Any good Apple Carplay solutions for a 2012 Q5 with B&O sound?

[Jessekin]

As the title says, I'm looking to upgrade my interface in my car. I'm so used to using a mount that sits in my vents to hold my phone, and it's such a pain. My passenger has one less Vent on hot summer days, and interacting with my phone for music is both a pain and unsafe. I'm hoping to maybe replace the screen with something that supports Apple Carplay Wired and wireless, AND supports my Bang & Olufsen Sound System. After test driving a 2018 Q7, I also know it needs to support touch screen.

Any help on the matter or suggestions on what to buy would be greatly appreciated.

In summary, I need a replacement/supplementary system that:

• Fits an Audi Q5 2012 Prestige.
• Supports Bang & Olufsen Sound System
• Supports Apple Carplay (Wired and Wireless)
• Has a touch screen.

Thanks all!

[elRayRay]

RSNav.com

[Smac770]

B&O is the back end sound system. It's not relevant to modifying the front end infotainment system. MY12 US Q5, you're going to have either Concert radio front end or MMI 3G High (HNav) front end. That'll be a relevant item to your solution options. In either case, you should have an AMI port in the glove box (big device if Concert, just a port on the wall if MMI 3G), which might also be relevant to some solutions. As already noted, RSNAV is pretty much as good as anything gets, and they have support for Concert and MMI 3G High. And you can pick either an 8.9" factory look, or a 10.3" or 12.3" tablet look.

[Jessekin]

B&O is the back end sound system. It's not relevant to modifying the front end infotainment system. MY12 US Q5, you're going to have either Concert radio front end or MMI 3G High (HNav) front end. That'll be a relevant item to your solution options. In either case, you should have an AMI port in the glove box (big device if Concert, just a port on the wall if MMI 3G), which might also be relevant to some solutions. As already noted, RSNAV is pretty much as good as anything gets, and they have support for Concert and MMI 3G High. And you can pick either an 8.9" factory look, or a 10.3" or 12.3" tablet look.

Been looking into RSNav a bit. I have the “Audi Multimedia” which I believe is the MMI 3G “High”

I like the product, but the price is a bit higher than say “AINavi” which I’ve seen a lot of people using. I’m looking at the 10.25 inch models for both brands.

Does anyone know the biggest difference between them? Does anyone have experience with either system?

Thanks!

[Jessekin]

So far all I’ve found is depending on configuration, the processor is either the 665/668 snapdragon processor and the size of the RAM and storage. I’m looking for the best, and am willing to spend the money, but I don’t see the benefit of the 668 processor that the RSNav S5 has when I get get the same RAM and storage that the AINavi would have.

I’d build quality and performance is the same or similar, I don’t see how spending almost double is justifiable; but I’m open to being convinced.

@a4android might be able to help if he sees this; whom I believe runs RSNav. Hahaha

[Smac770]

RSNAV has their act together. Single front, actual documentation, support. AINAVI can't even bother to get anything about Audi properly on their web site. And the Amazon listing says for Audi radio (Concert/Symphony), but even that's sketch for all it's references to BMW (Special Feature: Touchscreen, Work with BMW Original Sound System ?).

If there's not proper installation documentation to review ahead of time, no thanks. I've got better use of my time than "here's a white box, it's got some pieces in it, good luck", which pretty much most anything found on aliexpress is. Another person recently put in Wakaa, think that was in one of the audiworld forums. It works, they like it. All I care about is a vetted, documented ready to go solution. Not "well, you might have to tweak how some of the wiring is done". Like another guy that had some whatever solution, we finally got audio going after cutting a wire on the third-party go-between harness.

Searching ainavi across audizine turns up this thread and the 117 page RSNAV thread. But if you can find the installation references, the documentation, the clear cut how the audio routing is suppose to work, etc, go for it if it works for your concerns.

[studioRS]

Here's another option.

I've been researching this to no end and finally decided to have an individual unit rather than install a RSNav unit. Not that I didn't want an RSNav... They are super cool. But, wanted to find the highest quality and the lowest price add on unit. I've had my fair share of Audi dashboards out with radio, HVAC and full dash swaps/repairs. Owning 14 different Audi quattros, you get some bloody knuckles – my ex-1983 urquattro dash I swapped to a 1985 4000S quattro dash. 1995 S6, new flapper motors needed, ugh... BTDT. I wanted something simple, quick and inexpensive to work well.

For reference, this is mounted in my 2016 SQ5 Premium Plus with Bang & Olufsen.

I picked the latest CarpodGo T3 Pro, $249.00 >> carpodgo.com
- 60FPS
- CarPlay
- Dual Bluetooth setup, excellent sound quality
- Steering wheel buttons work to adjust sound volume and songs
- Plenty long enough wire for the power cord to sneak over the dash, around and down the right A pillar, down under the dash, tucked under the side center console plastic, then back up and into the center console by the passenger seat belt.
- Siri, awe bless her little AI heart. She does a really good job responding to text Messages and choosing addresses. SUPER convenient.

It's like having an iPad on my dash, very cool unit. Super smooth operation and fires up immediately. It was like buying a new stereo interface for my SQ5, completely transformed the driving, navigation and music experience. See yaaa SD cards! And no more more frizzing around selecting address in the MMI.

Swapping back and forth between my wife's iPhone and mine took a little figuring out, but is easy and relatively fast.
Do it through the MMI > TEL > Bluetooth > Connected Devices

Mods to the supplied mount

The CarpodGo comes with several mount options. I wanted to use the simple, small version, but I didn't like the supplied curved 90˚ deg plastic 17mm ball end the CarpodGo came with. I couldn't get the right alignment – low enough to sit right over the top of the factory screen and low enough so it looks factory and isn't obstructing the windshield. I found this little adjustable unit that does place it exactly where it needs to be. The top of the CarpodGo is well below the bottom of the windshield. Doesn't bounce around at all on our rough South Lake Tahoe roads either, Lol.

This adjustable adaptor below comes with two mounts, not a bad deal for $3.94 each.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNSVX1W4