Aftermarket carplay on 2017 RX350
03-28-22, 02:56 PM
#1366
My wife has a 2019 RX450h which just missed the cut for Apple CarPlay. As you probably know, the default navigation system in the car is pretty terrible and so she’s always using her iPhone manually for directions, with no car integration. She really would like to use CarPlay instead. However, she’s not very technically savvy and third party solutions that are overly wonky or buggy will probably just make things worse.
What would you suggest we do?
1) get an aftermarket CarPlay solution. Is there one you’d recommend?
2) just live with what we have. My guess is this will only be viable for a year or two
3) trade in now to get a newer Lexus with CarPlay support (obviously not a preferred option)
its pretty crazy how important this one little feature has become for overall car experience, but I’m trying to figure out if any of the third party solutions work well and are idiot proof.
What would you suggest we do?
1) get an aftermarket CarPlay solution. Is there one you’d recommend?
2) just live with what we have. My guess is this will only be viable for a year or two
3) trade in now to get a newer Lexus with CarPlay support (obviously not a preferred option)
its pretty crazy how important this one little feature has become for overall car experience, but I’m trying to figure out if any of the third party solutions work well and are idiot proof.
https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/grom-vl2-lex89.html
It has wireless CarPlay, and wired via USB as well. If you are in Dallas TX area, we can do the install for you.
04-15-22, 06:28 PM
#1368
Question. After using the lsailt for a period of time how often have you guys had to reopen the center console to troubleshoot. Would you guys recommend installing it behind the center console or in the glovebox.
04-16-22, 04:33 AM
#1369
Mines in the glove box and have never had to manually unplug it. Be careful of heat build up, leave a little room for it to breath.
works fairly well, a little glitchy, once in a while, but, all in all really a great upgrade, which we use constantly and depend on it.
we have the Lsailt unit.
works fairly well, a little glitchy, once in a while, but, all in all really a great upgrade, which we use constantly and depend on it.
we have the Lsailt unit.
04-17-22, 07:29 AM
#1370
Mines in the glove box and have never had to manually unplug it. Be careful of heat build up, leave a little room for it to breath.
works fairly well, a little glitchy, once in a while, but, all in all really a great upgrade, which we use constantly and depend on it.
we have the Lsailt unit.
works fairly well, a little glitchy, once in a while, but, all in all really a great upgrade, which we use constantly and depend on it.
we have the Lsailt unit.
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CJA (04-24-22)
04-24-22, 09:20 AM
#1372
I just installed a RoadTop on an RX and the unit sits behind the radio. It is wireless CarPlay so the USB is not required, but I route it to the glove box from the left side and have no issue with opening/closing.
I've posted an installation video here with the details:
So far, I am very happy with the upgrade, though I did experience a few issues at first, for example:
1. Joystick pages up and down on a vertical list, e.g. skipping a number of contacts;
2. Audio echo/loop during phone calls;
3. Siri activation using on-wheel voice button.
But I was able to resolve or mitigate these issues via their online support. I do speak in Chinese so perhaps that makes things easier.
The game changer for me is Siri. Now that I can activate anything on the CarPlay with voice, the experience is smooth and, for now, I have no major complaint.
Hope to post a review/video after some more use, and will share it soon.
I've posted an installation video here with the details:
So far, I am very happy with the upgrade, though I did experience a few issues at first, for example:
1. Joystick pages up and down on a vertical list, e.g. skipping a number of contacts;
2. Audio echo/loop during phone calls;
3. Siri activation using on-wheel voice button.
But I was able to resolve or mitigate these issues via their online support. I do speak in Chinese so perhaps that makes things easier.
The game changer for me is Siri. Now that I can activate anything on the CarPlay with voice, the experience is smooth and, for now, I have no major complaint.
Hope to post a review/video after some more use, and will share it soon.
Last edited by keweimao; 04-24-22 at 09:26 AM.
04-25-22, 04:11 AM
#1373
Intermediate
That is a great video. Truly professional grade. Thank you for taking the time to produce it. Wish you were nearby so I could hire you to do mine.
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keweimao (04-25-22)
04-25-22, 06:01 PM
#1375
I ordered what I thought was suppose to be a carlinkit carplay interface off eBay for my 2019 RX350 but ended up receiving this interface instead. I just spent the last few hours fast scrolling through all 100 pages of this thread looking at pics hoping to figure out what unit it was so I greatly appreciate the time you took to share your experience. Unfortunately I was sent the wrong wiring harness. Hopefully I can get it sorted out and install this thing soon. I was debating on opening a return but you just changed my mind. thanks...
04-25-22, 07:03 PM
#1376
I ordered what I thought was suppose to be a carlinkit carplay interface off eBay for my 2019 RX350 but ended up receiving this interface instead. I just spent the last few hours fast scrolling through all 100 pages of this thread looking at pics hoping to figure out what unit it was so I greatly appreciate the time you took to share your experience. Unfortunately I was sent the wrong wiring harness. Hopefully I can get it sorted out and install this thing soon. I was debating on opening a return but you just changed my mind. thanks...
I'm not aware of any Carlinkit to add CarPlay to a car that didn't come with some CarPlay from factory.
04-25-22, 07:17 PM
#1378
I ordered what I thought was suppose to be a carlinkit carplay interface off eBay for my 2019 RX350 but ended up receiving this interface instead. I just spent the last few hours fast scrolling through all 100 pages of this thread looking at pics hoping to figure out what unit it was so I greatly appreciate the time you took to share your experience. Unfortunately I was sent the wrong wiring harness. Hopefully I can get it sorted out and install this thing soon. I was debating on opening a return but you just changed my mind. thanks...
04-25-22, 07:22 PM
#1379
It does offer wired and wireless Android Auto according to RoadTop user manual, but I haven't tried that yet. I have an android phone and will test this.
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exploreco (04-27-22)
04-26-22, 03:00 AM
#1380
I wanted to go with a interface that only does CarPlay or Android Auto & CarPlay. I have one of those carlinkit type AI box things called the MMB-11 that your talking about and it sucks. It has so many bugs its partially unusable for wireless AA. Google assistant doesn't work for voice, 50% of the time it gets hung up booting and I have to unplug the USB and plug it back in, google maps doesn't auto change for light and dark mode, ect ect.... The android system works good to use apps downloaded from Google Play, but who wants to have to tether all the time and eat up mobile hotspot data. I figured the interface boxes like lsailt that run apps downloaded from google play would have more bugs or the OS will end up getting outdated and apps will stop working compared to CarPlay and/or AA interface where all the software changes happen on the phone via updates and the interface software never needs to change. The one USB device I found that works 100% of the time and is amazing AF is the Motorola MA1 but that's only for wireless AA if you already have factory wired AA... which I do.... The CarPlay interface is for my wife's 19' RX350
Last edited by natedahms; 04-26-22 at 02:01 PM.