CarPlay upgrade for LR3

[Howski]

One of the biggest convenience drawbacks of these vehicles is the outdated tech and infotainment. Particularly the Nav screens on the HSE LR3’s. Came across a solution for CarPlay/Android Auto on a Facebook group and finally pulled the trigger myself. All in its $150 or so and am pleased with the very OEM looking result.


Supplies:
- CarPuride 701w screen - Amazon
- Fiber optic loop (if equipped with factory Nav screen) - Amazon
- (If not fitted with factory Nav) plastic Nav screen surround and metal mounting bracket (behind the dash).

From there it’s relatively simple.

- Pop dash, remove existing bracket and screen.
- Install fiber optic loop.
- Modify the plastic surround so the new screen will sit flush on the back of it.

- Bond screen to frame with your adhesive of choice.

- The bottom left and middle of the metal bracket need to be trimmed to allow for clearance of the power cord where it plugs into the screen. Trim top portions of the bracket as needed to allow for the larger screen to seat properly.

- Route power and audio cables through the dash. Power plugs into cig lighter (have plans to hardwire). Audio routes to aux cable in rear of center console.

Put the dash back together and you’re set. You can email them and they will even put the LR logo on the start screen for free. Apologies for lack of photos but it is more intuitive when you dig into things. Have been pleased with it so far and thought others may have interest so wanted to share. Doesn’t match some of the larger (some too large) screens in modern vehicles but is a nice update, particularly voice to text

 

[pinkytoe69]

Does this integrate with the existing stereo controls or does that become a useless mass of buttons?

 

[Howski]

Does this integrate with the existing stereo controls or does that become a useless mass of buttons?

Similar limitations you’d have with the standard aux cord. Volume on the knob and steering wheel work but next track, etc are on the screen. Flip from Aux to FM/AM and they’re all fully functioning again

 

[Civick_Spyder]

Welp thanks I just ordered one. You email them after you get it to get the Land Rover logo?

 

[Howski]

Welp thanks I just ordered one. You email them after you get it to get the Land Rover logo?

Yes, email them with whatever logo you want. They’ll ask for your order # and the software version #. They’ll email you a file, which you save to a USB and plug into the unit. Takes 5 seconds to update. Remove USB and you’re all set. Please that mine turned out very OEM-looking.

 

[Civick_Spyder]

Put it in yesterday! Fairly simple to modify the trim and bracket. I had a spare unit so I hacked that up and still have the original if I want to restore it. A few things to note:

• don't mind the terrible looking dash there was some vinyl wrapping on the trim cover that I just removed and I still need to clean the adhesive
• The main website has a hardwire kit for it for $10 get that because the plug adapter is friggin huge
• I tried to be clever and put some thin foam between the screen and the bezel but it stops it from sitting flush and it's noticeable
• The light sensor and mic are blocked inside the dash so you will need to adjust the brightness manually and need to add an aux mic if you want to reply to texts in CarPlay
• While wireless is most people's preferred method I think it's kinda laggy so I'd plan to plug in a cable before you install
  
  my opinion, it's better than the stock useless screen hands down. The only use I had for it was the 4x4 info but I don't have an air suspension anymore so the height display was not needed so the only thing I'll miss is the display showing me where my steering is however I find CarPlay so far not as convenient. before I just had my iPhone mounted on a ram mount MagSafe charger which was easy to reach and change songs or whatever. With this CarPlay screen it's a farther reach to press anything and I end up picking up my phone anyway

Still worth the 150 bucks though it's only been a day of use I'm sure I will get use to it

 

[Howski]

• The light sensor and mic are blocked inside the dash so you will need to adjust the brightness manually and need to add an aux mic if you want to reply to texts in CarPlay
• While wireless is most people's preferred method I think it's kinda laggy so I'd plan to plug in a cable before you install

The built in mic has worked out fine for me with calls and voice to text so far.

It’s nice to have wired and wireless as options. But I will take a little lag over having to hook up my phone every time.

Think the biggest drawback is just the small size relative to modern units. Some fat finger moments but I’ve pretty much adapted to it by now

 

[11b4v]

This is cool, thanks OP for the heads up.

 

[Hugh166]

I like what you did there! I went a different route that I took a while to try before saying anything about. I tried one of those Chinese units and I have to say I am actually VERY impressed. It replaced the factory nav screen and is an android unit that I have the audio hardwired into the aux behind the LR3 head unit. It has Android auto, but it needs a wired connection. I got an Android Auto wireless adapter and connected that and it has worked flawlessly. I get in and within 45 seconds of starting the truck I have AA on the screen. I've been using it for the past 6 months and have had no issues with it.

Here is the kicker that sold me on trying this unit. It has a CAN bus decoder that interfaces with the truck so not only do I have control over volume controlling the head unit from the steering wheel sheet, but I can also select next track and last track from the steering wheel. It also still has the 4x4 info on the screen and all the information is correct and I can see no delay. I have not installed the rear camera yet (bolts on the liftgate handle stripped) but that function works, including displaying the PDC graphic. It even shows when a door is open on the screen. It kept the original functions of the screen and added Android Auto, as well as more that the truck didn't do. I have a bluetooth OBD reader and run torque on it as well. Because it is an android unit I can use google play and have installed On X and Gaia maps as well directly onto the unit.

Love that this brought my truck up about 20 years in technology.

 

[K-rover]

I like what you did there! I went a different route that I took a while to try before saying anything about. I tried one of those Chinese units and I have to say I am actually VERY impressed. It replaced the factory nav screen and is an android unit that I have the audio hardwired into the aux behind the LR3 head unit. It has Android auto, but it needs a wired connection. I got an Android Auto wireless adapter and connected that and it has worked flawlessly. I get in and within 45 seconds of starting the truck I have AA on the screen. I've been using it for the past 6 months and have had no issues with it.

Here is the kicker that sold me on trying this unit. It has a CAN bus decoder that interfaces with the truck so not only do I have control over volume controlling the head unit from the steering wheel sheet, but I can also select next track and last track from the steering wheel. It also still has the 4x4 info on the screen and all the information is correct and I can see no delay. I have not installed the rear camera yet (bolts on the liftgate handle stripped) but that function works, including displaying the PDC graphic. It even shows when a door is open on the screen. It kept the original functions of the screen and added Android Auto, as well as more that the truck didn't do. I have a bluetooth OBD reader and run torque on it as well. Because it is an android unit I can use google play and have installed On X and Gaia maps as well directly onto the unit.

Love that this brought my truck up about 20 years in technology.

Do you have a link for the one you used?

 

[Hugh166]

Sure do. There are plenty of options to choose, ram size and the like. This is the one I got. It also has inputs for a front camera I plan on installing.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804167612159.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.1bf2f19crp4v2i&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

 

[Blue]

man, that's pretty slick.

 

[philwas2]

I am curious as to how long you guys have been running this set-up.
Here's a pic of what I'm running - a chinese unit from Amazon that was working great for almost 2 years, but has now stopped outputing audio... so the search continues. Do we just consider these expendable items and replace 'em every so often?? K Rover's set-up seems like it's quite an upgrade - but 6 months is still "new".