986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - New Android Head Unit

mikomiles · 12-03-2019, 01:40 PM

If you have the MOST fiber system in your 986 and want to add a double DIN android unit I recommend moving both the factory radio (CDR-23) and HVAC controls to the lower to console slots. Radio above AC so that an ejected CD doesn't interfere with the shift lever. Then get a MOST aux interface like the ones sold by Mr. 12v. You can find them on Ebay for about $150 USD (a lot less than the $600+ for other units by Dension or NAV-TV). This adds a stereo AUX input to the CDR-23 (along with Bluetooth, USB and SD card inputs that you don't really need depending on your android unit). It connects to the MOST loop so super clean audio and spoofs a CD changer, so if you don't have a changer in your car you'll need to have the dealership program the CDR-23 to look for one. If you have an existing changer, it will no longer be available, but no big loss since you can just rip all those CDs to MP3s and load them into your new android unit. Now your new android unit preamp L/R outs will feed into the AUX input and directly into your MOST bus. Alternately, if your android unit allows you to pair with external bluetooth speakers, you can pair that to the Mr. 12v adapter and might be able to see track data from displayed on the CDR-23 and dash display, but I haven't tested that yet.

The advantage of this setup is you will still be able to fade sound front to back using the CDR-23 controls. If you get rid of the radio, you will lose that ability. Also, if your car has dynamic volume control (turns up when it gets loud in the car) this will still happen when listening to the android unit. Finally, if you got an android unit without a disc player and for some reason in 2019 you still want to play a CD, the CD player in the CDR-23 will still work. Your whole console will be bristling with working devices and no blank pockets just like newer models.

Note: If you have the thin cup holder system just below the air vents in your car, the Metra 2DIN kit doesn't fit right. Its face is convex to match the other design where the bottom of the vents aren't flat and will stick out from the console. You'll have to spend the extra money to get the kit from Euro Motorspeed. Make sure it's the updated kit from them (it will say so on Ebay) which allows precise adjustment of the depth of the android unit so it will be flush with the bezel.

Also, so you can stream content on the go, either tether the android to your smartphone wi-fi hotspot or you can get the Harmon Spark from AT&T which plugs into your OBD port and creates a hotspot for anything in your car with unlimited data for $35 USD/Month. That unit also sends some of your car's diagnostic information to an app that you can load into the android head unit and your smartphone. Not sure if it connects to the Torque App, but it will still give you a connected car experience like new cars have.

12-03-2019, 01:40 PM	#8
mikomiles Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Phladelphia Posts: 2	Boxster with MOST If you have the MOST fiber system in your 986 and want to add a double DIN android unit I recommend moving both the factory radio (CDR-23) and HVAC controls to the lower to console slots. Radio above AC so that an ejected CD doesn't interfere with the shift lever. Then get a MOST aux interface like the ones sold by Mr. 12v. You can find them on Ebay for about $150 USD (a lot less than the $600+ for other units by Dension or NAV-TV). This adds a stereo AUX input to the CDR-23 (along with Bluetooth, USB and SD card inputs that you don't really need depending on your android unit). It connects to the MOST loop so super clean audio and spoofs a CD changer, so if you don't have a changer in your car you'll need to have the dealership program the CDR-23 to look for one. If you have an existing changer, it will no longer be available, but no big loss since you can just rip all those CDs to MP3s and load them into your new android unit. Now your new android unit preamp L/R outs will feed into the AUX input and directly into your MOST bus. Alternately, if your android unit allows you to pair with external bluetooth speakers, you can pair that to the Mr. 12v adapter and might be able to see track data from displayed on the CDR-23 and dash display, but I haven't tested that yet. The advantage of this setup is you will still be able to fade sound front to back using the CDR-23 controls. If you get rid of the radio, you will lose that ability. Also, if your car has dynamic volume control (turns up when it gets loud in the car) this will still happen when listening to the android unit. Finally, if you got an android unit without a disc player and for some reason in 2019 you still want to play a CD, the CD player in the CDR-23 will still work. Your whole console will be bristling with working devices and no blank pockets just like newer models. Note: If you have the thin cup holder system just below the air vents in your car, the Metra 2DIN kit doesn't fit right. Its face is convex to match the other design where the bottom of the vents aren't flat and will stick out from the console. You'll have to spend the extra money to get the kit from Euro Motorspeed. Make sure it's the updated kit from them (it will say so on Ebay) which allows precise adjustment of the depth of the android unit so it will be flush with the bezel. Also, so you can stream content on the go, either tether the android to your smartphone wi-fi hotspot or you can get the Harmon Spark from AT&T which plugs into your OBD port and creates a hotspot for anything in your car with unlimited data for $35 USD/Month. That unit also sends some of your car's diagnostic information to an app that you can load into the android head unit and your smartphone. Not sure if it connects to the Torque App, but it will still give you a connected car experience like new cars have.