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No Android Auto for '24 GT-R - Any Options?

9.8K views 98 replies 13 participants last post by  GTJake  
#1 ·
I have a '24 on order that is estimated to be delivered the end of next month. I know that the GT-R still does not have Android Auto capability. I know it has Apple Car Play but I'm not switching phones for that. Am I out of luck? Also, not looking to replace anything, such as putting in a T-Rex. Right now I use Android Auto mainly for Waze and Pandora. I did notice that with Nissan Connect there is Google Built-in. Does anyone know if the Waze app is included with that?
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I thought google was discontinuing android auto?
Does it have the google assistant driving mode?
I couldn’t see anywhere talking about any integration with third party mapping. Just Nissan mapping aside from CarPlay
I heard from my C8/E-Ray groups that GM planned to discontinue phone mirroring apps like Android Auto and Apple Car Play, ostensibly so it would be safer for drivers. Instead there will be Google Assistant. GM is also looking at subscription services that would be managed through the same vehicle interface. There's lot of money involved there, as well as a lot of data. In the end, as a consumer I just want to use something that gives me what I want, not what the car manufacturer wants or tries to push on me. With Nissan Connect and Google Assistant with my new GT-R, if it gives me the apps I want, then okay. If not, I'll be propping up my phone again with a holder.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Buy a cheap used iphone as a second phone with a cheap data plan just for the app utility maybe? A lot of people do this with the Valentine 1 that have iphones so they can run the V1 app that's android only.
That's a possibility. I'll wait until I get my '24 and see what is available to me, and may explore this option. By the way, I use the JBV1 app as a stand alone option, as I use the Uniden R7.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
You actually could do this and just use your android phone as the hotspot
I've several previous Android phones as a hot spot, but never while driving.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I use both iOS and Android devices with usage skewed more toward Android as my DD.

To keep the experience consistent between the DBA and EBA I forego any advanced connections with the MFD other than Bluetooth for audio and phone calls. I haven't bothered with CarPlay either and have found Waze cumbersome to use in previous cars that have had Android Auto as an option.

Instead, I went the phone mount/holders route for each car since the phone is still a critical interface needed for Dragy, Ecutek, or managing the V1.

iIRC I don't believe the GTR supports Google Assistant through their app;.only Ariya and their newer products. The features in the app are very limited.
Thanks for the insights. As I said I'll have to wait until I take delivery and play around with what's available to me. I'm sure I'll just find the best mount for my Fold 5 and use that for what the Nissan infotainment system does not provide.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·

I reached to them about that product. They offered me something they don't have in their website. They sent me like a PayPal invoice for me to pay. I never bought it anyway lol
I've never understood why anyone would want to watch movies/TV shows while driving. I guess for the benefit of the passenger(s) but at the same time it would be just one more way to distract drivers. I mean, you do your thing, and I do mine, I say. But when it comes to endangering other drivers and their passengers on the road, that has to take priority over someone's need to be entertained while driving.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
I didn't care about watching movies... i just want android auto... and they send me something like that (saying they don't advertise it on their website)

That way you could run android like factory
Thank you. Not saying you watch videos while driving, but I know people do. Anymore people want to be entertained, even if it makes them less attentive to other vehicles and traffic awareness. As far as having Android Auto, I'll see what happens after I get my '24. I like Waze for accident reporting and diverting me to avoid them if possible, as well as police sightings. I also use JBV1 in standalone mode (R7 radar detector).
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
My Macan (daily driver) only has Apple Car Play, but I use this device to run Android Auto:

It tricks the car's head unit into thinking its getting a Car Play signal. I have no idea if this would work in a GTR, but it could be worth checking out or at least seeing if something similar could work. Nissan hasn't really changed their head unit tech in forever so I have to think someone has already come up with a similar device.
I just picked up my '24 Premium and I may go this route, but first I would check with the seller to confirm returns, in case the unit won't work with a GT-R.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
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Discussion starter · #20 ·
I would purchase via Amazon just in case.
That's what I'm going to do, as I gave my wife this as a Father's Day hint, ha-ha. I also heard from the company and they said not only that they have a 30-day return policy, but claim that it will work well on the GT-R. But some Nissan models already already have Android Auto. My wife bought a new '24 Murano the same day I picked up my GT-R, and it has Android Auto. I don't know why Nissan doesn't offer Android Auto for the GT-R, but if this product works, it will be worth it to me.
 
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Discussion starter · #21 ·
UPDATE: I received the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay USB adapter by Smart World as a Father's Day gift. It pretty much worked right out of the box, after pairing from my phone via Bluetooth. I haven't used it much except for Waze and Pandora. It's about the size of a credit card and plug into one of the two USB ports inside the center console. So far, so good.
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Discussion starter · #23 ·
I'm glad it worked for you!
Thanks. One has to be patient with this. When you start your car you have to wait for Apple Carplay to start. After that you wait until it recognizes your USB device. Then connect to your Android phone, and finally Android Auto comes up. I don't know why Nissan just didn't include Android Auto. My wife's '24 Murano has both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also I'm still trying to figure out the instructions on updating the firmware for the Smartplay USB adapter, because it says if everything is working fine, don't update it. But being in cybersecurity, I'm a big believer in not leaving any code static.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
If it ain’t broke… don’t fix it 😁
And no sooner did I post yesterday, and I couldn't get the Smart World USB adapter for Android Auto to connect to Apply Carplay. Apple Carplay would repeatedly try to come up but wouldn't find the connected USB device. I tried disconnecting the device several times, and fiddling around with Android Auto on my phone, to no avail. Sometimes the issue is after Apple Carplay starts, there is an apparent issue with getting Android Auto to display on my GT-R's display. Prior to this the Smart World USB device worked pretty good. Now back to the drawing board.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
OMG seriously?! lol

Well I hope you get it sorted out.
I tried it out a short while ago. After starting up the car, I got the message that Apple Carplay failed to start. Then I looked down at the Smart World USB device and saw the indicator lights change from power on to AA connected. Then Waze and Pandora came up. Weird.
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
Just drove my 2024 Premium home. Read this thread last week and ordered the Smart World adapter. Setup this device in the dealer parking lot and it worked great the whole ride home. Then when I shut the car off and came back. It will not work. "Failed to start Apple Carplay". No matter what I did. Anyone figure anything out?
I share your frustration. I've had a few days of driving where Apple Carplay connected to the USB device, found my Android Auto on my phone, then it came up on the head unit. Then other times Carplay would fail to start. I would remove the cable and plug it back in and nothing. Only to come back the next day and have it work. I'm living with it for now, though for something that cost, what, $150 or $175, you would expect it to work each and every time. But I can live with it work most of the time, as opposed to not having Android Auto on my display at all. Have you tried contacting the company? I read something in their little user manual that instructed you to connect to some IP address and send logs. I would have no idea where my phone's data would be going. China? Certainly the company can provide better technical support.
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
UPDATE: As the OP I wanted to let everyone know what's going on with the Smart World USB adapter. The past three or four times I drove my GT-R I could NOT get Android Auto on my phone to display on the head unit. This is after disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable several times, and as well powering off and back on. The same thing is happening, which is Apple Carplay tries to start and connect to the USB device, but then fails. I have turned off Bluetooth and back on several times as well. My Android phone (Flip5) is being recognized by the Nissan system itself, because I can take and make calls, as well as texts. But I just can't get Apple Carplay to connect to the device. I'm going to try once more today but if I still can't connect, I will contact the manufacturer to see if they have any solution. If not, refund time.
 
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Discussion starter · #36 · (Edited)
Sometimes the car gets confused about which device to connect to on startup. Have you tried deleting your phone from car's head unit? Then let it re-establish the connection via the USB adapter. Worth giving it a shot.
I have no other device connected to the car. And when I start up my car, the Nissan Connect system immediately recognizes a connection to my Android phone via Bluetooth. Yes, I have deleted my phone from the Nissan system and readded it. No luck. The problem occurs when Apply Carplay tries to connect to the USB device and fails to start. I just wish the Smart World USB device was more consistent. I could put up with the inconsistency if it was something I only paid $25, $30 or so. But for $150 it should perform much better.
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
I tried everything. Forgetting all BT and defaulting Smart World device. Still failed until I let it try to connect for almost 15min. Then it finally made it though and started. Got gas. Started the car up and it failed again. I returned it. I did however pick up two other devices that may work from what I read using Amazon reviews and what not. I'll report back soon. Amazon just dropped them off.
Please let me know. I just tried again and the device didn't work, so I again removed my phone from my GT-R's bluetooth devices, as well as the Smart World USB dongle. My phone connected immediately to Nissan Connect but once again Apple CarPlay failed to start, because it couldn't connect to the device. I also noticed on my phone that Android Auto was searching for Android Auto (on my car) but not finding it. Please let me know what these products are that you found. I also just emailed Smart World Customer Support to explain what's going on, and if they could help. Otherwise I will request a refund. Same thing, the device may connect and I'll have Android Auto on my head unit. But then I stop somewhere, and when I return to my car it won't start Apple CarPlay to connect to the USB device.
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
No go brother. They were Carlinkit 4.0 and 5.0 devices. 5.0 smdidnt do anything when plugged in. 4.0 boot loops trying to start Carplay. Back to the drawing board.
I really don't understand why Nissan only includes Apple CarPlay on the GT-R, but includes that plus Android Auto on my wife's '24 Murano. Perhaps a lot more GT-R owners have iPhones than Android? Even so, what is the business case for not including Android Auto on the GT-R? I know GM plans to remove both on their new vehicles and offer instead its Google subscription. At this point we're probably out of luck, since the GT-R is going bye-bye, other than that after market head unit replacements. But I'm very concerned about replacing the head unit on a car I've only owned a month.
 
Discussion starter · #42 ·
Yup. I'm going to write Nissan corporate an email about how stupid they are for not giving us a simple update to allow it. I bought the GT-R assuming it had tbh. "No way this car doesn't have that." And the salesman advertised it as having both. Just saying.
I wish it was just a simple update to add Android Auto. And who knows, maybe it is? Maybe your letting Nissan know your displeasure may induce a change. If you do contact them, let me know and I'll follow suit.