Lotus Evora Head unit Install, Android Auto, Apple Car Play

Installing a new Alpine in my 2011 Lotus Evora

[@FaveroVT]

Thanks for doing all these videos. I have a matching 2010 Evora to yours and I've found your videos super helpful. I just did a smart rearview mirror versus changing the headunit but this video is making me reconsider.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

I'm curious if you had to pull off the mirror. Mounting anchor and replace it with a different one. I'm always worried that if I do that I'll break the glass. I've heard horror stories of people trying to rip off and mount plinth and it breaking the windshield

[@FaveroVT]

I did not remove the original one. I just strapped the new one over the old one and honestly, you’d have to look really hard to notice it. Doing this added a new rear camera mounted inside the cabin looking through the bulkhead window and a new forward looking camera as well.

[@tweetdriver]

Would have been a great time to add a set of rear speakers. As you pointed out, Lotus didn’t do it, and the rear speaker outputs are just hanging there unused.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

Agreed. For now I'll take the lightness. I actually use the rear seats for my girls from time to time. .😜

[@bboixtc]

I'm mad the video ends at night, you didn't show us the new found light strip and you didn't say good night.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

😂 haha. I was spent. It was recorded over a hot weekend. I'll get you some shots of the light bar at some point. But basically Yes, pretty much a continuous light bar from the driver side door through the middle under the radio, to the passenger side door.

[@AaronFrance]

Perfectly timed video. I have a Pioneer in mine, aftermarket but definitely would like Android auto. The universe provides!

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

Absolutely and hopefully you can avoid some of the small struggles I had now that you've been forewarned. I'm a pioneer fan as well. The reason I went with Alpine was to minimize the amount of snip and wiring needed because the Lotus basically had the Alpine main connector already installed. So I only ended up having to do that one reverse wire. If you going to replace from pioneer, you may pick up a different pioneer head unit that way in theory, the pioneer connector would be the same as what's already in your Lotus. You could check it in advance Make sure the connectors would be the same. And that would definitely cut out a bunch of the work

[@AaronFrance]

@@GoodmorningGoodnightOh I have no brand loyalty to Pioneer, it's just what came in the car when I bought it (~1.5 months ago). Really good info about the harness differences, I'll definitely keep that in mind when selecting something to move to. Thanks :)

[@TroyKnapp]

I'm convinced more and more that we're the same person... I did this replacement a couple months ago with the Alpine ILX-507.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

Haha. Lotus owners are a special breed, aren't we?

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

PS... I assume you're happy with the upgraded head unit. I've been pleased thus far

[@TroyKnapp]

@@GoodmorningGoodnight I'm very happy... I've had a couple connection issues while driving, but nothing major... Another weird thing that happened to me is the output from the rear camera isn't 100%. It looks like my new unit has a bigger screen resolution than the old one and I can see what the other unit "cut off." I can see my license plate in the video feed, now in addition to the rest of the camera view... but it's at the bottom of the screen. You know when the tracking was off on the old VHS players and some of the top of the frame was at the bottom? It's like that. It doesn't bug me enough to figure out how to fix it, though.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

@@TroyKnapp haha. Wouldn't surprise me if Lotus designed it to be used for betamax. Lol. I can definitely see my license plate in mind too. But I think I could see it with the old head unit as well.

[@alanevans6882]

Hi i do enjoy your videos especially the one where you visited the Lotus factory I'm in the UK so its easy for me to go there. Now that you have had a chance to use your new head unit would you recommend it.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

My honest review is that I'm very happy with the new head unit but I bought it used from a friend. I'm thinking if did not have access to the used model I would go for a newer model that had wireless Apple CarPlay or wireless Android auto. That would be my only change. I do like the Alpine unit and I would just make sure that any new Alpine would use the same connectors. What I'm saying is don't feel like you need to search out this specific model to be a happy. I would recommend other alpine models as long as they have the similar connector.

[@alanevans6882]

Thank you for your quick reply very helpful please don't stop doing your KZbin videos and its also good seeing your kids helping you on the Evora.

[@Timpanicmembrane1]

I'm curious why you chose this Alpine head unit over others of the same size.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

This one was a tried and true head unit on the forums. Most importantly, I wanted to keep it Alpine so that I wouldn't have to rewire the main power harness. I still ended up having to rewire that one reverse sender cable as you saw in the video. In theory, there are probably other Alpine units that would go in with similar ease. And of course if you don't mind rewiring the full power loom you could switch to a pioneer unit or any other unit.

[@Docinaplane]

Hello, I have a friend who recently got a 2010 Evora. It has an issue. Often when he starts it up, it will not show tach or speed. I also will not go into sport mode when this happens. He has gone into the fuse box under the passenger seat and made sure everything is tight and seems all right. Do you have any ideas on what could be going on" Thx so much!

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

Good question. Sounds like an intermittent issue. Definitely start by making sure the car is fully charged with a good battery. These cars do strange things with low battery. Could be a possibility. I have a battery tender I use to ensure the battery is always good.

[@Docinaplane]

@@GoodmorningGoodnight Thanks so much!! I will let you know how it goes. I can't remember, Are you in Florida? We are in Gainesville.

[@GoodmorningGoodnight]

@@Docinaplane im in Pennsylvania. It's getting crisp now. Beautiful fall days will soon turn into cold winters. And the Evora will take a relaxing break while I work on small upgrades.