Hi all,

 

Just picked up my Octavia tdi vrs blackline (2012) and was surprised to find that the Amundsen+ unit doesn't have any bluetooth on it (despite the phone button)! 

 

I wanted an Android Auto one anyway really, so just wondering what units would still show things like the aircon, reversing sensors but have android auto so I can use my phone and google maps etc.

 

I found a similar post on this on here but it was 4 years old and I suspect things have moved on a bit on the android auto side of things.  Had a look on icebox auto as recommended on that post but it seems a bit of a minefield with limited descriptions and info. 

 

Any help would be much appreciated! I will no doubt be back on here with more general questions and random things turn up! 

 

R

I've recently got a Headunit from these guys:

https://audiotechdirect.com/direct-fit-vw7148v-7-after-market-gps-stereo-for-vw-seat-skoda/

They have been recommended elsewhere on this forum (partly by me). It does support the reversing sensors, aircon and doors opening.

I also bought an Android Auto adapter:

https://audiotechdirect.com/pba-usb-interface-stereo-adaptor-for-android-auto/

It works quite well with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, whole experience is quite smooth and slick. Some tinkering is required, but after all is set it works well.

 

Installed it on my 2008 Mk2 pre-facelift Octy, I think it had an Amundsen before but not sure.

 

It's this or drop about £800 on an 'Official' headunit upgrade from Kenwood:

https://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/oem/skoda/DNX516DABS/?view=&view=

 

Hope that helps

Edited 4 September, 20196 yr by A-Lagopus

16 hours ago, CooperDJ said:

Just picked up my Octavia tdi vrs blackline (2012) and was surprised to find that the Amundsen+ unit doesn't have any bluetooth on it (despite the phone button)! 

 

You might be able to enable BT depending on the headunit, quite a few Amundsen+ have it built in so it just needs coding and a mic adding.

 

Obviously it won't give you AA but given a mic is super cheap compared to headunit it might be enough to keep you happy 

1 hour ago, langers2k said:

 

You might be able to enable BT depending on the headunit, quite a few Amundsen+ have it built in so it just needs coding and a mic adding.

 

Obviously it won't give you AA but given a mic is super cheap compared to headunit it might be enough to keep you happy 

 

Thanks - I think i'm sold on Android auto though as have just come from a 58 plate 325i and the 10 year old nav on it did my head in so was constantly balancing a phone on the seat to use google maps. Just weighing up whether I can live without the visualisation of the reversing camera and aircon so that I can stick a £300 Sony unit in there.  Presumably you don't actually lose any functionality you just don't get to see it? 

 

Other option I was pondering is adding a reversing camera as that's a lot more universal head unit wise. 

2 hours ago, A-Lagopus said:

I've recently got a Headunit from these guys:

https://audiotechdirect.com/direct-fit-vw7148v-7-after-market-gps-stereo-for-vw-seat-skoda/

They have been recommended elsewhere on this forum (partly by me). It does support the reversing sensors, aircon and doors opening.

I also bought an Android Auto adapter:

https://audiotechdirect.com/pba-usb-interface-stereo-adaptor-for-android-auto/

It works quite well with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, whole experience is quite smooth and slick. Some tinkering is required, but after all is set it works well.

 

Installed it on my 2008 Mk2 pre-facelift Octy, I think it had an Amundsen before but not sure.

 

It's this or drop about £800 on an 'Official' headunit upgrade from Kenwood:

https://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/oem/skoda/DNX516DABS/?view=&view=

 

Hope that helps

 

Interesting... definitely not in the market for £700, I really don't want to spend more than £500 all in including the cables etc.  Quite like the idea of not needing a fascia too. 

 

Presumably the fiddle involved in the android auto converter is installing the APK on the headunit and finding somewhere to hide the big USB thing. 

 

What's the sound quality like? Have standard speakers at the moment but will probably upgrade in the future, on previous cars just switching out the standard one to a Sony has seen a big improvement in sound quality and it is one of my reservations around unbranded units. 

1 hour ago, CooperDJ said:

 

Interesting... definitely not in the market for £700, I really don't want to spend more than £500 all in including the cables etc.  Quite like the idea of not needing a fascia too. 

 

Presumably the fiddle involved in the android auto converter is installing the APK on the headunit and finding somewhere to hide the big USB thing. 

 

What's the sound quality like? Have standard speakers at the moment but will probably upgrade in the future, on previous cars just switching out the standard one to a Sony has seen a big improvement in sound quality and it is one of my reservations around unbranded units. 

 

The fiddling is attaching the cables and adaptor, currently I took out the ashtray and just routed a USB extension lead through, but it look rather ugly and I'm still debating on how to make it look nicer.

There's also an annoying checkbox somewhere in Settings that interferes with the CarKit app and makes the screen go black after you put in a reverse gear. I think it's "forbid to play video while driving" or something. But once I sorted that out, my experience was sleek and continuous, no hitches, not a single drop of connection.

 

I don't listen to music in car much, mostly audiobooks, but in general I'd say the sound is OK by my standards. Definitely better than a crummy sound I had through an AUX input or radio off a standard unit

 

 

2 hours ago, A-Lagopus said:

 

The fiddling is attaching the cables and adaptor, currently I took out the ashtray and just routed a USB extension lead through, but it look rather ugly and I'm still debating on how to make it look nicer.

There's also an annoying checkbox somewhere in Settings that interferes with the CarKit app and makes the screen go black after you put in a reverse gear. I think it's "forbid to play video while driving" or something. But once I sorted that out, my experience was sleek and continuous, no hitches, not a single drop of connection.

 

I don't listen to music in car much, mostly audiobooks, but in general I'd say the sound is OK by my standards. Definitely better than a crummy sound I had through an AUX input or radio off a standard unit

 

 

 

Ok thanks! Routing wise I was thinking about getting a phone holder that goes on the dash between steering wheel and stereo, then running the cable through the gap in the dashboard that looks relatively wide down by the steering wheel.  Couldn't really see where else to do it that doesn't involve making holes in things 

Think on balance i'm going to go for a Sony unit as i've always had them and they've always been good.... just means now i'm in a world of fascia issues.

 

Any suggestions? I keep seeming to find ones that say they're for mk2 but the example pic is pre-FL or mentions "bolero" or "stream".  Mine's the Amundsen+ so is that going to work the same?