VW Media Control with App Connect

jamesC · May 22, 2019

Hi All,

I have searched for this feature on the forum and had no hits at all, I am wondering if anybody here has any experience with this feature, or might be able to describe its function. It is a £162+VAT option and the sales guys are typically quite vague about what this actually does.

There is an accompanying "Volkswagen Media Control" app on the apple app store, which has mixed reviews, I would love to hear from somebody here who has experience with it.

Thanks!!

Eber123 · May 22, 2019

Good afternoon,

As my Christmas gift I got the VW App Connect. I can't remember how much it was, but around EUR 180.00 or so.

After the software installation I was able to connect my Samsung S7 phone via USB cable to the radio and using Android Auto to use some applications.

I only use it for Google Maps, for this it is working well. The other applications (e.g. music) I have not used it.

Even though I like it for Google Maps, I consider to get a dedicated Sat Nav. The reason for this is that if you have Google Maps on the radio's display and change to a radio station you have to move from maps to radio and back. This can take a few seconds.

If it is not planned properly driving towards a junction (for example) and your co-driver changes it to radio you don't know where to go. Switching back in a hurry is not possible. (I hope these all makes sense).

Because of this I believe the software is overpriced and maybe not that practical.

Regards,
Eberhard

Tom Rae · May 22, 2019

Eber123 said:
Good afternoon,

As my Christmas gift I got the VW App Connect. I can't remember how much it was, but around EUR 180.00 or so.

After the software installation I was able to connect my Samsung S7 phone via USB cable to the radio and using Android Auto to use some applications.

I only use it for Google Maps, for this it is working well. The other applications (e.g. music) I have not used it.

Even though I like it for Google Maps, I consider to get a dedicated Sat Nav. The reason for this is that if you have Google Maps on the radio's display and change to a radio station you have to move from maps to radio and back. This can take a few seconds.

If it is not planned properly driving towards a junction (for example) and your co-driver changes it to radio you don't know where to go. Switching back in a hurry is not possible. (I hope these all makes sense).

Because of this I believe the software is overpriced and maybe not that practical.

Regards,
Eberhard

Eberhard, despite not having a visual map display, the spoken directional instructions will take precedence over the radio/music.

Tom

Doorbundle · May 22, 2019

App Connect will enable you to use Google Maps /directions with voice instructions via an iPhone or ipad, other smart phones are available. We have it. It works.

Eber123 · May 22, 2019

Good evening,

Yes, the voice instruction work and I use it too. But I prefer to see the map. Instructions like "next left" even I get, but if you are on a motorway with 3 lanes and 2 lanes leaving the motorway and you have to get the outside lane of the two leaving lanes to join another one voice instructions won't do it for me (and yes, I hast to say it, we have this kind of motorways in Ireland

).

Regards,
Eberhard

paradise city · May 22, 2019

Out of all the extras I have it is probably the one I'm most thankful I ordered. I wasn't sure about it when I was ordering my van but the dealer convinced me and I'm glad he did.

You can stream radio (BBC iplayer app) and podcasts (Google Podcast app) through your phone whilst using maps as your satnav.

The volume of whatever you are listening to at the time reduces when the satnav wants to tell you something important.

I'd highly recommend it.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

babble · May 23, 2019

my dealer told me not to get it, and said it wouldn't work 'in belgium', which seems a bit odd. in any case i ended up paying nothing and getting the bog standard basic model of radio, (which for the Coast is really very bod-standard), and plan to get an upgrade hopefully from absolute5 at some point. i would really like to put a second sim in a radio and use waze etc directly from the car.

Derrick’s dad · May 23, 2019

I was not convinced with regards to the factory fit Sat Nav having read numerous reviews, most on this site. When ordering and choosing the Spec my salesman was immensely helpful and suggested the App connect as a good alternative and as a result, I ordered it. I thought the cost appeared to be good value.
I’ve been very impressed with it so far and found it easy to use. The most important thing is that I’ve found google maps straight forward to follow and haven’t got lost !

Alibee · May 23, 2019

Can't speak to VW Media Control, but App Connect is one of my favourite aspects of our T6.

We use it for maps, podcasts, Spotify, audiobooks, sending texts / WhatsApp, and general questions of google (usually while arguing over the avg weight of an adult elk, of similar!). Just brilliant, and looking forward to having it cable-less in the T6.1.

Neilos · May 23, 2019

Our van has the app connect, as others have said, it’s good, works well. Only downside is you have to physically plug your phone in with a cable. I tend to listen to audio just via Bluetooth to save messing with cables. Waze works well through apple car play as does Spotify. Ours also has the media control, it was a demo van so we didn’t choose this option. I haven’t used it yet, I’ve downloaded the app, and to be honest I don’t really know what it can do yet, as it’s a new van to us so if others know I’d be keen to know too!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Romke · May 23, 2019

The only drawback is that it takes ages to boot up each time. Otherwise I love it!

PaulMilton · May 23, 2019

I’m only agreeing with everyone else but i love the app connect stuff. I have an iPhone and being able to easily listen to podcasts and playlists from my phone is brilliant for long drives, especially in France ( I just can’t get into French radio, and I have tried!). Using google maps and waze means that you never have to worry about the maps not being up to date.

I love it. I would almost say it’s a ‘must have’.

kurtk · May 23, 2019

babble said:
my dealer told me not to get it, and said it wouldn't work 'in belgium', which seems a bit odd. in any case i ended up paying nothing and getting the bog standard basic model of radio, (which for the Coast is really very bod-standard), and plan to get an upgrade hopefully from absolute5 at some point. i would really like to put a second sim in a radio and use waze etc directly from the car.

The dealer probably meant android auto. When we got ours only Apple Carplay worked.

babble · May 23, 2019

Ah, yes, that. Is that different from app connect? On the Cali Coast I would have had to upgrade the radio too, so the total cost would have been 600+ euros even for the basic touch screen model, maybe a foar bit more. I think I'll just put that towards the absolutely best after market set up. (what is that BTW anyone?)

jamesC · May 23, 2019

Thanks for all the comments, however, it is actually specifically the Media Control app that I was enquiring about, although it is described as "Media Control with App Connect".... sorry for any confusion!!

Burcu · May 25, 2019

In Belgium Android Auto is not yet in Google Playstore and CarNet cannot be used with Android phones if you don't have the app. Of course there is a way around to get the app through downloading the .apk version. However the VW info center at Kortenberg warned us against using the apk, since it may ruin the whole electronic system of the car, including the automatic gear, which can cost up to 7k to fix. They had 3 cases like that. This was one of the most useful information we have ever got from VW. CarNet is a very nice to have, and we chose to add it as an option, but be careful with Android Auto if you are living in Belgium. Changing the country of the Play Store can be a solution.

Geoff York · May 26, 2019

Burcu Avci said:
In Belgium Android Auto is not yet in Google Playstore and CarNet cannot be used with Android phones if you don't have the app. Of course there is a way around to get the app through downloading the .apk version. However the VW info center at Kortenberg warned us against using the apk, since it may ruin the whole electronic system of the car, including the automatic gear, which can cost up to 7k to fix. They had 3 cases like that. This was one of the most useful information we have ever got from VW. CarNet is a very nice to have, and we chose to add it as an option, but be careful with Android Auto if you are living in Belgium. Changing the country of the Play Store can be a solution.

lI use app connect all the time...great for google maps but always carry a tomtom for when the signal occasionally fails
Great for listening to BBc radio 2 whilst im in portgal