Is it possible to do a software update to get Android Auto?

[Darrencornell]

Hello,
I have a Citroen C3 1.2 PureTech 82 Flair 5dr 2017 model (without Sat Nav) .

I can see Apple Carplay in the list of sources (although it appears to be greyed out) but NOT Android Auto. Is it possible to do a software update to get Android Auto? Can I do this myself or if I take it to a dealer will they charge me?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S20 do I don't think I can use MirrorLink either.

I emailed Citroen Customer Car and they just said:

"To use Android Auto(™), you need a vehicle or a car radio installed after purchase that is compatible with Android Auto (™) and a smartphone equipped with Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or a later version"

Thanks
Darren

[Arfur Dent]

Hi

I have a Samsung Galaxy S20 do I don't think I can use MirrorLink either.

Android Auto to your Samsung Galaxy is by USB only. Have you tried connecting to the car by a decent quality USB data cable and checking if the option becomes available to you?

You also may need a MirrorLink app on the phone if you don't already have it.

Can I do this myself or if I take it to a dealer will they charge me?

Citroen will charge you for everything

I don't think you can upgrade the whole system without removing it and putting a new one in. It's best to sell the car you have and buy the one with the features you want, rather than throw money at the headunit.

[Darrencornell]

Yes, when I use a 3.0 USB I just get the message as per the screenshot below.

It will play the music from my phone using the USB but nothing else

[Arfur Dent]

You will need to sell the car on and get one with the audio system you want.

It looks like a model that is very basic and it can't connect to phones to do much.

It is going to be easier to just trade it in than remove and upgrade the headunit with all the software changes needed for it to work the way you want.

[routemaster1]

Just a few things to comment on.I apologise if you are already aware.

Android Auto isn't on the car, it is a phone app. It can be easily downloaded. I don't know if all older android phones can operate the app.

Mirror Link is a function of the phone as well. If you search your phone for Mirror Link the phone will find it in the menus if it is there. There are Mirror link downloads but I don't know if they actually do what you want.

You may have to pair your phone with the car to use Android Auto, not sure about that.

Android Auto only works cabled via usb. I echo the comments about using a high quality cable. I had a lot of problems using a cheap cable from a Poundshop. (It was a data cable, and it worked for a long time then suddenly failed. A Samsung cable sorted it )

I don't have Mirror Link, but there seems to be a basic system on Android Auto.

Android Auto doesn't start automatically when the phone starts. You will have to press some buttons on the touchscreen to start it. Mine starts Google Maps when I press the navigate icon. Voice activation is OK, apart from not being able to understand some place-names. Try getting it to navigate to Halstock!

[cfrank]

Android Auto isn't on the car, it is a phone app.
...
Mirror Link is a function of the phone as well.
...
Android Auto only works cabled via usb.

Well, the car's software needs to support these features. Just an app isn't enough. Android Auto is built into Android 10 and newer; for Android 9 and older you need to download the app.
AFAIK the C3 doesn't support wireless Android Auto, at least not on the non-sat-nav model without wifi. Some cars and some phones, however, do support wireless Android Auto.

As to Citroen's answer...
The C3 from 2017 onward is listed as Android-Auto compatible
https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/auto ... y-vehicles

Whether there are touchscreen models that do not support Android Auto seems unclear.
Citroen always speaks of "Mirror Screen", meaning both CarPlay and Android Auto (Mirror Link is considered "old stuff" ).
So, if you can see the CarPlay icon (it's grey unless there's an iPhone connected), I would expect the system to also support AA, but who knows. Maybe I'll try it out on my C3. I also don't have sat nav and I'm using CarPlay with the iPhone.

[Darrencornell]

OK, so I downloaded the MyCitroen app and it said there was a Touchscreen update so I downloaded it on my laptop and followed the instructions to copy it to a USB.

I plugged the USB stick into my car and it updated the software and I can now see the Android Auto icon and use it on my touchscreen

[cfrank]

great!
pity Citroen doesn't know their own stuff

How long did the update process take? It says in the instructions you need to have the engine running?! Not sure my neighbours would like that - or their FFF 'climate kids'

[routemaster1]

great!
pity Citroen doesn't know their own stuff

How long did the update process take? It says in the instructions you need to have the engine running?! Not sure my neighbours would like that - or their FFF 'climate kids'

You don't really have a choice. If you switch off the engine and eco mode cuts in, the system software could be seriously damaged and the car potentially unuseable.

[cfrank]

great!
pity Citroen doesn't know their own stuff

How long did the update process take? It says in the instructions you need to have the engine running?! Not sure my neighbours would like that - or their FFF 'climate kids'

You don't really have a choice. If you switch off the engine and eco mode cuts in, the system software could be seriously damaged and the car potentially unuseable.

I see. But how long? 10 minutes? 30?