Android Head Unit
 

Recently bought a 2010 V50. My Previous car, a Ford Mondeo had an Android head unit fitted which had a facia that integrated nicely in the existing facure of the dash.

Are there any similar units available for the V50?

I've looked at a few on Amazon that say they "fit" the V50 though I suspect that they only "fit" with a lot of brute force and duck tape as they don't really look like the same shape as the existing system.

Anyone managed to find something that fits tidily and isn't ridiculously expensive?

Doesn't have to be android, though that would be my preference, but would ideally have a sat nav and blue tooth.

Bluepower, but lots of problems seen with them + poor customer service.

Or.. magnet mount an iPad or Android tablet on the dash and connect to AUX.

If your car has the old factory nav with the flip screen there's lots of choices for units that top mount and replace the old screen. If it doesn't and you've got a smooth dash then that option doesn't fly.

Just use a Mr12V if you want BT music

I got myself a cheap wireless Android auto display from AliExpress.

I thought it would be a piece of crap but actually, I'm very impressed, it's 10.26 inches, has dual bluetooth, so will connect automatically to my phone and the bluetooth to aux adapter I have in the armrest USB.

I designed a simple 3D printed bracket that fits behind the center arm vents with the power cable and makes it all look pretty OEM :)

https://i.imgur.com/i7eC7gNl.jpg

This is me. Please share.

Can you provide more details for this, a link to the product perhaps? There's a lot of those on AliE and my experience with that marketplace is that it is more luck than anything if you receive what you ordered and it works as advertised.

you wouldnt be able to share the 3d bracket you created and maybe have any info on how you wired this up would you?

I second this and would also like to ask for a design file please.

I know this is a bit of an old thread by now but just want to share this new product I found on youtube. Definetly is something I will be looking into for my s40.

https://algperformance.co.uk/collect...40091709669470

Are there any photos of it installed in cars? I'm unsure where it goes. Also the bezel looks enormous making it look quite dated imo.

How much are they normally?

It's going in the right direction but it looks really clumsy in that it obscures the OEM screen. If the screen were slightly smaller it would look a lot better.

3D Print File from Funky Melon
 

Hey @FunkyMelon.

Can you please share the schematic, great work.

Exactly what I am looking for.

Hey! Can you share more details about your installation, the 3D printed bracket and more pictures, overall?

Thanks!

Do they actually work? I have an original V50 and S40 both wihout an AUX input. Would be nice if the CD player worked too but not vital.

I have in my C30 CD and bluetooth audiio streaming at the same time.
I bought a PCB from a guy in Youtube that you install inside the CD player and it plays both.

This Podofo is interesting because i could connect it to this system without aux or even FM frequency, so CD quality.
But i need to learn how this guy installed it.

Finished fitting mine today (ignore the plastic on the screen, I promised my partner they could remove it!)
https://i.imgur.com/ePS9Byam.jpg

It works really well. The only thing I don't like about it is once it's booted it makes a god awful chime that can't be turned off (which can be heard here). I will probably physically block up the speaker holes or disconnect the speaker if it continues to bother me.

You can update the boot logo to something more suitable by putting a 1600x600 pixel jpeg called "boot_logo.jpg" and a zip of it called "boot_logo.zip" onto an SD card and plugging it in when the unit is powered on. The process is described in more detail in the comments of this reddit post. I made a simple one.

To power the screen I used a generic 12V to 5V 3A USB C converter and plugged it into a switched 12V accessory power cable. The USB C cable comes up behind the hazards switch and between the vent and dash (you have to at least partially remove the vent to do this)

I wouldn't recommend using the radio broadcast function for audio. You could use any Bluetooth receiver plugged into the aux. I used one of these that you plug in behind the radio, unfortunately the Bluetooth receiver is powered by a wire that is constantly 12V even when the car is off. So you will have to cut that wire and also use it with accessory power.

I designed a little mount for it in fusion 360 and got it printed it in ASA, It uses the spare adhesive pad that the screen comes with but the curve isn't perfect and I'm not sure how well it's going to hold. I've bought some 3M VHB tape to try and mount it a little better.

https://i.imgur.com/XUReHptm.png https://i.imgur.com/IMO3XaKm.png https://i.imgur.com/0UrG94wm.png

I put it on thingiverse but new accounts can't add anything for 24 hours, I'll post tomorrow with a link.

I have been looking at doing something like this but using a spare phone I have as the 'head unit'. Sort of on the cheap. Once I have it sorted I can put a post up if anyone would be interested.

Heres a vid of it. Linkety Link

I'm liking Funky Melon and Gouty's solutions... makes me want to try it... maybe...

Here's the thingiverse link. As I said before it's not perfect, but it seems to be holding ok.

You should be able to find the boot tune by looking through the folders in the file manager (if it has one) or download one (file manager) from the play store.

Are you able to reproduce the plastic surround on the original dash (where it shows AUX) in your pic and add some sort of addition to it, maybe in the centre strip above the LCD display to connect to the back of the head unit?

It's not a full android experience, in fact I'm not even 100% sure it's running on android at all, could be some custom linux thing. In any case, it's quite locked down, no file explorer, and certainly no play store, I wouldn't even know how to sideload or get root access. If you have any insight on this I'd be interested to hear.

I mean, you could, but you'd end up covering CD slot, your vents, and/or the inbuilt screen. and it would sit very proud of everything else on the dash

Also printing the shroud is difficult, clips are hard

This was my previous solution, it was not ideal

https://i.imgur.com/wHMXvelm.jpg

If it's running google maps and other googley things then i would expect it to be android OS with an overlay which itself is based off linux.

I guess to see is to find out if you can activate devleoper options in the menu settings. Usually it's activated with the following steps if you can try.

1 Go to "Settings"
2 Tap "About device" or "About phone"
3 Tap “Software information”
4 Tap “Build number” seven times. ...

Root access will be difficult but if you can get to dev options then it's easier to sideload.

As for your previous solution, that's the idea I had except making the holder so it only covers the CD slot (is it really needed now a days).

It doesn't "run" google maps etc, it's android auto and apple carplay which afaik, means that everything is running on your phone, and it's just a display.

I tried the developer mode thing before to no avail. I've mostly got used to the noise now. It's running really well, hasn't missed a beat.

Edit: I tried tapping developer mode again, a lot, and something did happen, it came up with a number pad, I assume to type in some sort of pass, I tried the usual, 1234, 0000, 123456, but they did not work

https://i.imgur.com/sHWiAt8m.png

I've got my fianceé's sister's boyfriend of Sprogley Motorsport to 3D print me the holder... Now to order the display itself >:)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1ca87f72_w.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...12152e0d_w.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...eae29f7c_w.jpg

Hmm, having a look through the net there is a suggestion of typing in 7890+the time of day in 24hr format so say it's 1422, it would be 789014 (just the hour). Worth a punt.

I've now installed the 5V power cable and ran it from the fuse box up to the dash ready for the screen to arrive. I'll wedge it between the vents and dash as Gouty did. I'll make a wee video too.

FYI, I had a play with this as mine arrived today, if you go to Settings -> Firmware Info, then tap "Firmware Version" you'll get to that screen you showed in your photo, the password is 888888, but it looks like there are no factory settings because it then says "Developer settings not available yet!" (something like that anyway). Is it possible to update the firmware on the unit from podofo and there's an update available which has this?

Also, you can tap the other version number at the bottom and get into all the tests (brightness, wifi, bluetooth, power button, touch screen) etc, but you need to clear your connections to the unit first.

Oh, I did mean to mention (and I am sure you already know) but obviously you can only install the bottom 2 screws before sticking it to the dash!, I am sure it holds just fine with the top 2, in fact it might be better for being able to adjust the viewing angle.

What do you mean? I've got all 4 screws in, I'm about to go put it on the dash though so maybe be about to find out what you mean.. :omg_smile:


- Edit: Got what you meant, install bottom 2 screws before putting on the sticky pad, yup.

That's it installed, really happy with this thanks for everyone's help especially Gouty.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...54e4169fe5.jpg

Doesn't impede from the driver's view at all.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ed0c84d989.jpg

We need videos :-)

I have the footage just need to collate it :P

OK here's the install video: https://youtu.be/bjOTYJDHbeU

thank you, now all i have to do is work out "why" i need one ,, i do its justification for the "war department/accountant/misses"

It is far nicer than a phone mount for maps etc imo. Well worth doing!

we have the "but my satnav is better than yours" discussion ,, she uses "goofle maps" , i like syngic ,,, not saying Who's sat nav sent us down the smallest of cornish lanes last year,, but it wasnt syngic ,, it Might end that ,,,