991.1 aftermarket CarPlay

[monsieurblack]

Hi all

Well, dream came true Saturday and I finally own a 911

I was after some advice based on other owner’s experiences of enabling aftermarket CarPlay compatibility with the existing head unit please.

Really after keeping the appearance as close to ‘stock’ as possible and wondered if anyone recommended a particular solution please? (would also like to add reverse camera at the same time)

I’ve seen the Mr. 12v Volt ones are supposed to be ‘good’ but also seen the NM Automotive reversing camera module that integrates into the rear number plate, meaning no screwing into bumper (meaning remaining as ‘stock’ to me) and not sure if the two would be compatible?

How does the Mr12Volt module differ to the NM Auto one? Any advantage/disadvantage with one over the other? or any other recommendations or suggestions please?

Thanks in advance for any help and or pointers

[FrancisA]

monsieurblack said:

Hi all

Well, dream came true Saturday and I finally own a 911

I was after some advice based on other owner’s experiences of enabling aftermarket CarPlay compatibility with the existing head unit please.

Really after keeping the appearance as close to ‘stock’ as possible and wondered if anyone recommended a particular solution please? (would also like to add reverse camera at the same time)

I’ve seen the Mr. 12v Volt ones are supposed to be ‘good’ but also seen the NM Automotive reversing camera module that integrates into the rear number plate, meaning no screwing into bumper (meaning remaining as ‘stock’ to me) and not sure if the two would be compatible?

How does the Mr12Volt module differ to the NM Auto one? Any advantage/disadvantage with one over the other? or any other recommendations or suggestions please?

Thanks in advance for any help and or pointers

Congratulations on your 911.

I am in a similar position as you and have done quite a bit or research on the apple car play integration challenge.

My preference is MR12Volt because of the use of MOST to transmit sound between the unit and your phone. It is a digital wavelength as opposed to bluetooth and the reviews are there is a significant sound difference. In addition the latest MR12Volt has integrated the OEM microphone for calls which means a 3rd party one is unnecessary. However you cannot use steering controls to answer and drop calls.....you will use the screen button as it appears.

Overall a lot neater. I have no need for a reversing camera so I have not investigated that side of things. The overall cost for purchase and installation is around the £500 mark.

[monsieurblack]

Thank you very much for the reply.

Super helpful and especially from someone who’s clearly researched it so thoroughly. In my very limited research it does align with what you’re saying regarding overall integration and sound quality etc so that’s great to hear.

Could I kindly ask where you purchased yours from and who installed it please? I’m not sure of the Mr. 12 Volt Is only available directly so be good to understand if there are other places.

Regarding the reversing camera, I’m (maybe somewhat optimistically/naively!?) that they’re all pretty much a ‘standard’ camera and should be plug and play but might try and see if I can find reference/drawings to try and confirm physical connection type etc.

Again, thanks for your help

[paulguitar]

I have also heard the Mr12V is the one to have. Keeps everything looking original, too. There is a chap called Liam Biggs who supplies them in the UK, has fitters all over the country and seems to be helpful when issues crop up.

https://www.facebook.com/carplaydirect

I have not had one fitted in my car yet, but have been mulling it over.

[akadk]

£23

Thank you please

[monsieurblack]

paulguitar said:

I have also heard the Mr12V is the one to have. Keeps everything looking original, too. There is a chap called Liam Biggs who supplies them in the UK, has fitters all over the country and seems to be helpful when issues crop up.

https://www.facebook.com/carplaydirect

I have not had one fitted in my car yet, but have been mulling it over.

Thanks Paul

That really helps to hear of someone else has heard similar positive stuff about the Mr12V will ping them a message regarding possibly getting it sorted through them.

[monsieurblack]

akadk said:

£23

Thank you please

Ha, love it

How have you secured that screen in position, have you had to stick it to the existing? eek

[Dave_K]

I had the MR12Volt fitted to my 2012 991.1. It worked really well but would not switch off, it would therefore drain the battery in a couple of days and try to connect to my phone while I was in the house. Their helpline/chat was of no help on this matter.

I removed MR12Volt and went with the NM alternative, which I've had no problems with. I can't tell any sound quality difference, this does not mean there is not one. It all works fine but the microphone isn't great and people find it difficult to hear me when on a call, just as they did on the factory setup.

[mr pg]

I've had a Joyeauto system fitted to our 991.1. All good so far. Reverse camera can be added to it.

[BlackTails]

I have the NM Automotive unit in a 991.1. I think it is excellent.

This is the fourth car I’ve added Carplay to, and I’ve decided I don’t like the wireless option: it does a Bluetooth handshake then switches to a private WiFi connection but I encountered multiple issue with the handshake, the handover and the stability of the connection. It’s great when it works but a real PITA when it doesn’t. I’m also not convinced that the sound quality over wireless is as good as it is over a wired connection. I’ve got Burmester, so sound quality was a factor.

By contrast the wired connection is absolutely rock solid. And charges the phone into the deal. I’ve got the charging/interface socket run into the centre console armrest so the phone can sit out of sight. This does mean I sometimes forget to take the phone with me when I leave the car but that’s pretty minor.

The touchscreen functionality works well, and the rotary dial on the PCM head unit works almost as well as a joystick. I don’t have track skip buttons on the steering wheel so have to use the button on the head unit, which is mildly inconvenient. Siri functionality is very good; there is an additional mic with the NM Automotive kit that sits up by the button panel above the rear view mirror.

Edited by BlackTails on Monday 5th May 19:50

[monsieurblack]

Dave_K said:

I had the MR12Volt fitted to my 2012 991.1. It worked really well but would not switch off, it would therefore drain the battery in a couple of days and try to connect to my phone while I was in the house. Their helpline/chat was of no help on this matter.

I removed MR12Volt and went with the NM alternative, which I've had no problems with. I can't tell any sound quality difference, this does not mean there is not one. It all works fine but the microphone isn't great and people find it difficult to hear me when on a call, just as they did on the factory setup.

Hey Dave, thanks for your post. Really interested to hear about that. Not specific to the Mr12V or 911, but I have previously heard of aftermarket head units doing that type of thing and not being properly triggered to cut out once vehicle switched off and locked etc. come to think of it I had a similar issue with an older aftermarket Bluetooth stereo connection whereby luckily it didn’t (noticeably) drain the battery but refused to disconnect from the Bluetooth connection so phone continually tried to channel audio through it not matter what I did, so had to force Bluetooth off on my phone. Going back years now but was very frustrating at the time.

So interesting to know you then went with the NM Automotive one. Glad you’re not experiencing any issues as can be annoying for sure! Oh and the fact they also have the camera I’m keen to try is a big plus.

mr pg said:

I've had a Joyeauto system fitted to our 991.1. All good so far. Reverse camera can be added to it.

Cheers PG, I’ve not heard of that one so will check it out. Thank you

BlackTails said:

I have the NM Automotive unit in a 991.1. I think it is excellent.

This is the fourth car I’ve added Carplay to, and I’ve decided I don’t like the wireless option: it does a Bluetooth handshake then switches to a private WiFi connection but I encountered multiple issue with the handshake, the handover and the stability of the connection. It’s great when it works but a real PITA when it doesn’t. I’m also not convinced that the sound quality over wireless is as good as it is over a wired connection. I’ve got Burmester, so sound quality was a factor.

By contrast the wired connection is absolutely rock solid. And charges the phone into the deal. I’ve got the charging/interface socket run into the centre console armrest so the phone can sit out of sight. This does mean I sometimes forget to take the phone with me when I leave the car but that’s pretty minor.

The touchscreen functionality works well, and the rotary dial on the PCM head unit works almost as well as a joystick. I don’t have track skip buttons on the steering wheel so have to use the button on the head unit, which is mildly inconvenient. Siri functionality is very good; there is an additional mic with the NM Automotive kit that sits up by the button panel above the rear view mirror.

Edited by BlackTails on Monday 5th May 19:50

Thanks for all that info, really helpful.

Another vote for NM Automotive then. Do you have to specify wired or wireless connection or can you setup/use both? Imagine (if it worked!) for short trips it’d be useful to have wireless but generally speaking I’d like the wired as would be using maps so charging at the same time makes sense and I’d also like to put the phone away under the centre arm rest.

Thanks all for your input, still buzzing about the car and be nice to get this stereo sorted

[BlackTails]

monsieurblack said:

Do you have to specify wired or wireless connection or can you setup/use both?

No, pretty sure not. The installers - IMO - tend to favour wireless because it’s easier to install the socket in the glovebox than in the centre console. But plugging your phone into a socket in the glovebox would be dire.

ETA: you’ve now got me wondering why I don’t use wireless for short trips. I think (without checking) the answer is that you need to specify in the NM Auto settings the connection mode. I have a feeling (again, without checking) that if you specify wireless, it will connect wirelessly, and if you connect with a wire once the wireless connection has been established, it stays wireless but charges your phone.

Not 100% about that though. Would have to experiment to confirm.

Edited by BlackTails on Monday 5th May 20:53

[FrancisA]

Dave_K said:

I had the MR12Volt fitted to my 2012 991.1. It worked really well but would not switch off, it would therefore drain the battery in a couple of days and try to connect to my phone while I was in the house. Their helpline/chat was of no help on this matter.

I removed MR12Volt and went with the NM alternative, which I've had no problems with. I can't tell any sound quality difference, this does not mean there is not one. It all works fine but the microphone isn't great and people find it difficult to hear me when on a call, just as they did on the factory setup.

Hi Dave
Do think this was a fitting failure as opposed to the fault with the unit. I ask because I have not heard or read of any such issue anywhere else

[bosshog]

akadk said:

£23

Thank you please

What’s that!?

[NDA]

bosshog said:

akadk said:

£23

Thank you please

What’s that!?

I'd like to know too.... it might suit for a long continental journey I have coming up. I assume it has a bluetooth connection to the Porsche and will run Carplay.

[Zio Di Roma]

akadk said:

£23

Thank you please

That's class right there.

Did you have to supply your own sticky pads to attach it?

[JurassicGTS]

NDA said:

bosshog said:

akadk said:

£23

Thank you please

What’s that!?

I'd like to know too.... it might suit for a long continental journey I have coming up. I assume it has a bluetooth connection to the Porsche and will run Carplay.

Yes more info needed!

[Dave_K]

FrancisA said:

Hi Dave
Do think this was a fitting failure as opposed to the fault with the unit. I ask because I have not heard or read of any such issue anywhere else

When I used the helpdesk from MR12Volt they didn't think it was a fitting error and allowed me to send the item back for a full refund. However, I did use my electrical engineer at work (highly qualified and extremely competent but not car/audio specific) so cannot guarantee that there was no error on his part or indeed there was a fault on the particular unit supplied from MR12Volt.

Apologies that this is not a decisive answer for you.

I can say that I've had no issues with the NM alternative, I would have preferred that the MR12Volt had worked 100% as it's a cleaner solution.

[FrancisA]

Dave_K said:

FrancisA said:

Hi Dave
Do think this was a fitting failure as opposed to the fault with the unit. I ask because I have not heard or read of any such issue anywhere else

When I used the helpdesk from MR12Volt they didn't think it was a fitting error and allowed me to send the item back for a full refund. However, I did use my electrical engineer at work (highly qualified and extremely competent but not car/audio specific) so cannot guarantee that there was no error on his part or indeed there was a fault on the particular unit supplied from MR12Volt.

Apologies that this is not a decisive answer for you.

I can say that I've had no issues with the NM alternative, I would have preferred that the MR12Volt had worked 100% as it's a cleaner solution.

Thanks for the update Dave - I inclined to the MR12Volt because it leverages off the MOST connection and the reviews are that the sound difference is significant due to the digital connection

[akadk]

https://ebay.us/m/tcW99g

This is the screen

I use the phone Bluetooth or iPod connection to play audio and it runs car play on the screen.

Use some double sided mini suckers to attach it.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but nor is spending £800 on CarPlay