MFD-CarPlay

MFD-CarPlay

The CarPlay Part of this Project uses rhysmorgan134s react-carplay! This project enables the integration of Apple CarPlay into the VW Radio Navigation System MFD (1999 model) using a Raspberry Pi HAT and custom software.

Overview

The goal of this project is to bring modern smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay) into older car infotainment systems. By using a Raspberry Pi and the necessary components, users can bring modern technologies into their older vehicle's multimedia system.

Features

• Integration of Apple CarPlay into the VW MFD Radio Navigation System.
• Uses a Raspberry Pi HAT for communication with the MFD system.

The HAT

Requirements

• Raspberry Pi 3 (B/B+), Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5
• Raspberry Pi MFD HAT
• Raspberry Pi 3 B (not B+): its Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only, while the image sets up the wireless CarPlay hotspot on 5 GHz. Use wired CarPlay or a dongle, or switch the Wi-Fi band to 2.4 GHz in the LIVI settings.
• VW Radio Navigation System MFD (1999 model)
• Raspberry Pi 5 only: a USB sound card for the audio to the HAT. The Pi 5 has no 3.5 mm audio jack, and its only analog audio pins (GPIO 12/13) carry picture data for the HAT. Connect the sound card's output to the HAT with the same cable the Pi 4's jack uses. Power the Pi 5 from a USB-C PD supply (27 W) so its USB ports get full current.

Installation

1. Download the Raspberry Pi Imager:

   • Download and Install the Raspberry Pi Imager on your Computer.

   https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
   

2. Add the MFD CarPlay Repository:

   • Click on Settings:

   • Add this URL:

   https://github.com/JKBusse/MFD-CarPlay/raw/refs/heads/main/config/os_list.json
   

   And click save and restart

3. Select your Raspberry Pi model:

4. Select the MFD CarPlay Image:

5. Select your SD Card:

6. Customize the image:

   • Set the Hostname:

   • Select your location:

   • Set the User to pi (IMPORTANT!):

   • Set your WIFI Connection:

   • Setup SSH:

7. Burn the Image:

   • Now burn the image to your SD Card:

8. Done: Now put the SD Card in your Raspberry Pi and connect the HAT to the MFD.

Boot Behavior

• The first start performs cloud-init provisioning.
• Later boots use the optimized quiet-boot setup to reduce console output.
• The image uses a splash screen on boot when Plymouth is available in the target image.

Troubleshooting

• Ensure the Raspberry Pi is correctly powered and properly connected to the MFD system.
• Double-check the configuration files for any missing or incorrect settings.

Contributing

If you'd like to contribute to this project, feel free to fork the repository and submit pull requests. Any feedback or improvements are welcome!

Support and Maintenance Policy

• Issue reporting: Please report bugs and feature requests via GitHub Issues in this repository.
• Update cadence:
  • Critical fixes (build breaks, boot failures, major regressions): as soon as possible.
  • Routine improvements and compatibility updates: batched and released regularly.
• Release and metadata maintenance: config/os_list.json is updated automatically by CI after successful image builds.
• Officially tested models: Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5.
• Best-effort scope: Community support is best effort; hardware-specific edge cases may need logs and reproduction steps.
• Boot troubleshooting: If the first boot appears to pause after provisioning, wait for the automatic reboot once cloud-init finishes.

License

This project repository is licensed under the MIT License.

• Full license text: LICENSE
• Credits: CREDITS.md
• Third-party notices: THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md

Note: The generated image contains third-party software (including LIVI and Debian/Raspberry Pi OS packages) with their own licenses.