Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > CarPlay - Do aftermarket installs retain access to car settings and buttons?

CarPlay - Do aftermarket installs retain access to car settings and buttons?
Thread Tools
Gametes
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Norfolk, Va
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 15, 2015, 02:55 PM
 
As the title says, I'm considering replacing my current radio head unit with a CarPlay, and am having trouble determining from the scant reports and documentation how much, if any, of the existing vehicle functionality will carry over. I'd like to hear from actual owners, if anyone is one.

I've read that steering wheel controls are retained, if properly configured, but I'm also wondering about all the myriad buttons on the center dash, such as 'Config" and "Tone" and "Back", and even more so if there will be access to car settings, such as "how long should the lights stay on after the driver door closes" and "how intense should the fan be when automatic climate controls are on". These seem like pretty obscure, model-specific things, but I can also see the car's computer feeding such settings to any unit according to a standard.

Anybody with an existing high-complexity system (with lots of physical buttons, and car settings accessible via the screen) replaced it with CarPlay? What's your experience?
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
May 22, 2015, 09:58 AM
 
Communication standards will vary by automaker and model. What do you have?
     
MacinTommy
Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 22, 2015, 12:45 PM
 
I'm wondering the same- I have a 2014 Mazda 6 Touring.

I have controls on my steering wheel and a "knob" near my shifter that controls the infotainment center by spinning and pushing down to click.
     
P
Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 22, 2015, 01:11 PM
 
I don't have first hand experience, but I have heard good reviews of installation kits from

Car Audio Accessory Manufacturer

They sell connection kits based on the car you have so an aftermarket head unit can work with car's controls.
The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
     
Face Ache
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 27, 2015, 05:37 AM
 
I had this unit dropped into my 2005 VW GTI last week.



The buttons on the wheel work. Looks like it's always been there. Even has a GTI theme and a VW logo at startup. After driving around for years with a radio and a 6CD stacker, I suddenly have satnav, mp3, bluetooth...! I can finally use that damn phone button on my wheel that I've been looking at for ten years.

YMMV. It'll depend on your car and the system.
     
Cap'n Tightpants
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Shaddim's sock drawer
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 27, 2015, 07:35 AM
 
Who makes that behemoth?
"I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin,
but by the content of their character." - M.L.King Jr
     
Face Ache
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 29, 2015, 04:13 AM
 
Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants View Post
Who makes that behemoth?
It's a Hoff9000.
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 29, 2015, 12:47 PM
 
I can't believe I didn't notice it was right-hand drive the first time through this thread. So perceptive.
     
boy8cookie
Mac Elite
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: I'll let you know when I get there...
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 29, 2015, 02:29 PM
 
Find what fits your car - Crutchfield

I used this site to find the parts for my car. I retained steering wheel controls with my carplay setup (Alpine iLX-007).
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
May 29, 2015, 03:03 PM
 
Originally Posted by Face Ache View Post
It's a Hoff9000.
     
Rumor
Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: on the verge of insanity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 29, 2015, 04:01 PM
 
Originally Posted by Face Ache View Post
I had this unit dropped into my 2005 VW GTI last week.



The buttons on the wheel work. Looks like it's always been there. Even has a GTI theme and a VW logo at startup. After driving around for years with a radio and a 6CD stacker, I suddenly have satnav, mp3, bluetooth...! I can finally use that damn phone button on my wheel that I've been looking at for ten years.

YMMV. It'll depend on your car and the system.
If I had to drive your car...

I like my water with hops, malt, hops, yeast, and hops.
     
Gametes  (op)
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Norfolk, Va
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jun 1, 2015, 11:46 PM
 
I'm surprised the materials from Apple, Pioneer, et al are so scant on this subject. I can't see anyone being willing to render half the buttons on their car useless or outright eliminate functionality such as "whether the car honks or not when remote locked". For me, this was the first question that came to mind (other than "where do I sign up?"), yet I can't find the answer anywhere. Guess I'll have to actually consider calling someone...
you are not your signature
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:57 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,