Ilya wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:38 pm

What are your goals? If you plan to just use your phone, you don't need it. If you plan to use the stand alone apps, then you may want to.

Alternatively, and I think it's available, look into the VLite which is strictly Car Play and Android Auto with no ability for standalone apps. I have both (VLine in my M56x and VLite in my wife's QX60). I prefer the VLite if I'm being honest. The only thing I use the VLine for or would is for the OBDII reader app like Torque to be on screen.

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:18 pm

What's the difficulty on replacing the heater core? I learned from an earlier post that mine probably needs to be replaced (thermostat goes from A/C at 60° to heat at 61°. Since I have to remove the dash to do the Grom install, how much more work does it take to get to the heater core, and is it simply removing the old and installing the replacement?

Ilya wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:59 pm

Have you ever removed your knee panel on the driver side? I remember that when I removed mine to do my remote start, I didn't plug something in which resulted in a 60* Cold, 61* Hot condition.

But yeah, Heater Core is a PITA for sure lol.

Ilya wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2023 6:26 am

If I remember correctly, it was the white tube on the right side of the kick panel near the center console. Or the electric connector near by.

Ilya wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:38 pm

What are your goals? If you plan to just use your phone, you don't need it. If you plan to use the stand alone apps, then you may want to.

Alternatively, and I think it's available, look into the VLite which is strictly Car Play and Android Auto with no ability for standalone apps. I have both (VLine in my M56x and VLite in my wife's QX60). I prefer the VLite if I'm being honest. The only thing I use the VLine for or would is for the OBDII reader app like Torque to be on screen.

DoN_BLaZe34 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2023 4:04 pm

Ilya wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:38 pm

What are your goals? If you plan to just use your phone, you don't need it. If you plan to use the stand alone apps, then you may want to.

Alternatively, and I think it's available, look into the VLite which is strictly Car Play and Android Auto with no ability for standalone apps. I have both (VLine in my M56x and VLite in my wife's QX60). I prefer the VLite if I'm being honest. The only thing I use the VLine for or would is for the OBDII reader app like Torque to be on screen.

Ilya why do you prefer the VLite?

Ilya wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:05 am

DoN_BLaZe34 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2023 4:04 pm

Ilya why do you prefer the VLite?

The standalone apps are a novelty on the VLine - using hotspot makes my phone run hotter than using wireless AA (currently using a Pixel 8 Pro but also happened with my Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6). Plus, if I start Maps or Waze on my phone, as soon as I connect to the car, it's on screen on the VLite. Where as on the VLine, you need to do that stuff on the system which can take a minute or two extra if you are trying to get somewhere quick - like from one TJ Maxx to the other with the wife before the 2nd one closes . Those minutes count haha .

The one downside is that if I want to watch Instagram reels while wife is shopping (see a theme here?) in the car with the car running, there is a 1-2 second delay which is annoying as it tries to put the phone audio on the car system (since it's a non-AA app).

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 24, 2023 4:45 pm

Ilya wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:05 am

The standalone apps are a novelty on the VLine - using hotspot makes my phone run hotter than using wireless AA (currently using a Pixel 8 Pro but also happened with my Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6). Plus, if I start Maps or Waze on my phone, as soon as I connect to the car, it's on screen on the VLite. Where as on the VLine, you need to do that stuff on the system which can take a minute or two extra if you are trying to get somewhere quick - like from one TJ Maxx to the other with the wife before the 2nd one closes . Those minutes count haha .

The one downside is that if I want to watch Instagram reels while wife is shopping (see a theme here?) in the car with the car running, there is a 1-2 second delay which is annoying as it tries to put the phone audio on the car system (since it's a non-AA app).

My Vlite came in Friday and I did the install yesterday. It went pretty smooth other than the two screws I have left and don't know where they belong Ilya thanks for the tutorial and tips!

Ilya wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 25, 2023 8:25 pm

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 24, 2023 4:45 pm

My Vlite came in Friday and I did the install yesterday. It went pretty smooth other than the two screws I have left and don't know where they belong Ilya thanks for the tutorial and tips!

Welcome to the club! Solid choice going with the VLite vs the VLine. Merry Christmas!

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 28, 2023 11:15 am

The mic my unit came with is defective, so I reached out to Grom for a replacement. They told me they have a new harness their testing that adds use to the built in mic and they're going to send that to me. Looking forward to that (even though I have to take almost everything apart again LOL. I'll post results when it comes.

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 28, 2023 11:15 am

The mic my unit came with is defective, so I reached out to Grom for a replacement. They told me they have a new harness their testing that adds use to the built in mic and they're going to send that to me. Looking forward to that (even though I have to take almost everything apart again LOL. I'll post results when it comes.

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 09, 2024 5:36 pm

So, I installed the harness this past weekend and the OEM mic worked perfectly, however the touch screen features were not working, so I re-installed the original harness. I took a look at it later and noticed that there was a wire that was not locked into the harness. I was able to get it locked in and will try again this weekend.

Ilya wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:35 am

Big_Tone wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 09, 2024 5:36 pm

So, I installed the harness this past weekend and the OEM mic worked perfectly, however the touch screen features were not working, so I re-installed the original harness. I took a look at it later and noticed that there was a wire that was not locked into the harness. I was able to get it locked in and will try again this weekend.

That's poor QA...but hopefully you fixed it! Reminds me of the iJDMToy LED fog lights that I bought which were HORRIBLY soldered. Failed within a month or so. Resoldered them myself and they haven't so much as flickered in like 5 years and I run my lights every time the car is on lol.