Carplay on stock FF radio works...sorta

Spent the day taking apart the dash and getting at the radio with a navtool carplay adapter. I figured since this is basically a 730N Becker unit that all chrysler products used that the standard carplay adapter for these units should work no problem. Why would ferrari mess with the software right?

Well sorta! Got behind the dash and put the thing in. It works! But there are hard-coded reverse lines drawn to the reverse input!

I've never seen this in a car before, but the lines in the small display are also in the mygig. They don't move with the wheel or anything they're just...there. so while carplay, hdmi, other cameras. They all work but are completely unusable because someone at ferrari hard-coded lines into the reverse input....that's not even used by the car!

Someone had to try I suppose, but man I Really wanted to not change the factory unit and just wanted slight upgrade.

 

It's in there now btw, so I'll take some pictures later of it when the dash is put back together.

I'll try and live with it for a bit and see if I can. These aren't the highest quality screens so maybe with enough saturation it might wash out enough :\

 

I have both phones and this device works with both haha

But yeah the difference for a2016 model was enormous

 

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I'll take some during the day this weekend but yes, the adapter takes over the camera input and adds carplay/Android auto, an HDMI input, and 4 camera inputs.

So in theory, you should be able to use whatever media device you want and switch between them at will and add up to 4 new cams (remember on older FFs the cams are in the dashboard).

But I dunno what they were thinking but they hardcoded reverse lines over the camera input! No other vehicle I've ever worked with (including the Chrysler mygig units) does this, they all allow the camera to do the drawing or to turn those off in settings.

I'll still tinker, but it's slightly annoying to say the least. But the goal of a clean carplay install on the factory headunit is achievable but so damn close to perfect.

As for the removal, I used the workshop manual. It. Takes. Forever. Which is why I'm mad I might have do this again, but it does indeed work lol

 

It's going to likely be the next thing I do. But frankly as useless as this QNX unit is, I vastly prefer the look of a stock system to anything aftermarket.

In theory this was the best of both worlds: wireless carplay and the original headunit and sound system.

But alas

 

The touchscreen unfortunately doesn't work with this. there is a small bmw style controller that you can either mount forward of your window switches or it also has a cupholder attachment. It's pretty responsive though so if I keep this I would 3D print a new insert for the cupholder/cubby area that had a cupholder and this controller (I might still do this simply because why not.)

You can't use the front camera input because (keep in mind some of this is speculation there is very little information about the ferrari specific headunit's software) the cameras are a completely separate module from the 730N Headunit. In later upgraded units by clarion (the ones with carplay and the non carplay ferrari optional unit that was available for the California and technically the FF) the camera is routed in the headunit and not the dash. I was actually strongly considering installing side cameras into the mirrors for turns and 360 parking if this unit worked well because the side mirror is hollow and I have the glossy black bases on mine so it would only require one tiny cut and look pretty factory.

In normal Chrysler/Jeep units there is, but since the camera doesn't go through the headunit I think Ferrari removed the menu option. That gives me hope though, because in theory just because the menu option is removed, the actual Boolean toggle for yes/no should still be in the code. Considering the USB port on the unit is data in and out, my next step is to get in touch with some mytouch specialists (yes they exist haha) and see if someone can't find it if I dump the ferrari rom for them.

Of course if I figure that out, I'll be sure to update you all

 

oh yeah it's awful!

This method basically turns the stock system into a dumb screen and then the carplay computer runs in it's stead.

 

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I wish I took more photos in the moment but i was pretty focused! but I started on section 4.02 of the workshop manual and did all the right side trim (the left side lateral trim panel didn't have to come out, but was planning ahead for running the side camera wires)

then its on to the glove box and lower center trim panel. This is where I wish I had a suburban home with a garage for likely the only time in my life. I took out the AC control and it's a sticky mess would have absolutely kept the car unbuttoned to this point and sent it out for refinishing if I had a place to store the vehicle in this state.

You don't need to take out defroster, substructure or upper trims. If you have passenger display like I do, when removing the glove box be sure not to bend the pins and un plug the passenger display and then that entire trim panel is just held on with friction and two screws, you don't have to take it off but i did because i didn't trust it loosely hanging there.

it just takes time but it's truly not difficult. I'm actually looking at that photo and more concerned about the leather of my driver seat, it's looking creased. I better take it to a leather guy

 

That does look great! My biggest concern with swapping the headunit was not wanting to have to put in a new amp or mess with anything like that. If I knew it was a 1 to 1 swap I wouldn't really have an issue. I'd also much prefer to just have an android based unit if I'm doing that so I just load youtube music and google maps straight on the unit and never take my phone out the pocket at all (the dream)

I guess I'll just suck it up and take it to an AV guy

 

That's an even better one as the aux can be used from the back.

I could take it out but I want a pro to do the integration. The other solution would be to get an allgig or mygig lockpick which allows video in motion and then either use an HDMI carplay unit or android box.

But this was an exercise in seeing if it could be done. If you're taking the trim off just upgrade the display.

 

Very jealous of your non sticky buttons

The install looks clean and nice!

 

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So caved and got the thing replaced and WEW what a difference haha. Carlos at NVS was also able to figure out how to swap just the headunit and save the factory amp so I'm super happy with it. I bought an Android AI box, should be here soon and then I'll just have a permanent solution in here that doesn't require my phone at all

 

Personally had zero issue with the way the HiFi sounded, just hated the head unit. So I guess from a cost standpoint?