I picked up my MY this week and am now debating whether I need CarPlay or not. However, I have put together the perfect "hack," although I am just waiting for the mount pieces to arrive to make it a more seamless mount. But here's the basics of how I made it along with Amazon links to the parts I used (NOTE: I am NOT using affiliate links, I make no money no matter where you buy stuff from), the links are at the end.
Basically all you need is an android tablet (yes Android for Apple CarPlay, I know, I know) and some attachments/cables and a mount.
So I got my hands on a cheap Amazon Fire HD 8 refurb, although you can use any tablet you want, and even some Android phones - as long as they have a newer version of Android and use USB-C [because of Power Delivery]. YMMV on other models of tablets/phones, I've only tested a couple and the Fire was the cheapest option.
Then I got my hands on an adapter that has USB 3.0, HDMI & Power Delivery (I couldn't find one without the HDMI). Also needed a USB-C Power Cable and a USB-C extension cable with a right angle adapter on one end.
Besides a mount, the last piece needed is the Carlinkit adapter for Android Head Units (it does wireless & wired CarPlay, but only wired Android Auto)
The steps are pretty simple:
All of this took me a while to collect from other posts and ideas and seems to be working ok. Not happy with the kludge, but until Elon decides to give us at least a couple of apps for Media that I find indispensable (like Audible, Apple Music, and I like seeing Speedtrap notifications from Waze/Apple Maps), I'll use this rig on longer trips.
Here's links to what I purchased (it was a many times trial and error to find the splitter/adapter that would allow Power & USB at the same time):
My last consideration might be to actually ditch the whole CarPlay idea and create a Home Screen of shortcuts and widgets for "driving" and find a way to mount the phone in landscape under the screen using MagSafe.
Anyway wanted to share my solution, and I'd be really interested in hearing what other people are doing to keep this going for them.
Basically all you need is an android tablet (yes Android for Apple CarPlay, I know, I know) and some attachments/cables and a mount.
So I got my hands on a cheap Amazon Fire HD 8 refurb, although you can use any tablet you want, and even some Android phones - as long as they have a newer version of Android and use USB-C [because of Power Delivery]. YMMV on other models of tablets/phones, I've only tested a couple and the Fire was the cheapest option.
Then I got my hands on an adapter that has USB 3.0, HDMI & Power Delivery (I couldn't find one without the HDMI). Also needed a USB-C Power Cable and a USB-C extension cable with a right angle adapter on one end.
Besides a mount, the last piece needed is the Carlinkit adapter for Android Head Units (it does wireless & wired CarPlay, but only wired Android Auto)
The steps are pretty simple:
- Install the AutoKit APK on your tablet/phone that will act as your CarPlay "Screen" (the url for this can be found in the CarLinkit accessory "manual")
- Bluetooth Pair your tablet/phone with your Tesla (do NOT make it a Car Key).
- Attach your chosen mount to your car (I'm using a suction cup to the windshield right now, but I've ordered a non-destructive console mount that fits the M3 to see if it will work)
- Mount the Tablet/Phone and Attach the USB-C right angle extension cable to the tablet/phone charge port.
- Route the cable any way you can to the MY console where your USB-C ports are.
- Plug the USB multi-way splitter/adapter into the extension cord.
- Plug the power cable from a MY USB-C port into the Power Delivery port of the splitter/adapter.
- Plug the Carlinkit adapter into the USB-A port of the splitter/adapter.
- Run the AutoKit app on the tablet and set options as you like and pair your iPhone to it via BlueTooth (once paired it automagically switches to using a WiFi connection).
All of this took me a while to collect from other posts and ideas and seems to be working ok. Not happy with the kludge, but until Elon decides to give us at least a couple of apps for Media that I find indispensable (like Audible, Apple Music, and I like seeing Speedtrap notifications from Waze/Apple Maps), I'll use this rig on longer trips.
Here's links to what I purchased (it was a many times trial and error to find the splitter/adapter that would allow Power & USB at the same time):
- Amazon Fire 8 HD: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-HD-8-tablet/dp/B07YGYVSPX (can always search for a refurb for maybe another $20 savings)
- 6' USB-C Extension Cable with Right Angle Male Plug: https://www.amazon.com/Extension-UseBean-Extender-Compatible-Thunderbolt/dp/B08D9J9QXH
- j5create USB Type-C to HDMI and USB 3.0 with Power Delivery JCA379: https://www.amazon.com/J5-JCA379-Type-C-Cable-Delivery/dp/B077PQVL24
- USB-C Power Cord: You can look for one, but I used the one that came with the Fire Tablet
- Carlinkit Wireless CarPlay Adapter for Android Head Unit (AutoKit): https://www.amazon.com/Carlinkit-Wireless-Multimedia-Receiver-aftermaket/dp/B089LW7HMH
- Mount of choice (my temp is a suction cup mount): https://www.amazon.com/AboveTEK-Suction-Bathroom-Windshield-Smartphone/dp/B074PD1GNY
My last consideration might be to actually ditch the whole CarPlay idea and create a Home Screen of shortcuts and widgets for "driving" and find a way to mount the phone in landscape under the screen using MagSafe.
Anyway wanted to share my solution, and I'd be really interested in hearing what other people are doing to keep this going for them.