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Apple Carplay with OEM head unit and OEM functionality

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47K views 102 replies 34 participants last post by  jn2k108  
#1 ·
Apple Carplay with OEM head unit and OEM functionality

For this example I installed a head unit from a 2016 CR-V EX (6 speakers) on my 2015 Civic EX (6 speakers)

What you’ll need:
2015-2016 Honda CR-V EX Head Unit (6 Speakers)(Non-Navigation) (this will not work with navigation/touring model head units)

2013 Honda Civic Navigation Model Bezel (I think only the EX, EX-L, and SI offered the navigation option)

Note: if you have the LX (4 speakers) I believe you should look for the head unit from CR-V SE (4 speakers) but I’m theorizing, do your own research!


It’s quite literally plug and play as far installing the head unit. (Note: the brackets holding the original head unit wont work on the new head unit so I just installed it without them.) Once the head unit is in place, you just update the software and disconnect the compass (this is done to remove the car’s compass from interfering with the CarPlay maps)

And that’s about it!

As far as notes, I’m having issues with the clock, it seems since I disconnected the compass, the car resets the clock every time I start the car. Thankfully though, when in the CarPlay mode, the time on the display is correct, so I can live with this compromise.

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#34 ·
Haven't made any progress with adjusting the guidelines on the Civic backup camera yet. I saw a Civic Si with the swap and a EX-L w/ Nav & Multi View (39530-TS8-A11 multi view and 39530-TS8-A51 single view) backup camera that looks like they retained proper line placement so I had the idea of swapping in a multi view backup camera. The Si and EX-L both offer it as on option. I have an EX-L without. The multi view backup camera looks like it has 12 pins and the single view has 6. To double check I pulled my camera connection off and was hoping to find 6 unused pins but the connector only has 6 wires/pins. So unfortunately don't think I can go that route. All CRV models with this radio had multi view cameras so that's probably why the lines are funny with the 6 pin single view.

Don't have the pinout info on the radio but my guess is you'd have to run the extra wires required and could splice something together.
 
#35 ·
I just installed my crv unit today. A couple things to note. I think I could’ve reused the old brackets from the stock radio. I tried reusing the old face plate and tried taking the new bezel off but it doesn’t fit the 2014-15 faceplate. I didn’t bother changing the vent. So that last bolt is a bit off center. You could crenel the hole to make it fit.
 
#38 ·
Idk if anyone can tell but I feel this screen is somewhat pixelated compared to the stock unit. Or it’s me since I put a newer version of CarPlay on my girls car and that has crisper images
Yeah I'm seeing more pixelations on certain screens like the 'Now Playing' screen when I'm in CarPlay. But it seems to be fine when I'm on Waze app or CarPlay menu.

I'm a bit confused on how you got your headunit to sit flush with your bezel. What faceplate are you using to mount to the bezel? I'm looking for 3D printing solutions to fill in the gap but you got a nice clean setup.
 
#41 ·
EDIT2: Ok so I buttoned up everything and it works! Thank you everyone for the resource! My last hiccup during this process was trying to get the radio updated for CarPlay but I kept getting a USB error. I must have used 5 different USB flash drives formatted in Fat32, ExFat, or different bitrates but I finally tried one last step and found a solution! Instead of using the armrest USB slot, I tried the front console and it magically prompted the update & didn't give me the error. shrug Nonetheless, I wasn't satisfied with the quality of 3D print on the SLT file to fill out the gap. I'll try a 3rd party 3D-printing service for higher quality or continue my search for a 2013 trim with carbon fiber bezel. Cheers everyone!
I actually got lucky when installing using the front USB for firmware, I assumed the firmware and CarPlay connection used the front USB without double checking. My phone wouldn't connect after the installation and then realized it had to be connected to the arm rest USB.


Idk if anyone can tell but I feel this screen is somewhat pixelated compared to the stock unit. Or it’s me since I put a newer version of CarPlay on my girls car and that has crisper images
I'd have to take a look at both again but I think the matte coating is more aggressive on the CRV radio which gives it a smeared kind of look. The resolution is low and pixelated but the coating exaggerates it imo. The default Honda UI with it's darker colors and less text I don't think I noticed it as much but when you're using CarPlay you'll notice these things. The gradients on some song backgrounds really shows the weak points of the display. I had a Kenwood before this with the same resolution that was also pixelated but the coating was much glossier so it looked cleaner.

Also it looks like your factory screen protector is still on the CRV radio, did you pull it off? I actually found one online and bought it purposely because I thought it was the protector that came on when the car was new so I figured once I peeled it off it would be scratch free and I was right. Odd that someone kept it on for 7-8 years though lol.

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There's a setting in the hidden menu called 'Parking lot narrowing condition setting' and all my options don't have anything set. Wondering if these are filled out for Civics w/ wide multi view camera or CRVs and if they have an influence on the guidelines. You'll notice in the self diagnostic menu the rear wide camera shows up red instead of green.

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#44 ·
I also bought this when it was on sale a couple weeks ago.


Wireless CarPlay is nice. The only lag I notice is when I try to fast forward a song lol
 
#45 · (Edited)
Tried to adjust the settings in 'Parking lot narrowing condition setting', none of the settings I tried to select stuck unfortunately, the options always stayed blank.

Also I think I figured out how to adjust Siri volume (and possibly the maps notification volume, I don't use voice alerts for maps so can't confirm atm). You can go to Maps and hit the Siri search button and adjust the volume using steering wheel while Siri is listening/talking. It should show a different level than your music.
 
#46 ·
#54 ·
You do not lose cd player functionality. The eject button causes the screen to fold out and reveal a cd slot under the screen. However do note a few things I learned while attempting this.

1: the crv head unit is NOT exactly double din and won’t fit in a standard double din adapter with out some slight modification.

2: This mod will NOT work on the Lx models of civic or any civic that does not have the premium audio as the crv head unit does not have an internal amplifier.

3: If you buy a crv head unit MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that the seller has the unlock code, you cannot get the unlock code from the vin and the hondakey website everyone references is now defunct so you can’t get that key if you weren’t given it.