458 CarPlay aftermarket module added to my 458

Well I have completed my install of the subject module sold through mysupercarexpert.com found here:
Ferrari 458 (F142) 488 (F142M) F12Berlinetta (F152) F8 (F142MFL) 812 S – My Supercar Expert
https://mysupercarexpert.com/products/ferrari-458-f142-488-f142m-f12berlinetta-2009-2020-add-carplay-kit

Let's back up to the order process..
First I ordered via the website. The next day I received an email asking if my 2013 had bluetooth calling only or also had the newer capability of bluetooth audio streaming. My head unit is the older type, so they sent me a kit configured for that.
Just before shipping I learned there would be a 25% customs import fee to the U.S. due to tariffs on Chinese electronics. When UPS arrived with the box, we had to write a check for $363, so just know before you order that this thing isn't $1200 it's closer to $1600.

The unit arrived within 3 days, which surprised me, but that was great because it meant I could tackle the install project this past weekend, having only ordered it the Monday prior.

There are no instructions and I was not emailed any instructions although the website indicated instructions would be sent after ordering. So I had to rely upon this video:
458 Carplay v2 (youtube.com)


The package only contains the main unit, a smaller "protocol" box, three harnesses and two antennas. I decided not to install the USB harness since I will just use it through bluetooth. There is a mistake in the video that says the small connector in the usb harness connects to the original car microphone (video mark 4:45) but this connector is never used (he confirms this at 8:42) and so unless you need to connect carplay via usb you can simply omit this harness during install.

Note my kit did not have the antenna type shown at 1:10 in their video. It had two short (approx 2" long) hard antennas with 90deg threaded connectors. This means you cannot place them anywhere else and it adds to the difficulty in packaging the main unit within the vehicle.

The protocol box in my kit was also different than the one in the video (shown at 2:42). But it plugs in the same. I ended up sliding it into the gap on the left side of the Ferrari head unit once things were back together.

The video cable plug end which goes into the right screen of the cluster looks different (female pin holes) than the one you disconnect, but it does plug in just fine. Note the connector is in the upper right rear of the cluster and it is a blind reach to release and pull out, which took me several minutes of careful fiddling to get one out and put the new one in. The video completely skips over this and the OEM harness connector is just magically already out at 5:47 in the video. He also never actually gets his plugged into the top right of the cluster in the video he just moves on to talking about the OEM microphone. Of course to access the area you need to remove the binnacle which is only secured by two screws (explained at 5:20 in video) and clips. Note it does not slide off easily, once you remove the two screws you have to work it a bit with slight upwards pressure and pull forward to get the clips to release. Like every other "snap in" part on this car, it always sounds like something broke when it comes apart but it was fine. Keep in mind when putting the binnacle back on that you need to get the forward center clip to catch the forward lip of the dash. It took me several tries to get it. The left most clip, left of the air vent, is a bit tricky also.
Anyway I plugged in the video cable from the kit and then fed the main carplay connector down through the center area, but had to use a grabber tool to reach up and hold the end and guide it through. Overall this cable is entirely too long if only placing the carplay unit on top of the Ferrari head unit. In fact all of the cables are really too long for this placement, but more on that later.

At 7:15 in the video he claims you can install the carplay behind the A/C panel but that doesn't appear to be a good option and would only MAYBE be possible if you disassemble the center area as well. I gave up on that idea fairly quickly.

At 7:26 the OEM head unit is magically fully disconnected. I will say that it's almost straightforward without special instructions, but I studied the area a bit before proceeding. First I lowered the panel covering the battery in the passenger footwell (one thumb screw). Then I removed the carpet from underside of the glove box area (2 screws in cross beam above battery, 2 plastic screws about middle of the carpet piece and 3 allen screws at the leading edge underneath. After that the glove box only has screws securing the bottom edge and a snap in connection on the far right (pull out on the leather below the right side air vent). If you have an ipod connector or usb cable, you'll need to feed those out of the upper glove box inner slot opening as you pull the glovebox out. You'll also need to release the glove box light connection and I removed two screws securing the battery tender charge port.
To remove the head unit, it's easiest to leave the four silver allen bolts securing the unit to the metal bracket, and instead just remove the metal bracket together with the head unit. If I recall correctly this was two forward facing allen screws above and two more below the unit, plus one on the left side of the bracket.
From this point, I basically let the head unit hang down as I disconnected the main left rear connector and the smaller square connector right next to it. I did not ever disconnect the 3 or 4 other connectors on the right rear side. To know how to release the main connector, it helps to look at the one in the kit that plugs into the head unit in its place.

The video completely fails to show where exactly the main power cable is, although he begins describing it at 7:30 and is holding it in his hand at 8:05. To find it, you have to pull out on the cable that is the square connector from the back of the head unit, which was located adjacent to the large rectangle main connector. Buried behind the tan foam is the small connector that has to be separated and reconnected with this y-cable portion that he is showing. Mine had some type of sticky wrap around it that I had to pull off before I could separate the connector.

Once everything is connected, I tested if it was all working before I put everything back together, especially since another member was not getting a good video signal after his install. I was also fretting how to repackage everything into very tight spaces, especially since the new wiring is extra long and would have to be tucked away somewhere.

Note the two little LEDs (shown at 10:50) only light up once the car ignition power is turned on. For me everything was working perfectly so now it was time to package it all into the car.
It took a lot of finessing to get the head unit back into its original position now that it has a bunch of extra connectors and harness cable behind it. I focused on minimizing what I could behind it before deciding how exactly to place the new CarPlay box. Once I finally got the OEM head unit secured again, I investigated placing the CarPlay unit on top of the main head unit as the video suggests and as another member GarethR noted he had to remove part of the glove box to fit. With the two stubby antennas fixed to their 90 degree connectors, it makes fitting the CarPlay on top of the head unit even harder.

Fortunately, since all the cables were longer than necessary, I discovered it would all reach to the void above the right half of the car's main 12V battery. I used the foam packaging from the CarPlay box and cut recesses for the connectors, harness wires and antennas so that the unit fit neatly back into this foam and then I taped it with one wrap of gaffers (racers) tape to make sure it stays together with the foam. I cut clearance in the sides of the foam to ensure the vent slots on the CarPlay box were exposed. Overall the unit doesn't really get hot and the cavity above the battery is bigger than the space above the glovebox so I suspect this space will be fine in terms of ensuring it doesn't overheat.

I was able to re-secure the glove box now and did not have to modify it as GarethR did, so my glovebox remains completely in-tact. The wires to the CarPlay module were routed below the glovebox to be hidden by the carpet panel once it was secured back in place. Note to take care when routing the wires so as not to hinder fastening of the carpet panel, particularly the two plastic screws with "sleeves" that insert to the middle bottom area.

Once everything was back together, I tested one more time to ensure no wiring was damaged or unsecure and everything is working as expected.

Overall, CarPlay on the right side dash screen should be useful, particularly for navigation, although it is of course limited in display due to its relatively small size. I immediately noticed that apple maps will be cumbersome to use entirely through CarPlay if you want to setup a particular route for a rally or something, so in this case I will setup on the phone and then get my turn by turn on the dash screen. Will have to play with it some more, as I really don't even have experience with CarPlay before now. But I definitely do not want to stick a Garmin GPS to my windshield LOL.

Hopefully this post helps at least one more person. Sorry I did not make a video of the procedure but I didn't have help and was more interested in getting everything done as quickly as possible. I think altogether I spent about 4 hours, but I definitely took my time to ensure I didn't damage anything.

If you are not comfortable doing a project like this, then it is probably best handled by very experienced car audio installers. Even they should watch the video from the company and maybe read this post.

 

Bluetooth music should be no problem but I did not specifically try it yet. I guess I will do it today. I tested Siri and making a phone call and it was crystal clear, actually far better than the OEM system was for making Bluetooth phone calls.

 

OK I have been playing with this a little bit more. First, I can confirm that streaming music is crystal clear and sounds as good as music on the Ferrari hard drive.
Second, out of the box the language for this unit is in Chinese on the screen. if you scroll to the settings gear icon, I was able to fumble my way and figure out which screen would change the language. It is the fifth item down on the left-hand side list displayed on the screen. Or the second to last item. Click there and then I selected English, which was the first choice at the top of the sub-list on the right.
Now, obviously, it is much easier to use the system.
If you are in CarPlay and you need to get back to selections for Ferrari, you can look for the Ferrari icon on the dash screen amongst your other iPhone screen icons and click that. You will then also see screen mirroring is an option. I tried that with my iPhone, and it worked perfectly. So if you want maps as a screen mirror instead of through CarPlay, that would be an option.

One thing that has happened while messing around is that I switched over to play a song from the car’s hard drive and since then, I am not hearing my sound when back in CarPlay. I am about to give up and email the company for help with that.
I am also having trouble getting the phone to reconnect if I exit CarPlay. The only way seems to be to turn the car off and back on. I am sure I will figure it out but I wanted to mention it here in case somebody else has the same problem you will see the solution when I post it later.

 

Got the sound for CarPlay back. Upon start up I quickly switched to the iPod media source before CarPlay fully connected and it’s working again. I still need a more stable way to do this without having to turn the car off and back on.

 

You all are most welcome. And if anyone is near Nashville area or wants to come here to do a project I’ve previously done feel free to message me. Happy to help.

 

Marco from supercar experts sent me a nice reply. Now I know how to do things questioned above. Here is his explanation (paraphrased and edited for clarity to my understanding).
Getting in and out and back in to CarPlay:
There is a bit of a bug in the Ferrari head unit so if you switch out of CarPlay to another Ferrari screen, sometimes you cannot get back to it because iPod is not selectable in the media menus. CarPlay is actually still connected, you just have to know how to get the screen back and the audio back.
If you want to say listen to HDD music or Radio, but show your carplay screen for map directions, then first start your map and then press and hold menu/setup until you can select another source. Afterwards, press and hold menu/setup again for about 4 seconds and it will return to CarPlay screen but sound will still be from your alternate source.
To get CarPlay sound back, this is where you need to overcome the quirk in the Ferrari head unit. Again hold menu/setup until you can get back to HDD or DISC. Within either one, move the selector to highlight play (or pause), press and hold the selector and push up to make iPod disappear from the top selections, then press and hold and push down to make iPod reappear in the top selections. Now immediately move to make the iPod one active. Once there, press and hold menu/setup for about 4 seconds and you will get CarPlay with audio back. This may sound like a lot of process but it's pretty quick once you play with it and figure it out. I suppose it is not very normal that you would want CarPlay screen while listening to a different audio source, but this may apply also if you want Ferrari NAV or Ferrari MPH while listening to CarPlay music for example.
Here is also a video of the process described above:

Marco also mentioned that new units are preconfigured in English so you may not have to worry about switching the language as mentioned above. They also understand the issue I had with the fixed antennas and are trying to source the previous model again.

 

Android Auto is one of the three protocols that is listed as supported so I predict Marco will send you a nice email with instructions tomorrow morning. Maybe this is something you have to choose or inform them when ordering.

 

Seriously.

 

Yes absolutely. PM me your email and cell phone number

 

No issues works like a champ. Life saver for rally’s and road trip to have maps up on dash. And ability to take calls from the car.