Hi -

I'm still searching for a potential Apple CarPlay upgrade route for my R55 Clubman. The car has HK audio AND original factory nav (screen in center of speedo). This is the CCC version, not CiC. I'd be happy with an Android type unit to replace the speedo, or a double DIN conversion. I'd be prepared to lose the HK audio, if that's the tradeoff, provided that I can somehow use the factory speakers with an aftermarket amp.

Has anyone done this sort of upgrade successfully ? After months of searching I still don't have the answer. I tried a CarPlay adapter unit, but it wouldn't work.

 

Well - I did it ! Used a Chinese unit with its own amp, and it works. Steering wheel controls work, voice control, decent sound (no sub).

Added a rear camera too. It’s given this 11 year old car a new lease of life.

I found a salvage center dash trim that had just the single ‘CD slot’ and took the whole of the old two slot audio/nav unit out.

After a quick reset with the scan tool, I have no warnings/codes.

 

Nice. Did you get to keep the HK sound system? Which unit did you use? I too am looking for a CarPlay option with that might work with the HK system.

 

Factory amp doesn't get used. You lose HK. All the speakers work, apart from the sub. But you gain so much more than you lose, in my opinion.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274021925565

Seller is pretty responsive. Make sure that you tell him that you have HK, and send him photos of your current setup. He will send you the right cables etc with the unit. You will lose the mph speedo, but you can use the one in the steering wheel display instead. There's no way to switch the new unit from kph unfortunately. If you don't have factory nav, your install will be easier than mine.

 

Which CCC unit did you try? Sucks you lost the H/K.

We are working/testing on a system for full replacement and you will not show KPH and all that other stuff as those units are made for the China/Euro market. No eta on release. Looks OEM.

 

I did a different unit but it did have mph/kph option. It is supposed to work with H/K but my car doesn't have it so I cannot confirm. It will not work if your car had the stock NAV.

I didn't care for their launcher so I got Agama Car Launcher. I have it or Torque Pro displayed most of the time.

 

And what models/systems will it be compatible. I'll have a 2010 R57 with HK and a 2009 R57 base. I was thinking of a double din unit for the 2009 ( with one of the small amps that it in the dash, new speakers, back up cam etc ), but for the 2010 - just speakers. But would love to see what your system would be

 

Let us know when you have an update

 

CCC is here and in stock. Its for the cars with a Display screen of course. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...men-parts.html

 

I used one of these units on my 2010 CCC car and gave up. A few things to bear in mind if you have that vintage of car with the double slot CD and DVD players :

1. The resolution of the original factory display is terrible. You will never have seen CarPlay look as low-res and blurry as it does on that screen.

2. The original factory display is not a touch screen. It’s not a great experience when you are trying to move through the icons using the factory ***** located down by the gear shifter.

3. There is very little space left behind the original head units. Squeezing the CarPlay box back there is very difficult. Installing it in the upper glove box might be possible but the supplied cables have large plugs on them and they are quite short, so good luck with that.

 

Do you know what the amp specs are for this ? Did you replace the stock speakers ? My 2009 just has a base system. Other units seem to be less $$ - how did you choose this one. BTW - I would be looking to this to my 2009 R57 S / Base stereo system. Most important to me would be sound, rear cam, perhaps Sirius. Android Auto/Car play are only nice to haves ...

I did email the seller - to see what he says, but wanted your hands on feedback too !

 

So can we CCC owners use any compatible Android Headunit or are we limited to the one posted here?

How does the new headunit work with existing extras like GPS, Park Sensors etc?
Do we lose the stock CCC functionalities like errors, setting up tire sensors etc.? (I dont know what else we can do with CCC)
I always wanted to install an Android Headunit, but all seller only listed as working / compatible with non CCC devices..

 

I chose this one because the seller said it would work with CCC and HK. No others I found that would do this, although they may be out there. I did not replace the stock speakers, and they all worked plug and play with the cables that were provided out of the box. Except the sub, as previously mentioned.

Audio is ok, not stellar. But it's my daughter's car, and she couldn't be happier. It's plenty loud enough for here without any distortion. Definitely NOT for audiophiles.

I've mounted a small GPS antenna behind the dash, and it works fine, but it's not really needed if you use Apple CarPlay as you are using the GPS from your phone. I could not get the factory roof mount GPS antenna to work with this head unit, even tho it did work with the old factory nav unit.

You do lose all the original functions that are controlled by the joystick next to the transmission shifter, but the warning lights on the new head unit all seem to work. Fuel gauge, seat belt etc. Parking sensors work perfectly, as does the backup camera that I added while I was doing the work.

I use the speedo (MPH) in the steering wheel cluster, and that's fine. It does not default back to something else when the car is turned off, so it works well.

I have a scan tool, and there are no codes after clearing everything out post-install. I'm relaxed that I haven't lost any important CCC functionality that I couldn't get to via steering wheel and/or scan tool. Maybe I lost accent lighting control or something like that. I don't even remember what's in those menus anymore.

I did have to do a little bit of cutting of some plastic behind the dash, but it was very easy and minor, using a Dremel. I have no intention of returning the car to stock, so that's all good.