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Damn, sorry to hear tomscot2.
I thankfully managed to have better luck.
Andream MMI box came in a week or 2:
Came with a cable harness for USB + custom front/rev cameras, one for the display, one for the radio unit + power, one for the wireless antenna, and two CAN power cables for alternative setups to mine (I just needed the radio + power one).
Armed with a panel removal tool, socket set and a screw driver, my mate and I went at it.
We followed BeatSonic's assembly guide for their unit to take apart whatever was needed to access the back of the radio (
), back of the display and behind the glove box. After that point, I followed the wiring diagram from ewaygps.com (linked here for the interested)
I didn't need to install the power cable, nor the extra cable marked "do not connect" down the bottom. tomscot2, the additional instructions you got were likely the backup instructions for when method 1 (the above) doesn't work, which is what utilises that extra cable for an extra CAN signal. The USB cable was routed behind the glove box and the airbag. The antenna was mounted just to the left of the aircon vent, above the cavity behind the glove box.
With all that done, just had to turn the car on and boom - working.
Held the Menu button to switch it over to the box interface, which had the same options as the Carlinkit boxes, but in a carousel style navigation instead (forgot to take a pic, feel free to ask for one if curious). Switched on right hand drive, switched the control to "rocker" or whatever it was called (painfully... the default is touch screen mode and lets just say its awkward to nagivate in it lol) and left the rest as is. Last step was to plug in the USB cable into my phone, and go to the WiredAuto option. Took a sec but it connected and paired up. Once this was done, it automatically paired wirelessly too so I just tucked the USB cable away under the foot mat since I don't need it.
Now when I start the car, the phone connects to the factory bluetooth, then to the Andream box which triggers it to switch to controls/display over to Android Auto. Not bad at all.
The mouse input is simplified to left/right/up/down, which works as usual in Android Auto if you've used that before. Wheel controls appear to work as indicated in the manual. Audio levels seem a bit weird, but I think I need to fiddle with the various levels in the box settings to get that fixed up.
Switching to reverse kicks in the stock reverse camera, calls get answered by stock Bluetooth but the awkward thing is I have to switch to factory to see who's calling... unavoidable but a bit of a pain. Changing climate does not make it switch back to factory to see what you're doing either, will try and enquire with them if there's we can do anything about it.
Happy to answer any questions anyone has about the box!
Awesome and timely thread. Just purchased a 2016 ES350 last weekend for my wife. Today I ordered the kit from Andream. Lets see how long it takes me to get it in TX.
Damn, sorry to hear tomscot2.
I thankfully managed to have better luck.
Andream MMI box came in a week or 2:
Came with a cable harness for USB + custom front/rev cameras, one for the display, one for the radio unit + power, one for the wireless antenna, and two CAN power cables for alternative setups to mine (I just needed the radio + power one).
Armed with a panel removal tool, socket set and a screw driver, my mate and I went at it.
We followed BeatSonic's assembly guide for their unit to take apart whatever was needed to access the back of the radio (linked here for the interested), back of the display and behind the glove box. After that point, I followed the wiring diagram from ewaygps.com (linked here for the interested)
I didn't need to install the power cable, nor the extra cable marked "do not connect" down the bottom. tomscot2, the additional instructions you got were likely the backup instructions for when method 1 (the above) doesn't work, which is what utilises that extra cable for an extra CAN signal. The USB cable was routed behind the glove box and the airbag. The antenna was mounted just to the left of the aircon vent, above the cavity behind the glove box.
With all that done, just had to turn the car on and boom - working.
Held the Menu button to switch it over to the box interface, which had the same options as the Carlinkit boxes, but in a carousel style navigation instead (forgot to take a pic, feel free to ask for one if curious). Switched on right hand drive, switched the control to "rocker" or whatever it was called (painfully... the default is touch screen mode and lets just say its awkward to nagivate in it lol) and left the rest as is. Last step was to plug in the USB cable into my phone, and go to the WiredAuto option. Took a sec but it connected and paired up. Once this was done, it automatically paired wirelessly too so I just tucked the USB cable away under the foot mat since I don't need it.
Now when I start the car, the phone connects to the factory bluetooth, then to the Andream box which triggers it to switch to controls/display over to Android Auto. Not bad at all.
The mouse input is simplified to left/right/up/down, which works as usual in Android Auto if you've used that before. Wheel controls appear to work as indicated in the manual. Audio levels seem a bit weird, but I think I need to fiddle with the various levels in the box settings to get that fixed up.
Switching to reverse kicks in the stock reverse camera, calls get answered by stock Bluetooth but the awkward thing is I have to switch to factory to see who's calling... unavoidable but a bit of a pain. Changing climate does not make it switch back to factory to see what you're doing either, will try and enquire with them if there's we can do anything about it.
Happy to answer any questions anyone has about the box!
Is this the same as the Carlinkit one? Just another copy? Looks like you got it working great!
Is this the same as the Carlinkit one? Just another copy? Looks like you got it working great!
They're at least sharing parts of firmware if not the entirety of it. The hardware is very similar, but I'm pretty sure I flicked different DIP switches compared to the Carlinkit threads that people posted so its not literally the same box.
I would go with the assumption that it's functionally equivalent but not necessary the exact same box, at least from my vague recollection of the thread you linked earlier.
They linked me to a newer version of the firmware (L_V1.6.6_n), that was a bit snappier and changed a couple quirks (for the better imo):
Pressing Menu in AA mode doesn't send it back to box menu, double tapping Home does instead
Holding menu to switch from factory to the box doesn't kick you back to the menu like it used to, instead straight to where you were in AA
Box menu navigation is now faster
There's a new settings option that was titled something about what the Menu/Back button did in AA mode, but it didn't really seem to do anything useful? And it made the Home button not work like it used to in AA mode so I left it off.
Yea.. not sure what else they changed. It didn't do anything regarding showing climate when you try and change fan speed and such like the Beatsonic box does, but we'll see I guess.
I also agree that the BeatSonic is the way to go! I installed it myself for my 2018 Lexus ES300H and it worked great! I think the resolution is slightly off, but not enough to bother me.
If anyone is in the market for a Beat Sonic unit for the Gen 6 ES300h, let me know! I ended up selling my car to CarMax and now I have the BeatSonic unit I'm trying to sell in the DMV (DC, MD, VA) area!
I also agree that the BeatSonic is the way to go! I installed it myself for my 2018 Lexus ES300H and it worked great! I think the resolution is slightly off, but not enough to bother me.
If anyone is in the market for a Beat Sonic unit for the Gen 6 ES300h, let me know! I ended up selling my car to CarMax and now I have the BeatSonic unit I'm trying to sell in the DMV (DC, MD, VA) area!
What are the pros and cons compared to MMI?
I'm reading that BestSonic connects to Aux and not Bluetooth.
I have had this module installed and working great for Apple CarPlay and iphone integration. No regrets there.
However, I am trying to incorporate a front camera and its not working the way i want it to. I have been discussing back and forth with the Andream support, but the language barrier is such that we arent getting far.
I have the front camera working, but the issue is that you have to go into the menu on the Andream unit and select camera instead of it just coming on when I power the switch. See video
These are the connections on the Andream module:
-12v ACC (red) power to the camera
-Ground (black)
- CVBS in for front camera - video in
-CVBS in for rear camera - video in
-12v rear camera (yellow) - unused
- BACK/reverse detect (purple)
I have tried to utilize the rear camera input and the purple wire to trigger the module, however, it does not work correctly. It came on for a second and then goes back off. I am thinking it has something to do with the fact that i utilize the factory back-up camera, but im not sure.
Any other ideas you gurus can think of that i can try to make this thing work with the switch?
I also agree that the BeatSonic is the way to go! I installed it myself for my 2018 Lexus ES300H and it worked great! I think the resolution is slightly off, but not enough to bother me.
If anyone is in the market for a Beat Sonic unit for the Gen 6 ES300h, let me know! I ended up selling my car to CarMax and now I have the BeatSonic unit I'm trying to sell in the DMV (DC, MD, VA) area!
Im interested and in Virginia. How much are you looking to get out of it? You can contact me at seven five seven eight one four five seven zero nine
Damn, sorry to hear tomscot2.
I thankfully managed to have better luck.
Andream MMI box came in a week or 2:
Came with a cable harness for USB + custom front/rev cameras, one for the display, one for the radio unit + power, one for the wireless antenna, and two CAN power cables for alternative setups to mine (I just needed the radio + power one).
Armed with a panel removal tool, socket set and a screw driver, my mate and I went at it.
We followed BeatSonic's assembly guide for their unit to take apart whatever was needed to access the back of the radio (linked here for the interested), back of the display and behind the glove box. After that point, I followed the wiring diagram from ewaygps.com (linked here for the interested)
I didn't need to install the power cable, nor the extra cable marked "do not connect" down the bottom. tomscot2, the additional instructions you got were likely the backup instructions for when method 1 (the above) doesn't work, which is what utilises that extra cable for an extra CAN signal. The USB cable was routed behind the glove box and the airbag. The antenna was mounted just to the left of the aircon vent, above the cavity behind the glove box.
With all that done, just had to turn the car on and boom - working.
Held the Menu button to switch it over to the box interface, which had the same options as the Carlinkit boxes, but in a carousel style navigation instead (forgot to take a pic, feel free to ask for one if curious). Switched on right hand drive, switched the control to "rocker" or whatever it was called (painfully... the default is touch screen mode and lets just say its awkward to nagivate in it lol) and left the rest as is. Last step was to plug in the USB cable into my phone, and go to the WiredAuto option. Took a sec but it connected and paired up. Once this was done, it automatically paired wirelessly too so I just tucked the USB cable away under the foot mat since I don't need it.
Now when I start the car, the phone connects to the factory bluetooth, then to the Andream box which triggers it to switch to controls/display over to Android Auto. Not bad at all.
The mouse input is simplified to left/right/up/down, which works as usual in Android Auto if you've used that before. Wheel controls appear to work as indicated in the manual. Audio levels seem a bit weird, but I think I need to fiddle with the various levels in the box settings to get that fixed up.
Switching to reverse kicks in the stock reverse camera, calls get answered by stock Bluetooth but the awkward thing is I have to switch to factory to see who's calling... unavoidable but a bit of a pain. Changing climate does not make it switch back to factory to see what you're doing either, will try and enquire with them if there's we can do anything about it.
Happy to answer any questions anyone has about the box!
Which switches do.you have down?
My mouse isn't working on my 2014. Tried both methods.
