media/phone in the minor (25%) area.

My steering wheel "pick-up/end-call" buttons do work and I can scroll through phone calls/contacts using the scroll button on the wheel, intitaitng a call that way, too.

Is your phone up to date? I fitted a similar (though rather more complex) AA solution in my M3, and it was incredibly frustrating until I got a new phone last October, since then completely seamless.

YMMV...as they say...;-)

[Tony B2]

mabosh said:

Tony B2 said:

Well, I received this in no time at all (good service from NMAutomotive).

It connects really quickly and easily and it is great to have Waze and Amigo available on the car's screen along with speed camera (and other warnings).

2 problems however whilst in Android Auto mode:-

- it fails to access any of my contact information so I have to enter phone numbers manually
- the steering wheel "pick-up"/"end call" buttons do not respond, so I have to use the main touch screen for these actions.

It is very useful to have the power through capability to keep my phone topped up.

All in all, a very neat and useful product and should not impinge on the warranty (unlike the equivalent box from other sources, for BMWs)

Just popped out to try this as I'm one of the posters above who has also bought this device.

I've no issue with Contacts, I can see them in the "phone" screen, on a menu along the top for "Favourites" then "History" then "Contacts". Is it a permission issue somewhere? Do you maybe still have the "old" Bluetooth connection in place? I had to delete this during the set-up process to get AA to sync properly.
I
The "End call" button on the wheel works fine. The "Pick-up" button works as well I think for an incoming call. If I press it when there's no incoming call it takes me to the phone screen I mentioned above. I then need to use the button on the PCM itself to scroll down the Contact list. It's the same for Bluetooth only though. I find the voice control works pretty well.

Yes....I must remember not to post before sufficient caffeine has been consumed...;-)

I do still have the "old" BT connection in place.

To clarify - whilst in AC/AA environment, selecting from the contact list does need the (right) PCM button to be rotated and then pressed, not the steering wheel button (which needs the "old" BT connection). But this is at least much better than having to stab a finger at the screen whilst driving!

The same applies to selecting a previous destination in Waze/Amigo etc.

The screen can most definitely be split between the map and media. 75% map, with the 25% area capable of showing 2 sources.

And - usefully, it is possible to listen to DAB/FM radio whilst using AC/AA for maps and speed cameras.

And finally - the message providing the initial choice between "iPod" and "Apple Carplay" when starting up, also offers the "do not display this message" option.

[Tony B2]

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.