CarPlay Decoder FAQ — Fitment, Installation & Wholesale

You need three data points: vehicle brand, head-unit platform and model year. Match the brand on our products page, then the platform (for example CIC, NBT or EVO on BMW), then confirm the year range in the fitment table. If you are unsure, send a photo of your head unit's main menu and model year — we confirm within 12 hours.

Yes. The decoder is installed between the factory head unit and the original display. The OEM screen, iDrive / COMAND / MMI controller, steering-wheel buttons, factory menus, radio and original navigation all keep working. CarPlay appears as an additional interface you switch to.

We manufacture decoder modules for 22 marques organised into 19 product lines: BMW, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, Lexus, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, McLaren, Nissan, Infiniti, Volkswagen, Toyota and Honda. Coverage runs from 2006 to 2025 across 39 modules.

The platform is the infotainment generation fitted to your car — CIC / NBT / EVO on BMW, NTG4.0 to HU6 on Mercedes-Benz, MMI 2G / 3G / MIB on Audi, PCM on Porsche, JR-1 / JR-2 / JR-3 on Land Rover and Jaguar. The most reliable check is the software version screen in the vehicle's settings, or a photo of the main menu; the registration year alone is not reliable because manufacturers switched platforms mid-cycle.

On many platforms yes: the decoder adds wireless CarPlay, Android Auto and HiCar while the original wired connection stays available. On a few platforms the factory module is replaced instead of supplemented. Send us the model, year and head unit and we will tell you exactly which case applies.

Yes. Our modules support both the factory reversing camera and aftermarket cameras, with automatic trigger on reverse. Factory parking sensors and 360-degree camera views are retained on supported platforms.

Yes. Every module in the catalogue supports wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, wired and wireless Android Auto, wired and wireless Huawei HiCar, plus screen mirroring via AirPlay and Miracast.

Yes. You select CarPlay or Android Auto from the OEM menu, and you can return to the factory interface at any time with a long-press or menu selection depending on the platform. Nothing about the original system is removed.

Yes. Each module ships with a vehicle-specific harness that plugs into the factory connectors — no wire cutting and no coding. The harness connects between the factory head unit, the display and the decoder box. A printed manual and access to our video installation library are included.

For a professional installer, typically 1 to 2 hours depending on how deep the head unit sits behind the dashboard trim. Platforms with the head unit in the glovebox or boot are usually the quicker installs.

After the first Bluetooth pairing, the connection is automatic when the vehicle starts — typically within 10 to 15 seconds. The module pairs over Bluetooth for discovery and then hands over to a direct Wi-Fi link for data.

Multiple phones can be stored in the module's memory, but only one is active at a time. Switching between remembered phones takes a few seconds from the module menu.

Yes. Firmware updates are free and supplied as files with instructions. They are released when a vehicle platform receives a facelift or when a compatibility issue is reported and resolved.

Yes. Your installers can reach our engineers directly on WhatsApp for live installation help, wiring questions and troubleshooting. Standard response time is under 12 hours, usually much faster during business hours.

Every module carries a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects, with firmware support included for the life of the product line. Defective units are replaced, not repaired, to keep your install schedule on track.

No. The decoder follows the vehicle CAN-bus wake-up and sleep behaviour, so it powers down with the factory system. It draws no standby current once the vehicle network goes to sleep.

Stock modules start at 10 pcs, and you can mix different models and brands within that quantity. Private label (your logo, packaging and manual) starts at 100 pcs per model. Full OEM firmware customisation starts at 500 pcs.

Yes. From 100 pcs per model we apply your logo to the product, packaging, manual and warranty card. We can also produce custom retail boxes with your artwork, barcodes and Amazon FBA labels.

From 500 pcs we can deliver custom firmware user interfaces, bespoke boot logos, region-specific language packs and hardware revisions for a specific vehicle platform. Regional exclusivity can be discussed for committed volumes.

Send us your target vehicle list, quantities and market through the inquiry form or WhatsApp. We reply with a quotation within 12 hours, including volume tiers for 100, 500 and 1000+ pcs.

Existing models are supplied at sample cost, which is deductible from your first bulk order. Samples ship within 3 to 5 days by DHL or FedEx express.

Standard terms are 30% deposit with 70% balance before shipment by T/T. PayPal and Alibaba Trade Assurance are accepted for sample and small orders. Formal invoices and full export documentation are provided for every shipment.

Yes. We handle FBA prep including labelling, poly bagging, barcode application and carton marking, and we can ship directly to Amazon warehouses by air or sea.

Exclusivity is available for committed volumes and is negotiated per market and per product line. Tell us your country and expected annual volume and we will propose terms.

Stock models ship in 7 to 10 days after payment. Private label orders take 15 to 20 days for 500+ pcs depending on packaging artwork approval. Samples ship in 3 to 5 days.

Express couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) for samples and small orders, air freight for medium volumes and sea freight for container-level orders. We also ship directly to Amazon FBA warehouses on request.

Yes — commercial invoice, packing list, and certificates of origin or other documents required by your customs broker, issued for every international shipment.

Yes. We provide high-resolution product photography, installation videos, spec sheets and fitment tables you can use in your own listings and catalogues. Custom watermarked versions are available for private label partners.

Every module revision is bench-tested against the actual head unit it ships for, not a generic simulator. Wireless pairing stability, steering-wheel controls, factory microphone routing, reverse-camera trigger and OEM menu switching are verified per batch, with retained samples kept per production run.

Contact us with the model, batch and symptoms. If it is a covered manufacturing defect we ship a replacement, and our engineers will work with your installer to confirm the diagnosis before you remove the unit.

The decoder module, the vehicle-specific plug-and-play harness, a microphone where the platform requires one, cable ties, and a printed installation manual with a wiring diagram. Video guides are available online.

No coding is required. Firmware is preloaded per platform before shipment, so the module works as soon as the harness is connected.

No. The module operates as a passive interface on the infotainment bus and does not block diagnostic communication. Factory service tools continue to read the vehicle normally.

Apple iOS for CarPlay, Android for Android Auto, and HarmonyOS for Huawei HiCar. All three are supported wired and wirelessly on every module we manufacture.