Hi Doctornick, Awesome writeup. Not sure if my suggestion would help but how I use a earstudio Bluetooth dongle connected to my aux port and run my android phone audio only through that. I have set it up to use up to LDAC codecs on my phone. Sounds a lot better with the car audio system. I am guessing you should be able to connect the android unit
using Bluetooth to this dongle instead of pulling the analog wire.

Also, do you know if the system would work for non LVDS display and head unit. This is from a 2009 G37x with nav and tech package. I know they have a advanced screen with LVDS, but not sure how the LVDS Y connector would fit behind the stereo head unit. Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

What product should I get on Aliexpress now?

 

Hoping you'll see my question. I have a carplay unit coming and it references the USB port in the console. Do you have to remove the connector on the back of the USB port? Or do you have to run wires into the console and actually plug into the existing USB port? You didn't have pics of that part and I'm really hoping that I don't need to tear the console apart or have wires visible.


Mounting the box was not easy as there is not a lot of room in the G that isn't already utilized. I saw some install videos of similar units for a 370z where they just put the unit above their dvd/headunit but the G has the AC control box there so it wouldn't fit. I ended up mounting the unit above the glove box directly below the passenger airbag. The keyless entry controller (or at least thats what showed up when I googled the part number) was hitting the interface when I first tried to put the glovebox on so I had to unscrew the controller and move it over to the right side of the glovebox housing (pic below). The interface came with two velcro pads with adhesive so I just used those to fix the controller in the new location. Unfortunately as a result of this my already short keyless entry range has gotten even shorter, which isnt a huge issue considering I mostly leave my keys in my pocket and use the button on the handle to lock/unlock but still a bit annoying at times.

Here are some pictures so you can better see how the box is mounted instead of my artistic representation. I put some shower pan liner cut to size above and below the interface just so there's no damage or issues with it touching the metal around the passenger airbag and anything above the glovebox.


The process was as follows:
1 Remove shifter area, remove radio, screen bezel/vents, and then remove touch screen.
2 Remove glove box.
3 Unplug the brown touchscreen plug from the screen, plug into the female interface connector, and then plug the male interface connector into the screen.
4 Run the main male connector that goes to the interface through the cavity on the right of the headunit/under the right side vent, and leave it hanging from the glovebox cavity.
5 Unplug two large pin connectors from the radio/headunit and plug them into the female interface connector, and then plug the male interface connectors into the radio/headunit.
6 Run the main male connector that goes to the interface through the cavity on the right of the headunit/under the right side vent, and leave it hanging from the glovebox cavity.
7 Run a the AUX cord behind the head unit.
8 Screws touch screen back into place.
9 Screw head unit back in, run the AUX/USBs under the head unit, to the area under where the shifter goes.
10 Pop the center console front cover off (the one that has the USB plug on it.)
11 Plug in your phone charger cord to the USB labeled "USB", then run that cord under the cupholders and through to the center console.
12 Plug the included female aux to male USB adapter to the aux cord, and run that USB cord under the cupholders to the cars USB port.
13 Remove the keyless entry module from the bracket and position it elsewhere.
14 Place the interface box in the cavity below the passenger airbag and above the glovebox, its a tight fit. (you may have to loosely mount it at this point to keep it from falling)
15 Plug the large pinned connector from the head unit into the interface.
16 Plug the LVDS cable from the touchscreen into the interface.
17 Plug the pinned connector labeled USB into the interface.
18 Mount the interface however you like, I chose zipties with some vinyl liner used as protection for the box.
19 Screw screen bezel/vents back on.
20 Screw HVAC/Radio control panel back on.
21 Pop that lil trim piece below the HVAC controls back on.
22 Bundle the remaining two USB female cords that are under your shifter area together. You can run them somewhere else if you like but I left them here as I dont plan on using them.
23 Pop your shifter trim back on.
24 done

Operating the unit is actually fairly simple, you just hold the back button down and it switches from the OEM infotainment to the interface's custom home screen. This specific interface only lets you use certain apps that are preinstalled but therers a more expensive version that lets you download and run regular android apps. I only really ordered this for carplay functionality so I dont care too much about missing that.



There have been some minor annoyances that I messaged the manufacturer about and I'm hoping can get resolved. I cant see any way to change the climate measurements for temperature from C° to F°, which again not a huge deal considering my air only stays cold if its set to 60 and its hot if its set to anything else, but still, would be nice to get that changed. I also accidentally set the steering wheel controls a bit wrong. I made it so that the next/prev buttons go up and down on menus, and my navigation dial is next/prev song as opposed to the intended setup, which was the other way around. I cant seem to find any way to undo this unfortunately. Trying to bind that button to another action just says is already bound, and trying to click the action again yields nothing. (pic below) (fixed) The only other hiccup, and by far the biggest one for me, is some slight audio issues, stuff that might not even bother some. The sound itself is fine, not noticeable compression or distortion, but the volume is probably about 70% as loud as it is if you just plug your phone directly into the center console USB port. (Fixed, managed to find my way past their OS into the android settings screen and found the volume controls) There is also a very feint whining noise that becomes audible at about 50% volume and very noticeable in the 80-100% range. I bought a cheapo $7 aux noise isolator on amazon so im hoping that fixes it (it did), if not, I included that in the message to the manufacturer. That is easily a big issue for me as I know its going to drive me nuts if I have to turn my volume up more to get equal audio levels as the native usb port, and then have to hear a whine, however feint, when I do.



Other than that, everything works great. Carplay works wired and wirelessly, getting Bluetooth set up is a bit weird since it comes with no instructions. At first, every time I opened Bluetooth and searched for my phone, nothing came up. I figured out that I had to turn on the interface's WIFI, connect to my phone, and then switch over to the interfaces Bluetooth app where my phone finally showed up. With Bluetooth connected, I was able to change over from wired to wireless Carplay in the QLink app settings and since then, every time I start my car, by the time I hold the back button down, Carplay is already up and open. Overall I would say the purchase is bordering on "worth it" territory. If I can get these small hiccups resolved I would say its worth it, but if not, im not too sure. If the whine cant be fixed then I'll most likely see if they manufacturer will accept a refund request as thats a pretty big annoyance for me, if not I might keep it or sell it to someone who doesn't care. The other things like having to use my dial to change songs instead of my steering wheel or seeing C° instead of F° arent too big of issues for me so I can live with those.

TL;DR

Pros============================================== ==
100% plug and play, easy to install.
Wired Android Auto
Wired or Wireless Apple Carplay
Bluetooth audio is higher quality than the OEM Bluetooth.

Cons============================================== ==
Temperature is in C°
Audio whine at high volumes (ordered a noise isolator will update this post if it fixes issue) Fixed with a sound filter.
No instructions for usage, only how things need to be wired up.
Time consuming install, G is very low on unused space in the front dash area so its a tight fit.
*edit* after a couple days and adding that sound filter, i've noticed that the bass is totally neutered when using the unit as my audio source vs my oem interface. Not sure if this is sometime I can mess with in the android settings to fix but ill update if I can figure out how to improve this.[/QUOTE]

 

Excellent write up! Question as I think you answered a question I have always had about these units within your schematic.

I only use the iPod/Auxiliary port (rarely use BT) and I know some of these units disable it and force you to use BT.

It appears from your schematic that the kit provides a USB-A male input connection from the unit to the USB-A female output port in the center console, then another USB-A female output runs back from the unit through a cable that is exposed within the cup holder area. Is that correct?

Also, does any of the equipment (unit itself or peripheral cabling) vibrate as I rarely run across aftermarket head units that do not leave something buzzing and vibrating.