Hi,

 

I’ve been over the posts here regarding SmartLink and I am still confused.

 

I recently bought a 2016 Octavia Combi Business Edition. I think I have an Amundsen. Not sure how to check that. See attached System Information.  
 

I have SmartLink on the menu and when I press it I see a message to contact a dealer to activate SmartLink. 
 

At the dealership they claim it cannot be done. I somehow doubt it because why would I have it on the menu?

 

Any thoughts?

You should be able to have it activated for something like £130-160. It's a license deal. Should take about half an hour.

Thank you but I am afraid this is not enough to go on. 
 

How do I know from System Information which unit I have and if it is compatible with CarPlay?

Just now, Shaharkadmiel said:

How do I know from System Information which unit I have and if it is compatible with CarPlay?

Your part number begins 5Q and your navigation database begins 5L - so you have a MIB2 Amundsen (running with 4 year old map data which you can update free online from the Skoda portal).

Just now, PetrolDave said:

Your part number begins 5Q and your navigation database begins 5L - so you have a MIB2 Amundsen (running with 4 year old map data which you can update free online from the Skoda portal).

Thanks a lot. This is good information. I have already updated the maps to the ECE A1 2020/21. Luckily the original SD card could fit it.

 

Now, what does this mean for SmartLink/CarPlay?

1 minute ago, Shaharkadmiel said:

Now, what does this mean for SmartLink/CarPlay?

As I only have a MIB1 Amundsen which cannot be updated with software for CarPlay this is based on reading here .... the MIB2 units should be CarPlay compatible, it appearsyou only need a SwAP code to get it enabled as others have suggested? Others with more knowledge need to confirm...

Just now, PetrolDave said:

As I only have a MIB1 Amundsen which cannot be updated with software for CarPlay this is based on reading here .... the MIB2 units should be CarPlay compatible, it appearsyou only need a SwAP code to get it enabled as others have suggested? Others with more knowledge need to confirm...

Thanks you. There seems to be a @pab567 on here who is quite knowledgeable on this topic. Perhaps he can weigh in on this...

5Q0035864A unit is Amundsen MIB2 without DAB, MY16. It is capable of SmartLink (MirrorLink, Android Auta and Apple CarPlay). it requires activation of FEC/SWaP code by dealer or hacking

1 minute ago, pab567 said:

5Q0035864A unit is Amundsen MIB2 without DAB, MY16. It is capable of SmartLink (MirrorLink, Android Auta and Apple CarPlay). it requires activation of FEC/SWaP code by dealer or hacking

Thank you for this information. So what do I need to tell my Skoda dealer because they claim it cannot be done. 
 

I like the hacking idea 😉

Try emailing a few other local dealers for a price to enable. You then have options - either take it to one if they quote and the price is good, or go back to your dealer saying the franchise up the road can do it and see if they reassess their ability to do it. It may simply be a case they don't want to bother with this sort of work. 

Exactly... and if you find no solution you can send it to me to Poland for rework

A dealer should be able to activate smartlink...

 

I believe the part number they need is 000054830A which is an activation kit and is normally around £130-150.

 

Unfortunately, it does need a dealer to do the update for you, just as an example for the kit: https://shop.skoda.nl/auto-accessoires/car-electronics/connectivity/000054830A-smartlink?cid=13

SmartLink doesn't appear in the menu on older units. If SmartLink is shown then that means it is present. When it says "contact a dealer to activate SmartLink", that means a dealer can activate it.

Summary:

Your dealer is an idiot.

Just now, Rodge said:

SmartLink doesn't appear in the menu on older units. If SmartLink is shown then that means it is present. When it says "contact a dealer to activate SmartLink", that means a dealer can activate it.

Summary:

Your dealer is an idiot.

Well, maybe not an idiot but just a bit lazy/misinformed. I don't know which is better... idiot or lazy🤷‍♂️

2 hours ago, pab567 said:

Exactly... and if you find no solution you can send it to me to Poland for rework

BTW, have there been any firmware updates for this system? If so, I assume these have never been applied.

PM

Sending to pab might allow enabling of some other features that you may or may not use. Either way he is a guru with this stuff and you would get good advice from him.

Just now, MarkyG82 said:

Sending to pab might allow enabling of some other features that you may or may not use. Either way he is a guru with this stuff and you would get good advice from him.

Thank you. It sure seems that way.

Family member is buying a 2018 (68 plates) Fabia. From images of the car on the webpage Smartlink shows Android Auto and mirror link but not Apple CarPlay. (Top image). I found the bottom image on Google of system showing all 3 options. Will they need to go to a dealer to get Apple CarPlay enabled or will it work with an iPhone. 

I'm new to Skodas, but I've spent a lot of time fiddling with this stuff in setting up my Fabia. The second photo is simply showing all the Smartlink technologies available and you will see this screen BEFORE a phone has been connected- you can't actually select anything from this screen. The first photo is what you see AFTER you connect an android device, and it is here that you can select the connection technology you want to use. As it is an android device that has been connected, you don't have the option of selecting CarPlay. However Carplay is a feature of Smartlink so if you were to connect an Apple iphone you would be able to select Carplay.

 

Short answer- you don't need to get anything enabled at the dealer; Carplay is already available, you just need to connect an iphone before you can use it.

I have retrofitted a MIB2 unit (5Q0035874A, Hardware 25, Software 0252) with the hacked smartlink which works absolutely fine with Android Auto. I have recently changed my phone to latest iphone with IOS 15.4, but when I try to connect my phone to the head unit, nothing happens at all, except charging (no connected device is listed). Admittedly, the cable is not a genuine apple cable (genuine cable is lightning to usb-c, while I need lightning to normal usb).

 

My question is, would it be possible that the smarlink has only been hacked for the Anroid Auto not the CarPlay, or such thing is not possible and if it works for Android Auto it should also work for CarPlay? It is worth saying that when I start the smartlink from the menu, it shows all the three logos for Android Auto, CarPlay and MirrorLink. Also, the siri is enabled on my phone. 

 

Thanks in advance for your time.

 

P.S. in the smartlink settings, in the connection type I can only see only Android Auto and MirroLink like the below image

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160311/89581fc046d72662179bf262a5a5d30e.jpg

Edited 16 March, 20224 yr by Vahids

@Vahids my understanding is that Android Auto and Apple Carplay each have their own SWaP code (see info on codes here), so yes it could be possible that Android Auto is enabled but Apple Carplay is not. You can check if you have the Carplay Swap code (00060800) enabled by turning on your infotainment system, press and hold the Menu button a few seconds, and then select 'Function Enabling codes', then 'Installed codes' and see if the carplay code is there. If it isn't there you could double check Carplay is supported by going into 'Supported Codes', which shows all codes that the system supports (regardless of whether they're actually enabled or not). If Carplay is supported but not enabled, you'd need to find a way to enable it (I haven't done this- try YouTube)

On 02/10/2020 at 09:46, Rodge said:

SmartLink doesn't appear in the menu on older units. If SmartLink is shown then that means it is present. When it says "contact a dealer to activate SmartLink", that means a dealer can activate it.

Summary:

Your dealer is an idiot.

This is what Skoda UK on Twitter told me when i enquired about Smartlink. I’m guessing i could actually have it actived then based on what i’ve read.

 

 

Yeah the SUK response on twitter is wrong. If it shows then you can have it.