Great write up, I hope my unit will go in smoothly.
Mine has been stuck at some airport since 25 Nov!
Finally today it's on the move, doesn't say from where
but hopefully I get it beginning of next week.

 

When you connect your iPhone to the USB port via lightning cable, you’ll need to use an app to connect to CarPlay. It may be the CarLink app I see in your pictures. It should find your phone and open CarPlay automatically from that app. It looks like you have the wireless CarPlay flat antenna. Set the wireless up in the app setup. I put an android radio in my winter car, and that’s how it works on mine. Hope it helps...

 

It's kind of weird, but when I first plugged in the screen and was fiddling around with it, I was convinced that I had seen some of the CarPlay apps (e.g. Messages) in the screen as I was connected via Bluetooth and WiFi. I've attempted several times to reconnect via the iPhone settings to add those features again, but failed. It can find locate the device without issue, but a perpetual "spinning" icon as it cannot actually finish the connection.

I'll try it with the USB cables and that CarLink app to see what kind of luck I have with that approach. Appreciate your post on the matter. Thanks.

 

Kurt, assuming you pull the unit out again, consider writing down all of the part numbers for the ancillary parts, including if it's on there the board on back of the tablet, and maybe the tablet itself. One of the things that Jahummer pointed out and I agree is the support for the product long term (we all know that won't happen) but if you could list the part numbers, we can see if they can be purchased separately.
Example is the MOST Canbus decoder which was sourced from Germany I think.

Lastly, is there a way for you to download the code? That way you would have it in case the tablet fails. Also maybe all of this is over the top for $1000 give or take but can you replace the tablet it came with with any other 12" tablet? Again, just curious. While I'm warming to the look more than when I first saw it, it's not for me.

 

Now for the questions:

I see you gained
video
You indicated audio is improved (wired)
CarPlay (and I would assume Android Auto are gained)


What OEM features did you lose:
We know TPMS but frankly is that really a loss?
what else please?

 

Sean - If I pull the main unit from the dash again, I'll absolutely do that. But you're right for the most part: I view it as "disposal tech" in the event of catastrophic failure. I have the OEM head unit and trim piece already wrapped in plastic and set into storage. Given the relative ease in which it can be pulled and restored, I'm OK with that as a backup plan.

I did request that the Seller provide me with the 4-digit admin passcode earlier this morning so I can "tinker" (which means I'll probably blow something up). Once I have that, I'll be able to see what I truly have access to in terms of code, etc. I'm presuming I can hook up a USB storage device and simply copy it down, though the ways of Android are foreign to me (old PC guy and current Apple guy).

 

Honestly, I'm still tinkering. And if it means I never have to see another TPMS code again, it's been well worth it! With that said, TPMS provides a valuable service and I've recently added new "sending units" in the wheels and a new AGM battery, which combined to eliminate all of my previous TPMS error messages that were driving me bat shyte crazy.

What did I gain? For me (with a failing head unit, or at least the Bluetooth module), what I've gained to date is:

CarPlay!



Access to my entire iTunes library on my iPhone



I was playing around this morning on a trip to the store, and notices that the "Messages" app in CarTunes will read my inbound texts to me and alllow me to use TTS (Text-to-Speech) dictation to compose outbound messages.

Even though I had the Costco purchased solar-powered backup camera solution, I've gained an integrated backup cam that - thanks to a certain board member who gets confused about LHD and RHD power connections in the rear seat auxiliary power box - also displays video and audio warnings from my proximity sensors. Since I "cost justified" the spend with she-who-must-be-obeyed (a.k.a. the fun suppressor) on the safety elements of hands-free calling and having a backup camera, I'm thrilled that I was able to meet those two objectives.

And - true confessions of a natural blonde - I've also increased the clarity of the video screen by finally removing the protective film layers that it was ensconced in for shipping, etc. Fiddling with the "brightness" settings under the "Settings" menu - which has a TON of layers to it - has also improved the visual presentation and touch screen responsiveness.

There are things I haven't tried yet (e.g. cruise control) to ensure that ALL of my steering wheel controls are still functional. The volume, "next channel" and "voice" icon on the left hand side are all operational, and I'll test the rest of them out over the next several days.

One of the things I've "lost" per se is Fahrenheit temperature measurements. The screen only displays in Celsius. I'm old enough to remember learning everything about the Metric system in grade school because we'd all be converting sometime in the 70's ... but I can figure out what's warm and what's cold. That's an annoyance to me, but not a deal breaker. And I've noticed one (1) misspelled word in one of the sub-menus - also annoying to my OCD mind, but not a deal breaker.

I'll continue to monitor and report on things I find that might be of interest to the board, and of course I'll continue to "take requests" and respond to questions. Soon, I'll have company with @peterv8 as his will EVENTUALLY leave whatever airport it's trapped in and arrive for installation, etc.

 

Quick follow-up (see above). That's exactly how it went down. I do have to first establish WiFi connectivity with my HotSpot, then I join a proprietary network with my AirDrop network in order to enable CarPlay. It's a bit of a workout that may become annoying each and every time I have to start the car, but I'm thrilled to have the functionality at my disposal so as my old hut hut Coach used to say, "Suck it up, buttercup!" (that was usually followed by laps in my case. "Oh, we were going on "two" that play. Muh bad."

 

That son of Bit.......

First mistake I've made all year too.

 

Also curious if you can access Google Play Store when in Android mode. If so, you can download Torque Pro and display virtual gauges, etc...

 

I can absolutely access the Google Play Store and download apps. However ... I've got the fancy dancy ADU from Cabrio Bob installed, so most of my needs in that regard are already taken care of. But it's certainly possible to add that info to the screen.

 

I was fiddling around with radio presets (FM 1, 2 & 3; AM 1, 2, & 3 - six (6) stations on each page and it occurred to me - NO Satellite (Sirius/XM) Radio! I no longer subscribe, but for those folks who do there's no native solution in the radio screen. Perhaps Sirius/XM has an app on the Google Play store that could be downloaded, or you could use one of their portable devices and connect it via Bluetooth or USB or HDMI cable, depending on the portable device capabilities.

I thought I'd add that "epiphany" to the discussion.

 

SiriusXm has an app that’s perfect for CarPlay

 

Yes the app is far superior than the native interface in the OEM config. Though someone in the other thread I think said this was a dealbreaker as they preferred the OEM radio interface.

 

That was me. I said that it was a deal breaker. If I can get it through the car play app, then I will re-consider.

 

It's the same as yours Kurt. Unlucky for me there is damage to the wooden frame. Have sent a message and waiting for reply. It says in the frame Mahogny, it sure doesn't match my interior at all so will need to wrap it, what's the wood in my car called?

Does anybody know where to by some matching wrap?

 

Here's the available interiors for 2007. The name of your interior wood veneer is Burr Walnut.

 

Just Google "Burr walnut woodgrain vinyl wrap" and you'll find many vendors on the internet. Or search Ebay. Here's one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wood-Grain-....m46890.l49292

 

Congrats on FINALLY having the product, but that stinks that there was some damage. Pretty sure the seller would/should replace that damaged piece. I'd sure inquire ... forcefully ... about such an accommodation.

I had the "honey burl" (2008 model year) and Stuart S has correctly identified your wood as the "walnut" color. I did try wrapping mine (1st effort at that, and it went fairly well), but honestly the wrap itself looked so hideous when I proudly carried it out to my dash and compared it next to my beautiful honey burl wood that I promptly carried it back in and tore it off.

Yes, there is a bit of color differential between the video screen surrounding trim piece and the other wood pieces, but it looks better (to me) than the flat wrapped look that I had from Rvinyl. Besides - nobody is looking at the plastic trim surround piece - they're all staring at that gorgeous screen!

Best of luck with the tear-out and installation process, Peter.

 

Unless you can’t live without the wood, changing the center console bits to piano lacquer would go along quite well with the modern screen and solve the fake wood issue. I love burl woods and certainly couldn’t settle for simulated finishes.