Top products from r/CarPlay

I've done the same thing, more or less, and mostly agree it works well - but there are significant drawbacks too. Since at least one person seems possibly interested...

My setup is in a 2004 Acura RSX. That predates car radios commonly having aux inputs, and I was not into changing it out due to theft risk, so I run audio through an RCA input cd-changer adapter I grabbed off eBay. It doesn't require any power, it just plugs into the back of the head unit.

My current tablet is "The New iPad" - aka the third generation, first Retina screen - with Verizon 4G. Long ago I switched to a T-Mobile "200MB/month freebie" SIM that meets most of my needs. Just for instance, it worked for Waze the full way on a ~600 mile road trip. Obviously that's not enough to run Pandora for 100 hours. YMMV!

I also have (heheh, for now anyway but that's another story) a Karma hotspot, which - if they can keep my service intact, and there's a Sprint tower nearby - gives pretty decent performance. Unfortunately on my road trip that didn't happen, and I ended up without internet for a long leg of my night drive back home. My Virgin Mobile (3G) iPhone 4s had no problems though, and luckily I'd downloaded the maps I needed via hotel WiFi. But Maps.me isn't my first choice nav app.

The glare on the screen is sometimes problematic, but it's easy to move it to a different angle, because I mounted it using this arm - my review is the top one for verified purchase and includes a couple pics. My opinion hasn't changed much. It's nifty, but probably not worth that asking price and maybe not even the price I paid which I think was $19. The vibration on rough roads is significant. In the small interior space it interferes some with passengers. The foam padding comes unstuck in the 180°F+ car interior. Etc.

My rear-seat 12v accessory port supplies power via a right-angle 30-pin dock cable. (didn't have it yet in the picture) This prevents interference with the shifter. The car's an auto, but I don't want to yank the cable out shifting into reverse when I parallel park. Audio also has a right-angle plug, for the same reason.

It takes me about 5 seconds to un-cable everything, close the cover, and slide it between my center console and the passenger seat. That makes it practically invisible from outside the car, though I'm sure the gooseneck gives some indication.

Overall, I think it gives a lot of the advantages of CarPlay and avoids some of the drawbacks. Particularly... I can use ANY app, even if it's not CarPlay enabled, which will behave the same way everywhere ; on my couch, in a hotel room, on the side of the road, and while driving. My sense of self preservation is enough to prevent me from doing anything overly dumb - I don't need "nanny mode" to keep me safe. Of course I lose out on some of the super-fancy features like auto-reading TXT messages. So ... YMMV.

Right now the biggest hinderance to my happiness is not being on iOS 10 - my ancient hardware is stuck with 9. But everything works well enough that I probably won't upgrade until more important apps stop supporting the old APIs.

I don't think there is any other way to get audio into the unit. The best option might be keeping a Bluetooth transmitter in the car. Something like this. There are a ton of Chinese rebrand variants on Amazon, but that one seems to be the most popular. You will need to arrange power to micro-USB port as well. Maybe mount it somewhere and use a 3.5mm extension cable.

Another option is to save your pennies and wait to see how the Alpine iLX-107 turns out.


I haven't recorded a memo or anything to see how the mic quality is, but noone I've called has commented either way. It seems to work well enough--"Hey Siri" works even with music going at a comfortable volume.

I got this from Amazon to connect with my unit. U can try it but honestly idk why ur having such a hard time. Maybe the problem is with the unit itself. It works like it should for me. Not to say that it's great, it could def be better. I have a lot of gripes personally, but it's def worlds better than what I had.

/u/pixelkarma If you're keen on the JBL CP100 I would highly recommend the Sony XAV-AX100. The only issue is it doesn't have Aux in. I love my one, it works/sounds great.

I would say the installation will probably be around $100-$150

Here’s a link to Geek Squad. Their installation is about $65 plus parts. I would think with a mount kit and the steering wheel control integration you would probably be at around $100-$120

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/car-deck-installation-hardware-not-included/3582102.p?skuId=3582102

I bought my Pioneer AppRadio 4 off Amazon. (SPH-DA120) it is CarPlay enabled. I really like it but would recommend you also get a matte screen protector for it as well or else the fingerprints get pretty bad. (I had to wipe mine off daily with my OCD)

Pioneer AppRadio 4 SPH-DA120 6.2-Inch Capacitive Touchscreen Smartphone Receiver Display. Here is a listing for one at $330. There may be cheaper options out there now if you do some shopping around. I’m not sure.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8B7CFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jRH4AbQBZ71HF

So I’m guessing stereo + parts + install would be around $450 roughly.

I just have an iphone AV cable there, so that if I occasionally want to use a 3rd party app, I can. I recommend either the official AV adapter (you might need some cables to go with it), or the cable that I'm using.

I've toyed with google maps and some TV shows (while parked)

This is what you probably wanted:

Carlinkit Wireless carplay dongle Original Screen carplay activator Adapter for Audi Volvo Benz Porsche with carplay Support Steering Wheel Button/Wired to Wireless carplay Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T8NQJX1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_vOFYDbAXGDRK1

I’m pretty sure there’s no setting that will do what you want. As an alternative, you could use a USB “condom” to let your phone charge without triggering CarPlay.

I've been looking at this on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8B7CFS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1GRTT9GHGRY0B

I really like the minimal look of the interface.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T8NQJX1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BRMFDbA80ZY5Z

It’s a part of a multi-product page, so the reviews aren’t all about this exact one. But the few I’ve read about this one say it’s great. It’s $178 but there’s a $60 coupon you click to activate.

eBoTrade Dirct Mini Security Metal DVR Micro Sd Card Recording with Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A0JMY8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_kyftzb2SX2HFB

I bought one of these for my 2013 Toyota 4Runner and Pioneer AVH-4100NEX. All the buttons work perfectly (including voice/Siri), and there was no config required.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B4PJC9K

I know this isn't your combination, but for what it's worth...

get a brake bypass circuit and ask them to install it when the fix the job: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FKAHFM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

this is the one I bought and my car never complains about being in park to make changes to the settings

Amazon have some but it’s a little pricey
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-SPHDA120-Apple-CarPlay-Stereo/dp/B00O8B7CFS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=Pioneer+Apple+CarPlay+Stereo&qid=1565109647&s=gateway&sr=8-1

im also using the carlink one https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07QGZ9W1D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

try downloading this apk

http://121.40.123.198:8080/AutoKit/AutoKit.apk

One does exist now but you have to be running Android 4.4.2+ to be compatible.

https://www.amazon.com/Carlinkit-Wireless-Mirroring-Interface-Receiver/dp/B07QGZ9W1D

Link to device: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QGZ9W1D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JgKmDbAE6Z8JK

Since yesterday I have a new car and it’s my first time being able to use CarPlay.
Now I’m finding myself with the same issue and did some looking around and gonna buy and try out this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KHVY3TQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-UwRAbQQXAQPF soon.

I am speaking from personal experience on my own car and I'm not sure if it'll pertain at all to your situation so take it however you want.

I own a 2006 G35 with factory bose amp and if I did not use the correct interface kit and spliced the headunit cables directly to the factory audio interface, i would experience the same exact symptoms you did. This was because on my car the bose amp needed to havea the correct signal supplied to which was only possible with this interface kit: https://www.amazon.com/PAC-ROEM-NIS2-Interface-Integrate-Amplifiers/dp/B000CE9OY2

again this is for my car and I dont know if you have a factory amp or anything but maybe its something you can look into

That chime may not be coming from the stereo itself, there are adapters for the stereo that add this functionality. I recently installed an ilx-107 in my car and left out the chime module from the adapter as it was obnoxiously loud.

Adapter like this.

I'm just embarking on this as well. My current thinking is to mount the tablet magnetically on this thing.

Bought this dongle.

Installed the app on a 2015 Fire 7 tablet I had laying around. I may deregister the tablet from my Amazon account just to guard against the app-from-random-website buying Amazon stuff or Audible books.

Seems to work fine sitting here on my dining room table, but the first OTG/Charging adapter I bought doesn't support OTG and charging simultaneously, so that's going back and I'm going to try this or this to see which one wins.

Both the phone and the tablet do show up as "Charging" when this first adapter is in "Charging" mode, though, so that isn't something I'm worried about yet. Worst case I suppose I use something like this to get power to the phone individually.


I'm planning to mount the Carlink widget on the back of the tablet with some command adhesive or what have you, then I can pop it off and toss it in the glovebox when parking.

I haven't yet tested the Bluetooth connection from the Fire to the car, but worst case I use an aux cable.

So far I'm pretty excited. I just bought a 2014 Leaf and am missing CarPlay from the car I replaced. When I bought it I started looking into that $500 contraption that hooks into the reverse camera, then started thinking about what would be involved in making a minimal "CarPlay" screen maybe out of an RPi touch screen. Then happened upon this widget.

The fallback plan is to buy a cheap carplay-compatible head unit and disassemble it so I can mount the screen on a stick and put the head unit itself under the seat [this Leaf has the "fancy" stereo that's tied into the climate control and such].

I used the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX In-Dash Multimedia DVD Receiver with 7" WVGA Touchscreen Display https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SKJPKGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ADrFAbA878317 from Amazon and BLACK ABS PLASTIC SHEET CAR INTERIOR to cut to fill the gaps. It’s doesn’t look bad in my opinion.

Other parts used MicroBypass Parking Brake Switch, Metra Electronics 40-NI12 Antenna Cable to Aftermarket Radio Adapter for Select 2007-Up Infiniti/Nissan Vehicles, Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface, Metra 70-7552 Radio Wiring Harness For Nissan 2007-Up/Select Subaru 2008-Up

Sorry I am on mobile and the link wouldn’t work. I hope this all helps.

Non shitty referral link

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-XAV-AX100-Android-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01MF9W0GU/