Hi all,

Here is a follow up to my post yesterday about getting access to the back of the IAM module to complete the install on my Aliexpress "In Car Solutions" Limcet Carplay box. To quickly recap, I chose the limcet box because it has an extra wiring harness compared to the IDCORE/UAD box that hooks directly to the IAM module resulting in a cleaner, more seamless install (working steering wheel controls, factory MIC, no ugly AUX cable in center console). I have a MY2017 Convertible V6S that has the later generation Bosch head unit, so the box I chose requires connections inside the dash/behind the touchscreen, as well as behind the center console at the back of the IAM 2.1 module aka "CD player/changer".

After reviewing the service manual, I was pretty sure that I would be able to access the large connector at the back of the IAM so today I disassembled the rear stowage compartment trim piece which includes the "cubby" storage box on my MY2017 convertible. All went pretty well, but of course once I had fully disassembled everything and begun to route the wiring harness down and behind the dash, along the passenger knee trim panel, and behind the center console, it turned out to be too short. In the image below I've circled the section of cable that is too short. I've contacted the Aliexpress vendor and asked if they can make me a new wiring harness with 3ft of additional cable, we'll see what they say. I am pretty handy with a soldering iron so worst case scenario I may be making an extension myself but it's a 16 wire cable so I'd really prefer not to DIY it. I will update this thread when I hear back from In Car Solutions.

I was really concerned that I would need to remove the entire center console and one of the seats but as long as I can get a longer wiring harness, I think I should be able to run it back along the passenger knee trim and avoid removing anything more than I already have.

Even without the IAM wiring harness plugged in, the Limcet carplay box actually works great. For now it just requires being connected to both carplay and also the car's OEM bluetooth audio, and the OEM mic doesn't work yet. I actually used it all last week and it was awesome, minus the annoyance of having to manually select the F-Type bluetooth source on my phone each time I got in the car. If I can get them to resolve this by sending me a new wiring harness, I would highly recommend this carplay solution as a much cheaper alternative to UAD or Naviplus that results in a fully featured and seamless install. Assuming, of course, that you're pretty handy and don't mind disassembling half of the interior of your precious F-Type. 😅


How far the IAM cable reaches from behind the dash


The distance between the end of the cable and where it needs to go (my finger)


The IAM2.1 module between the seats


the removed rear passenger trim


The wiring harness with part that's too short circled in


Anyways, that's all for now.

 

I'm eagerly waiting on the feedback on the longer cable and the results of the full integration.

How do you access the carplay from your stereo? For example, with the UAD unit, I have to hit the NAV button every time I get in the car, which I dislike.

 

@eeeeek So far with my limited testing last week (and the module only being half-installed) I still need to hit the NAV button to bring up carplay each time I start up the car. We'll see if that situation improves with connecting the IAM cable but I sorta doubt it. I wonder if anyone has been able to force the system to boot up into the NAV mode every time, that's the only solution I can think of.

 

Interested.

i found there is a new Android based system for ~2013-17 era Range Rover on taobao(basically aliexpress) for around 800usd, complete with a bigger screen, optional screen based hvac control.

Should be compatible with the f type with some modification to the mounting points and bezel, i will contact the manufacture and see if i can get a pic of the ports on the rear.

 

Update: In Car Solutions is making and sending me a new wiring harness! Will update with pics when I receive it

 

Was woken up by a Whatsapp call from an unknown number this morning... It was my friends at In Car Solutions!

I received this video and it appears to be exactly the extension I needed, although now I will have those extra bulky connectors to hide along the knee trim somehow.

With standard Aliexpress shipping it was due to arrive at the end of May but I'm simply not that patient (plus my car's interior is currently disassembled in my apartment building's garage) so I offered to pay out of pocket for faster Fedex/DHL shipping. If it works, I'm happy to pay the $20 especially when this carplay kit was much cheaper than any of the alternatives to begin with.

Looking forward to receiving the cable and completing the install.

 

Update: completed the install with the provided extension for the IAM audio cable. Everything works! Mostly...

The steering wheel controls are not working when carplay audio is routed over AUX. In Car Solutions is working on and sending me a firmware update which will supposedly fix this.

Secondly and somewhat minor, there is a distinct hum/buzz interference sound at high volumes when sound is coming over the AUX input. I assumed it was interference from a power cable or something so I moved the IAM audio cable around as much as possible but I couldn't eliminate the noise. I'm now thinking it's a ground loop issue and I'm thinking about how to install a ground loop isolator somewhere inline along the IAM audio cable but that will require splicing the cables so I'm somewhat hesitant. So far I've sorta worked around this but setting the music volume setting and the EQ on the limcet box to maximum which means I don't need to turn up the jag stereo's volume as much which somewhat mitigates the issue. If anyone has any alternate ideas for fixing this buzz/hum that would be much appreciated. It happens when the ignition is on and whether the engine is running or not. Curiously it does not happen when the ignition is off and the car is in accessory mode.

Here's a video I took after completing the install but before I realized there were a couple of issues:

Overall I still like the system for the price but we'll see if we can get these few issues solved with help from the seller.

 

The video is set to private. I'd like to take a look.

 

@eeeeek Sorry about that, had to publish the draft. Should be fixed now

 

Still troubleshooting the Limcet box ground loop/audio buzz issue. So far ferrite cores around the aux L/R wires on the IAM cable have not worked and I've tried adjusting the location of the IAM audio cable as much as possible but that hasn't seemed to work either. Working with the seller and still waiting on the firmware for the steering wheel control fix.

 

your going to have to splice in ground loop isolator into the aux in part of the wiring loom. Which 2 wires it is i don't know as its just plug in with the UAD i have. Just buy a cheapie off amazon and solder it in the right spot. Get the seller to identify the correct wires to attack.

 

@Borbor thanks, I think this is the same conclusion I came to as well. Reading reviews on ground loop isolators it looks like some cheap ones seriously compromise the quality of the audio so I’m trying to figure out which one to get (or maybe DIY it with some capacitors myself). I already buzzed out the IAM cable extension to figure out which wires are AUX L/R so that’s not an issue.

Happy to report that I made a voice call over CarPlay today using the factory OEM microphone and the other person on the call said it sounded great so that’s cool.

Sort of disappointing that the Limcet box has such noisy audio output via AUX. I’ve completely isolated the IAM audio cable from any potential sources of interference as well as manually grounded the alumin(i)um box so I’m pretty convinced that the buzz is caused by bad audio hardware/bad DAC in the Limcet box itself.

Interestingly the seller claims that the Limcet box is capable of simultaneous bluetooth audio output at the same time wireless CarPlay is active as it apparently has two Bluetooth radios in it. I’m sorta skeptical but tomorrow I will try connecting the car’s OEM bluetooth to the bluetooth output from the Limcet module to completely bypass the noisy AUX issue. If that doesn’t work I’ll go back to installing a ground loop isolator inline.

While there are a couple of small issues I still think this system is good for the price as it’s significantly cheaper than UAD or alternatives and the seller has been super responsive with customer service and technical support. They apparently have never had the steering steering wheel controls working on a North American f-type with the Bosch head unit yet but they’re working with me to capture CAN signals and developing a custom f-type firmware to get the SWCs working.

Even still, I sorta regret not spending more money up front for a CarPlay box with better audio hardware but I couldn’t find one that installs so seamlessly. Does anyone know of one that doesn’t require a center console AUX cable like UAD but still has clean audio?

 

Hi , i buy the same kind of unit from taobao, but they dont come with the service manual...can u please send me a copy of yours please?? very much appreciate
my email: nkc1989tic@yahoo.com.hk
thank you

 

@nkc1989hkjc Sent

 

Update: In Car Solutions is searching for an F-Type with the exact infotainment system that mine has in order to fix the steering wheel controls and bluetooth audio to oem stereo in firmware. Just waiting on them to get back to me with an update.

I still haven't wired in a ground fault isolator but I'll do that eventually. For now the buzzing isn't that bad if I turn down the volume when no music/audio is playing.

Overall can't recommend the kit super highly at the moment but it was still much cheaper than alternatives so with some patience and eventual fixes (DIY or mfr provided) I think it'll end up being worth it. If I can get these small issues sorted out this will be a very full featured kit at a good price. So far, you get what you pay for though 😅

 

thx for the manual, i think my one is a bit different from yours, my one works perfectly, the sound, the reverse camera, google map, siri too, hope u can fix yr one some day.

 

this is my one, about USD$200, because i live in Hong Kong so ship from china is very cheap.

 

@nkc1989hkjc Did you run the IAM cable along the center console or are you using bluetooth for audio?

That looks like a very similar system to mine. Do you know the manufacturer of the module?

 

Yes, i also did run the cable under the center console just like u, luckily they come with a long enough cable.

It paired with the original bluetooth and also wifi so carplay can work, maybe this is why my sound dont hv the problem like u.

sorry i dont know the manufacturer.

 

@nkc1989hkjc Thanks! So just to be clear, your jaguar oem stereo is set to bluetooth audio not auxiliary? And the car's bluetooth is connected to the carplay module's bluetooth audio, not your phone's bluetooth audio?

Just clarifying because I AM able to connect to wireless carplay and also phone -> oem bluetooth simultaneously and the audio quality is great but it's not ideal. The carplay navigation instructions don't play over the phone's bluetooth connection and I have to manually switch from 'Carplay" audio to "Jaguar F-Type" on my phone every time I get in the car.

Where did you buy this from, do you have a link? It's ok even if its in mandarin or cantonese, I can use a translator.

Thanks!