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CarPlay CarPlay adapter to convert to wireless CarPlay?

I believe the consensus is thet carplay2air is a rebranded Carlinkit.

Something frequently mixed up:
Android Head Unit means your car's media-system is running Android as an OS.
Android Auto means you can connect an Android device to your headunit which doesn't necessarily run Android itself, that means you cannot buy the device that is made "for android head units".


zeyon said:
Thks you for your response. I understand understood that i can use Carplay2air or CARLINKIT « U2W » since my car has factory CarPlay ans Android Auto.

My question is what is the technical difference between the two products or which one works best? For example does it work better with Mercedes cars than the other?

Or does Carplay2air has more advanced technical support than Carlinkit (u2w)? Or is it exactly the same thing?

because is not the same price
Click to expand...
 
bookemdano said:
They are exactly the same thing, so buy the one that is cheaper (just make certain that if you buy the Carlinkit that it is the "Activator" version (U2W) and not the much cheaper model that is meant to add wireless carplay to android devices.

Also, use the search function at the top of this page--look for the magnifying glass icon, click it and where it says "Everywhere" change to "This thread" and then search for Mercedes if you'd like to find other posts from people who have tried the adapter with Mercedes vehicles.
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CPlay2Air for $119 is tough to beat at the moment. Although I think it’s going to take longer than 5-7 days to get to the US from China. I hope it arrives with 3-6-20 on it.
 
BarryDuffman said:
I just got this (cplay2air) today for use in a 2019 Citroen C3, but I have a hard time getting it connected.
When I connect the dongle, the screen from the dongle only pops up for a brief moment before closing again, so I cannot get to hit the Search button.
Click to expand...

I have now been in a mail dialogue with the support at carplay2air over some time now. This is really going nowhere. Only receiving standard replies.

In my first contact I told them about my issues as described above (in more detail of course)
All I got back was a standard reply telling me how to connect it. Of course it still didn't work.

I replied that it is not possible for me to follow their steps as the interface screen disappears so quickly. Also told them that I had tested it in a VW and found the dongle working and got it updated there, but that it still does not work in my Citroen.
The reply I got back: "please try to update your car software"

So I did, which made everything worse. Now the interface screen doesn't show at all. Furthermore now when I have tried to have the dongle connected to my car, the native cabled Carplay will stop working as well until the car has been powered off for some time.

Wrote them back about this, and now they want me to send the dongle back (to China), so they can send me a replacement.
My question to them of course was. Why? What would that help? Then dongle is working. Just not in a Citroen C3.

Haven't heard back yet.

Also now I am pretty sure that the "customer" reviews on their website most likely are fake. I received an email from them asking me to review it. So I did with 1 star review warning people about buying it if they have a Citroen.. It doesn't show on their website after some days. Go figure.
 
BarryDuffman said:
I have now been in a mail dialogue with the support at carplay2air over some time now. This is really going nowhere. Only receiving standard replies.

In my first contact I told them about my issues as described above (in more detail of course)
All I got back was a standard reply telling me how to connect it. Of course it still didn't work.

I replied that it is not possible for me to follow their steps as the interface screen disappears so quickly. Also told them that I had tested it in a VW and found the dongle working and got it updated there, but that it still does not work in my Citroen.
The reply I got back: "please try to update your car software"

So I did, which made everything worse. Now the interface screen doesn't show at all. Furthermore now when I have tried to have the dongle connected to my car, the native cabled Carplay will stop working as well until the car has been powered off for some time.

Wrote them back about this, and now they want me to send the dongle back (to China), so they can send me a replacement.
My question to them of course was. Why? What would that help? Then dongle is working. Just not in a Citroen C3.

Haven't heard back yet.

Also now I am pretty sure that the "customer" reviews on their website most likely are fake. I received an email from them asking me to review it. So I did with 1 star review warning people about buying it if they have a Citroen.. It doesn't show on their website after some days. Go figure.
Click to expand...
This almost exactly mirrors my situation. Mine worked flawlessly in a MK7 GTI but now doesn’t in either my 2020 Malibu or my wife’s 2019 Equinox with identical MyLink 8 inch displays. I no longer have the VW to try to update the adapter. Their CS is useless. Please keep us/me posted. Thanks !
 
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I have a feeling I just thew $119 away. Even if I get it, if it doesn't work, it probably going to be more of a hassle communicating with them for a return.
 
LarryJoe33 said:
I have a feeling I just thew $119 away. Even if I get it, if it doesn't work, it probably going to be more of a hassle communicating with them for a return.
Click to expand...

That's why I advised you (and anyone who has the option) to buy it through Amazon Prime. Yes you pay more that way, but if/when it doesn't work and you want to return it you get your money back.

But anyway, I wouldn't assume it's not going to work (unless you have the same vehicle as previous posters who have said it didn't work). On the contrary, I think the adapter generally works fine now on most wired CarPlay vehicles (or at least a lot more than it used to before they changed the firmware in mid-December).
 
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bookemdano said:
That's why I advised you (and anyone who has the option) to buy it through Amazon Prime. Yes you pay more that way, but if/when it doesn't work and you want to return it you get your money back.

But anyway, I wouldn't assume it's not going to work (unless you have the same vehicle as previous posters who have said it didn't work). On the contrary, I think the adapter generally works fine now on most wired CarPlay vehicles (or at least a lot more than it used to before they changed the firmware in mid-December).
Click to expand...

I understand that. I had moved on thinking it wasn’t worth it, then I compulsively saw the $119 with code and said what the hell. It actually might be enroute. The other driver was that a guy on my Maserati forum ordered the C2play and it worked, so I wanted to keep all things equal.
 
It’s not clear to me that it’s available from Prime. When I find the one that reads as ‘prime’ it comes up with a lower price in the cart and does not appear to really be Prime. Anyone know for certain the proper link?
Thanks.
 
Mike DeQuardo said:
It’s not clear to me that it’s available from Prime. When I find the one that reads as ‘prime’ it comes up with a lower price in the cart and does not appear to really be Prime. Anyone know for certain the proper link?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
This "was" it:

www.amazon.com

Carlinkit 2.0 Wireless CarPlay Dongle Adapter for Factory Wired CarPlay Cars, Compatible with Audi/Porsche/Volvo/Volkswagen, Support Online Upgrade Dongle, iOS 13, Original car Button Control

Carlinkit 2.0 Wireless CarPlay Dongle Adapter for Factory Wired CarPlay Cars, Compatible with Audi/Porsche/Volvo/Volkswagen, Support Online Upgrade Dongle, iOS 13, Original car Button Control
www.amazon.com

One of the selections was Prime and $50 more and shipped from US. Looks like both are now being shipped from, as Trump would say, "China".
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
FWIW, CarPlay2Air (Roxanne) has been very responsive to my emails on shipping and updating the firmware. It's in NJ and I should have it in the next day or two. She also said the firmware can be updated online. Not sure if this means OTA but sounds like it.

Hello Joseph,

You can update it online.

There will be complete instructions in the box.

Thank you!

Roxanne
CARPLAY2air.com
 
Indeed. Expect an endless loop of answers that take several days to get answered and then only with canned responses and no real help. I’ve simply asked them to send me the current firmware/software. Crickets. They are pushing their $119 deal heavily though. Buyer beware.
 
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Mike DeQuardo said:
Indeed. Expect and endless loop of answers that take several days to get answered it only with canned responses and no real help. I’ve simply asked them to send me the current firmware/software. Crickets. They are pushing their $119 deal heavily though. Buyer beware.
Click to expand...
My expectations are low, so I can only be pleasantly surprised I guess. In terms of the $119, well these are coming out of China recovering from a decimated economy into ours that may not be far behind. Deals aren't necessarily an indicator of product failure. There will be lots of deals coming our way, sadly. Of course when the company vanishes after the $119 supplies run out, well that's a different story. Fingers crossed I have one of those cars where is works as advertised. All indications from fellow owners of this device and the same car is that it works. No crashes during the reverse cam screen and steering wheel controls work. No lag.
 
OK, received my CarPlay2Air today (Ordered March 8th, arrived in Canada from China of the 24th)
Flawless installation and update, took 5-10 minsutes including read the installation notes
All steering buttons work but got a little (~1 sec) delay for the skip song and play/pause buttons
Set-up is in a 2018 Lexus NX300 who was upgraded to CarPlay functionalities thru the manufacturer firmware update
Did the initial installation under iOS 13.3.1 and just updated to 13.4 and all works fine
 
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slypx said:
OK, received my CarPlay2Air today (Ordered March 8th, arrived in Canada from China of the 24th)
Flawless installation and update, took 5-10 minsutes including read the installation notes
All steering buttons work but got a little (~1 sec) delay for the skip song and play/pause buttons
Set-up is in a 2018 Lexus NX300 who was upgraded to CarPlay functionalities thru the manufacturer firmware update
Did the initial installation under iOS 13.3.1 and just updated to 13.4 and all works fine
Click to expand...

Nice and thanks. Did the update perform over the air? Some people in this thread keep saying it’s broken.
 
Yes, the CarPlay2Air update was done over the air as it seems to be the only way of doing so. once connected to the device, you need to open your browser and connect to the ip address provided and it auto-check your current version and inform of any new version and the release note.


88FAA1F6-9FAC-487E-BAE5-7F27EDCB169E.jpeg
88FAA1F6-9FAC-487E-BAE5-7F27EDCB169E.jpeg
 
slypx said:
Yes, the CarPlay2Air update was done over the air as it seems to be the only way of doing so. once connected to the device, you need to open your browser and connect to the ip address provided and it auto-check your current version and inform of any new version and the release note.


View attachment 901058View attachment 901058
Click to expand...

Nice, thanks for posting this. Hoping mine is here before the weekend. It’s in Jersey and I’m in MA.
 
It had the hardware if built after Oct 1 2017. Got my car in March 2018 (built in Jan 2018) and in June 2019, they made available a firmware update providing the CarPlay functionality. In the US they were asking for 199$ while here in Canada they were asking 70$ Cdn (~50$ usd). There was also a firmware version made available in the “wild” and exchange thru a public forum and most who used it succeeded their update but some “bricked” the unit. I was not going to take that chance and had it done at Lexus. It was not an option to activate or a pay per use option (like BMW had), it was a one time pay firmware upgrade.
 
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