Composite media system with 6.33/ iphone

CYCLOPATH · Nov 10, 2015

HI all,
I am almost a Cali owner, just chasing down the right van for me. The above media system is an option on the T6. It has aux in and USB. Can I plug in my iPhone somehow and let it display on the system.
I can then use my favourite Michelin navigation, and save myself £1000 buying a VW Satnav, and the Michelin one is continually updated, and does lovely things like tell me if I am speeding in France , if I convert kilometres wrongly.

AndyFromTheBrac · Nov 10, 2015

Yes... and no....

You're correct the slightly upgraded composition media system is needed, but you also need the VW car net app connect option too. That's option Z16, £162 for the larger screen (on an Ocean) and the app connect is option 9WT,at £144, so about £300. Still a big saving.

However this only allows Apple Maps for nav, as CarPlay has a specific subset of apps which Apple deem appropriate for in-car usage (the ones which have decent voice activation/commands). Hard to tell if they will release any other nav app anytime soon. See the current list of supported apps at http://www.carplaylife.com/apps/ (I've been banging on about it in another thread that you may have seen on here). Whilst in theory that's fine, you're going to need a data connection for some of that which could make it pricey abroad. I'm not a huge fan of Apple Maps but it's getting a lot better.

That said, there are some workarounds with car wifi mirrorlink devices plugged into the aux in socket on the head unit (I'm actually getting one fitted today). That would only allow you to mirror (AirPlay) your phone screen and sound onto the head unit, but not control it from there (you can control it from the phone). They're quite cheapish at around £70. Once mine is installed I'll grab a few pics so you can see what I mean.

I do think at some point Apple will relent and allow other 3rd party nav apps onto CarPlay, but not until the 3rd parties up their game in terms of voice activation.

T6 CFO · Nov 10, 2015

AndyFromTheBrac said:
Yes... and no....

You're correct the slightly upgraded composition media system is needed, but you also need the VW car net app connect option too. That's option Z16, £162 for the larger screen (on an Ocean) and the app connect is option 9WT,at £144, so about £300. Still a big saving.

However this only allows Apple Maps for nav, as CarPlay has a specific subset of apps which Apple deem appropriate for in-car usage (the ones which have decent voice activation/commands). Hard to tell if they will release any other nav app anytime soon. See the current list of supported apps at http://www.carplaylife.com/apps/ (I've been banging on about it in another thread that you may have seen on here). Whilst in theory that's fine, you're going to need a data connection for some of that which could make it pricey abroad. I'm not a huge fan of Apple Maps but it's getting a lot better.

That said, there are some workarounds with car wifi mirrorlink devices plugged into the aux in socket on the head unit (I'm actually getting one fitted today). That would only allow you to mirror (AirPlay) your phone screen and sound onto the head unit, but not control it from there (you can control it from the phone). They're quite cheapish at around £70. Once mine is installed I'll grab a few pics so you can see what I mean.

I do think at some point Apple will relent and allow other 3rd party nav apps onto CarPlay, but not until the 3rd parties up their game in terms of voice activation.

Thanks some excellent information. I recently used my iPhone on acycling holidays in France and I used apple maps, have to say it was excellent and I used it almost all the time. The one drawback as stated is the required data connection. Cost wise was not a problem as I have unlimited data with my provider which is very cheap and covered me in France. The drawback was the occasional loss of signal when I fell back on a cheap and cheerful garmin. I am therefore probably going to bite the bullet and get the full package. With the info given about app connect I would probably take the gamble but there are hopefully going to be occasions when I am out on my bike with my phone and my other half is going to need to find me. In built Satnav is going to be easier so for me it's the bells and whistles and cost of the Discover Media Plus....I think

AndyFromTheBrac · Nov 10, 2015

It's a minefield isn't it? An exciting one, but a minefield nonetheless. I hung on a while to see if the T6 options could be retro-fitted to a T5, but no (at least not for the foreseeable). I'm finally swapping my RNS510 out for an Alpine iLX-700 today.

Apple have also improved their map-caching algorithms this year in that it does now at least cache the map around the routed journey into memory (as recently as May this year this wasn't the case) - So, assuming you don't need to reroute, it doesn't then need a signal for the whole trip duration. I tried this recently by turning off data on my phone (you do need Wi-Fi on as that's also GPS) Obvs you wouldn't get traffic updates etc.

CALI FATE · Nov 10, 2015

Here is a simple sat nav upgrade option that looks cool - if you OK with Garmin

CYCLOPATH · Nov 13, 2015

In the video, he said there is an upgrade for the RS510. I have just got this system, that was an extra on a demo model I bought,
It isn't really as good as my Michelin navigation app on my iPhone.,...though it isn't to bad. And nice to have it built in, rather than flopping about on the dash board