Unique developments or 10” upgrade

R

Rjbaker

New member
Hi all, sorry if this has been covered before.

After abit of advice as to wether the option of adding the unique developments CarPlay solution to aged Bosch 8” is the way to go or has anyone had any success with upgrading to a 10” later system where it’s naturally supported and if so what the cost difference and what actually parts are needed to make the newer system work?

There’s also a eBay special option that on paper seems to do the same job as the unique but for sub £300

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364095300893?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=HPa88taqR8u&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=WIMz_DrKR62&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Uk based and very bmw based generally, anyone tried one?as I say I am stuggling to see where spec is different to the unique system?
 
I had heard that these upgrades disable the cars built-in satnav so I've not done it, if anyone can confirm thats the case or not?
 
jonm said:
I had heard that these upgrades disable the cars built-in satnav so I've not done it, if anyone can confirm thats the case or not?
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I think you might be right - there is a Harry’s Garage YouTube video featuring the Project 7 that covers this as I recall
 
Whilst it is neater to have the integrated Jag system, considering the £800 cost even if you have the qualifying Touch Pro vin, anything else is likely more trouble than it’s worth.
I also don’t see the particular benefit of the Jag satnav over Google Maps, Waze, etc.

https://lr-retrofits.co.uk/x152-f-type

The Bosch system is now poor due to old mapping where there are now roundabouts, by-passes, etc.

Unique were pretty much first to market but had a few teething troubles with reversing cameras etc. but have very good phone advice, whereas the cheaper systems from China are more suck it and see as far as installation goes, but the end effect is very similar - but will your every move be being tracked? 😳😂

Also to bear in mind that the Bosch touch screen never was very responsive for swiping.

That being the case I just have my decent screen size phone in a clamshell holder on top of the centre vent where it works very nicely and is more at eye level.

The end result is that I have at least £300 more to spend on Momentum 99 😎
 
Yes just looked on lr retrofits and unfortunately my vin doesn’t contain the letters to have a retrofitted 10” so looks like the only CarPlay option I have is unique or chance a eBay jobbie, would be nice to know how the “1 sold” person got on with it as it’s quite a saving!
 
Rjbaker said:
Yes just looked on lr retrofits and unfortunately my vin doesn’t contain the letters to have a retrofitted 10” so looks like the only CarPlay option I have is unique or chance a eBay jobbie, would be nice to know how the “1 sold” person got on with it as it’s quite a saving!
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Personally I'd go with the tried and tested method. I own the Unique Developments box and it works perfectly. It's lag free even wireless and connects within a second or so of getting into the car.

Only thing I had to do was remove the panel behind the passenger seat (rear speakers) and splice into a reverse signal wire to get the reverse camera to behave with the box.

Once that was done it was sorted and the box lives nicely in the rear centre.
 
Your system is definitely Bosch is it?

There’s a Harman system here going cheap…

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175611009674?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Ow68q3YESKO&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=qObfZX33S1e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 
ZeusHavok said:
Only thing I had to do was remove the panel behind the passenger seat (rear speakers) and splice into a reverse signal wire to get the reverse camera to behave with the box.
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So was that just the speaker grille or the complete rear panel around the roll hoops?
How did you identify the correct wire to splice into?

If your box is located as mentioned and not next to the screen is that a Harman system you have then?

Just to clarify for Rjbaker - the 8” screen came in Bosch and then Harman flavours.
I believe the Bosch has “Nav” on the button and the Harman has a symbol.
 
Yes definitely the Bosch which is a shame as
That is a bargain for someone! Wish I had the harman as the install looks far easier than the Bosch.
 
Lunar said:
So was that just the speaker grille or the complete rear panel around the roll hoops?
How did you identify the correct wire to splice into?

If your box is located as mentioned and not next to the screen is that a Harman system you have then?
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Yeah the rear panel behind the seat, not just the grill itself. Not sure about the convertible but on the coupe you just take a screw out where the seat back stops to and then lift the panel out.

The wire is a thicker green wire with a white stripe on it. Not to be confused with a green and white stripped wire. By that I mean its mostly green with a thin white stripe down it. That sentence was word soup but hopefully made some sense.

Yeah mine is the Harman kardon unit which I think is a bit easier to install but at the same time worse because the connectors on the back of the unit are impossible to get out with the space you have to work with. Personally I would have preferred working behind the dash haha.
 
Just a warning, it's not at all clear on the UAD website, but the convertible, at least my 2017 with the harman system, has a much more complicated install than the coupe. You basically need to dismantle a whole or more interior trim, including roll hoops, and the power cable is barely long enough so you have to blindly try and plug it in while the unit is crammed inside the space behind the factory screen, with the socket facing away from you. Something they neglected to mention in the initial email exchange despite me telling them it was a convertible. They did not even provide the convertible installation instructions until after I asked for help, they included the coupe instructions in the box only. I tried to share the pdf here but the file is too large.
 
Hi Sirrith can you please send the instructons for install to my email Adress bernd.zinkatarchitekturbuero-zink.de. I just converted the @ to at. So please replace. It would help a lot fir my Installation during winter. Thanks a lot
 
sorry to bump this old thread. I recently picked up a 2018 F-Type R that I will be fixing up and it has the older 8" navigation screen. I think it was a mid year change for the 2018's, when they went from the 8" to the 10" screen. I'd like to be able to upgrade to the 10" so I have Carplay, what's the best way to go about this? Will a factory 10" unit work in a 2018 car? The car is a facelift model, has the LED headlights and everything, but does not have the 10" screen.
 
I've just done this myself on the Bosch system. At the risk of eternal damnation and Beijing now knowing my every location whilst driving the Jag, I now have android auto, reverse camera and no issues all for the princely sum of £180
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008610218858.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.4.34f7f19cM5vf1v
It arrived in just 3 days and I fitted it having watched this guide https://youtu.be/AHxGc2gnxUQ?si=F4lEeUxeeW-rvHTh
Whilst the thought of buying from aliexpress may by the stuff of nightmares for some, for me it's been pretty good so far!
 
I fitted the unique developments in my old f type I am looking to get another f type (missed it )and if has 8 inch screen would use the same again was not to bad to fit even the reversing camera
 
Sirrith said:
Just a warning, it's not at all clear on the UAD website, but the convertible, at least my 2017 with the harman system, has a much more complicated install than the coupe. You basically need to dismantle a whole or more interior trim, including roll hoops, and the power cable is barely long enough so you have to blindly try and plug it in while the unit is crammed inside the space behind the factory screen, with the socket facing away from you. Something they neglected to mention in the initial email exchange despite me telling them it was a convertible. They did not even provide the convertible installation instructions until after I asked for help, they included the coupe instructions in the box only. I tried to share the pdf here but the file is too large.
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There are newer kits available which don't require you to dismantle the roll bar structure. They have a split LVDS cable, which interconnects from the original cable to the box and the new screen. Also, the main connector in the F-Type does not need to connect to the head unit - there is a connector with the same pinout on the right side of the center tunnel which you are supposed to connect to due to the cable length. You access this anyway upon installing the unit.

I learned this the hard way after full disassembly of the rear structure :) with the updated LVDS cable, the installation is so much easier and can be done in 1hr or less.

My android auto unit was ~180€ from Aliexpress and I suspect all of those devices to be from the same manufacturer, just branded differently.
 
I just fitted a android one to a Bosch unit it does disable the built in satnav but then you you have the choice of Google Maps.Waze etc.
 
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