I fitted a CarPlay adaptor ( off AliExpress but essentially the exact same unit that others have fitted or that Gtacarkits.com sell)
The unit has to be installed alongside the passenger transmission tunnel. It’s installed and all working but I think the heat output is concerning.
when laid out in ‘open air’ box temperature climbs to 100F and when tucked in ( trim panel still off) I measure it at 110F and very warm to the touch. It’s coming from the microprocessor. It’s only gonna be worse when I replace that trim and I don’t think that’s acceptable.

Have any others experienced this with similar units? Thoughts?

FYI the as supplied wiring loom wrap has to be unraveled at the ‘Y’ connector into the unit in order to gain another 6 inches needed for the F-Type application. See Photos

Revised ( unwrapped at Y then rewrapped) loom to gain extra length needed

 

I bought mine from GTA and after using it for quite a while, mine never gets more than lightly warm. Quite normal for an electronic component.
It would appear that the generic model and the GTA models are not the same after all.
Chinese manufacturers often make a range of quality levels for the same product. You get what you pay for.

 

I have IDCORE and it also gets quite warm. SOMETIMES it even shuts off during a spirited drive... Quite annoying but I do not know of a fix, just commiserating.

 

Paul,
thank you for taking the trouble to provide feedback and you may well be correct about differing levels of quality! I'd wager though that GTA do not manufacture their own electronics board and housing and most likely have an arrangement where they purchase the same unit and wiring loom antenna kit etc. at cost + with a small markup from the same chinese supplier and have an arrangement to get their name printed onto the unit.
I'll continue to use mine and if it fails I've only lost $166 (includes a 1 time discount). That's a risk level I comfortable with to save $369 on the GTA unit.

 

Thanks..commiserating too! Presumably the IDCORE unit is tucked below the screen display unit behind the center console and not tucked beside the transmission tunnel? At least that has a little room for air circulation. That unit needs a separate microphone and can't use the vehicle one...correct?

 

I believe its in the area you described (bought the car with it and Ive checked the channel youve described), and yes it requires a separate microphone which is routed to the very top corner of the driver side windshield, cant really notice it.

Of course having this janky apple carplay is better than a stick in the eye, but i sure wish there was a better solution.

 

I have just completed 2 days drive: first day of 10 hours, second of 8 hours. All highways, with speeds above 75 MH. My phone is wired to the system.
I can definitely state that my system never gets more than slightly warm.