Apple Car Play in the XPOWER

[simonplayspiano]

Hi folks. I've had my Xpower for 5 months now. For obvious reasons (the built in sat nav is crap and out of date already), I need to use my phone whilst driving for Waze & spotify. Until now I've been relying on bluetooth connection for the music, but find that the reliability of the connectivity is so poor, that I am having to 'forget this connection' and re-pair around every 5-6 journeys.

So...

I'm about to do something new for the first time - Apple car play. Does anyone use this? Am I right in thinking it basically clones the phone screen onto the infotainment screen? Is it a wired-only connection? Any other hints or tips?

Thank you.

Oh and out of interest - my biggest gripes with the car...

1. No 'off' button (instead, it's buried in a menu somewhere)
2. No rear passenger light or cup holders / armrest
3. Squeaky brakes
4. Low tyre pressure warnings whenever it's below 3 degrees c
5. The slightest frost and all of the camera-dependent safety features switch off

 

[JonnyG]

Personally for Apple CarPlay I just use a wired connection to the left USB A hub with no wireless device. I keep the USB lead connected to the car and just plug my IPhone in and leave it in the lower console area where it does'nt fly off when you floor it ?. It works fine and charges through the lead as well.

The bluetooth seems to be automatically disconnected when Apple CarPlay is in use.

From other posts it seems best to use a short USB lead (a black one in my case ?)

I agree with all your gripes which are in reality fairly minor thankfully.

3. can be cured by some heavy braking from high speed once a week or after a car wash / wet weather.
4. can be cured by pumping your tyres up slightly (and then checking them fairly regularly). I have found the new USB rechargeable type tyre inflators to be very easy and convenient to use for this (no leads to your 12v power socket required)

 

[simonplayspiano]

Great - thank you @JonnyG - I don't suppose I could trouble you for a link to said USB Tyre inflator?

 

[tsedge]

Hi folks. I've had my Xpower for 5 months now. For obvious reasons (the built in sat nav is crap and out of date already), I need to use my phone whilst driving for Waze & spotify. Until now I've been relying on bluetooth connection for the music, but find that the reliability of the connectivity is so poor, that I am having to 'forget this connection' and re-pair around every 5-6 journeys.

So...

I'm about to do something new for the first time - Apple car play. Does anyone use this? Am I right in thinking it basically clones the phone screen onto the infotainment screen? Is it a wired-only connection? Any other hints or tips?

Thank you.

Oh and out of interest - my biggest gripes with the car...

1. No 'off' button (instead, it's buried in a menu somewhere)
2. No rear passenger light or cup holders / armrest
3. Squeaky brakes
4. Low tyre pressure warnings whenever it's below 3 degrees c
5. The slightest frost and all of the camera-dependent safety features switch off

For Apple CarPlay use the left hand USB port and a quality high-speed cable. I use Anker braided cables. It is very fussy about having the right cable and even Apple cables do not always work well. There is no wireless option without a 3rd party add-on.

Yes, the infotainment display becomes the CarPlay screen. On earlier software releases it takes over the whole screen, on the latest software there's a thin row at the top to provide access to AC settings, outside temperature, clock etc...

(1) on the more recent infotainment software you can drag down from the top right on the main screen and there's a shortcut to turn off. However, you don't need to turn the car off, locking the doors will do that anyway.

(2) you can swap the courtesy lights for LEDs to illuminate the back better, or stick some aftermarket lights up on the headliner, or fit floor-level LED lights there are also 3rd party armrests with cupholders - we have had lots of threads on these things, check out the accessories forum.

(3) make sure you use the brakes without regen regularly to keep them clean (eg a heavy stop from high speed when appropriate). Also you can ask a garage to check the pins and sliders are greased properly, sometimes they are not.

(4) just add a bit of air to the tyres all round, I set mine to 2.6-7 Bar indicated, which avoids this.

(5) keep the windscreen clear and it should work fine.

 

[simonplayspiano]

For Apple CarPlay use the left hand USB port and a quality high-speed cable. I use Anker braided cables. It is very fussy about having the right cable and even Apple cables do not always work well. There is no wireless option without a 3rd party add-on.

Yes, the infotainment display becomes the CarPlay screen. On earlier software releases it takes over the whole screen, on the latest software there's a thin row at the top to provide access to AC settings, outside temperature, clock etc...

(1) on the more recent infotainment software you can drag down from the top right on the main screen and there's a shortcut to turn off. However, you don't need to turn the car off, locking the doors will do that anyway.

(2) you can swap the courtesy lights for LEDs to illuminate the back better, or stick some aftermarket lights up on the headliner, or fit floor-level LED lights there are also 3rd party armrests with cupholders - we have had lots of threads on these things, check out the accessories forum.

(3) make sure you use the brakes without regen regularly to keep them clean (eg a heavy stop from high speed when appropriate). Also you can ask a garage to check the pins and sliders are greased properly, sometimes they are not.

(4) just add a bit of air to the tyres all round, I set mine to 2.6-7 Bar indicated, which avoids this.

(5) keep the windscreen clear and it should work fine.

Brilliant - thank you for the input! That's really helpful!

 

[JonnyG]

Great - thank you @JonnyG - I don't suppose I could trouble you for a link to said USB Tyre inflator?

Currently on 30% discount for me (PRIME) ?? if you apply the voucher

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BF3VWBLP/

Some very bright LED bulbs to replace weak front courtesy bulbs :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071LNH2D3

These do help with illuminating the back of the car a bit better but MG should really have fitted rear courtesy lights IMHO on a 5dr family sized hatch !

 

[simonplayspiano]

Currently on 30% discount for me (PRIME) ?? if you apply the voucher

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BF3VWBLP/

Some very bright LED bulbs to replace weak front courtesy bulbs :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071LNH2D3

These do help with illuminating the back of the car a bit better but MG should really have fitted rear courtesy lights IMHO on a 5dr family sized hatch !

Thank you @johnnyg - I have just ordered the air compressor from Amazon! Wonderful!

For Apple CarPlay use the left hand USB port and a quality high-speed cable. I use Anker braided cables. It is very fussy about having the right cable and even Apple cables do not always work well. There is no wireless option without a 3rd party add-on.

Yes, the infotainment display becomes the CarPlay screen. On earlier software releases it takes over the whole screen, on the latest software there's a thin row at the top to provide access to AC settings, outside temperature, clock etc...

(1) on the more recent infotainment software you can drag down from the top right on the main screen and there's a shortcut to turn off. However, you don't need to turn the car off, locking the doors will do that anyway.

(2) you can swap the courtesy lights for LEDs to illuminate the back better, or stick some aftermarket lights up on the headliner, or fit floor-level LED lights there are also 3rd party armrests with cupholders - we have had lots of threads on these things, check out the accessories forum.

(3) make sure you use the brakes without regen regularly to keep them clean (eg a heavy stop from high speed when appropriate). Also you can ask a garage to check the pins and sliders are greased properly, sometimes they are not.

(4) just add a bit of air to the tyres all round, I set mine to 2.6-7 Bar indicated, which avoids this.

(5) keep the windscreen clear and it should work fine.

hi @tsedge - I plugged my iphone into the left hand USB port. I got a message on the phone saying something about allow/disallow but it only appears for a split second and then is gone - and nothing. The phone is charging, but no carplay and nothing detected on the phone.

Do you think this is down to the cable? I have tried with the only 2 charging cables I have and neither of them works.

Do you have a link for a cable that you know works?

Thanks

Simon

 

[siteguru]

It's probably that Allow bit you need to find on the phone. This might help:

If you need help with CarPlay – Apple Support (UK)

If CarPlay isn’t working as you’d expect, check your settings, connection and vehicle compatibility.

support.apple.com

 

[simonplayspiano]

It's probably that Allow bit you need to find on the phone. This might help:

If you need help with CarPlay – Apple Support (UK)

If CarPlay isn’t working as you’d expect, check your settings, connection and vehicle compatibility.

support.apple.com

Thanks - unfortunately no ideas there. I have already got carplay setup on my phone, no restrictions. I think it must be the cable as the message appears for a split second and then drops off.

 

[tsedge]

Thanks - unfortunately no ideas there. I have already got carplay setup on my phone, no restrictions. I think it must be the cable as the message appears for a split second and then drops off.

So long as CarPlay is enabled on your phone, and the phone is unlocked when you connect (important to do - irrespective of whether you have it set to work when unlocked or not), then it is probably the cable at fault. People typically see constant disconnections and reconnections with the wrong cable.

 

[Grriff]

If CarPlay is similar to Android Auto it needs a high speed USB 2.0 or 3.0 (@tsedge post). It will NOT have a white plastic insert in the USB plug but black, blue or red How to Tell if a USB Cable Supports High Speed

 

[KMC]

Hi folks. I've had my Xpower for 5 months now. For obvious reasons (the built in sat nav is crap and out of date already), I need to use my phone whilst driving for Waze & spotify. Until now I've been relying on bluetooth connection for the music, but find that the reliability of the connectivity is so poor, that I am having to 'forget this connection' and re-pair around every 5-6 journeys.

So...

I'm about to do something new for the first time - Apple car play. Does anyone use this? Am I right in thinking it basically clones the phone screen onto the infotainment screen? Is it a wired-only connection? Any other hints or tips?

Thank you.

Oh and out of interest - my biggest gripes with the car...

1. No 'off' button (instead, it's buried in a menu somewhere)
2. No rear passenger light or cup holders / armrest
3. Squeaky brakes
4. Low tyre pressure warnings whenever it's below 3 degrees c
5. The slightest frost and all of the camera-dependent safety features switch off

I bought a wireless dongle off Ali express for my x power. Cost £24 & plugs into the left usb which you plug the mobile cable in for carplay. The idea is you just get in & carplay auto connects & starts on screen. I find I have to unplug the dongle & plug it back in, apple carplay then starts up on screen. Not perfect (typical MG software) but I prefer it to constantly re pairing my phone or messing with a charge cable. Hope this helps.

 

[Ekips]

I bought a wireless dongle off Ali express for my x power. Cost £24 & plugs into the left usb which you plug the mobile cable in for carplay. The idea is you just get in & carplay auto connects & starts on screen. I find I have to unplug the dongle & plug it back in, apple carplay then starts up on screen. Not perfect (typical MG software) but I prefer it to constantly re pairing my phone or messing with a charge cable. Hope this helps.

Some of the dongles have a setting for boot delay, extending this can fix the issue.
Or you could get a usb cable with a switch on it that will at least save some wear and tear on the port (and inserting it the right way first time)

 

[KMC]

Some of the dongles have a setting for boot delay, extending this can fix the issue.
Or you could get a usb cable with a switch on it that will at least save some wear and tear on the port (and inserting it the right way first time)

Thanks I will try extending the boot delay. I ordered the usb switch last week. After checking my invoice the wireless dongle cost £28.00 after tax & shipping.

Dongle details below ? incase anybody wants one.

 

[JonnyG]

Thanks - unfortunately no ideas there. I have already got carplay setup on my phone, no restrictions. I think it must be the cable as the message appears for a split second and then drops off.

For some funny reason my Iphone USB cable has not worked well recently and totally packed up yesterday. It connected for a about a second or two and then disconnected continuously. It had worked for 4 months with no problems at all. I have just bought one of these short cables and it allows you to have ypur Iphone sit in the lower centre console still. So far ? it has worked fine (only a full day yet though).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09YCMWPF5/

 

[DAG]

Hi folks. I've had my Xpower for 5 months now. For obvious reasons (the built in sat nav is crap and out of date already), I need to use my phone whilst driving for Waze & spotify. Until now I've been relying on bluetooth connection for the music, but find that the reliability of the connectivity is so poor, that I am having to 'forget this connection' and re-pair around every 5-6 journeys.

So...

I'm about to do something new for the first time - Apple car play. Does anyone use this? Am I right in thinking it basically clones the phone screen onto the infotainment screen? Is it a wired-only connection? Any other hints or tips?

Thank you.

Oh and out of interest - my biggest gripes with the car...

1. No 'off' button (instead, it's buried in a menu somewhere)
2. No rear passenger light or cup holders / armrest
3. Squeaky brakes
4. Low tyre pressure warnings whenever it's below 3 degrees c
5. The slightest frost and all of the camera-dependent safety features switch off

Car Play only seems to work with an Anker usb lead, Amazon £7.99

 

[DAG]

Thank you @johnnyg - I have just ordered the air compressor from Amazon! Wonderful!


hi @tsedge - I plugged my iphone into the left hand USB port. I got a message on the phone saying something about allow/disallow but it only appears for a split second and then is gone - and nothing. The phone is charging, but no carplay and nothing detected on the phone.

Do you think this is down to the cable? I have tried with the only 2 charging cables I have and neither of them works.

Do you have a link for a cable that you know works?

Thanks

Simon

The Anker cable from Amazon at £7.99 works for me, as no other cable did.

 

[ok86]

I use this wireless adaptor for carplay, works flawlessly. I don’t use the Bluetooth in the car as it’s very unreliable

Plugged into this usb a ambient light


Paired with this usb c powered magsafe charger

 

[JonnyG]

Plugged into this usb a ambient light

Have you got a link the to the USB socket/lights please ?.... I presume they stay on all the time when car is on ?? ... and turn off when you lock the car ?? TIA.

 

[midician]

I would recommend a Carlinkit v3 or 4 or 5 depending on your needs . Eliminates bad cables and connects 95% of the time . If it fails , a simple usb disconnect fixes it .