Aftermarket Apple Carplay?

**arcadelt** · 08-12-2015, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by tigger73

That does seem a bit strange. I mean why would you upgrade the whole electrical/communication system for the car just before you go out of production?

In a word, logistics. By and large, VW cars are not standalone, but part of modular systems, with the largest system based on the Golf platform. It makes sense to stop production of the older style parts (accounting for numbers that their modelling calculates are required to be kept for spares) as early as possible and start putting newer parts into all common-platform vehicles as part of the platform transition as it simplifies their supply chain. Presumably VW's engineering has developed to such a point that while the wires remain the same, the major components can change without difficultly, as long as they are all designed to work with the new communications protocol. I have no idea what has happened in the move from the MkVI to the MkVII (as I have no impetus to do the research), but the protocol changed from DDP to BAP in the move to the MkVI. The RNS-510 has a bit that can be changed in VCDS so it can be used in cars based on either protocol, but perhaps the new head units don't, or Ross Tech haven't yet exposed that bit in their ongoing reverse-engineering efforts.

**easybarge** · 08-12-2015, 12:32 PM

I'm getting one of these, full integration and a boat load of features.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peCBRnqclfE

ICARTECH VX8 - Apple CarPlay & Android Link fÃ¼r VW, Skoda und Seat

Apple Carplay Autoradio 8" Display Android GPS FÃœR Scirocco Sharan T5 Tiguan | eBay

**romaniac** · 08-12-2015, 03:07 PM

That looks really good actually, and it seems to work with factory steering controls plus reverse camera too. Could any reasonable car audio place install this unit? Post some updates once you get it done.

**arcadelt** · 08-12-2015, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by easybarge

I'm getting one of these, full integration and a boat load of features.

Personally, for that money I would be getting an Alpine ILX-007e, or the upcoming wireless version. It too supports steering wheel controls, has a reversing camera and will come with a local warranty. While it might be what some others want, a huge plus for me would be that it is not cluttered with its own and an Android operating system, as well as CarPlay - just neater in my opinion.

**romaniac** · 08-12-2015, 07:35 PM

the alpine is just a screen and if you dont have the iphone connected it only works as radio. This other unit has built in gps plus radio and bluetooth connectivity plus it integrates with the climate heating/cooling display and factory camera and it's only $200 more than the alpine.

**arcadelt** · 08-12-2015, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by romaniac

the alpine is just a screen and if you dont have the iphone connected it only works as radio. This other unit has built in gps plus radio and bluetooth connectivity plus it integrates with the climate heating/cooling display and factory camera and it's only $200 more than the alpine.

Sure, but the GPS won't work the Apple Maps in CarPlay, so you'll have to use their navigation system instead. Do you know what OS their software is based on and who is providing their Australian maps?

There has been talk about the ILX-007 already having a WiFi and Bluetooth chip on board, and this gives them a head start to take advantage of Apple removing the cable connection from CarPlay in the release of IOS 9. Not sure what has happened since that OS update has been released, but Alpine seemed to have the inside running.

It's been a while since I did my research, but I vaguely recall that Alpine have a climate display solution too - but perhaps it was for one of their other systems, and not the ILX-007e. I'm afraid I looked at a couple of units before deciding on the RNS-510, but this is an Alpine picture I stored in the research folder on my computer: