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Based on this thread I purchased this Carplay / Android Auto unit from carlinklife and I wanted to share my experience on my 2016 Bosch system. Long story short I'm very happy to have Android Auto now, but there are a few minor issues that others have experienced - but there are work arounds!
I received the unit pretty quickly from China (less than 2 weeks), shipped directly to the UK, and I didn't have to pay any additional VAT or customs duties. Installation was straight forward.. the instructions were lacking a bit but if you've done any sort of car audio upgrade in the past its not that hard to figure out. I agree that the wiring loom should be "reversed" so that the unit can tuck in behind the center console as opposed to the side of the drive shaft tunnel.
Initially I set the dip switches to "1 on" according to the instructions. Booted the system up and everything worked fine apart from the forward / back track steering wheel controls. Vol Up / Down steering wheel controls worked fine. OEM reverse camera works as it should. I didn't notice any other issues other than the forward / back track steering wheel controls.
So I unplugged the unit and set the switches to "2 on, 6 on", same result.. no change from what I could tell.
I changed the switches to "all OFF" and had no video.
So I changed the switches back to "1 on" and that's how I left it at the moment.
Now I noticed a few more problems.. not sure if these could be fixed with the dip switches as I'm waiting on customer support to get back to me.
1. When adjusting the volume you get the OEM volume indicator box overlay that pops up on the screen, when this would happen the Android Auto video in the background goes black, then when the volume dialog goes away, about a second later the video comes back. This happens every time you adjust the volume. I was able to fix this by changing a setting on the OEM head unit side of things to disable that volume pop up box.
2. Audio quality from the AUX setting is terrible. It has a high pitch whine / buzz that increases with the engine speed - indicating a bad ground or a ground loop. This is one of the "newer" units without the dummy AUX plug.. I don't know if that would make any difference. I also don't want my audio going through 2 sets of EQ. I solved this by leaving the OEM head unit on Bluetooth and then on the new unit bypass the Audio AUX passthrough found here:https://carlinklife.com/blogs/news/h...nklife-carplay
3. With the OEM set to Bluetooth, all of the steering wheel controls work! Bad news is just like the volume control box overlay pop up, forward and back track also has a dialog pop up that blanks out the screen.. however there isn't a way to disable this pop up as far as I know.
Anyone with this unit and having steering wheel control issues - I recommend doing the AUX bypass and run bluetooth audio to the OEM head unit in the background.
If anyone has recommendations on what dip settings they recommend let me know! I've not heard anything back from customer support so far about the video blanking on overlay pop ups.
The first unit I received had similar although different issues ( steering wheel track forward/back didn't work, camera was intermittent). That unit was the "new" version that that did not require the AUX dummy plug. It also displayed as Jaguar. The replacement unit they sent me was the previous version that required the aux dummy plug, had two little antennas instead of the flat antenna and it dispalys as Land Rover not Jaguar. The second unit works perfectly including the steering wheel track functions. My car is a 2016.
The first unit I received had similar although different issues ( steering wheel track forward/back didn't work, camera was intermittent). That unit was the "new" version that that did not require the AUX dummy plug. It also displayed as Jaguar. The replacement unit they sent me was the previous version that required the aux dummy plug, had two little antennas instead of the flat antenna and it dispalys as Land Rover not Jaguar. The second unit works perfectly including the steering wheel track functions. My car is a 2016.
I thought it might be useful to add another (positive) experience of the Carlink.com unit. I successfully fitted it to my 2015 F Type. This thread was very helpful in both identifying the unit and the installation which took me a little over an hour. The main complications for me were finding the correct "hole" on the passenger side tunnel to feed the cables through and removing the head unit connector - this took about 15 minutes and a few grazed knuckles.
Regarding the correct hole for the cables, the installation video from the QR code clearly shows the cables going in just in front of a large silver metal brace, in my car they had to go in behind - took me a while to work this out.
For the head unit connector the original cable was so short it was stretched and with no give it was really tricky to remove - just a bit of patience required and pushing the release button form the top rather than the side helped.
Other things to note
My dim switches work with 1 on the rest off
The main cable to the head unit was more than long enough
It is a Land Rover version (that's how it appears on Carplay) but does not require the aux input
Volume on the steering wheel works fine, as does OEM reversing camera once I changed the settings - but track forward and back don't work
Unit uses the OEM Mic and works great
Worth adjusting the volume and mixer settings in the car play unit to get the best sound - I have the 750w Meridian and it sounds fantastic
I am by no means a car or electronics expert, but I watched several videos and made sure I had the time and the tools and it was a relatively straight forward process that worked first time. Unit cost less than £250 - less than half other units and it works great.
I thought it might be useful to add another (positive) experience of the Carlink.com unit. I successfully fitted it to my 2015 F Type. This thread was very helpful in both identifying the unit and the installation which took me a little over an hour. The main complications for me were finding the correct "hole" on the passenger side tunnel to feed the cables through and removing the head unit connector - this took about 15 minutes and a few grazed knuckles.
Regarding the correct hole for the cables, the installation video from the QR code clearly shows the cables going in just in front of a large silver metal brace, in my car they had to go in behind - took me a while to work this out.
For the head unit connector the original cable was so short it was stretched and with no give it was really tricky to remove - just a bit of patience required and pushing the release button form the top rather than the side helped.
Other things to note
My dim switches work with 1 on the rest off
The main cable to the head unit was more than long enough
It is a Land Rover version (that's how it appears on Carplay) but does not require the aux input
Volume on the steering wheel works fine, as does OEM reversing camera once I changed the settings - but track forward and back don't work
Unit uses the OEM Mic and works great
Worth adjusting the volume and mixer settings in the car play unit to get the best sound - I have the 750w Meridian and it sounds fantastic
I am by no means a car or electronics expert, but I watched several videos and made sure I had the time and the tools and it was a relatively straight forward process that worked first time. Unit cost less than £250 - less than half other units and it works great.
Hope this helps
It would appear that the version with the AUX plug is the only version that supports the steering wheel track forward and back function. I found a similar thing in that it was easier to run the cable up from behind the brace.
The first unit I received had similar although different issues ( steering wheel track forward/back didn't work, camera was intermittent). That unit was the "new" version that that did not require the AUX dummy plug. It also displayed as Jaguar. The replacement unit they sent me was the previous version that required the aux dummy plug, had two little antennas instead of the flat antenna and it dispalys as Land Rover not Jaguar. The second unit works perfectly including the steering wheel track functions. My car is a 2016.
What dip switch settings worked for you?
I have this unit, with the 2 blue connectors for the back of the head unit.
After much research of multiple companies that offer CarPlay/Android Auto addons to the 2014-2017.5 Jaguar F-TYPE with the Bosch system, it appears that most of these units are similar, if not come from the same factory. UAD customer service was awful in giving me incorrect information on which system (Bosch or Harman) I have.
I came across www.carlinklife.com and saw they had a unit that came to $296 shipped to Los Angeles from China after using a coupon code (MBWORLD) I found on the Mercedes forums. I AM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE VENDOR!!
Its been about 2 months since I've installed the unit and its now its smack dab in the middle of summer in Southern California (105 degrees) and the unit has been working without issues.
PROS:
- The steering wheel mounted controls (track forward/back and volume work)
- Install took about an hour
- The additional EQ settings on the CarPlay module makes a world of difference in sound quality especially in Meridian mode
- OEM microphone retained
- Call quality improved
- Excellent value compared UAD, GTA units
NEUTRAL/CONS:
- I still haven't figured out the mirroring vs linking CarPlay option
- The directions on what settings the dip switches need to be are not correct and took me several tries to figure out the right combination
- When toggling to CarPlay from the OEM Jaguar Infotainment screen, it occasionally triggers Siri..not a big deal
- I wish the wiring harness was "reversed" so that the unit can put in the dead space between the seats behind the panel vs tucking it between the carpet and transmission tunnel
I purchased one these exact units and wired it in. Very straightforward but when I powered it up the Nav section was blanked out but nothing on the screen showed the unit. I have set switches 2 & 6 down as suggested elsewhere.
any inspiration as to what is wrong? The red lights on the front, one was solid lit and the other flashed.
my phone could not see the unit on WiFi or BlurTooth.
This looks like the second unit I received and i used it as it was set which I think was switches 1-6 on. The car is parked for the winter so i don't have an easy was to ckeck, sorry.
I purchased one these exact units and wired it in. Very straightforward but when I powered it up the Nav section was blanked out but nothing on the screen showed the unit. I have set switches 2 & 6 down as suggested elsewhere.
any inspiration as to what is wrong? The red lights on the front, one was solid lit and the other flashed.
my phone could not see the unit on WiFi or BlurTooth.
very frustrating!!!
thanks
You and I are in the same boat.
I've been in contact with the seller and we've tried some settings - no dice
He offered some sort of firmware update i guess - no dice
Last i heard we're going to try a replacement unit.
I've been in contact with the seller and we've tried some settings - no dice
He offered some sort of firmware update i guess - no dice
Last i heard we're going to try a replacement unit.
I had a note from them and they are sending a second unit. Here's hoping...
I purchased one these exact units and wired it in. Very straightforward but when I powered it up the Nav section was blanked out but nothing on the screen showed the unit. I have set switches 2 & 6 down as suggested elsewhere.
any inspiration as to what is wrong? The red lights on the front, one was solid lit and the other flashed.
my phone could not see the unit on WiFi or BlurTooth.
very frustrating!!!
thanks
Check the car infotainment is set to AUX, I would also suggest using a USB connection initially. I ran a USB extension along with the head unit cables and ran it into the back of the armrest. Good Luck!
Does this work with an Android phone or just iphone?
Hi all, I just took possession of a 2016 convertible and very interested in this unit. But have a few questions.
1. Currently I'm using a iPod touch plugged into the USB port in the cubby for my music as well as my Android phone via bluetooth. Can I still use these if I install the carplay upgrade?
2. As far as I understand it any of the apps on the Android auto screen would require a cell phone connection. Do these work through my phone or do they not work at all since there's no cell phone connection in the car itself?
Thanks in advance for any help or comments I really enjoyed all of the entries in this thread, it's very helpful!
Hi all, I just took possession of a 2016 convertible and very interested in this unit. But have a few questions.
1. Currently I'm using a iPod touch plugged into the USB port in the cubby for my music as well as my Android phone via bluetooth. Can I still use these if I install the carplay upgrade?
2. As far as I understand it any of the apps on the Android auto screen would require a cell phone connection. Do these work through my phone or do they not work at all since there's no cell phone connection in the car itself?
Thanks in advance for any help or comments I really enjoyed all of the entries in this thread, it's very helpful!
1) Carplay upgrade would still have music over bluetooth (via wireless carplay app and not bluetooth to the car).
2) Your phone would wirelessly (or wired) connect to the aftermarket unit.
Okay, so it seems that any of the apps that require over the air streaming for music such as Spotify would not work on this unit, correct? From what I'm reading this unit would be best for those who want to have better quality of music from their local streaming device like a phone, but really no additional functionality. Am I missing something?
Okay, so it seems that any of the apps that require over the air streaming for music such as Spotify would not work on this unit, correct? From what I'm reading this unit would be best for those who want to have better quality of music from their local streaming device like a phone, but really no additional functionality. Am I missing something?
It would work fine.
1) Install spotify on your phone
2) Connect your phone to the carplay/car via wireless/wired connection
3) car will recognize your phone and start carplay on the screen
4) go to spotify app on the car screen and stream
Right, but my point it that adding this unit and having it work depends on having the apps on my phone and using my phone to stream the content. It seems like a lot of cost and work to install something that doesn't provide much convenience. Just for a point of reference, my Volvo has AA as the default entertainment center and natively streams content from installed apps using the car's built in SIM card over cellular.
Right, but my point it that adding this unit and having it work depends on having the apps on my phone and using my phone to stream the content. It seems like a lot of cost and work to install something that doesn't provide much convenience. Just for a point of reference, my Volvo has AA as the default entertainment center and natively streams content from installed apps using the car's built in SIM card over cellular.
Its convenient if your options are limited and you don't want to splurge. If you want to splurge then you can gain flexibility.
Right, but my point it that adding this unit and having it work depends on having the apps on my phone and using my phone to stream the content. It seems like a lot of cost and work to install something that doesn't provide much convenience. Just for a point of reference, my Volvo has AA as the default entertainment center and natively streams content from installed apps using the car's built in SIM card over cellular.
I too have a Volvo, and it does what you say. However, the simple fact is that my 2016 F-type doesn’t have that capability, therefore I have a choice to make: Do I got with a complete infotainment system replacement to get that ability or do I spend $299 on a Carlink unit that gives me what I need going thru my phone? I’m ok with the latter, but it’s my vehicle, so I make no judgements on what others decide.
I bought the 2016 with the full knowledge that the infotainment system was a weak point. I accept that and cannot change that.
In the end I got fed up troubleshooting the Carlink system.
I opted for the 10.25" Android Infotainment upgrade system w/ wireless carplay/android auto. Just had it installed today and it's working seamlessly. All steering wheel controls work, i can swap back and forth between the OEM system (temp controls) and the android system at will, backup camera/sensors working fine.
It was twice the price of Carlink, but worth it (imo).
In the end I got fed up troubleshooting the Carlink system.
I opted for the 10.25" Android Infotainment upgrade system w/ wireless carplay/android auto. Just had it installed today and it's working seamlessly. All steering wheel controls work, i can swap back and forth between the OEM system (temp controls) and the android system at will, backup camera/sensors working fine.
It was twice the price of Carlink, but worth it (imo).
Would you mind sharing where you purchased your navigation upgrade kit from, link for the seller would be appreciated.
Thank you.
