Hello,

I'm planning to add Apple CarPlay and a rear-view camera to my 2014 Audi A6. The CarPlay part seems pretty straightforward, but I'm not sure how the camera integration works.

I'd love for the camera to work just like the factory ones with dynamic guidelines and that proper OEM feel. The CarPlay unit I'm looking at says it supports reverse cameras, so I figure I wouldn't need a separate module for just the camera.

What I'm wondering is how these aftermarket CarPlay units usually handle the rear camera display. Do they show their own camera interface when you reverse, or do they just switch back to the original Audi MMI camera system?

If they go back to the original MMI view, I guess I'd need to enable the camera through VCDS and maybe calibrate it with that special mat thing?

But if the CarPlay unit does the camera stuff itself, I'm not really sure how good or accurate it would be, especially with things like the dynamic guidelines or judging distances.

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

Which carplay unit are you looking at fitting?

I fitted one from AliExpress to my Q5 when I first got it. The reversing camera just connected into the carplay unit and the carplay unit displayed everything on the cars oem screen, including all the reversing lines, and worked really well without any need for calibrations or VCDS coding.

I've found this unit and this camera. The CarPlay units all look the same to me with just a different branding, but I am open to recommendations. Did you also retrofit the camera oder was it preinstalled?

That's pretty much exactly what I put in my Q5, carplay unit and camera.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001100606264.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.172.16c018027OZuyF

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007387471729.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.167.16c018027OZuyF

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005604388149.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.152.16c018027OZuyF

But like you say, they're probably all the same with a different branding on it.

 

 

The carplay unit was really easy to intall, just unplug the cables from the screen and climate control units and plug in the new carplay harness between the car loom and the screen and climate controls. Camera was a little harder having to run the RCA cable from the boot lid but it just tucked under most of the trim.

Once all fitted it worked straight away, no calibrations or coding required. Seller did email me an up to date firmware as well.

I also fitted a front camera which would show after selecting Drive after Reversing, or by holding down the "back up" button on the centre console controls.

 

I'd still have it fitted now but I missed a touchscreen so replaced it with this - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007550883275.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.56.16c018027OZuyF

Edited July 25, 2025Jul 25 by Mark M.

Just remembered, I did have a problem with the rear camera. It's voltage range was very limited, so it worked with the engine off but as soon as the engine was running the alternator was pushing the voltage up to high for the camera to cope and it would shut down.

I ended up fitting a voltage regulator between the reversing lights and the camera to keep the voltage low enough.

 

Thanks for all that. Did you then cut the wires for one of the parking lines and also for 1080p, as shown in the product images?

The camera I got and the instructions for it didn't match (totally different colour wires) so I ended up having to try different combinations to get the image how I wanted it. Fairly certain I turned OFF the reversing lines built into the camera though as the carplay unit displays dynamic reversing lines itself.

Thanks for your help so far. I installed my RoadTop unit yesterday (the camera is still in transit) and it seems to work fine. However, I was a bit confused about the Bluetooth setup. The manual says I should disconnect from the MMI, then enable “Use Car BT Channel” in the CarPlay settings, and finally reconnect to the MMI.
For now I simply connect to the CarPlay unit’s Bluetooth and it seems to work fine, except that the microphone fails to work about nine times out of ten. I am using the car’s built-in microphone, not the external one. Do you remember exactly how you set up the Bluetooth connection and whether you had any issues with sound or the microphone?

From what I remember, I connected my phones Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to the carplay unit and that was it, my unit never had  an external mic.

I think the way the manual describes it, your phone is connecting to the MMi then being piggybacked to the carplay unit. As I was using Android Auto for music, calls and messaging (not any of the cars built in Bluetooth features, or it's voice control) there was no need for me to do it that way.

Have you tried it with the "use Car BT Channel" switched off?

Hi, just wondering if you think the unit was worthwhile now you’ve had it installed for a while?  I’ve got the MMI with Bluetooth audio and rear camera the nav on which is good enough for 90% of my trips,  but the lack of dynamic traffic and the ability to set a location from my phone is a bit inconvenient, hence considering one of these modules… I’m just not sure if it’s really worth it? I’d love to know your thoughts.  Thanks.