Hi, looking for some advice please? If my current mmi is not 100% in that I mean only the Bluetooth and I’ve exhausted all other means of trying to sort this which is where I’m now currently if I did say change over to an aftermarket apple play set up would the Bluetooth/ through steering wheel etc not work as the original Bluetooth not working or would that not matter as completely separate??

2nd question.! If I was to not go down the apple car play because I’d have to sort the original Bluetooth problem out first could I change the mmi head unit to a 3g plus from a 3G high? If so other than obviously getting another (used) unit and removing the component protection off what else is needed?? Would I need to change the centre control buttons ? And also would the screen be ok to leave? Or does that need changing?? Many thanks

 

Most aftermarket Carplay kits have their own 'native' Bluetooth, and require you to turn off the car's Bluetooth to avoid conflicts. Read the information/details for the kit you are interested in.

I've always just bought the basic kit where once installed, you don't see any of it except in the MMI display screen view, when the Carplay side is active, etc.

Once installed properly, the Carplay kit's Bluetooth is handling all the phone calls & streaming music, etc., etc., but all the car's controls still function as normal.

There's a bunch of archival threads on here regards to different aftermarket Carplay kit installs and there are videos online that show how they install to this car. The basic kits are fairly easy to install, and require low effort and few tools (normally you get nylon trim removal tools and the radio head removal keys with better/complete kits).

 

reinforcing 10Q7TDI_Prestige's fdbk. I installed an aftermarket carplay unit a little over a month ago. There are two primary types of aftermarket systems although there is significant variety within these two types:
1. A head unit with its own display and display controller that replaces the OEM version.
2. A head unit that retains the original display.

Both systems include a wiring harness that is installed "inline" with some of the original MMI and system wiring so that the console buttons and ***** retain functionality and the original MMI displays for car status and settings can also be displayed.

The unit that I installed (option 1) has it's own bluetooth radio and an integrated microphone and I believe most of the aftermarket systems follow a similar approach (although some systems have an integrated microphone and others have a connection to a new/remote microphone that you install). In my Q7, I use BOTH bluetooth connections although this is not necessary.
1. My wife prefers using android-auto (similar to carplay) so her phone bluetooth connects to the head unit for both phone and media.
2. I prefer to use a 3rd party nav app that runs on the android head-unit itself, but use the original Q7 bluetooth for calls. My phone bluetooth connects to the head-unit for media and the Q7 MMI for phone.

The short-answer is nearly every aftermarket system has it's own bluetooth connection and you can use it to make calls or stream media if that's your preference. Just check the product description and/or ask the manufacturer to confirm.

 

Thanks for the info most appreciated 👍