Hamilton Motor Company CarPlay kit

[JeffH]

Anyone try this unit yet?

2016-2021 Lexus LX570 Hamilton Upgrade Kit for CarPlay® and Android Auto™

Our 2016-2021 Lexus LX570 Hamilton Upgrade Kit for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will make your Lexus LX570 feel like a brand new vehicle. This kit will completely transform the infotainment system on your 2016-2021 Lexus LX570. Our interface kit installs under your factory center console and...

www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com

Picking up a 2020 next week to replace my 2010 and thinking about a Carplay module addition.

 

[DanielW]

Anyone try this unit yet?

2016-2021 Lexus LX570 Hamilton Upgrade Kit for CarPlay® and Android Auto™

Our 2016-2021 Lexus LX570 Hamilton Upgrade Kit for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will make your Lexus LX570 feel like a brand new vehicle. This kit will completely transform the infotainment system on your 2016-2021 Lexus LX570. Our interface kit installs under your factory center console and...

www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com

Picking up a 2020 next week to replace my 2010 and thinking about a Carplay module addition.

Looks interesting. Not even a single review on their website though.

 

[Wafflroo]

I’ve got it in our 2017 lx. Works great. There is a thread on here about it.

 

[Fisher23]

I just installed this today. It's working.

 

[TNLNDCRZR]

Just installed a couple weeks ago. But I’ve developed a 1-2 second lag. For example, when I press play in music, it delays. There’s also a delay on phone calls. Has anyone else experienced this? Any solutions?

 

[HighRanch]

I just installed this today. It's working.

How difficult is the install...is there a video that support the process?

 

[Fisher23]

How difficult is the install...is there a video that support the process?

It's about 1.5 hours or that is what it took me.

 

[Valgrind]

Does OnX work on it? I haven't gotten it to work great on other new cars with car play... so might be their fault

 

[Fisher23]

Does OnX work on it? I haven't gotten it to work great on other new cars with car play... so might be their fault

The OnX app opened up. I didn't test all the features but it did show up and open up. I don't use it so I didn't test it.

GAIA opened up and showed the map but the options that show in the lower left corner for map overlay etc.. did not show up. To change these options you had to change them on the phone and then they would change on the display. The other controls like zoom in and out could be controled by the NAV screen.

 

[davehamilton]

It's about 1.5 hours or that is what it took me.
You have to remove the NAV unit and the control below the NAV unit.
That is lots of pop off that panel and hope the clips do not break.
The wire connections are easy even without any instructions.

BUT

I would give this unit a 3 out of 10.

Getting the wireless connection to work is really tricky.
Getting the wired connection to work is also tricky.

Then ONLY about 1/4 of your apps will show on the screen and be usable.

Apps working that I wanted are Music, and Mapping.
on-x, GAIA both work. and show topo maps well on the NAV screen.
Music apps like Musicolet and Spotify and others work well.
The phone apps work.
Sound works good.

ARB and Dometic Fridge controls do not show and do not work with this.
Renogy solar does not work work with this.
Starlink app also does not work with this.
Mapping apps ae very blurry and resolution sucks. They work but the resolution if poor.

Bottom line:
Maps and Music work,
Even LESS apps work using an iphone vs an Android. I tested both.
Their tech support is good if you can get a hold of them.

3 out of 10 as the install is not documented .. and the "setup" took me at least 3 hours after the install, and I'm a tech guy.
plus most apps did not work.
I would not recommend this unit.

PLUS the maps were low resolution and blurry.
Plus the apps are SLOW and not "snappy" as advertized.

I tried another car play before and it had apps and good resolution but it was quirky.

This one is likely going back, mostly because mapping resolution sucks.

It's about 1.5 hours or that is what it took me.
You have to remove the NAV unit and the control below the NAV unit.
That is lots of pop off that panel and hope the clips do not break.
The wire connections are easy even without any instructions.

BUT

I would give this unit a 3 out of 10.

Getting the wireless connection to work is really tricky.
Getting the wired connection to work is also tricky.

Then ONLY about 1/4 of your apps will show on the screen and be usable.

Apps working that I wanted are Music, and Mapping.
on-x, GAIA both work. and show topo maps well on the NAV screen.
Music apps like Musicolet and Spotify and others work well.
The phone apps work.
Sound works good.

ARB and Dometic Fridge controls do not show and do not work with this.
Renogy solar does not work work with this.
Starlink app also does not work with this.
Mapping apps ae very blurry and resolution sucks. They work but the resolution if poor.

Bottom line:
Maps and Music work,
Even LESS apps work using an iphone vs an Android. I tested both.
Their tech support is good if you can get a hold of them.

3 out of 10 as the install is not documented .. and the "setup" took me at least 3 hours after the install, and I'm a tech guy.
plus most apps did not work.
I would not recommend this unit.

PLUS the maps were low resolution and blurry.
Plus the apps are SLOW and not "snappy" as advertized.

I tried another car play before and it had apps and good resolution but it was quirky.

This one is likely going back, mostly because mapping resolution sucks.

We have a lot of folks who really like our interface units for all version of LC200 and LX. I have one in my 4Runner and have installed quite a few in various Land Cruisers for our customers.

Your review of our product is a bit harsh. Even if you don’t like it, we have a no questions asked free 30-day return policy. We also have a 3-yr warranty.

We have a full installation video on our YouTube channel (Hamilton Motor Company). We also have an overview video of the device.

We cannot control which apps have an Apple CarPlay component. Unfortunately not every iPhone app has a CarPlay version.

You can call our tech support M-F 9a-5p and I routinely assist customers also via text message or FaceTime, even well after hours. Our tech support is here to help customers anytime.

 

[kruza007]

Anyone try this unit yet?

2016-2021 Lexus LX570 Hamilton Upgrade Kit for CarPlay® and Android Auto™

Our 2016-2021 Lexus LX570 Hamilton Upgrade Kit for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will make your Lexus LX570 feel like a brand new vehicle. This kit will completely transform the infotainment system on your 2016-2021 Lexus LX570. Our interface kit installs under your factory center console and...

www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com

Picking up a 2020 next week to replace my 2010 and thinking about a Carplay module addition.

I have recently had the unit installed and I am enjoying it very much! (2013 Toyota Land Crusier) I had it installed by a professional team and they did a great job! The company is wonderful to work with and they are incredibly response to questions and/or concerns - I without hesitation recommend not only the unit for a great upgrade option but the company is very rare in the area of how great they are! Thumbs up!

 

[prharper]

I have recently had the unit installed and I am enjoying it very much! (2013 Toyota Land Crusier) I had it installed by a professional team and they did a great job! The company is wonderful to work with and they are incredibly response to questions and/or concerns - I without hesitation recommend not only the unit for a great upgrade option but the company is very rare in the area of how great they are! Thumbs up!

^^ is what led me to make the purchase this past Sunday. Shipped Monday AM, arrived today.

It's a family run American business. They have a new video on the installation for LC 200. Looks straightforward.

Will try and find time to install this weekend. While at it, plan to install other items on the dash (Gamaviti) and wiring for power outlets.

 

[JeffH]

I lucked out on my 2020 LX purchase. Bought it long distance and when I arrived found it already had some goodies installed, but after a few months I accidentally pushed the Map button for a few seconds and found out I also have a CarPlay module as well. Not sure of the brand but the Bluetooth ID is Car91edc4.

 

[ChillyGNC]

I installed the Hamilton unit about 3 weeks ago in my 2019 and initially I initially had trouble with it, just me not knowing how it worked with Bluetooth. I called and they got on the phone with me and walked me through a few changes on Bluetooth settings and now works great now so far. Helping a buddy install one this weekend. Took me about 2 hours but I was being very careful as I had not taken apart any of the dash before.

 

[prharper]

I installed over the weekend. Works great wired to USB and/or Bluetooth. I prefer hardwire connection, better audio and it charges my phone.

Feels like I'm in a new truck.

 

[Redrobert]

Hamilton just came out with a touchscreen CarPlay, 2016-2021, I think, unit in the last couple of weeks. I had the unit installed and it’s working just like my CarPlay in my 2021 1794 Tundra. It’s great. Touchscreen is a great improvement over the Lexus mouse. Dave, the owner, and his tech support team are outstanding.

 

[prharper]

Recently returned from a 1k mile road-trip and a few days of off-roading.
A few observations.

1. CarPlay screen switching back to OEM screen randomly while driving.
Turned off auto camera setting (OEM screen setting) and seems to have resolved. Only downside is you may have to manually press the parking button to display cameras.

2. WiFi connection and Bluetooth issues - Encountered this while off-roading in Uwharrie National Forest. I have Starlink internet. My phone connects to it when there is no signal or I need more bandwidth. You can't easily run a Wifi internet connection and CarPlay together (think Gaia, OnX, Waze apps) at the same time. At least not with this unit.

I randomly got it to work sometimes - driving on trails with real time updates vs no updates/no data.
But most of the time, once I connected to my Starlink wifi, the Hamilton (which runs zlink OS) would disconnect the internet connection. This happened repeatedly within a few seconds each time manually connecting to WIFi on IOS.
After CarPlay started, I would try and connect to Starlink WIFi (via IOS) and get this annoying message every time:

Within a few seconds, my IOS WiFi/internet connection is killed. I'm thinking by design of the CarPlay spec.

No fault on Hamilton. Apple CarPlay requires WiFi and Bluetooth or USB direct connection.
zLink provides the OS and App Software.
I had my iPhone USB connected to the Hamilton USB outlet for charging purposes.
This should override a connection via Bluetooth. Not it most cases with this software.

My fix:
Connect your IOS device to WiFi
After starting the truck, give it some time (~ 20 second) for CarPlay to start, hit the Home button on dash, you should see the Hamilton screen with connection options. Quickly, plug in the Hamilton USB connection to the IOS device. You should see a green circle swirl. This will force it to not use the Bluetooth option.

You don't want it to automatically make this connection:

Once CarPlay unit recognizes the IOS USB connection, it will not terminate the existing Wifi connection and CarPlay will continue to work - apps update, maps, messages, etc.

Nice setup when you don't have cell signal or data. Having the OEM screen display real-time map updates, weather, music etc via Starlink is a game changer. Still in awe Toyota didn't add CarPlay in its flagship model.