Apple carplay

[Khaktoosar]

Hello all!

I've recently joined the Viper family with a 2016 ACR with the VE Stage 2 kit and Belanger headers/exhaust. I love the car and can't get over how amazing the headers and exhaust sound!

I recently did a full stereo upgrade and thought the car was completely 100% perfect to keep forever. Only issue is that it seems carplay and Android auto are the future and we don't have it.

I came across this product (link below) and wanted to see if anyone's bought this or seen it in action. It seems simple to do and a worthy upgrade to allow the car to never go obsolete as far as infotainment.

Anyone have any experience with it?

https://www.infotainment.com/collections/all/products/2013-2017-dodge-srt-viper-8-4-4c-nav-uaq-retrofit-kit-with-apple-carplay-android-auto

[HolyDiver]

I saw this too and was curious, I emailed them twice asking if It would still allow me to use SRT performance pages, as that would be a deal-breaker for me, and still no response. If any1 here knows let us know! (and any other trade-offs that might help us make a better decision)

[cubeman]

It says 13-15 loses pages, nothing about 16-17. Worst case buy it, if you lose pages ask for a refund. If they refuse just charge it back. Screencap the page for reference.

[camarochevy1970]

I just called them and asked. 16-17 performance pages should be fine, 13-15 the tech in the car is too old for the newer style radio to work with. FCA must have made changes to the systems in the cars from 15 to 16 to enable it to work.

For those with Sirius XM currently turned on, he did say you would have to call SXM and have service moved to the new radio, as the radio ID will change

[ViperPete]

What would be needed to update the 2013 to match the 2017 hardware? or is it just different software?

[camarochevy1970]

They said it was something different within the car itself, and that they haven't been able to make it work

[swexlin]

I know in the Rams, the radios changed I think starting in 17. For instance, I don't have the Nav in either my 16 Ram, or 13 Viper. But, those radios can be upgraded to have Nav.

Starting in 17 (or maybe 18), at least in the Rams, the 8.4 radio has two different units, with Nav, and without. The withouts can't be upgraded to "with" unless you change the whole unit. Suspect it's similar in our Vipers. While the 8.4 appears the same, the actual hardware changed, and it's not just a software issue.

[Khaktoosar]

I notice in the video there isn't the cool Viper background. Might be just me but I wouldn't want to lose that. Then there's something about needing an extra obd part to keep Sirius traffic option.

My biggest concern is how seamless it really connects/installs and the fact that it's apparently a refurbished unit. I was hoping at least one person out there has installed it who could let us know what they thought of it.

[swexlin]

Over the Ram forums there is a similar thread to this, and I think I remember that changing these things is a PITA, especially in our cars.

I subscribe to Sirius, that's all I really need. Hell, I only drive the damn thing 1000 miles a year, if that, so going to the latest/greatest tech isn't worth it for me.

[ACR-ISH]

Okay, let me play devil's advocate... My last Viper was an '04, which had NOTHING resembling new technology. No blue tooth, had a CD changer, and crappy reception. So I upgraded to the new Alpine with Apple CarPlay. Worth it...? 100%!

Fast forward to the Gen5. It connects to my phone. Controls my phone. Has Nav already. Downloads contacts and interfaces my phone. It doesn't MIRROR your phone perfectly, but it's pretty damned close.

My questions is: Do you really need CarPlay or are we maybe splitting hairs here? How often are you using your phone in your car that it needs to looks differently and operate the same. Just a thought... I love the OEM integration. Would CarPlay be cool? Sure... necessary and not have the extras...? Hell no!

Good luck sir!

[USAFPILOT]

Im glad I don't know what car play is

[ACR-ISH]

Im glad I don't know what car play is

Exactly. Car Play mirrors certain apps on your phone, rather than being it's own program linking to your phone like a remote, it is actually the apps in your phone displayed on screen.

6 of one and about a half dozen of the other, IMHO.

[Bryan Savage]

Fast forward to the Gen5. It connects to my phone. Controls my phone. Has Nav already. Downloads contacts and interfaces my phone. It doesn't MIRROR your phone perfectly, but it's pretty damned close.

My questions is: Do you really need CarPlay or are we maybe splitting hairs here? How often are you using your phone in your car that it needs to looks differently and operate the same. Just a thought... I love the OEM integration. Would CarPlay be cool? Sure... necessary and not have the extras...? Hell no!

It's a YUGE expenditure for auto manufacturers to develop their own hardware and software and takes years to get things certified. This is why even a brand new vehicle's infotainment system isn't as good as the phone that's (likely) in your pocket.

What manufacturers ought to be doing is building a system offloads as much data processing and interface updates to an external device. I believe Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are the first steps to doing just that.

The Uconnect RA4 in my '14 is awful for the following reasons:

• Neither Pandora or Amazon Music will display track information
• The touchscreen is slow and unresponsive
• The maps are always out of date
• Vocal recognition can't understand 85% of commands
• "Search along route" for stops is not possible
• Inputs while already in motion are not possible
• I can't hear anyone over the hand-free phone unless the volume is turned up to 50

I use my phone for 100% of my infotainment needs and don't even have my Bluetooth connected.

I might consider an in-dash upgrade to the current system if the touchscreen is faster and it shows what my phone shows, but I don't know if $1,600 is worth it. If I'm locked out of in-motion user inputs and searching and I'm forced to unplug my phone in order to do so, it's gotta be a no for me, dog.

Oh, and while I'm at it, this is the best climate control interface ever made. Evolution should have stopped right here. It would have saved billions of dollars of R&D.

Climate Control.jpg

[ViperGeorge]

I think it is one of the coolest upgrades for the Viper I have ever seen. Very well done video, extremely clear instructions and completely factory looking given it uses OEM parts. I want one or maybe two. How much are they? I need to check. $1,599.95. Not bad actually. I suppose you could eBay the old head unit to recoup some dough.

[USAFPILOT]

I’d only do it if I lost absolutely Nothing else. I don’t want Hellcat graphics, lost Performance pages, etc. I’m sure a kit could be developed that would retain everything, just no perceived market for it.

[ViperGeorge]

I’d only do it if I lost absolutely Nothing else. I don’t want Hellcat graphics, lost Performance pages, etc. I’m sure a kit could be developed that would retain everything, just no perceived market for it.

Is it confirmed that we would lose the Stryker logo and have it replaced with the Hellcat logo? I sent them a question about that but haven't heard back yet.

[One Viper Bite]

Is it confirmed that we would lose the Stryker logo and have it replaced with the Hellcat logo? I sent them a question about that but haven't heard back yet.

I'm pretty sure we do.

I can't imagine that these guys wrote software that adds the functionality and display that makes the Apple Carplay work while still retaining the Viper display treatments.

[ViperGeorge]

I'm pretty sure we do.

I can't imagine that these guys wrote software that adds the functionality and display that makes the Apple Carplay work while still retaining the Viper display treatments.

Just heard back from them on the Logo question. They said they can program the Stryker logo into the radio as long as they have your VIN. So this solves every problem for 16-17 MY Vipers. NICE!!!

[One Viper Bite]

Just heard back from them on the Logo question. They said they can program the Stryker logo into the radio as long as they have your VIN. So this solves every problem for 16-17 MY Vipers. NICE!!!

Interesting. But what about the displays in the SRT pages? Those also have Viper treatments? Someone buy it so we can see, lol.

[ViperGeorge]

So they confirmed that Performance Pages will work on the 16-17s but not on the 13-15s. It doesn't sound like they know how to get it to work on those years. Well at least it has my 17 covered.

[Khaktoosar]

I totally agree with you! Seems so slick to get a much more advanced interface and have it look identical as if it came that way. Who knows what new apps and technologies will become available in the future. Android auto and carplay will be needed to stay up to date. Since it's my daiiy driver, I know even now I'll be using it every day.

From my understanding speaking with them (assuming 2016/2017), the only thing they aren't 100% sure about is keeping the Stryker wallpaper. Everything else will be exactly like the original headunit.

I went ahead and ordered it. I'll update once it's installed. Apparently 3-4 weeks until I receive it.

[BSLSK]

Unfortuntely after watching the video in the link, the system still looks clunky and laggy. I wouldn't spend $1300+ for it but that's just me.

[Khaktoosar]

Yeah, compared to the new stuff Sony and other make it'll never compare. And coats a lot more. But I really want to keep the OEM look. And also keep SRT pages and controlling the hvac with the screen. Probably costs so much because everything factory costs more than aftermarket.

[Addicted2HP]

Good that some of you are able to get answers, I have tried a few times since when I had my 2014 TA, and then when I got my 2015 TA2.0 in Jan I tried to connect again and didn't get a reply. Guess I didn't think of the old fashion way of just calling lol.

Having Waze, music control is so much faster too through CarPlay, and the other helpful things already mentioned would be a no brainer plus never having to worry about Map upgrade. But losing the SRT page, I really like when I track to see all the gauges and would find that a big loss.... Hoping they or someone finds the fix. Did they mention if they would buy the old radios ?

Personally I agree with keeping the stryker logo and OEM look of the radio.

[ViperPete]

Ive got a Pioneer headunit in my 2005 Ram SRT10 with Apple car play.... Makes the dated truck feel totally modern.
Wish i could have it in the Viper.