CarPlay for X166
05-01-2018, 07:13 PM
#51
Junior Member
See the Unichip
Yeah, I sorta bricked it this weekend when I did a firmware update. They remotely troubleshooted it for me last night and fixed.. The update allows me to independently control the nav, music and siri/telephone volumes to a pre-set volumes that I want. Still working fine.
I will say this, they are rough around the edges in the way they operate, and I feel like they still have a way to go in learning how to deal with a more savvy American/European customer base. This is what happens when you're working with a bootstrap sort of operation. But, the people I deal with are honestly earnest and wanting to learn and work with the engineering team to provide updates and such; and willing to help.
I'll give you an example. I told my contact that sold me the boxes that the apple maps don't go to night time map consistently between my E and GL. Shot to photos to her, and send her a diagnostic log (plugging in a USB stick into the port will dump a log). She is actually putting that request into an engineer to see if they can fix that control element better.
The product is fine for my application in my opinion, understanding the limitations (using USB and needing to set the aux input in audio) makes me keep realistic expectations. It's clean and unobstrusive. Android Auto support is supposedly coming soon. Also, I really think that 10.25 inch android screen retrofit that people are doing on the E class is chintzy as hell.
Anyone in the seattle area want to see it in my E class or GL; feel free to ping me.
I will say this, they are rough around the edges in the way they operate, and I feel like they still have a way to go in learning how to deal with a more savvy American/European customer base. This is what happens when you're working with a bootstrap sort of operation. But, the people I deal with are honestly earnest and wanting to learn and work with the engineering team to provide updates and such; and willing to help.
I'll give you an example. I told my contact that sold me the boxes that the apple maps don't go to night time map consistently between my E and GL. Shot to photos to her, and send her a diagnostic log (plugging in a USB stick into the port will dump a log). She is actually putting that request into an engineer to see if they can fix that control element better.
The product is fine for my application in my opinion, understanding the limitations (using USB and needing to set the aux input in audio) makes me keep realistic expectations. It's clean and unobstrusive. Android Auto support is supposedly coming soon. Also, I really think that 10.25 inch android screen retrofit that people are doing on the E class is chintzy as hell.
Anyone in the seattle area want to see it in my E class or GL; feel free to ping me.
Nate
05-02-2018, 02:46 AM
#52
Junior Member
Sure thing. Pm me again. Didn't get the last message. The GL is primarily getting driven by the wife these days, but I also have it on my E class wagon I drive to work.
05-02-2018, 09:07 AM
#53
Member
Thread Starter
CarPlay box by UniChip is now back in stock. Should receive my replacement by the end of the week. Install over the weekend. Will update if the install goes as planned...
05-02-2018, 12:25 PM
#54
Junior Member
05-09-2018, 06:02 PM
#55
Member
Thread Starter
I received my UniChip CarPlay box on Monday. Installed it last night. Everything work great, except no sound. However, I have to give a very big shout out to the assistance provided by UniChip. They walked through the entire install with me last night and I was really happy to see that my Command unit was interfacing with their CarPlay box. The engineering team is going to continue to support me until we get the audio portion of the install figured out. Will update when we have the install completed.
05-09-2018, 07:07 PM
#56
Junior Member
UniChip
I received my UniChip CarPlay box on Monday. Installed it last night. Everything work great, except no sound. However, I have to give a very big shout out to the assistance provided by UniChip. They walked through the entire install with me last night and I was really happy to see that my Command unit was interfacing with their CarPlay box. The engineering team is going to continue to support me until we get the audio portion of the install figured out. Will update when we have the install completed.
05-09-2018, 07:14 PM
#57
Junior Member
Hey, you never came by to say hi! Let me know if you have any questions or need help, although I'm down in the bay area tomorrow night for the weekend.
05-09-2018, 07:15 PM
#58
Member
Thread Starter
I did connect the fiber optic cable to the new wiring harness and then into the Command unit. You then have to go into the Engineering menu to turn on the AUX Input. That is where we ran into issue. That is why UniChip's tech support is working on a solution for me. Make sure you get the WhatsUP app to communicate with them... They are very helpful in walking through on FaceTime or other video conferencing apps to visually see what you are doing and to lend a hand.
05-09-2018, 07:17 PM
#59
Junior Member
Ha ha, sorry. We went out of town unexpectedly-I’m back tomorrow and the UniChip is sitting on my counter ready to be installed. So just to be certain you had to reboot after installation and change the aux setting in the engineering menu? I’m not sure how to do that so if I run into trouble I may reach out for help.
05-09-2018, 07:20 PM
#60
Junior Member
I did connect the fiber optic cable to the new wiring harness and then into the Command unit. You then have to go into the Engineering menu to turn on the AUX Input. That is where we ran into issue. That is why UniChip's tech support is working on a solution for me. Make sure you get the WhatsUP app to communicate with them... They are very helpful in walking through on FaceTime or other video conferencing apps to visually see what you are doing and to lend a hand.
05-09-2018, 07:53 PM
#62
Junior Member
05-10-2018, 10:11 PM
#63
Junior Member
05-10-2018, 10:13 PM
#64
Member
Thread Starter
05-10-2018, 10:20 PM
#66
Junior Member
05-10-2018, 10:28 PM
#67
Junior Member
Finally watched a video and got to aux and it is off and grayed out, I can’t access it. I’m gonna PM u my cell if u don’t mind and maybe u can walk me through it.
05-10-2018, 11:31 PM
#68
Junior Member
Yes, it does. But, in my mind, it's easier. The audio input needs to be set to "Aux" to work, but beyond that, it's just holding down the "C" on the COMAND control for 2 seconds or so to switch in and out. If you're using the iPhone for the phone, then everything can be done In carplay. If you have a 2nd phone (I also have a pixel 2, as I'm waiting for AA support later this year), then the Bluetooth can be controlled via the phone buttons still.
The Aux input is overridden in the "T" harness that is included, and some programming. If you purchased it via WhatsApp with the rep, she actually ran back and forth with the Engineering teams as I was doing the setups, and has detailed instructions of what needs to be set in the COMAND engineering menu system.
Google maps and waze doesn't work on carplay. They support what's on carplay, which is apple maps. the Unichip video is incorrectly calling apple maps google maps. Google maps doesn't even work in China as it's banned. That said, this list is a good list of current supported apps on carplay.
You can do google maps and waze if you jailbreak it. latest jailbreak methods, which are just one click methods now.
Waze on carplay (I have yet to try, but might this weekend, since I like waze a lot for finding where the ...ahem...cops are)
The Aux input is overridden in the "T" harness that is included, and some programming. If you purchased it via WhatsApp with the rep, she actually ran back and forth with the Engineering teams as I was doing the setups, and has detailed instructions of what needs to be set in the COMAND engineering menu system.
Google maps and waze doesn't work on carplay. They support what's on carplay, which is apple maps. the Unichip video is incorrectly calling apple maps google maps. Google maps doesn't even work in China as it's banned. That said, this list is a good list of current supported apps on carplay.
You can do google maps and waze if you jailbreak it. latest jailbreak methods, which are just one click methods now.
Waze on carplay (I have yet to try, but might this weekend, since I like waze a lot for finding where the ...ahem...cops are)
05-12-2018, 02:10 AM
#69
Junior Member
here is my video on installation, how to set aux on and use of the UniChip. So far so good.....UPDATE our backup camera is now working when CarPlay is engaged, Holly at UniChip was very helpful and sent us a software update that fixed the issue. So this thing works great and right now I have no complaints!
Last edited by natelw; 05-23-2018 at 12:29 AM.
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GDCLNFN (04-23-2019)
05-12-2018, 10:50 AM
#71
Junior Member
did you finally get audio?
Couple of issues I have now: (1) it loses connection when we hit a bump - I’m going to try a new iPhone wire and maybe new USB extension and (2) the backup camera doesn’t work when CarPlay is engaged.
Last edited by natelw; 05-12-2018 at 02:34 PM.
05-12-2018, 02:48 PM
#72
Junior Member
Yeah, let me know if you need any pointers. For me, it was a lot of amazon deliveries for trim removal tools and torx bit sets. A lot of installers won't touch it with a 10 foot pole because unichip is unproven and new. Personally, I think it's pretty awesome. It was weird and unnerving to buy from China via paypal and support/ordering done via WhatsApp. But the people I've been working with there are awesome. As weird as it sounds, some US companies can learn a thing or 2 about customer service from these guys.
05-15-2018, 05:52 PM
#73
Junior Member
Sorry, was gone for the weekend in California. There are two things you need to check - #1 Hold the command wheel down (click towards the center armrest) and check that you have the right settings for 360 camera, you can try all the camera iterations. Secondly, click the wheel to the left and hold, and make sure you have the latest march or newer firmware. I have yet to install the may firmware. I'll shoot some shots of what to look for.
Last edited by sdvictor; 05-15-2018 at 06:01 PM.
05-15-2018, 05:54 PM
#74
Junior Member
Installation Video
here is my video on installation, how to set aux on and use of the UniChip. So far so good.....UPDATE - starting driving and we lose connectivity a lot, I keep plugging it back in but no go after just a minute or so - I’m gonna try a new USB wire and iPhone cable - AND our backup camera doesn’t work when CarPlay is engaged.
here is my video on installation, how to set aux on and use of the UniChip. So far so good.....UPDATE - starting driving and we lose connectivity a lot, I keep plugging it back in but no go after just a minute or so - I’m gonna try a new USB wire and iPhone cable - AND our backup camera doesn’t work when CarPlay is engaged.
Last edited by sdvictor; 05-15-2018 at 05:56 PM.
05-15-2018, 05:57 PM
#75
Junior Member
