FAQs
APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO RETROFIT FAQ
At The Cockpit UK, Our team dive into Apple CarPlay and Android Auto world everyday, so we thought it would be a good idea to provide you with a detailed FAQ covering a wide range of topics relating retrofitting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into your vehicle. This FAQ relates to our Smart Apple Carplay / Android Auto multimedia interface which is compatible with BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, Lamborghini, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, Maserati Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda, Mini, Toyota and Ford vehicles.
WHAT IS APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO?
Apple CarPlay is a user interface designed by Apple Inc specifically for vehicles. It is designed to display applications from your phone onto the built-in display of your vehicle dash. Android Auto is designed by Android Inc/Google Inc and provides similar features to Apple CarPlay.
WHICH APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE WHEN USING CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO?
Messaging: Messaging applications like iMessage, WhatsApp, and various others are accessible through CarPlay/Android Auto. Whether you're the driver or a passenger, you can compose, send, and read messages using Siri or voice activation.
Music: Enjoy your favorite tunes with applications such as iTunes (CarPlay only), Amazon Music, Spotify, and various radio apps like Radio.net and BBC iRadio. CarPlay/Android Auto allows seamless streaming from your phone to the car interface, delivering high-quality audio through the existing stereo system.
Navigation: For navigation, choose from Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. These applications provide up-to-date maps, real-time traffic updates, and do not require a subscription, unlike the OEM maps offered by vehicle manufacturers.
Audio Books and Podcasts: Make your commute enjoyable by listening to audiobooks or podcasts while on the road. CarPlay and Android Auto support these applications for a more entertaining driving experience.
HOW DOES APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO WORK?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operate by establishing a connection between your iPhone or Android phone and your car's entertainment system. This is facilitated through a retrofit CarPlay/Android Auto interface. Here's an overview of how they work:
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Connection Process:
- When your iPhone or Android phone is connected, it transmits the CarPlay/Android user interface to the vehicle's display through the retrofit CarPlay/Android Auto interface.
- This connection enables the driver to control CarPlay using the factory-fitted entertainment controls, such as BMW i-Drive controller, Mercedes knob or Audi MMI.
- Vehicles equipped with factory touch screen, such as Porsche, Maserati, Jaguar, Range Rover, Bentley, VW, Skoda, Seat and Toyota, Apple Carplay / Android Auto is operated through touch screen.
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Wireless Connectivity:
- Apple CarPlay can connect wirelessly or through a USB cable. The graphic below illustrates the wireless connection method.
- Android Auto requires the user phone to be Android 11 or above to use wireless connection.
- In the wireless setup, the Bluetooth connection is dropped once the WiFi connection is established.
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The Cockpit Retrofit Kit:
- The Cockpit retrofit kit, mentioned in your description, is equipped with both Bluetooth and WiFi antennas to support these wireless connections.
This integration allows for a seamless interaction between your mobile device and the car's infotainment system, enhancing the overall driving experience by providing access to navigation, messaging, music, and more directly through the car's display.
HOW DO I INSTALL THE RETROFIT CARPLAY SYSTEM?
A small Smart Box is installed behind the dashboard, it is connected to the rear of your existing head unit and a wiring loom is provided for “plug and play installation”. It provides an interface between your iPhone/Android phone and the BMW i-Drive / Audi MMI / Mercedes NTG entertainment system. It is very similar to the “factory fit” CarPlay options you see on some new cars except that it has been designed specifically for retro-fitting into older cars which have a built in LCD displays.
DOES THIS REPLACE MY EXISTING IDRIVE/MMI/NTG SYSTEM?
No, the Smart Box CarPlay/Android Auto system works in parallel with the existing iDrive/MMI/NTG system. For example, you can switch between the two by pressing the MENU button on the BMW radio panel. You do not need to remove any of the BMW iDrive system components, you simply “add in” the Smart Box using the plug and play wiring loom. The same is true for Audi, Mercedes, Mini and all other makes we offer the retrofit for.
HOW DOES CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO CONNECT TO MY PHONE?
The Cockpit Smart box connects to your iPhone/Android phone using either a wireless Bluetooth connection or the supplied USB connection. If connecting by USB the Vehicle will also charge your phone while using Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
WHERE IS THE SMART BOX INSTALLED?
The Smart Box is installed behind the vehicle dashboard, access is usually gained by removing the radio panel, head unit and a panel in the passenger footwell. The Smart Box is connected in-between the built in LCD/TFT display and the existing wiring loom. The Smart Box sends and receives the signals from the iPhone to the TFT display and the rest of the vehicle entertainment system. User control signals, such as BMW i-Drive or the Audi MMI control signals are interpreted by the Smart Box and utilised to control Apple CarPlay. The Smart Box is a plug and play solution and no alterations to the OEM wiring loom are required. The Smart box can be removed at any time and the vehicle can be returned to factory specifications.
CAN I CONNECT WIRELESSLY TO CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO SYSTEM?
Yes, all the Smart boxes allow wireless Bluetooth connection as well as USB cable connection which will simultaneously charge your phone at the same time as communicating with the Smart Box.
DOES THE STANDARD VEHICLE MICROPHONE WORK WITH THE SMART BOX?
On most models our Smart Box will use your factory fitted microphone. If you are connecting to the car with a USB cable you can use the factory Bluetooth microphone for calls when using android auto on all models.
We do supply a microphone and have performed thorough audio testing, as the sound quality of the Smart Box microphone is excellent. The microphone is supplied with the retrofit kit and installation is simple.
WHERE IS THE MICROPHONE INSTALLED?
Most of our kits utilise the OEM original car microphone. If an aftermarket microphone is required, we generally recommend installation near the rear view mirror, wiring normally run from the Smart Box along the inside of the rubber door seal “lip” and then around the windscreen behind the roof lining. It can be installed to any suitable location.
DOES THE ROTARY CONTROLLER AND BUTTONS WORK WITH CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO?
Yes, the rotary knob is fully functional and is the main control interface to CarPlay/Android Auto.
DOES THE SMART BOX SUPPORT STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS?
Yes, factory steering wheel controls such as volume control, OK and Cancel etc are compatible with the CarPlay/Android Auto interface. Depending on usability every make and model has different options and features.
IS IT A DIY INSTALLATION?
Yes, the Smart Box has been designed to be installed by anybody who is a competetent DIYer.
If you are not confident or doesn't have the right tools, We also recommend and offer installations by our approved technicians in major cities.
Please note, Self-installation is performed at the owners risk and no responsibility can be taken for damage caused by the installer.
WILL MY ORIGINAL STEREO SYSTEM STILL WORK AFTER THE SMART BOX IS INSTALLED (DAB, AM/FW, ETC)?
Yes, your standard in-car entertainment system remains fully functional. when you want to use CarPlay/Android Auto, you enable it on the BMW’s by holding down the “MENU” key on the OEM iDrive controller. CarPlay will then be enabled and displayed on the LCD display, you can switch back to iDrive at any time. Different buttons are used as the “activation” button on different systems.
WILL MY PHONE AUTOMATICALLY CONNECT TO CARPLAY WHEN I GET IN THE CAR?
Once initially paired, your iPhone will automatically connect to CarPlay when you get in the car.
I HAVE A TOUCH SCREEN IN MY CAR, WILL A SMART BOX USE THE TOUCH SCREEN?
Yes it will, if the vehicle has touch functionality then this function is fully compatible with the Smart Box. Excluding NBT EVO models.
CAN I LISTEN TO MY DAB OEM RADIO AT THE SAME TIME AS CARPLAY IS RUNNING ON MY DISPLAY?
Yes, the choice between the audio source is seperate to the what is displayed on the LCD screen. For example, you can be listening to your DAB radio at the same time as using Waze navigation. The only limitation is that you can only use one audio source at a time, if you are listening to DAB radio then you will not hear the navigation instructions from CarPlay/Android Auto. If you want to listen to music as well as hear navigation instructions, you can do this by using one of the excellent “Radio” apps such as Radio.net, BBC Radio Player or one of the many music apps including Spotify or Amazon music in carplay.
IS THERE A MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY?
Yes, a 1 year return to base UK manufacturer warranty is offered.
IS THE SMART BOX CE MARKED?
Yes, the Smart box has been through all relevant tests required by the EU directive 2014/53/EU. This includes all safety tests required for Bluetooth communications, emissions testing and immunity testing.
WILL THE CAR INTERIOR STILL LOOK AND BEHAVE LIKE A “FACTORY SPEC MODEL”?
Yes, the Smart Box is mounted inside the dash and does not interfere at all with “normal operation" of the vehicle, it also uses the original LCD display so no additional visible hardware is installed.
WHERE DOES THE AUDIO COME FROM WHEN USING CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO?
The audio signal is generated from within the Smart Box using data passed to it from your phone, this is then connected via our wiring loom the AUX line in the vehicle. Audio is played when you enable “AUX” in the audio menu of the car.
If you do not have an AUX line (some Mercedes NTG5 and Audi models) this can be activated, a USB-AUX converter can be used, or an AMI-AUX adapter can be used).
IS THE AUDIO QUALITY FROM THE SMART BOX OF HIGH QUALITY?
Yes, absolutely – the Smart Box uses the highest of quality audio components including Japanese Capacitors in order to generate the best possible quality audio.
DOES MY VEHICLE REQUIRE A GPS ANTENNA TO ALLOW GOOGLE MAPS, WAZE OR ANY OF THE OTHER NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS TO WORK PROPERLY?
No, you do not require a GPS antenna in the car as CarPlay will use your phone’s built-in GPS antenna. This is one of the great benefits of the Smart Box as vehicles without navigation can be “upgraded” to include navigation with Carplay. Not only that, Waze, Google Maps and Apple Maps are in our opinion far superior to the BMW/Audi/Mercedes navigation system.
WILL THE SMART BOX BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE LATEST IOS AND ANDROID SOFTWARE?
Yes, the Smart box software is continually developed to be compatible with the latest iOS and Android software releases, upgrading your Smart Box is a simple process in which we send you the latest firmware, you upload it to a USB stick and connect the stick to the USB port in the vehicle. The software is then automatically uploaded to the Smart Box.
WILL THE FACTORY FITTED PARKING DISTANCE SENSORS (PDC) STILL WORK WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE?
Yes, the BMW/Audi/Mercedes etc parking distance sensors will still work when you put the car into reverse. If you are not installing an aftermarket reversing camera then be sure to make the correct setting (Reversing Camera->Original car) in the settings menu, this is found in the “BMW”, “Audi” or Mercedes” etc app on the CarPlay/Android Auto user interface (depending on your vehicle make).
I ALREADY HAVE A FACTORY FITTED REVERSING CAMERA, WILL THIS STILL WORK ONCE THE RETROFIT CARPLAY INTERFACE IS INSTALLED?
Yes, when the car is put into reverse, the central display switches to the BMW rear view camera and also activates the parking distance sensors.
IF I HAVE PDC’S BUT NO FACTORY FITTED REVERSING CAMERA, CAN I RETROFIT AN AFTERMARKET REVERSING CAMERA THAT WILL WORK WITH CARPLAY?
Yes you can, we recommend a 12V version. The aftermarket reversing camera (once fitted) needs to be enabled in the settings menu of the Smart Box.
HOW DO I SWITCH BETWEEN CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO AND MY NATIVE SYSTEM?
In all compatible vehicles we will assign 1 or more buttons on your centre console and/or steering wheel to switch between your original native entertainment system and CarPlay/Android Auto. In order not to conflict with your original functions, we generally use a 2 second “press and hold” of a button on the console, here are some examples of the buttons we use
BMW : PRESS AND HOLD “MENU”
AUDI : PRESS AND HOLD “MENU/MEDIA/CAR/INFO”
PORSCHE : PRESS AND HOLD “NAVI”
MERCEDES : PRESS AND HOLD “STAR” or “RETURN
JAGUAR : PRESS AND HOLD "HOME or NAV"
LAND ROVER : PRESS AND HOLD "HOME or NAV"
Any Further Questions? Feel free to contact us...
