2020 Regal Avenir - Radio upgrades?

[mozga628]

I recently purchased a 2020 Regal Avenir.
I would like to upgrade to a radio that includes wireless android auto.
Car audio places around me there is no aftermarket radio that will fit in the car or substiute OEM functions.
I have seen items on eBay that plug into one of the USB ports for wireless AA, but i don't want to give up a USB port either.

Now, all of this having been said (and ruling out aftermarket parts)...
Is it possible to install a radio from a different buick that does have wireless AA in my 2020 regal without losing any factory settings and gaining wireless AA?

 

[MelsRegal]

Covered on page 49 of Infotainment manual available at Buick.com. Only works with USB connection and no other OEM radio.

 

[mozga628]

Respectfully, i don't see anything about being unable to have a different OEM radio installed.
Now, i'm not saying what i am hoping for is possible, but i haven't seen anything yet that shows its NOT possible.

https://www.buick.com/bypass/pcf/gma-content-api/resources/sites/GMA/content/staging/MANUALS/4000/MA4981/en_US/2.0/20_BUI_3_0_IM_en_US_U_84337764B_2019SEP11_2P.pdf

 

[saab93driver]

I recently purchased a 2020 Regal Avenir.
I would like to upgrade to a radio that includes wireless android auto.
Car audio places around me there is no aftermarket radio that will fit in the car or substiute OEM functions.
I have seen items on eBay that plug into one of the USB ports for wireless AA, but i don't want to give up a USB port either.

Now, all of this having been said (and ruling out aftermarket parts)...
Is it possible to install a radio from a different buick that does have wireless AA in my 2020 regal without losing any factory settings and gaining wireless AA?

No shock but GM will be no help. Pre-2021MY GM Models Won't Get Wireless Apple CarPlay Or Android Auto | Carscoops

I remember reading somewhere about someone looking into updating one of the modules to make it work but I never saw a result and don't remember where I read about it. I wouldn't be surprised if someone figured it out but at what cost and effort? White's Automotive might have some idea how to do it or if it can be done. I fully appreciate your desire to do it and not lose a USB port but the market for a several hundred dollar solution would be pretty small if the easy button is a $70 dongle.

 

[D2R]

Motorola MA1 adapter for Wireless Android Auto

It's been a while since I posted, but I luckily managed to snag a new Motorola MA1 wireless android auto adapter, and it arrived yesterday. As the name suggests, it allows you to use Android Auto on the dash without having to plug into the USB port. I'm posting to confirm that for me, it works...

buickforums.com

Perhaps this would help?
Thinking this is as close to factory as possible.

 

[FavaBean]

@mozga628 Just curious.. why are you concerned about giving up a USB port? I understand the benefits of a new wireless head unit and the benefits of wireless charging. Otherwise I'm just trying to wrap my head around investing in a head unit when you can do it for under $15 or less (or spending a little more on the wireless dongle).

Are you trying to specifically save the USB data enabled ports for something else passing data? Or are you just trying to keep as many ports available for multi-device charging?
You can buy USB splitter wires which are data capable (and charging). Or if no data needs to be transferred, you can buy USB ports which plug into the lighter outlet.

But to address your question...I haven't heard of interchangeable radios either. Fitment and integrated HVAC controls are be major hurdles you'd encounter.

Amazon links below as other possible solutions to preserve quantity of USB ports.

https://a.co/d/1VBhI2S

https://a.co/d/0crUfYh (no data transfer)

 

[mozga628]

i have learned in the last few days that swapping out one GM radio for another is mostly impossible for the same reason i can't put an aftermarket radio in the car.. HVAC...
you would think it would be cheaper for GM to mass produce a single radio (or a small line up of radios) and use them for years as opposed to a different radio for every car that changes every almost every year...
now, to address your question, why am i unwilling to to give up a USB port... to be more presise, i don't want to use USB to connect the phone at all.
picture if you will, a android phone in the wireless charger, connected to AA via wireless. this leaves the usb port on the phone completely open to ANY expansion i want to use it for. connect a 4 (or more) hub. Then connect touchpad for navigating AA from the armrest instead of reaching to the dash, a web cam for teleconferencing, a microphone for note taking, maybe a small keyboard, and storage! think how much storage could be carried with you and accessed at your fingertips! to go really crazy, a person could connect LED lights for additional ambient lighting. everything controlled at your fingertips through AA.
all this functionality without any of it making modifications to the car.

 

[DrFaustus]

You have two USB ports with data on the car. If you use one for the AA wireless dongle, it still leaves you one free on the car. And it also leaves the one on your phone free, since you are connecting from your phone to your car wirelessly. So I'm not sure what you are giving up in this scenario.

 

[CNYmetalGuy]

+100 for the Motorola AA suggestion. Our infotainment system is more than just the radio.

 

[Uniqez]

You have two USB ports with data on the car. If you use one for the AA wireless dongle, it still leaves you one free on the car. And it also leaves the one on your phone free, since you are connecting from your phone to your car wirelessly. So I'm not sure what you are giving up in this scenario.

This is the setup I have. Not to mention that you also have AUX. I have dual USB fast charger in the front cup holder(one runs dash cam, one has a charger for the phone). Works like a charm. Short trips in the city- wireless AA, long trip, still wireless AA, but put phone charging.

 

[Uniqez]

i have learned in the last few days that swapping out one GM radio for another is mostly impossible for the same reason i can't put an aftermarket radio in the car.. HVAC...
you would think it would be cheaper for GM to mass produce a single radio (or a small line up of radios) and use them for years as opposed to a different radio for every car that changes every almost every year...
now, to address your question, why am i unwilling to to give up a USB port... to be more presise, i don't want to use USB to connect the phone at all.
picture if you will, a android phone in the wireless charger, connected to AA via wireless. this leaves the usb port on the phone completely open to ANY expansion i want to use it for. connect a 4 (or more) hub. Then connect touchpad for navigating AA from the armrest instead of reaching to the dash, a web cam for teleconferencing, a microphone for note taking, maybe a small keyboard, and storage! think how much storage could be carried with you and accessed at your fingertips! to go really crazy, a person could connect LED lights for additional ambient lighting. everything controlled at your fingertips through AA.
all this functionality without any of it making modifications to the car.

Insignia A had Chinese unit to swap( tesla style) that can control HVAC, etc. So it is totally doable with right unit, but it is not just head unit, it is involved replacing or altering HMI unit.

 

[mozga628]

i've heard both good and bad about those chinese android radios.
some people saying they spent hundreds and couldn't get it working. others said it was easy.
if it was a reputable brand like pioneer, alpine, sony, etc. i would do it in a heartbeat.
but i just dropped a year's pay on this car and don't want to add hundreds more to that, plus tear the car apart on a roll of the dice.
i will say this uniqez, you reminded me and showed the community it CAN be done.

 

[Uniqez]

i've heard both good and bad about those chinese android radios.
some people saying they spent hundreds and couldn't get it working. others said it was easy.
if it was a reputable brand like pioneer, alpine, sony, etc. i would do it in a heartbeat.
but i just dropped a year's pay on this car and don't want to add hundreds more to that, plus tear the car apart on a roll of the dice.
i will say this uniqez, you reminded me and showed the community it CAN be done.

Honestly, I have everything that I need from infotainment. So I wasn't even looking for what is available there for our cars. But yeah- Chinese units were hit or miss on the insignia A, but those cars are running 2.5 HMI like ours do- so I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done. BTW, for HVAC controls, we have hard buttons that are duplicating what you have on the screen, so you would not be without HVAC controls. If controls on the screen are disabled, HVAC is still running and controlled via buttons.

 

[mozga628]

This is the setup I have. Not to mention that you also have AUX. I have dual USB fast charger in the front cup holder(one runs dash cam, one has a charger for the phone). Works like a charm. Short trips in the city- wireless AA, long trip, still wireless AA, but put phone charging.

I ordered a motorola wireless AA, also a 4 port usb c hub and 1tb hdd.
it won't give me everything i want, but it will give me everything i've asked for.

 

[Uniqez]

I ordered a motorola wireless AA, also a 4 port usb c hub and 1tb hdd.
it won't give me everything i want, but it will give me everything i've asked for.

I have 128GB memory stick is handling everything pretty good.From movies to songs. Let us know if car would recognize usb splitter. But motorola M1 is a great choice. 👍

 

[DrFaustus]

My car's second data USB port has a big memory stick full of music. It's nice to have a backup to my phone and streaming. Particularly since I tend to travel in areas without wireless service.

 

[Wag0n]

Get the Motorola MA1. Same end result, a lot less hassle.

 

[Jacencami]

Covered on page 49 of Infotainment manual available at Buick.com. Only works with USB connection and no other OEM radio.

Link?

 

[MelsRegal]

Link?

Buick.com, menu, manuals

Site Maintenance

 

[danzig997]

I had Motorola MA1 and upgraded to AAWireless I believe it connects faster. The Motorola MA1 is one of the most prominent, though it doesn't include a dedicated app to tweak features or troubleshoot potential compatibility issues the way AAWireless does.

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