Fancy CarPlay in your L322? Land Rover obliges
Old Range Rovers never really go out of fashion - and certainly not if Land Rover Classic can help it...
Nothing dates a car quite like an old infotainment system. The clunkiness, the impossibly blocky graphics and sat navs so old that they've never heard of a second River Severn crossing. Of course, you can always stick your phone on the dash and call it a day, or explore the deep, dark world of the aftermarket for a solution that may or may not work - but nothing beats the full OEM treatment. Land Rover Classic clearly feels the same way, as it’s just announced that it’ll be offering an infotainment upgrade for the L322 Range Rover.
Well, as it turns out, only for models built between 2010 and 2012, the last two years of a decade-long production run. These used an updated Jaguar-derived system in period, which meant a slicker touchscreen and fewer buttons, but Land Rover Classic’s upgrade adds everything you’d want from a modern infotainment system. Namely, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which not only brings the infotainment bang up to speed, but should future-proof it for many years to come.
Interestingly, the new system utilises the old hardware, meaning it carries over the same touchscreen tech and housing as the original model. Which is good, because nothing looks out of place like a Tesla-style tablet shoehorned into somewhere it doesn’t belong. While it’s perhaps a shame that a bump in screen quality isn’t included in the update, the fact that it’ll look stock to the untrained eye more than makes up for it. Or, as Land Rover Classic managing director, Dominic Elms, puts it: “Like all of our work at Classic Works, this infotainment upgrade has been designed to integrate with the vehicle’s original design and remain true to the OEM specification, while unlocking newer technology.”
The company hasn’t announced pricing just yet, but going off the Porsche’s PCCM Plus retrofits - which isn’t a dissimilar service to what Land Rover Classic is offering here - it won’t be a dirt cheap upgrade. You do at least get a two-year warranty included, which sadly doesn’t extend to the rest of the car. And if you’re in need of an L322 to upgrade, then this 5.0-litre Autobiography looks as good as any place to start.
Still keen to see pricing as we opted for conversion kit with Bose and steering wheel button compatibility on our 997 as I didn’t want the inbuilt sat nav the PCMM+ offered, CarPlay gives multiple
Nav options
Can’t see much change from £2k for this though, but great that JLR are supporting the older cars.
Well if anyone was going to know, it was definitely you sir! Maybe one day we'll get an official solution to all 3.
Can’t see much change from £2k for this though, but great that JLR are supporting the older cars.
There is loads of stuff out there already to add Carplay to various JLR models, I have a 2015 Jag XJ and have a choice of various full replacements that integrate with the cars existing system so you keep the original menus and add new ones, or a Carplay box you add in which I think was £385, with the full replacements starting at that and going up to about £600.
I will probably order one at some point, done a couple before on other cars and they worked very well.
Fitting with the carplay box was a case of splicing it into the loom, putting in line connectors in and finding somewhere to hide the box of tricks.
By the time the L405 came along in 2013 they'd upgraded both engines (4.4 diesel and 5.0 SC) with the 8 speed.
It took me 2 hours to do but I have fully functioning Apple Carplay/ Android Auto which is fully integrated with the car’s touchscreen and all of the steering wheel controls.
Also added USB C port while at it.
I wonder why no car maker is much interested in retrofitting stuff. I remember that Bristol (do they still exist?) used to upgrade every car upon request, so an old car could get electric seats/mirrors or aircon fitted etcetera.
I wonder why no car maker is much interested in retrofitting stuff. I remember that Bristol (do they still exist?) used to upgrade every car upon request, so an old car could get electric seats/mirrors or aircon fitted etcetera.
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