trbofly

Update: If you are interested in this FAQ, I actually have a unit another MBWorld member had difficulty getting working in their GLE. If you want it I can give you a great deal on the unit. All proceeds go back to the original purchaser. Once again, I have no relation to JoyEAuto. Just a car owner.


Hi everyone,

So I threw some instructions together. Please reach out to me if you have questions. Overall it works pretty well, but the installation is different than what they have videos for.

This is free for you guys to use, but if you want to donate to my Tune fund, that is cool too. No pressure either way.

Also, if your in the Portland area, or road trip here, I can help you install it. Would be easier the second time.



Video of how it looks and sounds can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoU...ature=youtu.be

EDIT - V3.0
Found a great ground loop adapter that fixed all my issues. It is now perfect from a sound perspective.

PAC LPGL-2 Ground Loop Adapter

trbofly

Quick update. You will likely want to go into the JOyEAuto settings and turn down its master volume. I noticed the main car volume (radio) is lower than what comes through on the JoyEAuto. Besides being annoying, there was a slight buz in the audio.

emericr

Have not read your pdf yet but thanks for doing this.

trbofly

EDIT ----
The ground loop isolator I use here was junk. Ruined the sound. I am working on a different solution and reached out to JoyEAuto.

----

For those following this thread, I updated the PDF to version 2.0.

After using the JoyEAuto system for a day, there is indeed an noticeable buzz in the sound. The good news is that there is a super easy and cheap fix. I simply purchased a cheap ground loop isolator and put it between the USB-AUX and the AUX 3.5 cable. All solved and now there is no buzz at all.

Ground Loop Isolator:

nrgy

Thanks for putting this together. It does look a bit complex I must say. I think I'd be nervous to tear apart the interior myself. How's the display quality when using CarPlay? All other functions work as original including backup cam?

trbofly

Honestly, it isn't that difficult. Its mostly plug and play (the buzz noise was the only issue).

If they had provided instructions for our car, it would have been really easy. I just had to wing it a bit since it is a different car.

Sound wise, its good. Not perfect, but really good. Ultimately it is just stereo through an AUX cable so that is the quality you should expect. All Car Play functions work (including Siri and voice texting). All normal car functions work fine.

I will say that it is not the same as factory integration of course. You switch between car play and normal car functions. You either choose to use Waze / apple maps, or you choose to use your normal car maps. But, for a $400 aftermarket way to have better control over your music and use WAZE, its pretty good.

Instructions are long since I didn't want to miss any details for you guys, but I could honestly do it all again in about 2 hours (Siri mic is the hardest part)

Wolfman

How is the screen quality? This is a bargain for wireless CarPlay although I am not crazy about the use of a ground loop adapter, which I assume means it's all analog audio with a bargain basement DAC in that USB/Mini-DIN adapter...

trbofly

Screen quality is fine. If your picky it is a bit less than perfect, but I honestly don’t notice. For sure the audio won’t be as nice as direct connect. Wish I had a better way, but this seems to be the only solution.

I have been been playing with eq settings to make it a bit better, but it is what it is. I will update with a full review after I live with it or a few days

Just finished my sub install, so I need to figure out how to tune it all better.

If if anyone could figure out how to enable Aux in for this vehicle, there may be a way to bypass the usb dongle.

Wolfman

The unichip setup wasn't ideal either but I remember the sound to be "ok" They use a USB flash drive with analog interface...Something like this:

trbofly

That is exactly how the JoyEAuto works too. The USBAux adapter is basically what you see here.

FYI, the cheap ground loop isolator i used sucks. I am working on a different solution.

Wolfman

Good luck and keep us posted!
Wish there would be a better solution but Mercedes has to take the blame for having 2018/19 MY cars still without CarPlay, low production models or not.

ChargedMB

Thanks for keeping us all in the loop!

trbofly

Final update everyone.

I ordered a new, higher quality, ground loop adapter (link below) and it fixed the buzz and sounds great. I have also uploaded a video of how it looks and sounds (and compares to the stock maps). I also updated the install instructions to match.

As far as I am concerned, its a complete and done install. I am very happy with it and happy to help anyone else who takes this on.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoU...ature=youtu.be

Ground Loop Adapter: (PAC LPGL-2)

ChargedMB

Thanks for the continuous updates. Def will be looking into this in a few weeks.

trbofly

Ping me if you need help or anything.

asb123

Question for y'all audiophiles. Will this set up have worse audio than the standard system (I am assuming the standard set up is digital audio vs analog here). I usually play music via bluetooth to the burmester high end. Perhaps the audio quality loss over bluetooth makes this a moot point anyways.

AMG 17GT

Audio over Bluetooth is messy and compressed and defeats any high end system vs plugging in directly to phone. Of course it all depends on your source. If it’s Apple Music then it’s even worse. You need a lossless source.

trbofly

Definitely the Audiophile answer.

As someone who daily's my car, I dont notice any issues, fuzzyness or compression artifacts. Then again, I am not an audiophile. I don't notice any difference from the JoyeAuto setup vs the USB direct (but I am playing iTunes music and not lossless).

Your mileage may vary

AMG 17GT

I think this used to be an audiophile answer, but not anymore.

Download free 30 day TIDAL high definition and make sure you have the settings in high definition and you tell me

trbofly

Not denying that it matters to others. No argument. Just making note that it doesnt matter to me. Rather that I am happy with my setup.

Yevheniy Rohner

Hello, great description, did Amazon also provide instruction for Group Loop or where you attach it?

fullvietfx

Awesome thread. Thanks bro.

trbofly

Hi Yevheniy,

For the ground loop adapter, I did the following.
- Wires: I only plugged the 3.5 connector coming from the harness into the "In" side, and then the USB adapter into the "Out" side. No other wires are connected or needed.
- Placement: I zip tied it to the wire bundle that runs the right side of the center console area before I buttoned things up. Basically it sits underneath where the shifter is, but to the passenger side. I zip tied it to keep it from rattling.

Hope this helps.

Yevheniy Rohner

Hi trbofly,

Thank you for your information. On the ground loop adapter are 2 brown wire, should I connet them to the ground in the car?

Thank you and happy new year.

realien

The website says it can use a front/rear/360 camera, can you add a front camera and keep the rear and switch between them with this system?