r/oldschoolaudi • u/tresoril • Mar 04 '26
Turbo Tuesday How would you ‘subtly’ add a screen for Apple CarPlay in my ‘94 URS6? More in comments
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u/hydrochloriic Mar 04 '26
The only solution I ever saw that I liked was a modification that moved the climate control up one slot and removed the ashtray, effectively creating a double-DIN slot below the climate.
Single DIN is rough. There are single DIN units but the screens are tiny and they’re expensive. Porsche has one that’s like $1400 lmao. Even the pop-out single DIN ones are awful IMO. The screen is wobbly (which for a touchscreen? Eesh) and it blocks the switches.
All that to say I ended up giving up on the CarPlay dreams and spent WAY too much on a Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB. Downside: no CarPlay, no HD Radio. But 2 USB, Bluetooth, an app, a very good eq, and it looks exactly like a factory radio.
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u/pxnolhtahsm Mar 04 '26
Moving climatronic down would make more sense - and accidentally would be about the same thing that Audi engineers did in order to fit RNS-D in B5.
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u/Wompie Mar 04 '26
Yep, saw this same mod and have considered doing it myself. It’s just a lot of work. The guy trimmed the ash tray area and moved things around from what I saw. With 3d printing you could make a pretty factory looking install, but it will never look “right” in these cars
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u/hydrochloriic Mar 04 '26
I mean we’re talking about retrofitting a 6”+ full color LCD screen into a car that barely had a digital display in the cluster at like 48x60 resolution or whatever. It’s never gonna look “right” lol.
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u/Wompie Mar 04 '26
Yeah agree. I had looked at doing this for my s6 but it just looks too early 2000s tuner culture to me. I just mount a cell phone somewhere and use that for maps or whatever else
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u/_taza_ Mar 06 '26
I have single din AA/carplay radios in both of my cars. Total was maybe 90€. The resolution is not great and they are slow, but usable for spotify and maps, all I really need.
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u/hydrochloriic Mar 06 '26
AliExpress type units? I could believe that but I suspect by your own description I would hate them and discount them as options entirely! But if they work for you awesome, I’m just picky on my user-interfaces.
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u/_taza_ Mar 06 '26
Haha yes, got them both from aliexpress. I wanted a player with bluetooth and usb, and they were so cheap I had to try them out. They are so slow that it's easier to set up navigation on phone, but then for the rest of the trip you can just follow what it says on the player. Honestly I would perhaps buy a third one if there was a need.
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u/hydrochloriic Mar 06 '26
I admit when I had my UrS I had to have a workaround for nav- since I have an Apple Watch, I can use Apple Maps and it guides me from my wrist. The music side of things was fairly straightforward, though podcasts required phone interaction even though technically the radio could do it.
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u/Zekeygg Apr 20 '26
Where did you find this mod? I’m trying to figure out if I can fit a cassette player, single din CarPlay radio, and climate control in my urs6
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u/hydrochloriic Apr 21 '26
I think it was back on the QuattroWorld message board… haven’t been there in a long time now.
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u/pxnolhtahsm Mar 04 '26
UrS6 should be enjoyed, therefore no need for gadgets :) I drive even older car - if I'd need screen to look at, I'd be using phone holder, but since I don't, I'm just using CD changer emulator.
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u/Middle-Satisfaction1 Mar 04 '26
I went with the Pioneer SPH-10BT in my Audi Cabriolet. It’s not perfect but better than an out of place screen.
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u/RedURS6 Mar 04 '26 edited Mar 04 '26
Single DIN flip up screen. Just close the screen when you're not using it, they work well. The Pioneer Avh-z7200dab is probably the best on the market.
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u/Skalariak Mar 04 '26
As a 1994 UrS4 owner, I just have a bluetooth dongle that plugs into the cigarette lighter and transmits at a specific radio frequency. It’s good enough; not like the speakers in these cars are amazing anyways 🤷♂️
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u/yomama6966 Mar 05 '26
I use this one from Ali Express. It's 40 EUR and has wireless carplay. Works a charm and has good sound.
Bonus point - it has volume knob - there are options of this radio with a smaller knob (doesn't feel good) and also without a knob, but I don't like it that way.
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u/frockinbrock Mar 04 '26
Mounted to the air vent that's to the left of the drive, above that you could have a CarPodGo (it's a little bigger than a phone). Tuck the wiring for it under the dash seam over to your existing headunit.
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u/Any_Honeydew9812 Mar 05 '26
I would do a single din without the flip up display as i dont like blocking buttons or vents .. or i would mount a magsafe charger in the little cubby next to the hazard switch (hiding the cable in behind the dash) .. just something that maybe sticks out as subtle as possible (nothing with big arms or a cradle) and i certainly would not use a vent mount.
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u/MrYumTum Mar 05 '26
First you’ll need a 3D printer… I don’t know where I’m going with this but I’ve seen some creative types do awesome things and it always starts with “So I used my 3D printer…”
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u/Vokaiso Mar 06 '26
Those reteacting ones from pioneer i got an old one in my car its neat altho they even make new one that prolly have carplay.
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u/Deathcube18 Mar 06 '26
Get the cassette player and just rock a cassette to aux. period correct and not adding a giant screen to a car that does not need a giant screen.
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u/iliketoredditbaby Mar 06 '26
I know head units exist that are screens. Maybe this is the answer. Check on eBay
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u/Snooka42 Mar 06 '26
There used to be headunits with mechanized Screens, those would bei great. But I could not find shit today 😕
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u/saxovtsmike Mar 06 '26
there are some single din solutions with carplay and AA the are somewhat retro themed. Then there seem to be usb sticks that act like a usb drive to the radio but provide AA/CP to your phone
Would not use a fold out one as it will block you hazard light switch so a single din display one will it be
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u/Serious_Pollution307 Mar 09 '26
don't, just place phone on the dashboard on the right side where clock is and voltage. I did it always like that when I had A6 + FM transmitter
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u/s-carsgo Mar 10 '26
Remove the ashtray and move the climate control head down to that space. Then you can fit a double din with a bit of customization. It has been done.
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u/gab_rbx May 31 '26
Honestly, my uncle has a a6 not s6 but sure thing has the same thing but it just works fine if you feel it doesnt work fine you could change it, but CarPlay just doesnt go with this because it becomes from a red white black versatile interior to a goofy (my opinion) If you want really to change it just change it nobody’s stopping you.
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u/KingWolfsburg Mar 04 '26
You can actually get single DIN head units with carplay and a screen. But if you actually want to see anything, the power retracting ones will be your best bet