[mcvillain]

I recently purchased a MP4-12C with Iris 1 (classic). I know most people on here have gripes with the original Iris, as well as Iris 2. Looking around online for Iris-alternatives, I want to get feedback from others on a possibility,

I'm coming from a Lotus Evora 400, a car that comes with a standard double-din and a poor head-unit from the factory. With this car I installed an Alpine iLX-F309 HALO9 9", making the infotainment experience much more pleasant with a Tesla-like screen. I would like to do something similar with my 12C.

Unfortunately our cars come with a vertical screen making finding a solution difficult as most car manufacturers and aftermarket displays are built with horizontal-aligned screens in mind. I did however find a possible solution.

This is a Flyunice Universal 12.8 Inch IPS Tesla Style 2 Din Touch Screen with Android 8.1 I found off Amazon that rotates. I'm hoping to learn with people that have taken out their Iris displays if there's enough room for the main body of this system to successfully fit in that space. I have a custom shop that I can convince to make some modifications to the area if there is space to retrofit a standard double-din unit into it.

I'd appreciate feedback or concerns -- thank you!

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Wow. If you get that working I think a lot of people are going to be super interested. There have been some threads here about jailbreaking the existing Iris to system, and one person apparently did, but getting a newer more responsive version would be really great. I think the only outside system that connects to that Iris is the reverse camera for those cars that have gotten the update, and maybe the satellite antenna.

some of the newer cars that have their HVAC going through that panel would have trouble. But I don’t know of anyone that actually successfully replace the Iris system, you would be the first.

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

I'm coming from a Lotus Evora 400, a car that comes with a standard double-din and a poor head-unit from the factory. With this car I installed an Alpine iLX-F309 HALO9 9", making the infotainment experience much more pleasant with a Tesla-like screen.

The Evora 400 I was in came with a factory Alpine HU and was setup poorly. Like, the factory sub (that sucks) was turned off from the factory because that was the default setting. Simply doing anything with settings makes that better.

Unfortunately our cars come with a vertical screen making finding a solution difficult as most car manufacturers and aftermarket displays are built with horizontal-aligned screens in mind. I did however find a possible solution.

View attachment 203583

This is a Flyunice Universal 12.8 Inch IPS Tesla Style 2 Din Touch Screen with Android 8.1 I found off Amazon that rotates. I'm hoping to learn with people that have taken out their Iris displays if there's enough room for the main body of this system to successfully fit in that space. I have a custom shop that I can convince to make some modifications to the area if there is space to retrofit a standard double-din unit into it.

I'd appreciate feedback or concerns -- thank you!

Now onto the forthcoming rain on your parade. Those HU's are typically quite slow, remember, they're running Android 8.1 for a reason. The screens can be hit or miss on how responsive they are as well. Now that being said there are some considerations. First, will that screen physically fit in height/width? Yes a trim panel will probably have to be made, but if it's wider than the console, now you're into another issue. Next you have the fact that the screen has to be detached from the double DIN case and a remote cable sorted so it will work (it may not work with the added resistance of the wire, I know, I did it 15 years ago). Now assuming the screen will fit AND it can have a remote display, you have to have a place to put the double DIN chassis. Spoiler alert, I'm 99% sure it won't fit under the not supposed to be a package tray where the factory amp/gateway is. The factory amp can not be used (uses optical inputs) so easily so you also have to add an amp and find a place to put that too.

The proper method is what I've developed for my truck, utilizing a touchscreen that goes to a carputer then out to amps OR if you can find a proper tablet you could go out to amps. I looked into doing all this when I got mine and decided as long as it was working, it wasn't worth creating a new solution unless people were going to pay me enormous amounts of money for it. Now if mine stops working, game on.

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

Wow. If you get that working I think a lot of people are going to be super interested. There have been some threads here about jailbreaking the existing Iris to system, and one person apparently did, but getting a newer more responsive version would be really great. I think the only outside system that connects to that Iris is the reverse camera for those cars that have gotten the update, and maybe the satellite antenna.

some of the newer cars that have their HVAC going through that panel would have trouble. But I don’t know of anyone that actually successfully replace the Iris system, you would be the first.

Making it work in a 675LT would be a labor of love, because you wouldn't sell many of those, I'd be no more than 10.

While IRIS 2 does have the reverse camera, I've seen it, and it's crap. The best solution for a reverse camera is a smart mirror like I did.

 

[mcvillain]

I looked into doing all this when I got mine and decided as long as it was working, it wasn't worth creating a new solution unless people were going to pay me enormous amounts of money for it. Now if mine stops working, game on.

How much would enormous amounts of money be? I would be interested if it's reasonable.

 

[mcvillain]

First, will that screen physically fit in height/width? Yes a trim panel will probably have to be made, but if it's wider than the console, now you're into another issue.

This screen will not fit inside the same space -- it's much larger. It'll be "floating" similar to Tesla's Model 3.

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

How much would enormous amounts of money be? I would be interested if it's reasonable.

At least $3-4k for a complete solution. Still 1/3 of IRIS 2.

This screen will not fit inside the same space -- it's much larger. It'll be "floating" similar to Tesla's Model 3.

It would look terrible, like a hodge podge afterthought, like 2014-2018 Mercedes.

 

[mcvillain]

At least $3-4k for a complete solution. Still 1/3 of IRIS 2.

$3k sounds reasonable if it has bluetooth calling, media streaming, aux input, backup camera, etc

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

$3k sounds reasonable if it has bluetooth calling, media streaming, aux input, backup camera, etc

But reasonable to how many?

 

[rnixon]

The factory amp can not be used (uses optical inputs) so easily so you also have to add an amp and find a place to put that too.

I thought that it used an RJ45 (i.e. electrical) connector to send the audio using S/PDIF, not an optical link.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

The parrot system isn’t completely custom is it? I wonder if the easiest way is to keep the touch screen and just get some updated parrot system for the underlying os. I suspect what I just said is way easier said than done n

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

I thought that it used an RJ45 (i.e. electrical) connector to send the audio using S/PDIF, not an optical link.

IRIS 1 and IRIS 2 use a different cabling between the screen and gateway, I believe 2 is RJ45 (I haven't looked at that stuff very much) but I know at the gateway for IRIS 1 is optical based on the connector. Again, I don't know alot about those systems, everyone who says they'll give me a broken one to see if I can fix it never comes through.

The parrot system isn’t completely custom is it? I wonder if the easiest way is to keep the touch screen and just get some updated parrot system for the underlying os. I suspect what I just said is way easier said than done n

I highly doubt the system is completely custom. IRIS 2 should be way easier to manipulate, being Android.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

IRIS 1 and IRIS 2 use a different cabling between the screen and gateway, I believe 2 is RJ45 (I haven't looked at that stuff very much) but I know at the gateway for IRIS 1 is optical based on the connector. Again, I don't know alot about those systems, everyone who says they'll give me a broken one to see if I can fix it never comes through.



I highly doubt the system is completely custom. IRIS 2 should be way easier to manipulate, being Android.

android on iris 2 has been manipulated by at least one user here, but at this point, I suspect the android os and hardware are crazy old. Part of the thread on side loading iris2 can be found in the faqs:

5.0 POSTS ABOUT JAILBREAKING IRIS, SIDELOADING APPS (E.G., WAZE), AND IRIS VERSIONS
A user that we haven't seen in a long time by the name of FTYL rooted/jailbroke/sideloaded apps IRIS. You can find comments of his exploits here (need to have "Owner" badge to view these first 3 links in Owners Lounge):
Iris 2
Sideloaded Apps on IRIS and (envy causing) screen shots here:
Iris 2
And basic info about IRIS/android versions here:
Iris 2

Some information about IRIS screen hardware versions here:
IRIS the Complete Story thread?
and here:
IRIS the Complete Story thread?

Physical pictures of IRIS Parrot system removed from dash:
2013 - Audio Upgrade/Stealth Install

 

[Minimalist]

I'm on Iris 1 too but I've realized the only two things I need are:

• BT streaming controls for music (reverse, fwd, play, pause track)
• Google Maps/Waze
• Wi-Fi or BT internet tethering

The list of wants is longer, but the list of needs pegs the baseline amount of money ready for someone to pick up for a solution. Sharing above in case there is a market for an "Iris 1.5" solution with the above.

My Iris 1 sounds OK when you pick the appropriate Meridian preset. It actually makes a lot of sense - listening to talk radio? Podcast? Pick Meridian pure. Want lots of bass? Pick extreme. Doesn't take much effort to pick and sounds decent enough for the car's current price point. Now if I paid $300k+ I would have a different view!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[rnixon]

IRIS 1 and IRIS 2 use a different cabling between the screen and gateway, I believe 2 is RJ45 (I haven't looked at that stuff very much) but I know at the gateway for IRIS 1 is optical based on the connector. Again, I don't know alot about those systems, everyone who says they'll give me a broken one to see if I can fix it never comes through.

Do IRIS-1 and IRIS-2 have different amplifiers? This is what I'd found, which shows an RJ45 for digital audio, and a serial control connection. Reverse-engineering the control format shouldn't be too hard (famous last words).

 

[mcvillain]

I'm almost tempted to try hooking up simply a bluetooth receiver to the car and removing Iris altogether and 3D print a storage space in it's place. If I can have sound from the phone running into the car for GPS/Waze/Spotify, I'm good.

Something like this could work

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

android on iris 2 has been manipulated by at least one user here, but at this point, I suspect the android os and hardware are crazy old. Part of the thread on side loading iris2 can be found in the faqs:

Yes, it'll be the latest in 2013 Android technology, which at this point may not handle modern function well.

I'm on Iris 1 too but I've realized the only two things I need are:

• BT streaming controls for music (reverse, fwd, play, pause track)
• Google Maps/Waze
• Wi-Fi or BT internet tethering

The list of wants is longer, but the list of needs pegs the baseline amount of money ready for someone to pick up for a solution. Sharing above in case there is a market for an "Iris 1.5" solution with the above.

My Iris 1 sounds OK when you pick the appropriate Meridian preset. It actually makes a lot of sense - listening to talk radio? Podcast? Pick Meridian pure. Want lots of bass? Pick extreme. Doesn't take much effort to pick and sounds decent enough for the car's current price point. Now if I paid $300k+ I would have a different view!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I put in a smart mirror which does Google Maps/Waze, and has wifi. If you think you'd be mad if you paid $300k+ for what you get, think about everyone who spent $500k+ for an Aventador or even $250k+ on a Huracan which have some of the worst audio systems you can find in a car. Supercars don't have a focus on audio.

Do IRIS-1 and IRIS-2 have different amplifiers? This is what I'd found, which shows an RJ45 for digital audio, and a serial control connection. Reverse-engineering the control format shouldn't be too hard (famous last words).

Yes, they use different screens, cabling, and gateway (which contains the amplifier). I misspoke, it is digital, it is not optical. I do have pics of my IRIS1 amp with connections to it so it makes more sense but IRIS2 is still different.

 

[mcvillain]

I put in a smart mirror which does Google Maps/Waze, and has wifi. If you think you'd be mad if you paid $300k+ for what you get, think about everyone who spent $500k+ for an Aventador or even $250k+ on a Huracan which have some of the worst audio systems you can find in a car. Supercars don't have a focus on audio.

Could you please share which smart mirror you're using?

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

Could you please share which smart mirror you're using?

I wouldn't recommend it. I'm tempted to replace it.

 

[mcvillain]

I wouldn't recommend it. I'm tempted to replace it.

I saw one on Amazon + watched a YouTube video on it -- it looked a little janky and like it was trying to do too much