Member Since: 14 Dec 2014
Location: Chinnor
Posts: 531
Apple CarPlay in D4 for £65
Hi guys, thought I'd share this as I've been using it for a couple of weeks now.
Like many of you I'm sure, I have read countless threads on the Tesla style screen, and/or seen the Powerful UK video installing a very expensive head unit - all seeking the holy grail of CarPlay / AndroidAuto in the Discovery 4.
2 weeks ago I took a chance on this, I got it from Amazon UK for £60 (todays price is £65.99) link is at the foot of this thread.
Nobody sent me this, I paid for it with my own money, so this is an honest review from a long term member of this forum.
In short I give it 9/10 - it's bloody great.
I didn't want to lose my original screen, I didn't want anything which impeded vision out of the windscreen, and I wanted seamless integration with the car audio.
This ticks all boxes.
Check out the photos below. I have just added a video review to the Amazon listing as I couldn't upload a video direct to the forum, so look out for that, it hasn't been approved yet but should appear on there soon.
Setup and installation dead easy, I have it running from one of the 12 volt sockets on the dash, and have hidden the wire as much as possible by tucking it behind trim etc.
I did try it positioned directly central above the original screen, it looked better and satisfied my OCD there, but is much more practical where I have it now so I have settled for it on the centre line of the air vent.
The design of it in black and silver makes it look quite original, and it just works.
Audio still connects to the original car stereo by Bluetooth, so is unaffected.
It even came with a reverse camera, which I don't need as I already have the original, but I did test out of curiousity and it also works fine, image is a lot clearer than the D4 camera to be honest.
Connects seamlessly to the car and phone as soon as I unlock the car, and boots up in around the same amount of time as the inbuilt LR screen.
There are bigger screens available. I have since installed one in my daughter's Corsa, similar price and just as good.
Discovery Sport SE (awful)
56 plate D3 HSE TDV6 Zermatt Silver
Defender 90 200tdi
18th Sep 2024 10:20 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14380
Thats quite neat and not much bigger than a phone. How's it attached to the dash?
Personally I think it looks much better than the 'Tesla' style, which I think look naff and out of place.
I might get one for my daughter's DS.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
£68.39 for a 10.26 inch display as opposed to £65.99 for a 6.86 inch inch display.
Why, may I ask, did you go for the smaller option?
NJSS
18th Sep 2024 10:46 am
Johnny Oxford
Member Since: 14 Dec 2014
Location: Chinnor
Posts: 531
I wasn't looking for a huge screen, I wanted the functionality, plus I didn't want the big bracket on the dash. I also liked the fact that it folds, allowing me to adjust the display angle.
Mine is fixed on the dash with 4 self adhesive pads (1 each corner) - it did come with 2 long self adhesive strips but I found due to the curve on the dash it didn't stay in place, so changed for my own 3M sticky pads in the corners.
Discovery Sport SE (awful)
56 plate D3 HSE TDV6 Zermatt Silver
Defender 90 200tdi
18th Sep 2024 10:54 am
Jimbob42
Member Since: 23 Mar 2022
Location: Leicester
Posts: 179
That look decent enough. The stripping of the dash etc to fit these CarPlay systems seems a faff. What’s the sound like? Does it play through aux or does it have the fm transmitter built in? Seem to lose volume with aux on our d3.
19th Sep 2024 6:46 am
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1656
Seems like a good solution. A good find. Could you give us an update in a few weeks after you’ve been using it longer , regarding reliability and operability. Definitely interested. At present resting my phone over the screen for navigation, which works reasonably well (phone about right size) , but obviously prone to move out of position (the flip side is that it encourages smoother driving ).
Thanks for sharingGary
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Discovery 4 HSE 2016MY
19th Sep 2024 8:03 am
Johnny Oxford
Member Since: 14 Dec 2014
Location: Chinnor
Posts: 531
this was my biggest doubt to be honest, I like you have had problems with bluetooth devices in AUX in the past - and FM transmitters are truly awful.
What is not very well publicised, is that if you already have bluetooth streaming capability in your existing car stereo - which the D4 does - then you can simply select that as the audio source and nothing changes - so the audio remains direct to the Disco, and the screen just operates in tandem for the visuals.
So in short - the sound is perfect as it is not changed at all by the use of this.
Incidentally in the Corsa with the other screen I did have to use AUX - and with the addition of a £5 ground loop filter (common requirement on bluetooth devices) it's perfectly fine too.
edit : just noticed you have D3, which I believe doesnt have streaming bluetooth so yes you would have to use AUX or FM - I can only go by the Corsa which works fine - however I also remember on my D3 having a mismatch in volume when using AUX - I guess you'd have to try it - the beauty of Amazon of course is you have a month in which to return it if not satisfied.
Jimbob42 wrote:
That look decent enough. The stripping of the dash etc to fit these CarPlay systems seems a faff. What’s the sound like? Does it play through aux or does it have the fm transmitter built in? Seem to lose volume with aux on our d3.
2014 D4 HSE Facelift Corris Grey
Previous :
Discovery Sport SE (awful)
56 plate D3 HSE TDV6 Zermatt Silver
Defender 90 200tdi
Last edited by Johnny Oxford on 19th Sep 2024 1:01 pm. Edited 1 time in total
19th Sep 2024 12:57 pm
Johnny Oxford
Member Since: 14 Dec 2014
Location: Chinnor
Posts: 531
Will do - I have also tried the balance iPhone in front of screen in the past.
I'll update in a few weeks, but so far so good.
The price is truly incredible, every alternative Ive seen in the past is literally hundreds of £££ and involves major surgery on the dash. Why anyone would risk tampering inside their built in D4 screen to fit the device in the Powerful UK video (for about £500!) is beyond me.
£60.99 today!
Gary_P wrote:
Seems like a good solution. A good find. Could you give us an update in a few weeks after you’ve been using it longer , regarding reliability and operability. Definitely interested. At present resting my phone over the screen for navigation, which works reasonably well (phone about right size) , but obviously prone to move out of position (the flip side is that it encourages smoother driving ).
Thanks for sharing
2014 D4 HSE Facelift Corris Grey
Previous :
Discovery Sport SE (awful)
56 plate D3 HSE TDV6 Zermatt Silver
Defender 90 200tdi
19th Sep 2024 12:58 pm
Johnny Oxford
Member Since: 14 Dec 2014
Location: Chinnor
Posts: 531
my short video of the unit powering up etc is now live on the Amazon page, here's the link
(PS please ignore the random round semi transparent "button" on the screen, thats there as I have assistive touch enabled on my iPhone, nothing to do with the CarPlay screen)2014 D4 HSE Facelift Corris Grey
Previous :
Discovery Sport SE (awful)
56 plate D3 HSE TDV6 Zermatt Silver
Defender 90 200tdi
20th Sep 2024 10:53 am
dakers
Member Since: 22 Feb 2016
Location: Beds/Herts
Posts: 28
So does the Bluetooth streaming still go straight from the phone, even if controlled by the new unit? How does things like navigation sounds or whatever work? Or does the unit itself pair with the the car, and the sounds all go via that?
Have you got any pics of how you routed the cable in the lower section?
21st Sep 2024 5:54 am
Johnny Oxford
Member Since: 14 Dec 2014
Location: Chinnor
Posts: 531
All audio goes direct to the car. Just as before. However you can control it from the new screen. So audio is perfect and exactly as before.
Original audio controls remain active and unaffected but you can also do everything from the screen. Answer calls, skip tracks etc.
When you set up the screen you go through a 1 time connection with the phone, the screen creates its own Wi-Fi network to do this, but once it’s done that’s it. It’s similar to setting up a ring doorbell if you’ve ever done that.
Wiring is simply tucked under the trim near the cigarette lighter and under the seam between the 2 plastic panels to the left side the side of the steering wheel, just pushed it in with a plastic trim removal tool.2014 D4 HSE Facelift Corris Grey
Previous :
Discovery Sport SE (awful)
56 plate D3 HSE TDV6 Zermatt Silver
Defender 90 200tdi
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