Adding Apple CarPlay to my B8.5 Audi S4
Of the few things that have aged well with the Audi B8.5, the MMI system is unfortunately not one of them. While the Bluetooth is still an essential everyday component, the Navigation system shows its age quickly when travelling down roads that were not yet built after 2015.
Having experienced Apple CarPlay on another vehicle, I knew this was something I wanted to add to my car but just didn’t know which system to choose. There are plenty of options available online, and some with mixed reviews of their functions.
After hours of contemplating which one to go with, I finally landed on the Road Top Wireless CarPlay for my 2015 Audi S4 - and it was the best upgrade I’ve made for my car so far.
Installation
Installation if fairly manageable, but the installation instructions that came with the Road Top retrofit kit were limited in written instructions, and seemed to omit some information. Luckily some other people have already installed this product or similar units and I was able to install it perfectly in one shot.
The trickiest part you will encounter is finding space to put the unit back behind the MMI system - but it is possible! My suggestion is to place the unit sideways and try to tuck it behind the A/C controls, a bit lower than the radio unit.
To remove the radio you will need radio removal keys - I got these ones that were cheap and worked well.
First 30 Day Review
Adding the Road Top CarPlay has been one of the best upgrades I’ve completed with my B8.5 S4. CarPlay fires right up sometimes even faster than the OEM system.
Reviews online share some concern about a potential sound quality loss, but I personally experienced no issues with a loss in quality over my B & O sound system. Similar concerns were shared about an echoing effect in voice calls but this also did not happen with my unit.
The main reason I wanted this unit was to have navigation closer to my field of view when driving, as looking down for directions took some of my attention off the road.
I think it’s normal for anyone to be hesitant when adding equipment into their daily driven car, but having completed this upgrade I only wish I had done it sooner.
Final Words
If any of the manufacturers were to be reading this, I would highly suggest better videos and instructions on how to install the unit. I ended up learning more about how to install it from random YouTube videos of people installing similar units. It would also have been nice to provide some reassurance that it is possible to jam the unit in the tight space behind the radio!
For those wondering if they should buy this product, I would highly recommend it and stop putting it off like I did. The product works as intended, and retains all factory functions.
