Phoned and explained what you put. He laughed as that seems to be it, the new box should bypass the existing one, which he didn't do (minimal instructions in the box didn't make this obvious).

I'll drop the car in on Wednesday morning for him to redo it, so fingers crossed that's all it is. Cheers again and I'll update either way later in the week 🙂 

Like this (shows different module, but wiring is the same).

Click image to enlarge

You're awesome 👍🏻

20 minutes for him to swap the cable around so it plugs directly in, and tidy it back up, it's now working perfectly.

Only connected my phone, played music, and tried the navigation on a quick 10 minute journey, but it seems like a fantastic bit of kit.

I've owned the Freelander for 6½ years and had been debating replacing it for something else, but I couldn't decide what as I love the size and capabilities of it. So this media upgrade - despite the screen not being the biggest, or having the highest resolution - definitely helps modernise it a touch!

Will explore more of the settings/use it more in the next week or so.

Thanks again for the pointer in the right direction 🙂 

Glad you got it sorted.

Definitely feels like a worthwhile upgrade, especially as JLR are no longer updating maps (or anything else) for the Freelander.

christopher wrote:

Will explore more of the settings/use it more in the next week or so.

For the most part, it's fantastic.

My experience is with a Google Pixel 7 (Android Auto).

If I plug the device in with a cable, it connects and works 100% of the time.

Using wireless (Bluetooth) and it's occasionally intermittent, although it works >9 times out of 10.

It's definitely the box, as the phone connects to the car perfectly every time (it uses the car's Bluetooth connection for the music/audio).

My only minor annoyance, and it's genuinely minor, is that if I walk up to the car and unlock it, perhaps to grab something out of the boot without actually getting in/starting it etc. Because there's power to the box, my phone tries to connect and therefore starts playing music (Spotify) from the phone speaker, because I've got it set to autoconnect. Lock the car and walk away, and your phone continues playing music.

That's being super picky, and really the only negative I can say. I'd definitely recommend it. Having Spotify and Waze on the middle screen is awesome 👍🏻 

Many thanks for your feedback. In fact I’ve pulled the trigger on the one on Aliexpress from CARABC. At just over a hundred quid plus VAT it’s a quarter of the price you’d pay from a UK based supplier of what is, I am sure, the same thing.

These devices that interpose themselves into the car's system always seem to have some inevitable quirks - the system I fitted to my Disco Sport has its idiosyncrasies as did the Xtrons one I fitted to my FL2 a couple of years ago. But on balance, well worth it.

Thanks again

Mine is the CARABC model from AliExpress. Fyi I got stung with import duty... despite paying VAT/TAX on the time of sale. AliExpress said they'd refund me but never did. 

Hmmm … interesting! Thanks for the warning.

Well, the unit I ordered from CARABC last Sunday arrived today, Saturday, just six days later. That’s really quite impressive. And no import taxes or charges. 👍 I hope the installation goes as smoothly as the purchase and delivery. I’ll report back in due course.

That's great news! Mine took a bit over two weeks (but it's okay; they provided a £1 voucher for use on my next purchase as a way of saying sorry for missing the 5-day delivery 🙄).

Fingers crossed for an easy install 🤞 

Thanks! I found this video of a CARABC install and it doesn’t look too bad - ?si=j7vRSVHdATGRwzRT - no worse than my Xtrons install in my FL2 a couple of years ago. 🤞