Which V12 DB11 for Apple CarPlay + nice exhaust sound?

[pmn3]

Hi, as in the subject. Which model year should I go for if those 2 are my requirements? I realise that on the one hand, I probably want an older (2019?) car for good loud exhaust, on the other only newer cars will have CarPlay. What’s the sweet spot?

[Minglar]

I’m happy to be corrected here if I am wrong but I don’t think DB11 ever came with Apple CarPlay as standard fit. As far as I know it was only ever retro fitted by companies such as Aston Installations. I think that is the case with all the earlier second century cars with the MB infotainment system, ie DB11, new Vantage and DBSS. DBX did have it but I think that was the only one, before the new updated range, ie DB12 onwards, where it’s standard as part of the latest in house developed AML infotainment system. BRM.

[Westlondondriver]

There was an official CarPlay upgrade for the DB11 from Aston Martin you could buy from your dealer. I never had mine done since I switched to a DBX which had it anyway, I don’t recall the cost. The better exhaust sound is software rather than hardware related and is delivered by the AMR upgrade (see the other thread). That used to cost £1k to upgrade an older car. If you are buying from a main dealer I would just insist on both upgrades on an older car as part of the deal. I imagine the margins on the upgrades are high so wouldn’t cost them much to do it for you.

[M1AGM]

No DB11 came factory fitted with carplay.

Dont get the dealer supplied carplay. You want the Aston Installations one.

The dealer one is flakey connecting wirelessly which I have queried, they all do that sir. You also end up with a wire hanging out next to the passenger seat by the transmission tunnel to plug the phone in to. I asked for it to be routed to the centre cubby area, no sir, thats how AM say we have to do it.

AI will put in a different system that will always work wirelessly (having had the upgrade done on my DB9.2 previously. With no cables floating around.

If I decide to keep my car (‘19 AMR) I will get AI to replace the dealer carplay with theirs.

[AdamV12V]

Simples - Go for the last of the line DB9 with AMi III fitted. You'll get a better infotainment system all round, with carplay and andriod auto, and an exhaust sound that trumps as its the n/a V12...

[Crumpet]

My ‘19 V12 has the dealer fit CarPlay and it’s fine. Loads up fast and no real bugs other than it occasionally crashes when taking a phonecall - not the end of the world as I rarely use the phone but for others it could be an issue. Compared to the one I retrofitted into my Freelander 2 it’s actually pretty slick in operation, even with the crappy wheel control thingy.

I’ve got the AMR tune on mine as well and it’s bordering on anti-social really, so you wouldn’t want any louder. It’s constantly crackling and popping and does sound excellent.

Anyway, I don’t think it really matters what year you go for but I’m happy I stretched to a ‘19 car rather than a launch edition. Prices seem to have softened recently so there are some good deals out there.

[pmn3]

Ok some good tips here.
So no DB11 comes with Carplay, and *any* can he fitted with it - which I’ll insist on when buying from a dealer.

Decision then comes down to exhaust sound and other elements. Which year should I go for? All DB11 years are in my budget. Thanks

[pmn3]

Crumpet said:

My ‘19 V12 has the dealer fit CarPlay and it’s fine. Loads up fast and no real bugs other than it occasionally crashes when taking a phonecall - not the end of the world as I rarely use the phone but for others it could be an issue. Compared to the one I retrofitted into my Freelander 2 it’s actually pretty slick in operation, even with the crappy wheel control thingy.

I’ve got the AMR tune on mine as well and it’s bordering on anti-social really, so you wouldn’t want any louder. It’s constantly crackling and popping and does sound excellent.

Anyway, I don’t think it really matters what year you go for but I’m happy I stretched to a ‘19 car rather than a launch edition. Prices seem to have softened recently so there are some good deals out there.

I was typing my reply before I read yours.
I use the phone *a lot* in the car. It’s just what my work and lifestyle require. So carplay crashing when taking phone calls is a deal breaker I’m afraid… but it sounds like yours is dealer, not factory fitted, and from others’ replies I understand factory fitted won’t crash so I’ll insist on that when buying (?)

[M1AGM]

pmn3 said:

I was typing my reply before I read yours.
I use the phone *a lot* in the car. It’s just what my work and lifestyle require. So carplay crashing when taking phone calls is a deal breaker I’m afraid… but it sounds like yours is dealer, not factory fitted, and from others’ replies I understand factory fitted won’t crash so I’ll insist on that when buying (?)

Again, there is no factory fitted carplay in DB11. Only dealer or third party.

In terms of cars, you say any DB11 V12. Having had a quick look on AT, the real AMR cars, of which there are 5 for sale (one crash damaged) the prices are around £100k or so depending on spec, which is nice as thats what I paid a year ago for mine from a main dealer with a huge spec. They look like a better place for your money than the standard car with software amr upgrade, which are falling consistently in value.

[pmn3]

M1AGM said:

Again, there is no factory fitted carplay in DB11. Only dealer or third party.

In terms of cars, you say any DB11 V12. Having had a quick look on AT, the real AMR cars, of which there are 5 for sale (one crash damaged) the prices are around £100k or so depending on spec, which is nice as thats what I paid a year ago for mine from a main dealer with a huge spec. They look like a better place for your money than the standard car with software amr upgrade, which are falling consistently in value.

I misunderstood, sorry. I thought “Aston Installations” was a name used for official Aston fitted systems.

[Peter McKean]

I have the Aston Installations CarPlay on my 2019 DB11 (V8, with secondary decat) and they do a great job and are very nice people. I have been to see them for three jobs now and will always think of them first.

[M1AGM]

pmn3 said:

I misunderstood, sorry. I thought “Aston Installations” was a name used for official Aston fitted systems.

No worries

As Peter says, AI are a great business to work on your car for CarPlay. When I was there they had a 177 in for work!

[V8LM]

I've an 'AM' unit (IDCore) in my DBS. The lead isn't needed once the system has been paired with the phone, so mine is hidden away.

Can I ask re those with the AI unit, which I understand by all accounts to be great, how is the audio connected to the car?

[M1AGM]

V8LM said:

I've an 'AM' unit (IDCore) in my DBS. The lead isn't needed once the system has been paired with the phone, so mine is hidden away.

Can I ask re those with the AI unit, which I understand by all accounts to be great, how is the audio connected to the car?

Just out of interest have you ever had issues with the idcore unit not seeing your phone via wireless and having to plug it in? Mine is hit and miss, sometimes it works perfectly. I have had this on many occasions and the dealer said that this is a common issue with the idcore setup in the cars.

[V8LM]

M1AGM said:

V8LM said:

I've an 'AM' unit (IDCore) in my DBS. The lead isn't needed once the system has been paired with the phone, so mine is hidden away.

Can I ask re those with the AI unit, which I understand by all accounts to be great, how is the audio connected to the car?

Just out of interest have you ever had issues with the idcore unit not seeing your phone via wireless and having to plug it in? Mine is hit and miss, sometimes it works perfectly. I have had this on many occasions and the dealer said that this is a common issue with the idcore setup in the cars.

For me, the problem is the other way since how I use the system is non-standard: The IDCore is connected to the car audio via AUX. The AUX is analogue and bypasses the cars' DSP, so audio played through the CarPlay doesn't get the processing that playing digitally through the media interface does. Sometimes, depending on when the phone is plugged in, the phone will connect Bluetooth audio to the IDCore and lose the Media Interface connection.

I still connect the phone to the USB/Media interface, and play audio as normal. It also means the phone has power. This, however, misses any audio coming from the CarPlay (Waze directions, messages, etc.) No big deal for me and I much rather have the audio I paid for.

Hence the question about the AI unit.

Edited by V8LM on Monday 28th October 08:32

[Minglar]

The AI unit also uses the “Aux” input for the audio. I didn’t know that would bypass the DSP but I’ve never really noticed any huge difference between running audio through there compared to how I used to use it, ie through the wired “iPod” OEM connection. The phone connects to the AI unit via Bluetooth and the unit has its own Wi-Fi network. I usually leave it plugged in to enable charging. Never had any drop outs and I’m very pleased with it. The only issue I have had is regarding the connection for phone calls. When I first got it installed my phone was connecting to both the AM OEM Bluetooth module and the AI unit which seemed to cause some confusion and conflict between the two. I deleted the AM OEM connection and it now only pairs with the AI unit and since then I’ve had no phone call issues at all. BRM.

ETA…this is in Gaydon V12V. I don’t know how it would work in a second century car with the MB interface such as DB11 etc. James and the whole team at AI are very quick to respond to any emails so maybe drop them a line?

Edited by Minglar on Monday 28th October 09:28

[V8LM]

Thanks. Mine's a DBSS. The analogue AUX doesn't get the same spatial processing that the digital USB/media interface does.

[Davil]

I have version 2 of the dealer installed option. It no longer uses AUX, instead audio is via Bluetooth. I haven’t had any failures with it. Very happy with it.

[pmn3]

So would you say the experience is fairly seamless - like with a manufacturer installed carplay? I need (1) Waze (2) spotify (3) phone calls; and control all through the touchscreen. I use all *a lot*, I must say

[BiggaJ]

pmn3 said:

So would you say the experience is fairly seamless - like with a manufacturer installed carplay? I need (1) Waze (2) spotify (3) phone calls; and control all through the touchscreen. I use all *a lot*, I must say

My experience with AI install (albeit not on a DB11) has been great. The connection is via Bluetooth and I use phone, music streaming via Tidal and Google maps, it works very well. I have on occasion had the system freeze but I think this is more down to my car being a little odd and the system in my vantage being older tech than whats in the DB11. All very easy to get around as there is a reset button for such things which gets things back to working normally in seconds.

I often see cars for sale with a lead emitting from the dash somewhere and that would drive me nuts. With the AI unit, as soon as I get in the car the phone and car connect and the screen mirrors that of my phone. Phone goes in the leather pocket in the front of my seat.