Happy New Year 🙂

I have a 2018 Octavia (since last Summer) and the infotainment screen appears to be the Bolero system.
I am indeed a tech dinosaur, wary of starting things which might complicate what's already working, and I have no idea which version of Bolero it's running, but I would like to connect my Samsung Android phone to use things like Google Maps and AppyParking on the screen. The manual book doesn't appear to include navigation as an option for Bolero.

 

i could simply link the Bluetooth - and I imagine plug a USB lead between phone and car to keep the phone battery going - and see what happens, but as I said, don't want to complicate things which I can't then sort out!

So before I start, is it likely to work, or just to drop me in deep water?

 

With thanks.

 

... maybe I should have adopted the username "Brontosaurus" or similar here....

Bluetooth won't support displaying Google Maps et al, it's only for phone calls and music playing.

 

Since you have a 2018 Octavia it will have a MIB2 Bolero which can support Android Auto (and AppleCarPlay) provided it has been enabled.

 

You need to use Android Auto which requires a USB lead between your phone and the car - use the USB socket underneath the climate control panel and a USB lead that works with a PC.

 

If you don't see Android Auto as an option when your phone is connected then maybe it hasn't been enabled (I had to get it enabled on my 2016 Amundsen). I got this done by a third party not a dealer.

Two things spring to mind:

1) Make sure you have the latest version of firmware for your MIB system.  Earlier versions of MIB2 (SOP2.x, SOP3.x and SOP4.x) and MIB2.5 systems (SOP4.x) have buggy firmware that stop Android Auto from working properly.  You share the same firmware as an Amunsden system.  These can be upgraded by a (reasonable technical competant person).

2) You can make Android Auto work wirelessly, but you will need something like a AAWireless box to connect into your MIB USB connection.  It works quite well, but only if you have the latest MIB firmware installed.

 

Thank you both, that's a very good start. And I prefer using a cable to Bluetooth anyway, as that seems to eat up battery in no time.

I've no idea  yet if my firmware's upgraded, or needs to be, but hope to get time later today to plug in and try it out.

To be continued....

 

Thanks again.

Brilliant - I duly connected up, discovered it seems to like both cable and bluetooth, and found I can use it as SatNav - and of course it keep the phone charged too. Excellent. Tomorrow I hope to get more time to play, and will see if I can also use the AppyPark app with it, though don't yet know how to address setting it to do so.
 

A late reply to my own thread - sorry, a bug interrupted things! - to thank you all again for helpful information.

While I still haven't found how to access apps which are on my phone through the infotainment screen, other than a selected few it offers, I can now happily play music and get better satnav than our rather elderly satnav device offers, and drove happily through the streets of London with it.

On 03/01/2025 at 14:24, Hedgehurst said:

Thank you both, that's a very good start. And I prefer using a cable to Bluetooth anyway, as that seems to eat up battery in no time.

I've no idea  yet if my firmware's upgraded, or needs to be, but hope to get time later today to plug in and try it out.

To be continued....

 

Thanks again.

Go for wireless and charge the phone on the cigarette lighter.

The car USB doesn't put out enought power and you phone will be struggemeing between a low charge and heavy usage for the navigation. 

It will end up burning hot.

Wireless dongle + cigarette lighter charger is the best combo for you phone

6 hours ago, nickytheshaft said:

Go for wireless and charge the phone on the cigarette lighter.

The car USB doesn't put out enought power and you phone will be struggemeing between a low charge and heavy usage for the navigation. 

It will end up burning hot.

Wireless dongle + cigarette lighter charger is the best combo for you phone

Thanks for the warning - and that's interesting. The phone seemed to be charging up at the same time as providing navigation, so I assumed there was sufficient charge. I'll check again next time I use it that way, and have a cigarette lighter cable ready in case.

7 hours ago, nickytheshaft said:

The car USB doesn't put out enought power and you phone will be struggemeing between a low charge and heavy usage for the navigation. 

It will end up burning hot.

I don't have that problem when using the car USB and phone navigation. Seems to keep pace fine and will gradually charge my phone up.

My two previous cig lighter usbs both gave up after a short period, although one of them I'm sure was a fake of a good brand. 

On 17/01/2025 at 12:30, nickytheshaft said:

Go for wireless and charge the phone on the cigarette lighter.

The car USB doesn't put out enought power and you phone will be struggemeing between a low charge and heavy usage for the navigation. 

It will end up burning hot.

Wireless dongle + cigarette lighter charger is the best combo for you phone

Thanks again for the warning - I tried using the phone  as satnav via the USB port near the air con controls for a couple of 25 mile trips out & back yesterday evening, and throughout, the phone stayed at a fairly ambient temperature, it also steadily charged up along the way. Maybe it's fortuitously a good cable I have, or just a lucky combination of car/cable/phone?

7 hours ago, Hedgehurst said:

Thanks again for the warning - I tried using the phone  as satnav via the USB port near the air con controls for a couple of 25 mile trips out & back yesterday evening, and throughout, the phone stayed at a fairly ambient temperature, it also steadily charged up along the way. Maybe it's fortuitously a good cable I have, or just a lucky combination of car/cable/phone?

Maybe...

Mine heats up quite bad on long journeys.