Is it possible to remove the GPS inside my BRZ?
 

I have a 2015 BRZ. Is it possible to remove the actual GPS in the car without messing up the original headunit? It can't be as simple as taking out that little SD memory card right?

I always use my phone to navigate. There's no real benefit to taking out the GPS from the car but I was just curious about it as I was reading some other privacy news related article recently.

Disclaimer: I don't have any "hands on" experience with this particular head unit. The SD card usually contains a current version of the maps that the GPS uses. If the head unit takes a copy of these maps and stores them internally then the SD card might not matter. Try it and see.

Here are a couple of threads discussing these GPS units:

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show....php?p=3459731

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39071

It appears that the GPS package is an add-on module to the factory head unit. If what you have is similar, it looks like the whole system could be removed. If all you want to do is disable the GPS then perhaps unplugging the GPS antenna might be enough. Just my two cents.

You should start by reading Subaru's Privacy statement.

https://www.subaru.com/company/privacy.html

If you still have questions, you can attempt to contact Subaru of America and see if their customer service team is willing to escalate your question related to privacy.

If you still want to remove GPS tracking capability, I'd locate the GPS antenna and just disconnect that.

For what it's worth, most cars sold these days have some sort of constant LTE connection that sends telemetry data back to the mothership.

I got the impression from one of those posts that in the FRS the GPS was an add on module, but on the Subaru it is included. So do you think I have to remove the headunit and unplug the GPS antenna and thats it? Head unit will still work afterwards for Music/ Bluetooth etc? Just no maps?

GPS *Receiver*
This bit doesn't do any transmission. GPS satellites only send timing signals.
It's your phone that does all the backchannel security breaches.

and your rfid covid chips -- /s