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@VLud
Sorry for stupid questions, I don't want to spoil anything. To upgrade from version 2021.03.06 AUTOKIT_AppleLike to version 2021.04.26 AUTOKIT_AppleLike do I have to add "U2W.sh" and "ARMimg_maker" from the "Scripts / Downgrade_2021.03.06" directory along with the new update file 2021.04.26 AUTOKIT_AppleLike.img?
Can I directly update to the version 2021.04.26 AUTOKIT AppleLike?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Yes you can update directly you just have to put the U2W.sh and ARMimg_maker (old decryption method) as well as the image because I kept the new decryption binary inside the CFW hoping I can break it some day to encrypt new CFW using the new encryption method ( and avoiding this extra step )

People with official firmware (>= 2021.03.06) have to downgrade using "U2W_Update_2020.11.10.2138_ROLLBACK.img" because it is the only image encrypted with the new method but restoring the old binary ;)
 
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Seems this latest custom AUTOKIT FW is not working on Mercedes MBUX (start then immediately stop Carplay).. will reinstall it to confirm.
 
Mine always has and continues to work great ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2019 VW GTI
On which firmware version are you on?
Having the same car (MIB2.5) I can’t get the Carlinkit 2.0 to work without issues at all. No matter which fw I tried yet and how often I rebooted phone and headunit.
 
On which firmware version are you on?
Having the same car (MIB2.5) I can’t get the Carlinkit 2.0 to work without issues at all. No matter which fw I tried yet and how often I rebooted phone and headunit.
My GTI is MIB2 so maybe slightly different, but all the firmwares I've had have worked fine; I think I'm running the 03.06 version now. Only thing that doesn't work is holding the buttons on the steering wheel to seek through a song (it goes to the next song instead.) Sometimes the sound stops working for things like nav, but unplugging/replugging the adapter fixes it. I hear the MIB3 has built-in wireless CarPlay but that seems like a costly retrofit...
 
Seems this latest custom AUTOKIT FW is not working on Mercedes MBUX (start then immediately stop Carplay).. will reinstall it to confirm.
Confirmed: latest AUTOKIT FW with Apple like UI (2021.04.26) has problem with Mercedes MBUX.

back to previous AUTOKIT FW (2021.03.06)
 
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Here are some thoughts on the updating process and the massive bricking we are experiencing. Some of it is due to bad software quality control. But some may be due to power requirements.

For sure I would start the motor before doing an update so that the USB does not enter some power saving state. I however wonder whether the power is always enough. You for sure shouldn't connect the iPhone via the adapter's USB port when wanting to update. It might sip too much power. When establishing a data connection via USB, current is reduced to 500mA (=2.5W @ 5V). I am not sure whether this is always enough. I measure a typical power consumption of around 1W when connected to the iPhone via Wi-Fi which sound sufficient. I still recommend using a power brick and manually connecting to the adapter's access point. If you have your adapter fixed inside the car, you might want to consider a USB data blocker which prevents the data connection, allowing a power supply of up to 12W (@2.4A/5V) (you will of course block CarPlay with that and will also have to connect manually in order to update). I however wouldn't count on every car delivering the required amount of power...

Any other thoughts on the topic?
 
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My GTI is MIB2 so maybe slightly different, but all the firmwares I've had have worked fine; I think I'm running the 03.06 version now. (…)
Thanks for clearing, Kurt871. For now I‘m back to the stock 2020.12.25 (Carlinkit 2.0, red ui, detachable USB-A/C 'Autokit' device) as it seems to work most reliable with my given setup, yet not perfect.
The tested 2021 versions and even their custom variants showed random display freezes, silent/dumb Siri issues and various connection hiccups which makes it feel like a quite unreliable aftermarked product to me - which it certainly is, of course.
Seems they‘re having quite a hard time trying to fit different headunit systems within a bunch of manufacturers, types and production dates..
 
Anyone using Mazda has tried Firmware 2021.04.26 yet ?
Still crash every 2 hours ?
 
I experienced another freeze today. Audio cuts out and screen freezes (no screen updates, no touch input). It seems to happen after 20-30 minutes. So far it only happened when the iPhone was connected to the adapter via USB for charging.

Here is some additional info:
- LED still flashes green
- iPhone still connected to the SEAT63 access point spanned by the adapter
- web interface is still accessible (sent logs to Carlinkit)

So only the CarPlay part seems to drop out.

Will keep an eye on it. I won't plug the iPhone into the adapter via USB the next days and see whether it happens again.

FW: VER2021.03.06.1355 (AUTOKIT)
 
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With the new Custom FW witch Apple UI 2021.05.09.001 I have no audio on Audible and Phone. I'll try to go back to the march version
 
I experienced another freeze today. Audio cuts out and screen freezes (no screen updates, no touch input). It seems to happen after 20-30 minutes. So far it only happened when the iPhone was connected to the adapter via USB for charging.

Here is some additional info:
- LED still flashes green
- iPhone still connected to the SEAT63 access point spanned by the adapter
- web interface is still accessible (sent logs to Carlinkit)

So only the CarPlay part seems to drop out.

Will keep an eye on it. I won't plug the iPhone into the adapter via USB the next days and see whether it happens again.

FW: VER2021.03.06.1355 (AUTOKIT)
Can you please confirm that in 192.168.50.2 your dongle is set to compatibility mode and startup delay 2s ?
 
Can you please confirm that in 192.168.50.2 your dongle is set to compatibility mode and startup delay 2s ?
I am neither using a startup delay nor do I use compatibility mode (Sync Mode set to Normal). Both settings deal with the association and should not make a difference after the connection has been estabished. The freeze happens after 20-30 minutes.
 
I am neither using a startup delay nor do I use compatibility mode (Sync Mode set to Normal). Both settings deal with the association and should not make a difference after the connection has been estabished. The freeze happens after 20-30 minutes.
Thanks for confirming, what make model & year is your vehicle? I assume you’ve sent logs off already?
 
The tested 2021 versions and even their custom variants showed random display freezes, silent/dumb Siri issues and various connection hiccups (...)
Tried out the new April 2021 Autokit custom fw with Apple-style bootup screen and this one seems to work quite well.
 
Does anybody know if all of the available products are basically clones of each other?

I'm looking for the best one to use on my 2021 Honda CR-V but I'm also wondering which product is the "original" and would have the best updates/support.
 
Sorry for my bad English :)

Hello everybody,
I have a question.
I am currently using the custom firmware 2021.03.06_BASED (red ui) with the Carplay Theme.
Since the warm temperatures Carplay freezes now and then.
Can I or is it worth trying the latest 2021.04.26_BASED (or is there a newer one)?
Does that mean the theme is still running (since it is no longer being developed)? Or is it better not to take up the subject any more. Or it is better to use the stock firmware or is it still worth taking the custom firmware (even if you have the Them
 
Does anybody know if all of the available products are basically clones of each other?

I'm looking for the best one to use on my 2021 Honda CR-V but I'm also wondering which product is the "original" and would have the best updates/support.

There is official ones, and clones but all seem to be the same. Even the official ones, the support isn’t any better I don’t think.

I bought an original CarLinkIt for over £100, and then Amazon had some clone for £20 for the newer v2 CarLinkIt. Both get updates from the web server, both seem to work the same.

I’d buy a clone/cheap if could and test.
 
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(…) Can I or is it worth trying the latest 2021.04.26_BASED (or is there a newer one)?
I have the 2021.04.26_BASED ‚Autokit AppleLike‘ from ludwig-v as it already comes with the Apple style bootscreen and it works surprisingly well with my cars’ head unit so far.

Since you have issues I might give it a try but in my experience it remains being a hit‘n‘miss thing which fw might solve problems for a certain car/head unit and which does not.

Generally I can recommend unpairing the phone and head unit after any update and to reboot both devices before pairing them again.
 
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I have the 2021.04.26_BASED ‚Autokit AppleLike‘ from ludwig-v as it already comes with the Apple style bootscreen and it works surprisingly well with my cars’ head unit so far.

Since you have issues I might give it a try but in my experience it remains being a hit‘n‘miss thing which fw might solve problems for a certain car/head unit and which does not.

Generally I can recommend unpairing the phone and head unit after any update and to reboot both devices before pairing them again.
Thank you!
What do you mean with "it already comes with the Apple style bootscreen"?
I have the Red Ui with the stock firmware. And only through the topic of TireGuy6 did I make the Apple topic. Is that different now or the procedure white now different?

///Edit: Thanks I think I have it! :D
 
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What do you mean with "it already comes with the Apple style bootscreen"?
I have the Red Ui with the stock firmware.
This means you can update from the stock ‚red ui’ fw via usb update without any additional steps.

The stock red ui will turn into the Apple style ui after updating to the custom fw provided in the 'Autokit AppleLike' directory linked here.

Edit: Link added
 
Field Report: Recently picked up a new Mercedes GLE450 with MBUX and CarPlay. Decided I would roll the dice on the CarlinKit 2.0 Wireless CarPlay Dongle. Was a little bit hesitant with some of the reviews/issues people post - but then again, online posts generally skew negative as people don't generally post when everything just works - but took the plunge.

The dongle exceeded my expectations. Usually connects in seconds. Super quick and responsive. Maybe 5% of the time have a connection issue where - as an example - the phone connects to the car via Bluetooth for some reason or it will says connected to CarPlay but play audio through CarPlay it plays via the phone speakers, be controllable through the MBUX screen. Usually issues are if I park, turn off the car, realize I forgot something, and immediately get back in the car/turn car on to leave.

Now I just wish Mercedes made all of their USB ports CarPlay compatible (like the one in the arm rest) or I could figure out (aka have the balls) to pop open the center console and hide the dongle somewhere internally. That and I wish MBUX would throw the CarPlay screen over to the drivers side screen for navigation like the built in navigation.
 
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