2017 BRZ HU sucks - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

BRZ FTW · 02-08-2017, 04:15 PM

I only ever use the HU to play music from my iPhone tethered and to take phone calls over BT. My 2015 would start playing music about ~20 seconds after I started my car, and BT would sync within the same timeframe. The 2017 takes about twice as long. Also, when I get a call the HU switches all audio(including music) to BT to answer the call. So when I get a call, music pauses then plays over BT for a second, then the HU rings to answer the call. My 15 would handle this flawlessly with no noticeable switching going on.

So my questions is can this HU be updated and if so, how? Alternatively, what is the best option for a replacement given my use case? CarPlay would be really nice.

swarb · 02-08-2017, 04:21 PM

Unlikely they will update anything besides the maps.
Best option would be to get a 15 head unit or a replacement.
I'd sell you mine if the offer was right, pm me if interested.

Eman · 02-08-2017, 10:22 PM

I have the stock head unit out of my 2013 FRS 10 series that I pulled out and replaced with a Kenwood. I would sell that to you if you are interested.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

azonic · 02-08-2017, 11:30 PM

My '17 BRZ is less than two weeks old and I love it, but yes the HU sucks. It's even worse down here in Australia, no maps or apps. I got prompted to install the starlink app on my iphone when I plugged it in via USB but then it did nothing at all for us, pointless.

Subaru do better!

Andrew025 · 02-09-2017, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azonic

My '17 BRZ is less than two weeks old and I love it, but yes the HU sucks. It's even worse down here in Australia, no maps or apps. I got prompted to install the starlink app on my iphone when I plugged it in via USB but then it did nothing at all for us, pointless.

Subaru do better!

The starlink app is a joke. Seriously, don't even bother with it. It rarely works and when it does, it takes ages to do anything.

jasonojordan · 02-09-2017, 09:02 AM

Welcome to Subaru Technology. Unless its a federal mandate for safety (IE backup camera) you will be at least 8 years behind the times when it comes to anything related to headunits and other features that are standard on many cars.

ka-titties · 02-09-2017, 11:08 AM

check out the Joying head unit if you like Android OS.

Tcoat · 02-10-2017, 12:15 PM

Wow. Talk about your first world problems!

Andrew025 · 02-10-2017, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Wow. Talk about your first world problems!

Yes, that's exactly what we're doing!
Haven't you read the thread?

TheRatsWon · 02-10-2017, 07:09 PM

There is an UPDATE function in the SETTINGS section, my question is where to obtain updates and how to do it. My HU is a Clarion CA645UL and I can find an update for a 2015 BRZ with CA630UL as the folder name. The same site (content.subarunet.com/snet/business/service/forms/audio_downloads) has an update for the 2017 WRX with CA634UL. Maybe an update is in our future, then the question is how to install.

BRZ FTW · 02-11-2017, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRatsWon

There is an UPDATE function in the SETTINGS section, my question is where to obtain updates and how to do it. My HU is a Clarion CA645UL and I can find an update for a 2015 BRZ with CA630UL as the folder name. The same site (content.subarunet.com/snet/business/service/forms/audio_downloads) has an update for the 2017 WRX with CA634UL. Maybe an update is in our future, then the question is how to install.

Good info! Ill keep an eye out for any new files.

TheRatsWon · 02-16-2017, 05:35 AM

Found a YouTube on how to update a Forester HU that looks the same. It also links to the same update page. It shows holding down HOME and pressing AUDIO/TUNE 5 times to get the service menu. The update is loaded through the USB. An update for a 2017 BRZ is not shown and I don't have the guts to check mine for the service menu but if anyone else does please post the results:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_RRU4a-1Ew"]Subaru Starlink 7" Head Unit Update - HOW TO - YouTube[/ame]

I just wanna connect Pandora over BT reliably. My Android only hooks about 2/3 of the time.

Andrew025 · 02-16-2017, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRatsWon

Found a YouTube on how to update a Forester HU that looks the same. It also links to the same update page. It shows holding down HOME and pressing AUDIO/TUNE 5 times to get the service menu. The update is loaded through the USB. An update for a 2017 BRZ is not shown and I don't have the guts to check mine for the service menu but if anyone else does please post the results:

I just wanna connect Pandora over BT reliably. My Android only hooks about 2/3 of the time.

Tried it, it doesn't work.
Ours isn't the 7". Our unit also has an option to update it in the normal settings menu.

There is another menu if you press the power button to get to the "audio off" screen, then tap the top left, top right, bottom left then bottom right (one at a time in that order).
Not a whole lot you can do in there though.

broberg · 06-19-2017, 03:11 PM

Sorry to revive this thread, but, any news on the 2017 head unit?
Any new updates? Haven't fully tried it out but I did react to the small delays on the touch screen, and those bothered me a little..

Whats the model-number? thinking if someone has been able to hack it and change to a custom rom perhaps?

02-10-2017, 12:15 PM	#8
Tcoat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2020 Hakone Location: London, Ont Posts: 69,841 Thanks: 61,656 Thanked 108,295 Times in 46,456 Posts Mentioned: 2499 Post(s) Tagged: 50 Thread(s)	Wow. Talk about your first world problems! __________________ Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar, because Racecar.

06-19-2017, 03:11 PM	#14
broberg Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Drives: 2017 BRZ Location: SWE Posts: 28 Thanks: 15 Thanked 21 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Sorry to revive this thread, but, any news on the 2017 head unit? Any new updates? Haven't fully tried it out but I did react to the small delays on the touch screen, and those bothered me a little.. Whats the model-number? thinking if someone has been able to hack it and change to a custom rom perhaps? __________________ // Pierre Broberg 2017 Subaru BRZ, Christal White Pearl

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02-08-2017, 04:21 PM	#2
swarb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: BRZ Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,052 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,451 Times in 1,271 Posts Mentioned: 79 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Unlikely they will update anything besides the maps. Best option would be to get a 15 head unit or a replacement. I'd sell you mine if the offer was right, pm me if interested.

02-08-2017, 10:22 PM	#3
Eman Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S 10 series Location: Sonoma CA Posts: 69 Thanks: 20 Thanked 40 Times in 25 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have the stock head unit out of my 2013 FRS 10 series that I pulled out and replaced with a Kenwood. I would sell that to you if you are interested. Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

02-08-2017, 11:30 PM	#4
azonic Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Drives: 17 BRZ Location: South Australia Posts: 39 Thanks: 2 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My '17 BRZ is less than two weeks old and I love it, but yes the HU sucks. It's even worse down here in Australia, no maps or apps. I got prompted to install the starlink app on my iphone when I plugged it in via USB but then it did nothing at all for us, pointless. Subaru do better!

02-09-2017, 09:02 AM	#6
jasonojordan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 satin white brz limited Location: Cottage Grove MN Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 162 Thanked 511 Times in 326 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Welcome to Subaru Technology. Unless its a federal mandate for safety (IE backup camera) you will be at least 8 years behind the times when it comes to anything related to headunits and other features that are standard on many cars.

02-09-2017, 11:08 AM	#7
ka-titties Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Drives: 2013 BRZ Limited 6MT Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 208 Thanks: 36 Thanked 80 Times in 58 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	check out the Joying head unit if you like Android OS.

02-10-2017, 07:09 PM	#10
TheRatsWon Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: 2017 Subaru BRZ Limited,Mazda Miata Location: FL Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	There is an UPDATE function in the SETTINGS section, my question is where to obtain updates and how to do it. My HU is a Clarion CA645UL and I can find an update for a 2015 BRZ with CA630UL as the folder name. The same site (content.subarunet.com/snet/business/service/forms/audio_downloads) has an update for the 2017 WRX with CA634UL. Maybe an update is in our future, then the question is how to install.

02-16-2017, 05:35 AM	#12
TheRatsWon Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: 2017 Subaru BRZ Limited,Mazda Miata Location: FL Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Found a YouTube on how to update a Forester HU that looks the same. It also links to the same update page. It shows holding down HOME and pressing AUDIO/TUNE 5 times to get the service menu. The update is loaded through the USB. An update for a 2017 BRZ is not shown and I don't have the guts to check mine for the service menu but if anyone else does please post the results: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_RRU4a-1Ew"]Subaru Starlink 7" Head Unit Update - HOW TO - YouTube[/ame] I just wanna connect Pandora over BT reliably. My Android only hooks about 2/3 of the time.

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