CarPlay solution for Tesla by Michal Gapinski using Raspberry Pi with Android

[timeshifter]

Looking to get CarPlay on your Tesla. This solution is the best I've found so far. The developer just released a simplified version that only requires one Raspberry Pi computer. It's not a finished plug and play product. You need to get your hands dirty a little bit. But, it works great. And I would know as I've tried three or four other approaches in the last year and a half.

A lot of those have been thoroughly covered in this thread, but it's got over 300 posts over 18 months and discusses lots of solutions.

CarPlay & Android Auto Hack - Walkthrough

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...

teslamotorsclub.com

I thought it might be best to have a thread dedicated to this solution. So here it is.

For the most up to date information you can check the developer's Twitter pages at:

https://twitter.com/mikegapinski

https://twitter.com/TeslaAndroid

Presently I'm running the two Raspberry Pi solution and am quite pleased. I'll be trying the single board version soon.

 

[brainhouston]

Would this work on Legacy S/X?

 

[timeshifter]

I think it does.

 

[brainhouston]

Looks like i have my next project lined up

 

[iderdik]

Does the 1 board solution feel slower than the 2 board version? The demo video seems a bit laggy.

 

[ElectricAnt54]

What type of rpie4 case / enclosure seems to work well with the current setup which uses the geek worm Hdmi to CSI-2 C779 plus using recommended argon mini fan? Does the hdmi to csi-2 stay in the case or does it hang outside and needs its own enclosure?

 

[timeshifter]

What type of rpie4 case / enclosure seems to work well with the current setup which uses the geek worm Hdmi to CSI-2 C779 plus using recommended argon mini fan? Does the hdmi to csi-2 stay in the case or does it hang outside and needs its own enclosure?

Maybe this will help. Apparently someone is using a case by Geekworm who I think makes that HDMI device too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1575566096031453184

Although it looks like the developer might be moving fast to remove the need for that board.

 

[jmaddr]

For people running this, how is the lag? Anyone with hw2.5?

 

[TheYGuy]

The new instructions are pretty limited and I didn't see where he explains the hardware layout. Glad timeshifter posted that image of the 1 pi setup.

Separately, I followed the instructions and tried connecting to my pi, but was getting an error saying Tesla couldn't get the IP address. Anyone else come across this?

 

[timeshifter]

For people running this, how is the lag? Anyone with hw2.5?

I don't know what hardware I have. I know it's Intel Atom based. It's an early 2021 Model Y.

I don't notice any lag.

 

[timeshifter]

Here's my current 2 board setup, laid out on the kitchen table to make it easier to understand. Most of the pics I had seen make it tough to discern what you're looking at.

1. Raspberry Pi 4 8GB (Android)
2. Raspberry Pi 4 2GB (Linux)
3. Geekworm TC358743XBG HDMI-CSI-2
4. Short microHDMI to HDMI cable
5. Carlinkit CarPlay adapter
6. 12V (cigarette lighter) power adapter to two USB-C ports
7. USB-C to USB-C cables
8. Alcatel IK41UC USB LTE modem

 

[TheYGuy]

Here's my current 2 board setup, laid out on the kitchen table to make it easier to understand. Most of the pics I had seen make it tough to discern what you're looking at.

1. Raspberry Pi 4 8GB (Android)
2. Raspberry Pi 4 2GB (Linux)
3. Geekworm TC358743XBG HDMI-CSI-2
4. Short microHDMI to HDMI cable
5. Carlinkit CarPlay adapter
6. 12V (cigarette lighter) power adapter to two USB-C ports
7. USB-C to USB-C cables
8. Alcatel IK41UC USB LTE modem

View attachment 858700

This is what was needed on the Tesla Android project page back when I was trying to get the 2 pi setup working. Thank you, good sir!

I'm hoping the community can fill in the gaps in the instructions on the 1 pi setup. Can't get my Tesla to connect to the pi's wifi.

 

[timeshifter]

Can't get my Tesla to connect to the pi's wifi.

Have you tried connecting a phone or laptop to the Pi's WiFi?

 

[jdle714]

Here's my current 2 board setup, laid out on the kitchen table to make it easier to understand. Most of the pics I had seen make it tough to discern what you're looking at.

1. Raspberry Pi 4 8GB (Android)
2. Raspberry Pi 4 2GB (Linux)
3. Geekworm TC358743XBG HDMI-CSI-2
4. Short microHDMI to HDMI cable
5. Carlinkit CarPlay adapter
6. 12V (cigarette lighter) power adapter to two USB-C ports
7. USB-C to USB-C cables
8. Alcatel IK41UC USB LTE modem

View attachment 858700

For the LTE card, do I need a Nano SIM card for activation? Is that something I need to buy or have a contract with a provider?

 

[jdle714]

For the LTE card, do I need a Nano SIM card for activation? Is that something I need to buy or have a contract with a provider?

I think I answered my own question. I found this on EBAY. It comes with a SIM card for TMOBILE.

Alcatel LinkKey - IK41UC LTE T-MOBILE / METROPCS UNLOCKED USB Internet Dongle | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Alcatel LinkKey - IK41UC LTE T-MOBILE / METROPCS UNLOCKED USB Internet Dongle at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Do you have this or something different?

 

[gaswalla]

Seems like it would be easier to mount an iPad over the screen

 

[timeshifter]

I think I answered my own question. I found this on EBAY. It comes with a SIM card for TMOBILE.

Alcatel LinkKey - IK41UC LTE T-MOBILE / METROPCS UNLOCKED USB Internet Dongle | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Alcatel LinkKey - IK41UC LTE T-MOBILE / METROPCS UNLOCKED USB Internet Dongle at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Do you have this or something different?

That looks like the one I got. Took it to an AT&T store and got a SIM there, regular sized SIM.

He has an offline mode where you don't need that, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[jdle714]

That looks like the one I got. Took it to an AT&T store and got a SIM there, regular sized SIM.

He has an offline mode where you don't need that, but I haven't tried it yet.

Offline mode requires you to turn off WIFI or the RPI in order to unlock your car automatically, so I won't be using that mode. I don't know much about the LTE. Once AT&T set you up with a SIM card, is there a monthly fee for usage? How much?

 

[timeshifter]

$25 on my plan

 

[timeshifter]

Having to turn the system off when you exit the car isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve been using mine for about two months. I normally leave it on during the day as I come and go. The problem is, whenever I get near the car whatever audio I had playing will start playing on my phone’s speaker before I get in the car.

Not a problem if I’m headed to the car to get in and drive. But at home and while I’m out and about I frequently will walk near the car. It’s getting pretty annoying.