A quick review of the Unique Auto Developments CarPlay upgrade...
Cost - (with credit card exchange fees - I'm in the US) $554.94
Vehicle - 2014 A6 Prestige with MMI
CarPlay version ordered - MMI-High; Wired version
It's important to note that I have AMI and do not have a touchscreen.
My goal in all of this was to have a hard-wired CarPlay option where you had to stuff your phone in the glove box but still had access to Waze, music and other phone features that make CarPlay so simple and appealing. I will have some new drivers in the house in the next few years and they will be driving this car on occasion. I want them to throw their phones in the glove box and not be distracted while driving, but still have access to directions, etc.
Installation instructions were spot on and they provided all the tools to install with the exception of a t-tap to connect power to the MMI wire on the CarPlay unit. Service was great as I had some wires come loose and had to trouble shoot some things on my end. Props to UAD as they responded quickly with great information (email communication). I did trip an airbag code because the car power popped on while I had some wires disconnected from the HVAC controls. Once back together I had to hook up my HexNet to clear the codes.
I also had to update the firmware on the CarPlay box. No big deal, but it would have been nice to have had that completed prior to delivery.
Functionally, it's okay. Because I have AMI, I am really limited to two channel audio quality (left and right input). The sound quality on the bluetooth connection is much better, however since I have AMI, I cannot get turn by turn direction from google maps or Waze to come through my speakers unless I choose the external input as my media connection which is the L/R option hooked up to the CarPlay through the provided AMI connection. This could be a limitation of the wired option...I just don't know because I don't have the wireless option.
Another drawback I noticed is shadowing MMI controls. What I mean by this is to access the CarPlay Menu, you have to press and hold the navigation button on your MMI control. Then you can use your MMI knob to control the CarPlay menu. However, your Audi doesn't know that you are in CarPlay as the CarPlay box manually overrides what is showing on your screen. So whatever scrolling you are doing in the CarPlay menu is actually happening on whatever menu is selected on your Audi menu as well but you just can't see it because visually you are looking at the CarPlay menu. The first night I had installed this I happened to be on the telephone Audi screen while in CarPlay. I had not switched off the bluetooth on my phone so I was still connected for hands free and music. I ended up calling 4 people late that evening when I thought I was choosing songs from my playlists while testing. This doesn't happen if your bluetooth is off. Part of the learning curve, and completely my fault, but something to be aware of.
I will be taking some long trips in the next couple of months so I will get to see how this performs using directions, making calls (which is also separate from Audi's handsfree bluetooth - you have to run a separate microphone up to the dome lights which is provided in the package), and listening to music. Perhaps my perception of the value of CarPlay will increase with extended and intended use.
Right now, my thoughts are, it's okay, but probably worth 1/2 of what I paid. Like I said, I hope my thoughts change after extended use, and coming up the learning curve a bit of the limitations of the options I selected.